Picking the right dog breed for your household requires a lot of consideration. A dog’s temperament, personality, size, and shedding all play roles in deciding which dog breed to bring home.
While most of the people do not consider shedding, it is a vital thing to look at whether the dog is a heavy shedder or not. You are about to spend more than 10 years with this dog, so think about it as a long term planning. So, how much do Bichon Frise really shed? Are they heavy shedders?
Bichon Frise will shed a negligible amount of hair. Some owners say that they do not shed, but that is not true. Like all dog breeds, Bichon Frise will shed, but the amount of shedding can be rather light than other dog breeds. If you do not want to deal with the hairs flying around in your home, then Bichon Frise is a suitable dog breed for you.
Many owners do not notice the shedding of Bichon Frises because their hairs do not land on your floor or furniture like any other dog. Because of their coat texture, the loose and dead hairs are most likely to get stuck in the coat.
Therefore, you might not see their hairs, but they are going through the process of shedding and falling from the skin.
Are Bichon Frises Hypoallergenic?
Bichon Frise is considered to be a hypoallergenic dog breed, although according to experts, there is no such dog breed. Either a person is allergic to a dog, or he is not.
It depends more on a person to have allergies than a dog. Through medical research, it has been proved that people are not allergic to dog’s fur or hair but their saliva, urine, and sweat.
So, according to scientific evidence, Bichon Frise can not be called a hypoallergenic dog breed. In reality, there is no dog breed hypoallergenic. However, you can say that Bichon Frise is an allergy-friendly because of low shedding.
It is a common fact that dog hair carries most of the pollen that causes allergic reactions in people. When there is less shedding in dogs, there is less hair to carry these allergens. Hence there is less chance to have an allergic reaction from Bichon Frise.
Allergy Proofing the Home
It is understood that cleaning and vacuuming on a daily basis will help to reduce the amount of dander in the house. Changing bed sheets and cleaning furniture will help you to get rid of any hair present in the house. Luckily, Bichon Frise is a low shedding dog, so there nothing to stress about.
Keeping a routine cleaning in place will make a massive difference in any allergy reaction you can have. With a low amount of shedding and daily cleaning, the situation would be ideal for the owner.
Reduce Shedding by Caring Bichon Frise’s Coat
Bichon Frise is the most popular lap dog. Sometimes they are called the toy dog. One of the biggest reasons for their popularity is their coat; their fur is fluffy and rightly curled.
Because of the curly hairs, their shedding hair is often caught in the coat. This is the reason that they shed less dander and popular with the owners who are allergic.
Here we are going to discuss how you can maintain the best shape of your Bichon Frise coat. The following tips will help you to reduce shedding as well as keeping your dog healthy.
Brushing or Combing
Bichon Frise loose and dead hairs are often stuck in their outer coat. Hence the chances of tangles and knots to develop are pretty high. If you do not stay one step ahead of that, these tangles and knots can be painful for your dog and hard for you to get rid of. Brush your Bichon Frise is the only option left for you to keep things tidy.
You should start the process of brushing when your Bichon Frise is a puppy. By doing this, they will get used to it, and your task of brushing will become easier in the future.
You should brush or comb the hair right down to the skin. Brushing daily will ensure that knots, tangles, and matting less likely to develop.
A pin brush and a comb with pointed end are the best tools to be used on your Bichon Frise. Make sure to select the right size of these tools according to your dog size. Don’t miss the tricky areas while brushing. The spaces inside the leg and under the belly are most likely to get tangled hair.
There might be a time when you will come across a tangle or knot despite all the daily brushing. Do not panic and try to apply divide and rule formula. Split the hairs to make them loose from the skin. The pointed end of the comb is going to help you in this process.
Bathing Your Bichon Frise
Bichon Frise is mostly a white dog, so keeping them clean should be a priority. Nobody likes a dirty dog inside their house. You do not need to bathe your Bichon Frise if you use professional grooming now and then.
If you take care of his grooming at home, then add bathing to your list as you might need to do it on a regular basis or according to the requirement.
Always remember to brush Bichon Frise’s hair before giving them a bath. Brushing before bath will help you untie any knots they have. It is good to dry the hairs right down to the skin. Brushing while drying will have a superb result on your Bichon Frise coat.
Do not use shampoo and conditioner for humans on your Bichon Frise. Their hairs and fur require specific treatment and using your own shampoo might damage his coat.
Only good quality shampoo and conditioner specifically designed for dogs will ensure the healthy and beautiful coat of your Bichon Frise.
Clipping and Trimming Your Bichon Frise
You might have seen Bichon Frise with beautiful and lovely hairstyles. That is because most of the owners like to keep the Bichon Frise hair short and tidy. This process involves clipping a lot of hair to achieve a neat and easy to care look.
Whether your dog gets clipped or trimmed, the final touches will require manually rounding of hairs with scissors. Rounded curves are the signature look of Bichon Frise. Because Bichon Frise traps a lot of food in their beard, your pet groomer might trim the hair around beard and inside of their ears too.
Right Texture of Bichon Frise Coat
Bichon Frise is a double-coated dog. Their topcoat consists of the curly hairs that give them a beautiful look while their undercoat is there to provide density and volume. Their topcoat should never be wiry or too silky or smooth.
If the coat seems to be extra curly, then brushing might be required for your Bichon Frise. A wavy and fluffy coat is the signature look of your Bichon Frise.
Hair Loss and Coat Problems in Bichon Frise
Stress and anxiety are the biggest reasons for hair loss in many dog breeds. Your dog’s mental health is as important as his physical health. Keeping your dog happy will ensure the excellent health of Bichon Frise.
Stress will cause severe hair loss, including dry coat, flaking skin, and a wide range of other skin problems in your Bichon Frise.
Being left alone is one of the primary reasons for stress in Bichon Frise. These are social dogs who love to be in the company of somebody. Living alone will only push them towards stress, and the chances of hair loss and skin problems will increase.
Unfortunately, Bichon Frise is a dog breed that suffers more hair loss and skin problems than many dog breeds. Being one of the most popular pet dogs, it is a shame that they have to deal with these kinds of issues.
If you are still thinking of buying a Bichon Frise and have not decided yet, then it might be a good idea to get knowledge about all the hair loss or skin problems they can face in their lifetime. In this way, you would be more than ready to tackle any challenge coming your dog’s way.
Let’s have a look at some common skin problems your Bichon Frise can have:
Sebaceous Cysts
Sebaceous Cyst is a process in which the sebum which your dog skin produces, clogs up their skin around hair follicles, causing a cyst development along with follicles. This can be confused with ingrown hair, but these two are different problems.
A sebaceous cyst is a painful condition that can cause irritation to your dog. It is vital to remember that you should never try to treat this cyst at home. Interfering with the cyst can be extremely painful for your dog, and it increases the chances of the infection.
Always consult the vet when there is a situation like this. It is best to get medical help rather than trying to fix it by yourself, especially when you do not know what you are dealing with.
Flea Bite Sensitivity
Bichon Frise is a far more sensitive dog breed to the parasite than any other dog breed. They can have a higher chance of developing flea bite sensitivity. This condition can lead to hair loss in Bichon Frise as well.
Flea bite causes an acute localized reaction on your dog skin where flea bites. It is essential to treat this condition with the right medication. Patience is the key and applying the medicine consistently might help you to avoid this condition.
Allergies
Bichon Frise is more likely to get an allergic reaction. They can get affected by various airborne allergies and food sensitivities that can damage their skin and coat. Getting to the bottom of an allergic reaction is not easy, and it might take a while to figure out what is the root cause of an allergic reaction.
You might need to visit the vet several times to get rid of this condition. There might be some lifestyle changes to apply for treating this condition and listening to the vet might help your dog to get rid of allergies.
Injection Site Alopecia
Injection Site Alopecia is a rare condition that affects the dog when they are injected. This condition usually develops around the neck area as it is the place using for injecting.
Hair loss is the biggest reason for the injection site alopecia. It is not limited to the area of the neck as your dog might get injection some other place in his lifetime.
The hair loss can take months to get back in his original shape. Talk to the vet to deal with this condition immediately and adequately.
Excessive Shedding Problems
As we have already mentioned that Bichon Frise is a reasonably low shedding dog and dealing with its hair is quite easy. However, if at any time, you notice excessive shedding or abnormal shedding that be prepared to visit the vet.
There might be some conditions in your Bichon Frise that you can see with your eyes. Abnormal shedding happens because of some medical condition usually, and a medical check-up will diagnose the problem.
Treating your dog at home with some home remedies will only increase the problem. You can not handle any condition without finding out the cause of the hair loss or abnormal shedding. It is essential to treat your Bichon Frise as a family member and keeping his health on priority.
Final Thoughts
Before you make any decision to buy a Bichon Frise puppy, do your own research as some of his personality traits or attribute might not suit you or your family.
Without a doubt, with so many qualities, a Bichon Frise would be an excellent addition to the family. With his low shedding attribute, people with allergic reactions can keep this dog breed easily in their homes. This breed is suitable for family, senior citizens, or the couple living in the city.
