How to Groom Your Bichon Frise

The bichon frise is a gentle dog who enjoys the companionship of her owner. Her fluffy coat has the look and softness of white cotton balls and her appealing looks made her a favorite of French royalty during the 16th century. However, she's not just a pretty face. She also has such a happy disposition, she has been known to prompt circus owners to include her in their shows. Beauty and personality aside, her coat does not shed and can quickly become a matted mess without diligent grooming.

Things You'll Need

  • Slicker brush
  • Dog comb
  • Dog shampoo
  • Dog conditioner
  • Towel
  • Blow dryer
  • Scissors
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Instructions

    • 1

      Brush your bichon frise every day to avoid tangles and encourage a healthy coat. Begin by having your dog lie on her side as you brush her belly, side, back and hindquarters with a slicker brush followed by a comb. Turn her body over to the other side and repeat. Complete the process by having her stand while you brush and comb the top of her back, working from behind the ears to the end of her tail.

    • 2

      Bathe your dog using shampoo formulated for curly-haired dogs. Saturate her coat with warm water, starting at the top of her head and working down to the tip of her tail. Apply the shampoo to one section at a time, massaging into a rich lather. Be careful to clean the hard-to-reach places on her body, while avoiding the inside of her ears and her eyes.

    • 3

      Rinse the shampoo out thoroughly with warm water and squeeze out the excess before applying dog conditioner. Work the conditioner into her coat using smooth, one-directional strokes to avoid creating tangles. Rinse her with warm water and wipe her with a dry towel to absorb the dripping moisture from her coat.

    • 4

      Dry her coat using a blow dryer with the temperature set at warm. As you dry the coat, smooth her hair with the slicker brush. Once her coat is dry, brush and comb her again.

    • 5

      Trim her coat with scissors to keep it under control between trips to a professional groomer. Starting at her back, use a comb to make the hair stand out from her skin and cut to a length of half an inch. Continue combing and cutting both sides of her body, including her tail. Maintain the same length throughout for a uniform appearance.

    • 6

      Cut the hair on her underline, or belly, to approximately one-fourth of an inch in length. Leave her facial hair long and simply trim it just enough to create a circular shape. Brush and comb her again to finish her fresh look.