This powderpuff of a pooch has skyrocketed in popularity in recent years. More playful and boisterous, yet less snooty and posh than a Poodle, a Bichon Frise puppy still needs a little luxury when it comes to maintaining that fluffy, plush white coat.
So, when to cut a Bichon Frise puppy? Can you shave them? How can you care for your Bichon Frise puppy’s eyes? What should you do about their ears and paws? In the paragraphs to come, we’ll give you a basic guide to maintaining your Bichon Frise puppy’s fur, including what you should do every day and what you can do at home!
When should you groom a Bichon Frise puppy?
That unique puffy white coat needs a lot of care! The care your Bichon Frise needs falls into two main categories: regular and full.
Your Bichon Frise’s regular care consists of general everyday maintenance brushing, as well as some touching-up. Ideally, you should brush your Bichon Frise every day or two, inspecting for parasites, dirt, and debris. Daily brushing will prevent knots and tangles and will help you prevent many health problems in your Bichon Frise puppy. Using a bush like this one is a good option.
A slicker brush, with fine metal bristles, will quickly and gently detangle your Bichon pup’s hair. Some owners use a detangling spray like this one I use, too. Since the breed is prone to mouth and eye fur staining, you may also like to wipe your Bichon Frise’s eyes and mouth with a cloth daily. Simple water should suffice. Alternatively, see what your vet recommends if your Bichon Frise’s tear staining is severe.
Then, about every three weeks, your Bichon Frise will need their full groom. This is when you wash your Bichon’s fur, trim it, and give them a thorough detangling and conditioning. You can do this at home, or send your Bichon Frise to the groomer’s.
If you want to wash your Bichon Frise puppy at home – this should be around every four weeks – place them securely in your sink, a basin, or even in your tub or shower. Wet your Bichon Frise’s coat with some lukewarm water. Then, use a white coat shampoo or detangling shampoo.
Dog shampoo or detangling shampoo to use on a Bichon Frise
- BioSilk Silk Therapy Detangling Dog Shampoo
- Professional Pet Products Aroma Care Detangling Mango Pet Shampoo
Work the shampoo through your Bichon Frise puppy’s fur until they are completely covered in lather. You can use your fingers, or your Bichon’s comb. Then, when your puppy’s fur is in better condition, simply rinse all the shampoo out.
For optimum puffiness, try giving your Bichon Frise puppy a blow dry! Alternatively, try a heated comb or a doggy fur-dryer if they won’t tolerate the noise. You can get ones that allow you to brush your Bichon pup while they also gently blow out air. These fur dryers are convenient and time-saving.
How often should a Bichon be clipped?
Besides their jovial and friendly personality, part of the reason why Bichon Frise puppies are so popular is their fluffy, hypoallergenic coat. However, what many owners don’t anticipate is, this non-shedding fuzz needs extensive, tedious care since it doesn’t fall out by itself.
So, if you want to prevent matting and skin conditions, you’ll need to make sure your Bichon Frise puppy is clipped every four weeks. If you have the right tools at home like these – Pet Republique Cordless Dog & Cat Nail Grinder & Nail Clippers
Or you can do this yourself. Otherwise, it’s time to book your Bichon Frise puppy in for a pampering session with your local dog groomer.
How do you cut a Bichon Frise puppy?
Now that your Bichon Frise puppy is nice and clean, it’s time to give them a home trim! The Bichon Frise’s unique super-fluffy coat can give you the opportunity to get seriously creative, especially when it’s all nice and puffy after a bath.
But first, did you know that your Bichon Frise puppy actually has two different types of fur? Yes, it’s true – if you look closely, you’ll notice darker, coarser hair hidden amongst your Bichon’s fluffy white plumage. This outer coat combines with your Bichon Frise’s ample white undercoat to form a weatherproof double coat.
There are some tools you’ll need to track down before you cut your Bichon Frise puppy at home. Small, basic scissors will help you gently trim areas like your Bichon pup’s inner ears, paws, and other fiddly bits, while an undercoat rake will help remove the hair that needs to fall out during the shedding season. And, of course, you’ll need some buzzy clippers to shave off your puppy’s excess fur and to sculpt their look.
If your Bichon pup has plenty of fur, the sky’s the limit on what you can do. An all-over 6mm buzz will keep them comfortable during the summer months. Or, during cooler, muddier times, keep their body fur long and cosy and their belly fur short, for easy post-walkies cleaning!
You really do have the chance to get imaginative, while still being practical. Why not get some inspiration from professional groomers on YouTube? There’s the Puppy Cut, the Teddy Cut, and loads more to experiment with!
How do I trim my Bichon Frise’s eyes?
The eyes are a fiddly area to trim for any dog, but the Bichon Frise’s eyes are prone to minor problems on top of this. For example, most Bichons are prone to black, sticky discharge around the eyes.
Though this is normal for a Bichon Frise and nothing to be concerned about, this discharge can get out of hand if you don’t stay on top of it. So, proper trimming of the area around your Bichon Frise puppy’s eyes is important, in order to prevent eye infections and damage.
First of all, clean away as much dark gunk as you possibly can. Use a wipe or wet facecloth. Then, begin by gently trimming the inner hair near the corners of your Bichon puppy’s eyes with the bluntest scissors you have to hand. Gently brush the hair out before you cut it. If this does not yield results, switch to something slightly sharper. But, always be careful.
You could also touch up the hair above your Bichon pup’s eyes, in case it starts to impair their vision. Just give it a gentle trim with some small scissors. Trim the hair around your Bichon puppy’s eyes regularly and it will do wonders for those discharge stains!
