Bichon Frise Dog Personalities

Bichon Frise dog personalities, while they can differ widely, start to show themselves at a very young age. Even very young Bichon Frise puppies will give you hints about who they will become.

The temperament of your dog comes from her genes and heredity, her breeding and from the way you train her.

But, to really understand how Bichon Frise personalities have developed, you have to consider the big picture of dog history and dog ancestry.

Wolves and Dogs

Even though your Bichon Frise (or French Bulldog or Yorkshire Terrier) doesn’t look anything like a wolf, most dogs are believed to be descendants of wolves.

Your dog behaves and experiences his world-largely because of the dogs (and wolves) that came before him.

In addition to having common characteristics with other dogs and wolves, every canine has its own personality. Just like every person has their own personality.

Your dog may vary quite a bit from the other Bichon Frises that you know. So choosing a dog compatible with you and your family is important. It is key to knowing how you will get along with each other.

Bichon Frise Dog Personalities in Puppies

Bichon Frises, and dogs of all kinds for that matter, are creatures of instinct! And Bichon Frise dog personalities have many of the characteristics of their ancestors, like:

• pack mentality
• rituals like growling and showing teeth
• hunting (everything from insects to small animals)
• marking one’s territory
• some are dominant (leaders) while others are passive

If you take time to understand life from your dog’s perspective, you will be much more successful at training and living with your pet.

Bichons tend to be outgoing and friendly. They are sociable with you and others. And, if you have children, Bichons are great family pets, gentle and affectionate.

Choosing a Puppy Based on Personality

Bichon Frise dog personalities and temperaments are all different - just like people.

Well, not exactly like people. But, my point is that, like people, dogs are very different from each other. And you can actually tell this when they are just little puppies.

If you observe a group of Bichon puppies together, you will be able to pick out the dominant and the submissive puppies.

If you watch them even longer, you will see which ones are easy going and which ones are more aggressive.

Depending on the litter, you may even be able to tell if there is a puppy that will eventually have mental health problems, like canine depression or dog anxiety!

Good and Bad Characteristics

Here are some characteristics that you may observe:

• Alpha dog – the leader of the Pack
• Submissive dogs - followers
• Aggressive dogs – dogs that will pick a fight with other dogs and may attack a person (not common for Bichons)
• Nervous or anxious dogs – afraid of everything and everyone. These dogs will be especially prone to separation anxiety. And they would not be good for children.
• A future family watch-dog – friendly and loyal to his family. Quick to put strangers in their place!
• Playful fun-loving dogs – dogs that love to be with their people.

Dog Communication

Dogs communicate in a number of ways. And every dog finds his own way to communicate with you. However, dogs with different personalities will communicate differently with you.

• Body Language - Your dog may use her paw to tell you that she wants something. Or tilt her head and look at you. Bichons learn how to get your attention, when they need it. If you have been petting your dog and stop, he may bump your hand with his head, to get the petting started again.
• Speaking - While a dog that actually speaks “words” is a rarity, dogs do speak to us. A more assertive or aggressive dog may bark when she needs something. A dog with a more passive personality might whine. For some dogs, speaking actually resembles human talking. And a dog who really wants something can become quite persuasive! Your dog will have different “speaking voices or tones”, depending on what he wants to tell you.
• Behavior - This is yet another way that your dog may communicate. If she needs to go out to pee, she may go to sit next to the door. Or she may come and sit beside you and look at you. Did you know that you can even teach your dog to ring a bell (hung on the door knob) when she needs to go out? It’s all a matter of training! But the method of communication is behavior!

While the temperament of your dog certainly does influence your relationship with your pet, it does not explain everything. Some things just don’t change.

Dogs are born with certain instincts. They are not human, and so in order to understand our dogs, we must understand how they perceive their world.

However, knowing your dog’s temperament will help you understand her and understand why she reacts the way she does-to noises, new situations, people and other dogs.