The best tips for grooming a Bichon Frise include cleaning tear stains around the eyes and regularly brushing its coat. The Bichon Frise is a friendly, happy breed of dog that sheds very little. Many people are under the impression that the Bichon Frise does not shed at all, but this in not the case. They do lose hair, especially when not groomed on a regular basis. The coat of this breed is thick and curly and not unlike that of a poodle.
Although a total grooming session should take place every several weeks, Bichon Frises require abbreviated grooming sessions at least twice weekly. When grooming a Bichon Frise, the undercoat should be combed thoroughly to discourage the formation of mats. If not brushed with a slicker brush on a regular basis, painful matting and pulling of the delicate skin may result. When grooming a Bichon Frise, tear stains need to be cleaned around the eyes with a soft cloth moistened with warm water.
Carefully trimming the hair around the ears and eyes is also an essential component of grooming a Bichon Frise because it not only improves the dog's look, it is keeps irritating stray hairs out of the eyes and ears. Also, the Bichon Frise should be bathed monthly, and the hair should be hand-fluffed until dry. Using a home blow dryer might be too harsh for the dog's sensitive skin, so a professional dog grooming dryer can be used.
Since the coat of the Bichon Frise is white, experts sometimes recommend that when brushing or combing the coat, a small amount of corn flower be used to keep the coat looking clean and fresh. When grooming a Bichon Frise, the nails need to be trimmed with a dog nail clipper in small increments at a time. If the owner doesn't feel comfortable clipping the dog's nails, a professional groomer should do the job. Sometimes, it is difficult to differentiate where the nail meets the quick, and if accidentally nipped, the quick can bleed profusely.
The Bichon Frise has a very distinctive look, and the owner should consider having it done by a professional groomer, especially the first time the animal is groomed. The groomer can offer tips and advice on various methods of clipping the hair, and maintaining the look of the breed. Simple grooming measures such as wiping away tear stains, brushing and combing the coat, and detangling the fur with a steel comb can be done at home, however.