Bichon Frise Grooming

Bichon Frise grooming is a regular task for Bichon owners, and it is important to start working with your dog when she is still a puppy.

The best time to start grooming your little Bichon Frise puppy is when he is about 12 weeks old.

You will be grooming your Bichon frequently, perhaps daily, for the rest of his life. Working with your dog or puppy is a pleasant time for bonding.

Careful grooming insures that your dog will always look good, but his skin will also be healthier.  And your dog will be less prone to getting parasites like fleas, ticks or mites.

The Bichon Frise Coat

Bichon Frises have a double coat–an inner coat and an outer coat. The inner coat is softer than the outer coat.

A Bichon’s hair does not fall out or shed. It continues to grow, and so it must it must be trimmed routinely.

All adult Bichon Frises have hair that becomes tangled and matted if it is not brushed and combed out every day.

Brushing your Bichon daily will help keep skin issues like dandruff under control.

Bichon Frise Grooming for Puppies

However, when Bichons are puppies, their hair is softer and does not mat. Matting starts to be an issue when they are about a year old.

That doesn’t mean that you can neglect their grooming, though. You should brush your puppy frequently, so she will be used to your handling her.

And she will be used to feeling the brush and comb.

To help you get started, you can get a puppy grooming start-up kit here.

As your Bichon Frise dog gets older, you’ll need to decide on a hair style for her.

Some people choose an informal Puppy Cut while others prefer a more formal Show Cut.

How to Groom a Bichon Frise

Because you will need to brush and comb your Bichon Frise daily, you may have to practice a little before you get good at grooming!

A quality, stainless steel coarse/medium greyhound comb, slicker brush and pin brush are what we use and recommend.

• Use your Slicker Brush first to remove any debris, dirt or grass from the coat. When using the slicker brush, brush against the grain or in the opposite direction of the hair growth. If your dogs are anything like ours, they sometimes like to roll around in the grass. As a result, leaves and grass clippings often become entwined into their coats. If you let this go, you’ll have a real mess on your hands!
• Next, use your greyhound comb on your Bichon Frise. Work small sections at a time until you have done the entire body except for the tail and ears. When combing, try to comb up and out from the skin.If you come across any tangles or mats, be very careful and as gentle as possible when removing them. The removal of these tangles, if not done delicately, can be very painful for your Bichon Frise dog. We always try to break apart these mats first with our fingers, beginning furthest away from the skin going inward.
• After you have broken the mat down, then use a few teeth on the end of the comb to finish removal and smoothing out the hairs. If you come across some very stubborn mats which seem impossible, just take some scissors and clip them off, making sure that you don’t come into contact with your dog’s skin.
• At this time use your slicker brush again. Brush the entire coat making sure you go in the opposite direction of the hair growth.
• Finally, we like to use the pin brush for grooming the tail and ears. On these two areas, you will want to brush in the direction of the hair growth. The tail and ears are very sensitive on the Bichon Frise, so be as gentle as possible. If you are not gentle, your white fluffy friend will let you know.

Of course, you can’t stop grooming your dog after her hair is cut.  Your job is not done yet.

Just like you, your dog needs to be kept clean and healthy.

• Dog nails – You’ll need to trim your dog’s nails from time to time to keep him from slipping and sliding.
• Mouth hygiene – brushing your dog’s teeth can help keep her teeth clean and her gums healthy.  This will also help to prevent some diseases like heart disease.  Even something as simple as dental dog chews can help remove tartar.
• Tear stains – Bichon Frises and other white dogs are prone to stains from tears and saliva.  But you can minimize or prevent tear stains if you know how.
• Hypoallergenic shampoo – Does your Bichon have skin allergies?  Using a hypoallergenic shampoo could help!
• Dog baths – Bathing your Bichon Frise can be a bonding experience.
• Eye care – Eyes are so important to your Bichon Frise.  A few simple steps can help keep your dog’s eyes healthy.
• Ear care – When you take a few minutes to care for your dog’s ears, you can prevent painful and irritating ear infections.  You can learn how to clean your dog’s ears here.

Have you decided which hair cut to use for your Bichon?  A formal Bichon Frise haircut takes a lot more time and is more time consuming than a puppy cut.

Grooming a Bichon Frise takes time and dedication. So make it as enjoyable as possible, for both of you. And, the earlier you introduce regular grooming to your Bichon Frise puppy, the easier it will be.

Tools to Simplify Bichon Frise Grooming

As a Bichon owner, you will spend most of your time taking care of your dog’s hair.  This is no small undertaking.  But, there are some tools that will make your job a lot easier…

• The PRO Quality Dog Slicker Brush –You are going to love this slicker brush! It removes mats and tangles easily, including dead skin and hair, grass and debris. The brush has an ergonomic design with an anti-slip handle, and it is safe for people with arthritis or carpal tunnel to use. The teeth are metal, but they are gentle on your dog’s sensitive skin. And, best of all, it is self-cleaning. You push a button, the teeth retract, and you just wipe all the hair and debris off easily. It also comes with a 5 year, money back guarantee. You can’t go wrong with this one!
• Safari® De-matting Comb – good for dogs with medium to long coats. The de-matting comb can be adjusted for right or left hand use. This is especially helpful if your dog likes to be outside and gets lots of grass, weed seeds and burrs in his hair.
• Andis Pet Steel Grooming Comb – helps to remove tangles, dirt and dead skin. This comb also stimulates your dog’s skin and hair follicles. It’s perfect for finishing and fluffing.
• Pin Brush – Perfect for sensitive areas on your dog, this high quality pin brush has gentle stainless steel pins. Lightweight and comfortable, it’s easy on your wrists and hands. And the pins are designed to be gentle on your dog’s sensitive skin and other areas.

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