Non-Sporting · Small (12-18 lbs) · 14-15 years
Bichon Frise
Playful, curious, peppy; cheerful charmer that thrives on attention.
12–18 lb
At a glance
Kid-friendly
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First-time owners
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Energy
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Shedding
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Good with cats
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Alone time
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Apartment OK
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Trainability
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What this is
What they’re great at
✓ A natural with children - famously patient
✓ Quick study - learns in a handful of reps
✓ Forgiving of first-timer mistakes
✓ Adapts beautifully to smaller spaces
Why it matters
Honest challenges
Alone time is genuinely hard
Bred to work or live beside a human all day - solitude was never in the job description.
What helps: ['Train it like a skill: the Alone-Time guide builds tolerance in micro-doses from day one', 'The frozen-KONG-only-when-you-leave ritual turns departures into jackpots', "Cover long days honestly: a midday walker, daycare 2-3x a week, and a camera to know (not guess) how they're doing"]
Bred to work or live beside a human all day - solitude was never in the job description.
What helps: ['Train it like a skill: the Alone-Time guide builds tolerance in micro-doses from day one', 'The frozen-KONG-only-when-you-leave ritual turns departures into jackpots', "Cover long days honestly: a midday walker, daycare 2-3x a week, and a camera to know (not guess) how they're doing"]
Vocal by design
Alert heritage - announcing things IS the historic job.
What helps: ['Thank-and-redirect: acknowledge the alert, cue quiet, pay the quiet', 'Manage triggers: window film and white noise beat willpower', 'Exercise first - a tired alarm system fires less. Never bark collars']
Alert heritage - announcing things IS the historic job.
What helps: ['Thank-and-redirect: acknowledge the alert, cue quiet, pay the quiet', 'Manage triggers: window film and white noise beat willpower', 'Exercise first - a tired alarm system fires less. Never bark collars']
What you can do
Exercise & training
Exercise: Moderate - 30-60 min/day
Training profile — Toy / companion type: A real dog in a small package: train it like one. Use a harness, never a collar, to protect the trachea. Watch interactions with large dogs and supervise with small children.
Sports and outlets that suit them: Trick titles · Rally
What you can do
Grooming & coat
Grooming: Very high - daily brushing and professional grooming every 4-6 weeks to prevent painful mats.
Shedding: Minimal - shed hair caught in the curly coat.
Good to know
Health to know about
Allergies (skin), patellar luxation, dental disease, bladder stones/infections, cataracts, Legg-Calve-Perthes
Breed-typical tendencies, not a diagnosis. Individual dogs vary enormously — your veterinarian screens for what matters for your dog.
Why it matters
Emergency red flags
Poisoning (chocolate, xylitol, grapes, medications, rodenticide)
Vomiting, drooling, tremors, collapse, or known ingestion
→ Call ASPCA Poison Control 888-426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline 855-764-7661 immediately; do NOT induce vomiting unless instructed
Vomiting, drooling, tremors, collapse, or known ingestion
→ Call ASPCA Poison Control 888-426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline 855-764-7661 immediately; do NOT induce vomiting unless instructed
Know your ER
→ Save your nearest 24-hour emergency vet's address and phone in your phone TODAY, not during a crisis
→ Save your nearest 24-hour emergency vet's address and phone in your phone TODAY, not during a crisis
Urinary blockage
Straining with little or no urine produced, crying in the litter posture, vomiting, hard painful belly
→ This is a life-threatening emergency, especially in males - ER immediately
Straining with little or no urine produced, crying in the litter posture, vomiting, hard painful belly
→ This is a life-threatening emergency, especially in males - ER immediately
This page never carries product links in the emergency section. ASPCA Poison Control (888) 426-4435 · Pet Poison Helpline (855) 764-7661.
Good to know
The numbers
Typical ranges for planning, not promises — costs vary by region, breeder and individual dog.
| Group | Non-Sporting |
| Size | Small (12-18 lbs) |
| Lifespan | 14-15 years |
| Healthy adult weight | 12–18 lb |
| Original purpose | Companion, ship's dog, circus performer. |
| Monthly care | $80-$150 (incl. grooming) |
| Typical puppy price | $1,000-$2,500 |
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