The Bichon Frise is one cute little doggo. They are known for their beautiful white fluffy coat. Their name translates to a curly lap dog, which is perfectly fitting for these pups. These dogs also have amazing personalities.
They love to spend time with their owner by lounging around and receiving lots of kisses and snuggles. But, on the other hand, they also like to play. They aren’t that active, but they need their daily exercise.
Their coat grows constantly, and it can resemble the growth of human hair. They have a double coat, which means that their undercoat is super thick, and their outer coat is curly. They are difficult to maintain when it comes to grooming.
They need regular grooming appointments and daily brushing and maintenance of their hair. If it is not groomed regularly, it can get out of control.
An interesting fact is that there are other Bichon Frise colors except white, which a lot of people don’t know.
We are here to present you with the best Bichon Frise haircuts. Some are easy to maintain while others need more work. The cut that the dog will have depends only on the owner’s preference.
Some people like to showcase their dogs in the show ring, and these haircuts need a lot more work. Others keep their dogs as family pets only, and do not showcase them in any competition, and these haircuts can be easier to maintain.
But, all in all, we made this list of Bichon Frise haircuts that you can choose from and find what fits you and your dog the best.
Bichon Frise Haircuts You Need To Check Out
A Bichon Frise’s coat needs to be tamed. For some people, this might be inconvenient while others enjoy playing with their dog’s hair. Some of these need to be done by a professional groomer while others can be done by yourself.
But, if you have never had any experience before in cutting a dog’s hair, you should leave whatever haircut you choose to the professionals. These fluffs might be a bit of a bite for some people, but we promise that all the effort will be worth it at the end when you see your pooch all dolled up.
Some haircuts can be done on other dogs like the Poodle, the Maltese, or the Pomeranian, but it won’t be the same for all of them for the most part. This is the reason why it is important to find exactly what you want from a haircut, and show it to your groomer.
Here are some of the Bichon Frise haircut styles.
1. Teddy Bear Cut (Or Panda Cut)
The teddy bear cut (or, in other words, the panda bear cut) is one of the most popular hairstyles for Bichon Frise and all other small to medium dogs that have a medium-length coat. This is amazing for owners who have an active lifestyle, and want to make the job as easy as possible regarding their dog’s coat.
The easiest way to explain this haircut is short, but not shaved. The length of the body is approximately one to two inches. The hair is almost the same length throughout the whole body. You can leave the hair on the top of the head a bit longer so you can put in a ponytail or some accessories.
Ears are left a bit longer as well. Sometimes, you can tell the difference between the head and the body while other times, it might be a bit hard to notice. This depends on the owner, but with this haircut, dogs usually have a longer face and ears.
Sometimes, the face can be a bit longer, and it is usually styled like a square. The tail is often left long when it comes to this haircut. When it comes to the legs, it is optional. Some people like the teddy bear cut with a bit of a longer coat on the legs.
If it is left longer, it can be a bit harder to maintain since debris can get stuck in there, and you will need to brush that part daily. However, if you leave the legs shorter, you will have a much easier job maintaining the fur.
This type of haircut is commonly kept a bit fluffier, which makes your adorable pooch even more adorable. You can take your fluff to the groomer once a month or even once every month and a half if you want to maintain this grooming style.
2. The Puppy Cut (Or The Pet Cut)
The puppy cut is also one of the haircuts that is popular among smaller dogs with a medium to long coat that is curly. This is very similar to the teddy bear cut, but the hair is the same length throughout the whole body.
It is one to two inches long as well, but the legs, head, and ears are kept shorter than with the previous haircut. You can leave the top of the head a bit longer or square the face up a bit, but in most cases, the head is short.
The reason why this haircut is called the puppy cut is that it is supposed to resemble the length of the coat of a puppy. Puppies have shorter hair that is the same length everywhere, and people love this haircut because it is low maintenance.
You should still brush your dog twice a week (at least) in order to maintain the quality of its coat. The puppy cut can be interpreted in different ways so if you decide on this haircut and you have a vision for it, you should explain to the groomer exactly what you want.
Also, don’t get it confused… this grooming style is not just for young dogs, but for dogs of all ages. You will need to visit the groomer once a month if you want to keep the hair at this length.
3. The Lamb Cut
The lamb cut is the haircut that is the easiest to maintain. The easiest way to describe this haircut is that your dog will be shaved. When it comes to this hairstyle, it can be interpreted in different ways. For most people, the dog is fully shaved.
The head, legs, ears, and body are super short. Most commonly, the length of the hair will be about an inch long. But, sometimes people like to keep the body and the legs shaved, but the head a bit longer.
This is common with a Bichon’s coat because people like to showcase their curls, and for that reason, they will leave the head and ears a bit longer. Even though the dog has almost no hair, you still need to maintain it a bit.
You will need to take it to the groomer often if you want to maintain the shortness of the coat. If you feel confident, you can trim or shave your dog by yourself. Some people might not be comfortable with this, but if you can keep your doggy calm, it is not a big problem.
The good things about the lamb cut is that your dog will be matt-free, and the bathing will be much easier. The drying of your dog will also be reduced to a minimum.
4. The Show Cut
The show cut is also called the Bichon cut, and ‘spectacular’ is one of the words that can describe this haircut. This is one of the dog haircuts that is really difficult to achieve and maintain, and it is intended for both male and female Bichon Frise dogs. There are some rules to this one.
The undercoat of your Bichon needs to be thick while the outercoat is bouncy and curly. This is the way you achieve this fluffy look. If your dog has a lot of dead hair that is not removed, you will not be able to achieve this hairstyle.
The length is kept at a couple of inches, and the most important thing is to make it round and fluffy. The body is outlined in a circular way so it gives that bouncy feel to it. The head is round as well, which will be more noticeable than the body.
The interesting thing that this hairstyle requires is that if you put your hand on the dog and move it, the hair should spring back into shape – something like memory foam.
This is not for dog lovers who only want their dog to be a pet, but for people who want to make their dog into a show dog.
It requires a lot of work and patience from you, your dog, and the groomer. If you already know that your dog will be a show dog, you need to get it used to the groomer and teach it how to be patient.
It might be complicated, but you can’t deny that this haircut makes a Bichon Frise super cute.
5. The Utility Cut
The utility cut is almost the same as the lamb cut, but with this, there aren’t many options. This means that the whole dog has very short, almost shaved hair. This is easy to maintain, and you can do it yourself in your home as well.
The ears and the face might be a bit tricky so if you don’t feel comfortable, you can take your dog to the groomer to have its face and ears trimmed.
With this haircut, there are no longer ears, tail, legs, or snout. The hair is completely short in every part of the dog’s body. Some dog owners might not like this hairstyle because it doesn’t showcase the Bichon’s curls.
This is amazing for people who live in warm places, and for people who don’t want to or don’t have time to groom their dogs often.
6. Hairstyle With Accessories
This can be done on almost every haircut we mentioned above. The utility and lamb cut might be a bit difficult for this, but not impossible.
This is one of the best dog breeds for putting some accessories on. You can make a topknot or a small ponytail on top of their head. They have amazing curls, and if you leave their head longer, you can put in various colorful hair pins, which will stand out in their white fur.
There is something that not a lot of people have the courage to use, and that is hair dye for dogs. It is completely safe, and it won’t cause any damage to your dog’s hair and health.
This is more for outgoing people. You can make different patterns and color variations. This is something that should be done by a groomer who has some experience with hair dye.
Grooming Tips For Your Bichon Frise
You may think that grooming a small dog like a Bichon Frise is easy, but boy, oh boy you are wrong. These dogs need to be maintained daily or else you are in for a disaster. Keeping the quality of their amazing coat might be a difficult task, but it is not an impossible one for sure.
We made a list of a couple of things that you can do at home that will keep your pooch nice and tidy. Some are easier said than done while others should be a part of your daily routine or done at least once a month.
If you find some of these uncomfortable to do by yourself, you can always call a groomer or a vet to help you out. But, we are sure that you are confident and that you got this. Some of these will save you money and time.
Bichon Frise grooming styles are not that different from the grooming styles of other dog breeds. There are key elements that need to be done to every dog, either personally or professionally.
1. Brushing
Brushing is very important for these cotton balls. Their coat isn’t that prone to matting, but when they do mat, it is hard to get rid of it. Because of their dense coat, they should be brushed daily or at least three to four times a week.
The head is the part of the dog’s coat that gets matts the most. You need to be careful when brushing the head, and you should always brush it towards the dog’s face. This is very important to keep the dog calm.
The best time to teach them and get them used to a brush is when they are puppies. If you all of a sudden start brushing your dog, they will feel confused and probably won’t like it that much. You should make an amazing experience for your dog; otherwise, neither the dog nor you will like brushing time.
When it comes to brushing their body, you should brush up towards their spine. The lower back should get special attention because the coat gets really dense there, and because of that, it is prone to matting.
Paws and ears are very important when it comes to brushing as well, especially if you keep the coat longer in those areas. You should brush your dog every time before a bath because if there are any tangles, they will be immensely hard to brush out once they are wet.
Some of the brushes you can use are a slicker brush, a pin brush, and a Greyhound comb.
2. Bathing
Bathing is very important for the Bichon Frise dog if you want to keep their white fur white. A Bichon Frise puppy should get used to water and bathing time or else you will have some trouble when they grow up.
It is important to make your dog comfortable and make the bathing time a fun experience. You need to use top-quality shampoos with this dog breed. When you take your Bichon for some dog grooming, you can ask the groomer what some of the best shampoos on the market are.
If you leave your pooch with longer hair, a conditioner will be your best friend. It will keep the coat nice and soft, and it will make the brushing part much easier.
Make sure that the water temperature is just right, and in most cases, that will be lukewarm water. Scrub your dog thoroughly and rinse it properly. If there is any shampoo or conditioner left in the coat, it can irritate the skin.
Prepare all the towels, treats, and shampoos beforehand so it will be easier later. Some dogs might be scared of a blow dryer so make sure that you introduce it to your dog while it is still a puppy.
The frequency of bathing depends on you and your dog. If they are out and about in nature often, then bathing will most likely be more often than with dogs that are mostly spending time at home.
3. Nail Clipping
This is something that not a lot of people dare to do by themselves, and we understand why. If you clip the nail too much, you might injure your cutie, and that can be a scary experience for the both of you.
You need to make sure that your dog is calm. You can achieve that by giving your dog treats or with the help of a friend or a family member. They can either entertain the dog or help you hold the dog and talk to it while you are clipping its nails.
Make sure to buy quality nail clippers. If the clippers are not that good, they will not be able to clip the nails properly. This can make the process longer or even more painful for the dog.
4. Ear Cleaning
The Bichon Frise breed has longer and droopy ears, which means that if something gets into their ears, it will be a bit harder to detect unless you do a thorough investigation. They are prone to ear infections so you should clean their ears properly.
There is the possibility of an appearance of black gunk in their ears, which can cause serious problems if not cleaned in time. There are many ear cleaners on the market, but if you are not sure which one to use, you can ask the vet.
If you clean your dog’s ears regularly, you will make visits to the vet less often. The easiest way to clean the ears is by putting ear cleaner on a cotton pad, swapping it around the dog’s ears, and repeating the process until the ear is almost fully clean.
Don’t push anything too deep into the dog’s ears because you can damage the eardrum and even cause an infection.
RELATED: Dog Ear Wax Color Chart: Everything You Need To Know
5. Cleaning Under The Eyes
It is important to check the dog’s eyes regularly. Some dogs can have dryer eyes, which can cause them pain and infection. This is something you need to check with your vet and ask for any advice.
But, when it comes to cleaning, the part under their eyes is more connected to their appearance. Why, you may ask? Well, every dog is known to have watery eyes. When that liquid touches the coat under their eyes, it will make it change color.
This is especially noticeable with this breed or any breed that has a white coat. If you don’t clean it regularly, it will turn brown, and you won’t be able to clean it afterward. You will need to shave the dog’s head completely.
This is very important to avoid if you plan on having a show dog. If the judges see brown spots under the eyes, they won’t be very pleased, and your dog won’t do well in the competition.
RELATED: Hair Loss Around Dogs’ Eyes: Causes Of Canine Alopecia
To Sum It Up
Owning a dog comes with a lot of decision making, and choosing your dog’s haircut is one of those decisions. We want to make sure that our dogs are comfortable, but stylish and cute at the same time.
Choosing a haircut for your dog should be a fun experience, and we are sure that whatever hairstyle you choose for your dog, it will be the best option for both of you. We hope that this list of Bichon Frise haircuts has made your decision making a bit easier.
Whatever style your dog ends up with, it will be rocking it, and will attract all the attention. We haven’t seen any Bichon Frise that isn’t cute… have you? They look good in every hairstyle possible.
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