What initially attracts most people to the Bichon Frise is his jaunty, sturdy look. His jet black eyes and nose are encircled by a halo of white that gives him a unique look among all breeds. The Bichon not only loses his distinction, but is robbed of that insulator that protects him from the cold of winter and heat of summer. The Bichon Frise is a double-coated breed. That is, he has a soft wooly undercoat and an outer coat consisting of harder hair. The combination of the two types of hair serves as an insulation against the elements – both hot and cold.
To preserve the look that attracted the new owner to the Bichon in the first place, he or she must be prepared to take care of that distinctive coat and keep it groomed not only to keep your Bichon clean and healthy but also to maintain the wonderful look of the breed.
Breeders begin the grooming process while their puppies are still in the nest and by the time your little fellow is ready to join your household he has undoubtedly had to cope with regular home care – nail trimming, dental inspection, brushing, and clipping.
You must keep up this routine. If not you will find that it will take some retraining to teach your Bichon that this is a part of his day-to-day existence. You and your new addition are going to spend a considerable amount of time together accomplishing those grooming chores so we suggest you make the time as enjoyable and easy as possible for the both of you.
The very young Bichon puppy doesn’t require a whole lot of grooming. A good brush and comb can take care of the majority of it. However, you will find that tiny Pierre will grow like a weed in the early months of his life and along with that growth will come more time required to keep his coat properly cared for.
Some new owners choose to learn to groom and clip their Bichons themselves. Others leave the major work to the professional groomer and just do the maintenance work between regular appointments. Regardless, there are certain basic grooming tools you will need to start off with. You will need a good brush and comb from the first day your puppy arrives until he is a senior citizen.
The best brush for puppy hair is called a “slicker brush”. It is an oblong metal brush with curved pins set in rubber. This brush can be used all over the young Bichon and on the shorter hair and legs of the adult Bichon. Care must be taken in using this brush in that it can scratch the skin of your puppy if not used gently and it can pull out the undercoat of the adult Bichon if not used correctly.
The most useful comb for the Bichon is what groomers refer to as a “Greyhound comb”. This is a metal comb about 8 inches long divided in half with teeth set very close on one half and wider on the other half. This comb helps with mats, tangles, and also to make the hair stand out from the body to achieve that “teddy bear” look.
Grooming is a part of your Bichon’s life so make it as easy to accomplish as possible. Don’t attempt to do it sitting on the floor or with the Bichon sitting on your lap. Buy or build yourself a good grooming table. A card table equipped with a nonskid pad can be used if it is of the correct height for you to work in a standing position. The problem with a card table is that the large area makes most dogs want to move away from the groomer.
A grooming table of the proper size – just large enough for the adult Bichon to stand and lie down on – will ease your task considerably especially if it is of the height that allows you to work comfortably. Several owners I know adjust their grooming tables to a height that can accommodate being used while they are sitting and watching television. Adjustable grooming tables can be purchased at most of the manor pet stores and will prove their worth as your Bichon’s coat matures.
Some owners have found that they enjoy the look of the full-coated mature Bichon and are willing to invest the time involved in keeping the hair well groomed. Another important lesson your Bichon must learn is lie on his side while you brush. Teaching him to do so will save you all kinds of time and allow you to easily reach those hard to get to places, such as under his “arms” and around the genitalia.
The easiest way to train your Bichon to do this is to pick him up from the grooming table while he is in a standing position. Put your hands around his front and rear and hold him to your chest. Lean forward and lay him down on his side on the grooming table. Comfort him and say, “Stay”.
Encourage him to stay in that position by holding your hands palms down on his side and repeating “stay” and “Good boy”. It will take a bit of time for your Bichon to relax in this position but eventually he will become totally cooperative. Many Bichons will be found to doze off and take a trip to dreamland during their grooming sessions.
Caution. Even if you plan to handle all of your Bichon’s grooming chores yourself, we highly recommend a few trips to the professional groomer while your puppy is still young. Not only will it help establish a grooming pattern to follow, it will also accustom your youngster to the hustle and bustle of the grooming shop and being groomed by strangers.
Inevitably, there will come a time when you can’t attend to your Bichon’s grooming chores or when you want him to look especially good for a special occasion. If you wait until he is an adult for his first experience at the grooming parlor, he could easily be terrorized by something so strange and new.
Grooming Equipment You Will Need
In order for the amateur groomer to learn how to accomplish the finished look that professionals are able to create there are a number of bottom line items of equipment that are necessary. Most of this equipment can be obtained at your local pet store or beauty supply shops for humans. This is all equipment that you will be able to use for the life of your Bichon so when prorated over the length of time you will use it even the best possible quality represents a miniscule investment.
• Grooming table. Major considerations are size that is correct for the adult Bichon and height that allows you to work comfortably in a standing position.
• Pin brush. Also referred to as a “Poodle brush” this sports long pliable metal bristles set in rubber. This brush is necessary for the adult Bichon’s longer hair and for brush drying the coat after a bath.
• Slicker brush. This multipurpose brush will prove useful from puppyhood on.
• Greyhound comb. Slip this into your back pocket or backpack for quick touchups and to help remove tangles and debris while out on a hike.
• Tweezers or hemostat. Either can be used to remove the hair that grows inside a Bichon’s ears and causes wax to accumulate.
• Shampoo. Choose one especially formulated for white dog hair.
• Baby or grooming powder. This is very useful in helping to separate mats and tangles.
• Electric hair clippers, scissors, curved scissors. These items will become more and more useful as your Bichon matures and especially if you plan to keep him in trim yourself. High quality products are well worth the investment and will last a lifetime.
