Bichon Frise Shedding: Everything you need to know

Bichon Frise is a small lovable and cheerful furry friend with a beautiful white coat that makes him a joy to the house. This dog is small in size to an extent that you might think he is a toy if it’s your first time meeting him. These are probably the happiest dogs you can ever come across.

Even though Bichon Frise doesn’t shed a lot of fur, they still shed and this calls for a little care. Besides, they are hypoallergenic which makes them ideal for those who show allergic reactions to dogs. So with the low shedding, does it mean that the Bichon Frise is low on maintenance?

Well, you will be surprised to learn that this is dog actually challenging and costly to maintain despite its less shedding. How is that even possible? Well, these are some of the many questions that we seek to answer in this article. Read a long.

How much does Bichon Frise Shed?

This breed sheds lightly all year but they have shedding seasons as well. During the shedding seasons, however, there isn’t much fur lost either. The loss of hair isn’t anywhere comparable to the other breeds of double-coated dogs.

The lost hair isn’t even visible in most cases unless you take a brush and start grooming him. The amount of hair that a dog sheds usually depends on the breed type and by extension the rate of hair growth cycle.  If the growth cycle is long the growth becomes less and the shedding also becomes minimal; this is the case with Bichon Frise.

Given the small sizes of these dogs, even if they shed the hair lost isn’t usually much. This is unlike the large breeds. In fact, if you groom the Bichon Frise right and regularly you will rarely notice any hair in your house.

Even though Bichon Frise sheds less often, there are instances that you might notice excessive shedding from this breed. This can be as a result of poor diet, fleas or even allergies amongst a variety of some other stuff.

Are Bichon Frise Hypoallergenic?

Dander has been for a long time the reason as to why some people don’t keep pets including dogs. There are people who show allergic reactions to dander from dogs. However, Bichon Frise being light shedders they aren’t among the groups that release lots of dander to the surrounding environment.

They are therefore less likely to cause allergic reactions to those who are sensitive to dander. Don’t misconstrue this piece of information that no reaction at all will be caused. There might be allergic reactions but not to greater magnitudes.

Even in “hairless” dogs, there are still chances of allergic reactions being witnessed as a combination of dander, urine, sweat and saliva can never be avoided in dogs. This deadly mixture sticks to hair that is shed meaning the less the hair lost the less likely the reaction will be.

If by chance you happen to belong to the group that is usually allergic to dander, then Bichon Frise is a good option for you. This is as a result of their non-allergenic and low shedding characteristics.

How to groom Bichon Frise

As you are already aware, Bichon Frise don’t shed lots of hair. However, they are quite costly to maintain when it comes to grooming. The high coat maintenance can be attributed to the double coat.

Bichon Frise coats are divided into two; inner undercoat mainly fur and the outer hair. The inner fur acts as insulation against extreme weather conditions such as during winter or summer. The outer layer is usually puffy and coarse which is kind of protecting the inner fur.

Tending to these two layers is not only time consuming but also requires a lot of attention. To maintain this coat, therefore, you need to practice the below:

Brushing

The easiest way to maintain your Bichon Frise’s coat is through brushing. By brushing, you help to get rid of the hair that has been lost. Also take note that when you brush the coat, you straighten the hair thus preventing the formation of tangles.

Brushing also helps in the spreading of coat oils thereby keeping him healthy. To groom the coat properly, you need to brush your little friend every day. Doing it daily prevents the formation of tangles and mats.

To get the job done, you need the best brush. The ideal brush to use on Bichon Frise is the pin brush. Pin brushes are known to be the best in dirt and dander removal. Once a thorough brushing has been done, it is recommended that you use a comb for final and smooth touches.

The final combing leaves the coat neat and curly.

Trimming

Are you surprised? Yes, even though Bichon Frise is not long-haired you still need to trim his hair. A pair of scissors will do the job right. Keeping the hair trimmed, neat and clean is a way of keeping the dog healthier.

Bathing

To maintain the coat, you should also think of washing your furry friend once in a while. You need to consider the right materials like shampoos for Bichon Frise to properly yet cautiously wash the Bichon Frise. A wrong shampoo could lead to your dog shedding lots of hair.

A gentler shampoo will be so ideal if your dog suffers from skin sensitivity. If the shampoo is made from natural ingredients the better. Oatmeal shampoos are also some great considerations to make.

A brightening shampoo will be great when it comes to whitening of the coat. Currently, there are also anti-shed shampoos that could be used if you happen to notice the shedding is becoming too much.

Conditioning shampoos are also great when it comes to straightening of tangles and curls. The bath shouldn’t be a frequent thing, once every month will be so ideal. After every bath ensure that the Bichon Frise is properly dried to eliminate chances of skin infections occurring.

Dieting

Proper dieting also plays a significant in ensuring that your dog has a healthy and desirable coat. Lack of nutrients in the body sometimes might cause excessive hair loss in Bichon Frise. What you feed your little friend goes a long way in making him look younger and healthier.

Always feed your Bichon Frise on well-balanced dog meals. Avoid including too much of human foods in your dog’s bowl. Fatty acids and oils are good at skin nourishment. Lots of minerals and nutrients are also known to be good in supporting healthy coat and skin.

Wrapping Up

Bichon Frise are intelligent and adorable dogs that are a great companion either. They are loved by a good number of people because of their low shedding and hypoallergenic coat. Despite the low shedding, it is still in order to groom these furry friends.

If you want the little friend to maintain a healthy coat, all you need to practice are the above outlined processes. You will be surprised at how younger and happier your dog will be. If you can’t do them at home, then you can involve the services of a professional groomer. Do you still have questions pertaining Bichon Frise shedding? Feel free to contact us in case you have any concerns or even some additions you have to make to make the topic more useful.