Skip to content

Bichon Frise Shedding: What is Normal and What is Not

Bichon Frise Shedding_ What is Normal and What is Not

Bichon Frise Shedding. The Bichon Frise is a small, sturdy, white powder puff of a dog whose merry temperament is evidenced by his plumed tail carried jauntily over the back and his dark-eyed inquisitive expression.

The texture of the coat is of utmost importance. The undercoat is soft and dense, the outercoat of a coarser and curlier texture. The combination of the two gives a soft but substantial feel to the touch which is similar to plush or velvet and when patted springs back.

When bathed and brushed, it stands off the body, creating an overall powder puff appearance. A wiry coat is not desirable. A limp, silky coat, a coat that lies down, or a lack of undercoat are very serious faults. 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.

Bichon Frise Shedding / Do Bichon Frises Shed a Lot?

Bichon Frise, does not shed very much, but all dogs shed a little. Shedding is seasonal, customarily in the spring. Hair loss is a different matter. If the shedding has any of the following characteristics, see your veterinarian immediately:

  • The fur is dry and brittle
  • Fur breaks or falls out unevenly
  • Fur has dropped in clumps or bald patches
  • Fur loss is accompanied by another skin problem
  • The dog is tender to the touch or resists being touched where they’re losing fur
Bichon Frise Shedding: What is Normal and What is Not 1

Hormonal imbalance can cause unusual shedding as with, for example, pregnancy and lactation. Imbalances in your dog’s thyroid can cause hair to become brittle and fall out.

Hypothyroidism is a common condition among dogs and can be readily treated with medication. Other imbalances can occur with testosterone and oestrogen. Allergy is perhaps the most common cause of unusual shedding.

Your dog may be allergic to a single substance in her kibble or canned food. (Of course, you do not feed her anything but good quality dog food, yes? No table scraps or raw eggs. The same goes for treats, and you should not buy treats manufactured in China.)

Pro Grooming For Bichons for Pet Show

Other allergens include cleaning solvents or other household chemicals, medication, pet shampoos, and pests (fleas, ticks, or mites

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. Bichon Frise dog breed also suffers from hair loss and skin problems as other dog breeds.

Bichon Frise Shedding: What is Normal and What is Not 2

Hair Shedding Due to Skin Problems In Bichon Frise

Skin conditions are obvious causes of hair loss, and you would likely have noticed this in dry, rough, or raw skin or patches of hair loss. Mange, mites, and bacterial or fungal infections (like ringworm) cause hair loss.

Sebaceous Cysts

It 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.

Trimming Puppy Bichon Frise

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 for 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

It 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 an injection in 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.

Bichon Frise Shedding: What is Normal and What is Not 3

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 cannot 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.

Reduce Shedding by Grooming 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. 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 a 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 the 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 the 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.

Conclusion

Our Bichon’s had beautiful coats . But they are very labor-intensive. They Need to be Brushed Daily to keep them looking good and to keep Matts from forming. If Matting gets too severe we always had to shave the dog to get ahead of it, but daily brushing will prevent that problem.

Top 10 Bichon Designer Breeds / Parents /Size / Video

Designer MixParentsSizeVideo
MaltichonBichon / MalteseHeight / 8-11 inches
Weight / 8 - 13 lbs
Maltichon
Bichpoo Bichon / PoodleHeight / 9 - 14 inches
Weight / 6 - 9 lbs
Bichpoo
Shichon Bichon / Shih TzuHeight / 9 - 12 inches
Weight / 10 - 15lbs
Shichon
Yorkie BichonBichon / YorkieHeight / 9 - 12 inches
Weight / 6 - 8 lbs
Bichon Yorkie
Chi Chon Bichon / ChihuahuaHeight / 8 - 10 Inches
Weight / 6 - 10 Lbs
Chi Chon
KashonBichon / Cairn TerrierHeight / 9 - 15 Inches
Weight / 10 -18 Lbs
Kashon
Goldichon Bichon / Golden RetrieverHeight/15 - 20 inches
Weight /20-40 Lbs
Goldichon
ChonzerBichon / Miniature SchnauzerHeight /10-16 inches
Weight / 25-35 lbs
Chonzer
Glechon Bichon / Beagle Height /15-16 inches
Weight / 15-35 lbs
Glechon
Corgi Bichon / CorgiHeight /11-13 inches
Weight / 31-37 lbs
Corgi
List of the Designer Breeds from the Bichon Frise
Name - Link for Research
Parents - Breeds of Dogs
Size Height / Weight
Video - Video of the Bichon Designer Breed

Bichon Frise Resource Links

Bichon Frise Club of AmericaUnited StatesLink
Bichon Frise AKCUnited StatesLink
Bichon Frise United Kennel ClubUKLink
Resources for Bichon Frise Owners and Breeders