If you're looking for a mild tempered dog to give your family companionship, a Bichon Frise is the perfect solution. These sweet little dogs are excellent companions for any family, and their long lifespan means that they can spend years with you and your children. One of the most important things to remember about the Bichon Frise is that their lovely white coat requires daily combing to prevent mats, which can lead to more severe skin conditions.

There are two basic cuts that you will find in the Bichon Frise breed - the show cut, and the Bichon Frise puppy cut. Most owners who have no intention of showing their dogs prefer the Bichon Frise puppy cut, as it is much shorter and easier to maintain. Giving your dog a puppy cut may be the perfect solution for you if you don't plan on entering your dog into any competitions.

Even if your dog has a Bichon Frise puppy cut, he will still require daily maintenance and weekly baths to keep his fur free from dirt and mats. It is important to remember to comb your dog out completely before bathing so that the mats do not become a permanent part of your dogs coat, otherwise you may have to shave your dog completely to allow the fur to grow back normally.

Even with the shorter fur, you will still need to brush your dog's fur on a daily basis, and bathe him at least once a week. It is important to remember to comb your dog's fur before putting them in the tub, rather than after, as wet mats can become a permanent part of your dog's coat, which will then need to be shaved to correct. Your dog's groomer can show you the proper combs, brushes and clippers to use to maintain your dog's Bichon Frise puppy cut between professional grooming sessions.

Even if your dog has a Bichon Frise puppy cut he will still require daily brushing and combing to keep the fur from matting. You should also give your dog a bath once a week to keep the fur clean of any irritants. It is important to remember to comb the fur thoroughly before bathing, as wet mats in the fur become impossible to remove; and a dog with impossible mats will have to be completely shaved to correct the problem.

The hair around the eyes needs to be trimmed on a regular basis, as well. This way your dog can see and be seen.

If you are planning to show your Bichon Frise, then you need to remember that a Bichon Frise puppy cut will actually disqualify your dog from competition. The cut required for competing is much fuller, and needs to be maintained on a weekly basis, rather than every six to eight weeks.

But if your dog is only a pet, and you want to make life easier on the both of you, then a Bichon Frise puppy cut is definitely the right choice for you to make.