The Bichon Frise, often known simply as the Bichon, is like a cloud on four legs. With its distinctive fluffy white coat, it's almost impossible not to want to cuddle one!

The Bichon Frise is believed to descend from the Barbet Water Spaniel and Poodle, with the breed's history dating back to around the 13th century. They were bred to be companion dogs and later became popular as circus performers and companions to street entertainers during the 19th century. Today, they continue to excel as loving family pets and are also successful show dogs.

The Bichon Frise is a small breed that, when groomed in the traditional Bichon style, has a distinctive round appearance. Their small ears are hidden beneath a soft, dense double coat that is most commonly pure white, although cream, apricot and buff markings are accepted in some breed standards, particularly in puppies.

The breed is considered low shedding. Their coat produces very little loose hair, which may make them more suitable for some allergy sufferers.
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Grooming is a significant commitment for Bichon owners. They require professional grooming approximately every four to six weeks, along with regular brushing at home to prevent mats. Their eyes also need frequent cleaning to help reduce tear staining and keep the area free from build-up.

The Bichon Frise is generally a healthy breed with an average lifespan of 14 to 15 years, although many live beyond this with excellent care.

Like all breeds, they can be prone to certain inherited conditions, including eye disorders, skin allergies, ear infections, epilepsy and luxating patellas. Choosing a responsible breeder who health tests their breeding dogs can significantly reduce the risk of many inherited conditions.

Don't let their small size fool you. The Bichon Frise is an energetic little dog that benefits from a daily walk and regular playtime.
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A structured daily walk provides valuable opportunities to explore, sniff and enjoy both mental and physical enrichment. Without enough exercise and stimulation, they can become bored and develop unwanted behaviours. Thanks to their adaptable nature, they are well suited to apartment or townhouse living, provided their daily exercise needs are met. They are also happy to play indoors and do not necessarily require a large backyard.

The Bichon Frise has always been bred for one purpose: companionship. Being close to their family is what they love most.

They are affectionate, gentle, entertaining and highly intelligent. Their eagerness to please makes them responsive to positive training, which should begin from a young age to help build confidence and prevent unwanted behaviours.

Bichons thrive in busy households where they can spend plenty of time with their people. They are naturally social dogs, so early exposure to different people, places and other animals helps them grow into happy, confident and well-balanced companions.
As with many small breeds, it's important not to baby a Bichon Frise. Doing so can contribute to Little Dog Syndrome, where a dog believes they are in charge of the household. This may lead to behaviours such as excessive barking, guarding, anxiety and snapping. Consistent training, clear boundaries and positive leadership help them become polite, well-mannered family members.

We get it. If you would love to open your home to an Assistance Dog in training but cannot commit on a full-time basis, volunteering can feel out of reach.

That is exactly why Assistance Dogs Australia offers its Weekend Care Program, giving volunteers the chance to support a dog in training while fitting the responsiblity around their lifestyle. 

The program allows volunteers to welcome a dog into their home from Friday afternoon to Monday morning, giving the dog valuable time in a loving home environment while they continue their Advanced Training Program during the week.
For volunteers, it is a wonderful way to experience the joy of having an Assistance Dog in training at home, while playing an important role in their development, socialisation and wellbeing.

Samantha, one of Assistance Dogs Australia’s Weekend Care Volunteers, knows this feeling well. She loves the opportunity to spend her weekends with a beautiful assistance dog, while helping support the incredible work these dogs go on to do for Australians living with disability.
Hear from her below; 

To learn more about Assistance Dogs Australia, their volunteer options and other ways you can support the amazing work they dog, visit their website here!

Preparing your dog for a new baby can seem very daunting. Your entire household is about to change, and you are preparing to adjust from your dog being your “baby” in the home to a real baby joining the mix.
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Preparing your dog for a new baby in advance is the key to ensuring the new adjustment within the home goes well.

The key to avoiding jealousy or sudden behavioural issues from your dog when your new baby arrives is to make all the changes that you possibly can well in advance. If you wait until the baby arrives to start moving furniture, or to stop your dog from being allowed on the couch or bed, they will see these changes as happening only because the baby is here, and this can lead to serious issues.
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If you are going to be moving furniture around, bringing new items into the home, changing the place your dog sleeps, or limiting access to certain areas, introduce these changes as soon as you can. This will give your dog time to adjust to the new routine well before the baby arrives.

Preparing your dog for a new baby includes involving them as much as possible. As new items come into the home for your baby, allow your dog to explore them. Let them sniff and inspect the new items.

If you will be allowing your dog in the spaces where your baby will be, teach them how you want them to behave around the baby’s items. For example, teach them that jumping on the cot or bassinet is not allowed, and remember to always reward them positively for their good behaviour.
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When the baby is born, but before you arrive home, allow your dog time to sniff a piece of clothing or a blanket that has the baby’s smell on it. Keep this introduction calm and reward your dog for their good behaviour at this time to create a positive initial interaction before the physical meeting.

As much as we don’t want it to be the case, when a new baby joins our family, the time and attention we once had for other things, including our dogs, becomes less…. especially in the first few weeks of a new-born’s life. You may not be able to go out on as many walks as you used to, and you may be sleeping more frequently (when you can).
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Start to gradually wind back some time with your dog now so they are comfortable with being alone or not right next to you like they used to be. You can introduce new toys and enrichment activities (like puzzle feeders) to help keep their mind busy and occupied for when your hands are full.

Use the time leading up to your baby’s arrival to ensure your dog has their basic training skills down pat. Make sure your dog understands basic commands such as ‘sit’, ‘stay’, ‘leave it’, and ‘go to your place’. This will help at times when you may have your hands full or if you need to give a command from a distance away. Remember to always display calm and confident leadership skills to ensure your dog trusts and respects your commands.

When the baby does arrive, be sure to set clear boundaries with your dog. If there is a space in the home that is their space (like a crate or dog bed), make sure it is available to them at all times. Also, be clear about spaces or areas they are not allowed in.

​If you will be using a pram for your baby, set it up and start using it on your walks prior to the baby’s arrival. Preparing your dog for a new baby involves more than just their home environment; to ensure you are able to safely still walk your dog with the baby in the pram, you need to make sure your dog is comfortable walking alongside the pram before the baby is in there.

As much as we may trust our dogs, a new baby in their space with their family is a very new and potentially confusing situation for any dog. Your dog should never be left unattended with a baby.

This is never to suggest that your dog is dangerous, but they may react or behave in a way that is unintentionally harmful to a baby or small child. For example:

• If your dog is a lap dog and is used to sitting on other people within the home, they may try to sit on a baby in the same way.
• A baby can also be very grabby with their hands and may accidentally grab or pinch your dog, who may react instinctively in a way that can harm a baby.
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To avoid any negative situations, you should never leave your baby and dog unsupervised at any time.

As your baby grows, and also as other children may come into your home, it’s important to always practice safe behaviours and handling of dogs. Be sure that children are aware of how to approach any dog respectfully and to never grab or pull at any part of their body.
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Training both humans and dogs alike ensures a much safer and happier environment for everyone.