The purebred Bichon Frise is a lovely little pooch with a smile glued to its face. The facts are undeniable: Bichons are amazing pets, but between male vs female Bichon Frise, who wins most hearts?
This is not a simple question to answer as both genders make excellent pets.
The only question here is which gender do you prefer?
To help you answer these questions and understand the Bichon Frise dog breed better, here are the biggest differences between the sires and the dames.
If you want to see who wins the male vs female Bichon Frise battle, keep on reading! By the end of this article, you’ll know who wins your heart.
Bichon Frise Dog Breed
Who here would like to have a cuddly, soft lap dog? I know everyone would love to dig their fingers into the fluffy white coat of a Bichon Frise! You know, that little pooch with a permanent smile on its face? I’m sure a lot of you have seen this dog but didn’t know its name.
Well, now you do! Let’s meet the adorable circus attraction turned beloved pet – the Bichon Frise.
The Bichon Frise dog breed, or the Tenerife de Bichon, has a long and rich history. The origin of the breed is not precisely known as we have two different ideas of how this breed managed to become a popular choice for all dog lovers.
What we do know is that the Bichon Frise has roots from the warm Mediterraneas. The breed was first found in the 14th century. One source claims that the breed comes from the family of Barbichons. This is a big dog family, which also includes the Havanese, the Maltese, the Bolognese, and the Coton de Tulear.
The breed developed on the grounds of Italy. Some say that the Spanish sailors brought them back from the island of Tenerife. Others think that the Bichon Frise was a war loot brought by French soldiers from Italy.
No matter which origin story is the real one, the Bichon Frise became a popular choice for Europe’s royalty. The whole world enjoyed their adorable appearance, and even sweeter temperament. Bichons were so in demand that even the Spanish painter, Goya, loved implementing them into his paintings.
But, the years spent with the royal court soon came to an end. Bichons became a dog for commoners somewhere around the 1800s. Their goofy temperament made them circus attractions! From royal halls to circus tents, Bichons tried it all!
It was 1956 when the first Bichon arrived in the States. Twenty years in the future and the breed became approved by the American Kennel Club (AKC). Ever since, this dog breed has been ruling the popularity ladders of the most popular companion dogs.
Male Vs Female Bichon Frise: Size
We’re used to having female dogs quite smaller than male dogs. That’s an unwritten rule for many dog breeds. But, that’s not the case with this dog breed. Bichon Frise puppies, no matter which gender they are, look the same size-wise.
An average Bichon Frise is a small dog, weighing only 12 to 18 pounds. They’re short fellas, with only 9.5 to 11.5 inches at the withers.
You can’t see a clear, visual distinction between Bichon Frise genders. You can only tell they’re different by looking at their private features.
Male Vs Female Bichon Frise: Appearance
When you look at two Bichons standing next to each other, you can’t tell which one is male and which one is female. The only way you can tell them apart is by rolling them over on their back and looking at their private parts. Other than that, no differences whatsoever.
The Bichon Frise is a truly adorable dog breed with the sweetest looks. You will recognize them by their fluffy, curly white coat with long hair. They do have a soft undercoat, but Bichons are still considered hypoallergenic dogs.
Silky-soft to the touch, Bichons can come in several coat colors, including white & cream, white & apricot, and white & buff. They’re not a delight to groom as they require lots of upkeep. You should brush your Bichon daily – if you can’t, then two to three times a week will do. Bathing and hair clipping is also something you should do on a regular schedule. Monthly bathing and clipping is a must for the Bichon Frise breed.
What most people first notice other than their coat is the Bichon’s cute, little round eyes in black or brown. They’re shiny, sparkly, and can see right through you.
Bichons have a rather proportionate body, with a round head, a wide chest, and a fluffy tail slightly curved to the back.
Even though they’re small breed dogs, Bichons have a strong underjaw. Their bite is scissor, and even the slightest underbite or overbite is against breed standards.
The Bichon Frise is a star of all conformation shows, and a frequent winner of blue ribbons.
Character Traits Of Both Bichon Genders
It’s the personality traits that make male Bichons different from female Bichons. The biggest differences between the two genders are a matter of their relationship with the family and the pets.
Generally speaking, Bichon males are happy pups and true circus performers. They thrive to make people laugh with their quirky temperament and incredible stunts. Bichons are funny creatures that never rest. Every second of their day is filled with laughter and joy.
But, not every Bichon is this happy. There are significant differences between male and female dogs. Surprisingly, males are bigger cuddlers than females. They’re sweeter, and more oriented to their owners.
Male Bichons are more playful. I mean, all dogs are at some point, but females are not the same as males. Females are friendly, but they tend to act beyond reach. They’re more clingy and obsessive than males.
On the other hand, males become funnier as they grow older. They’re puppies trapped inside adult-dog bodies. These eternal puppies need attention all the time, and they will ask for it.
Unlike male pups, females have mood swings. Picture this: you’re sitting on the couch, cuddling your female Bichon, and all of a sudden, she jumps up and leaves the room. It’s her way of saying she’s had enough attention and wants to be alone. For one moment, a female will enjoy what she’s doing, and the other, she will change her mind and move on to something else. It’s just the way she rolls.
Being this moody makes females quite aloof with people they don’t know. Her strong character makes her very judgy. Aloofness is a character trait that grows bigger as the female matures.
All in all, Bichons have a rather good character if you don’t mind a clingy pet. However, you should be aware that such pets are more likely to develop separation anxiety. If you’re working long hours, and you have no one to doggy sit your pet, then maybe this dog breed isn’t ideal for you.
Training A Bichon: Easy-Peasy Or Rock-Hard?
Of all dog breeds, Bichons are the ones that can have their heart broken if you train them roughly. Gentle training is what these dogs need; not a firm hand. Bichons aren’t dominant creatures, so you won’t have to worry about them assuming the alpha dog role.
Trainability is strong with the Bichon. These dogs will listen to your commands and do their best to see you satisfied.
The Bichon Frise is one smart cookie. This is a dog breed known for its impressive intelligence level. Not only do they learn basic commands fast, but they’re also excellent in learning tricks; hence, their history of circus performers. Bichons love to participate in agility, obedience, and rally competitions. If you have time to compete, these activities would make their life a whole lot better.
Between males and females, males are the ones that master any training like so! Since male Bichons are friendlier and more eager to please humans, you shouldn’t have any issue with training them. These doggies are very food-motivated. So, if you have a snack in your hand, and you’re trying to teach them a trick, rest assured that the lesson will end successfully.
Positive reinforcement is the way to go with every dog breed!
However, sometimes positive reinforcement doesn’t do the trick, especially with females. Female Bichon Frise dogs are headstrong… very much! Although this dog breed isn’t dominant by default, females can still act dominantly trying to make themselves in charge.
If the female is not in the mood for training, she won’t do it no matter what kind of treat you have for her.
One thing many Bichon owners do wrong is spoil their pets. Spoiling males shouldn’t be problematic, but spoiling females… it only results in a spoiled princess pup!
Male Vs Female Bichon Frise: Is One Gender Healthier Than The Other?
Bichons of both genders are genuinely healthy pups. If you take good care of them, these doggos can live a long life of 14 to 16 years. This long lifespan is mostly because they’re not so prone to severe health problems. Bichons do have some problems that both males and females face.
The biggest health issues facing this dog breed are:
– Hip dysplasia
– Cushing’s disease
Patellar luxation, or luxating patella, occurs when the kneecap gets dislocated. It’s a condition that strikes most small breed dogs.
Hip dysplasia presents abnormal bone growth when the thigh bone doesn’t fit in the hip’s joint. It’s crippling and leads to osteoporosis and arthritis.
Lastly, Cushing’s disease (hypercortisolism and hyperadrenocorticism) is a disease affecting a dog’s adrenal gland, producing too many stress hormones.
While these are the most common Bichon Frise health problems, there are some that strike only males and only females. We don’t have any scientific proof that males are healthier than females, or vice versa.
Male Bichon Frise dogs can develop health conditions linked to their reproductive system. Males can suffer from cryptorchidism. This condition describes a dog’s testicles when they fail to drop down into the scrotum. Also, unneutered males are more prone to testicular tumors and cancer. That’s why if you’re not breeding your Bichons, I recommend you neuter the males. This will put their testosterone levels under control, and make them less aggressive.
Female counterparts also benefit from spaying. A spayed female has 0% chance of developing mammary cancer. However, it’s important that you do this procedure before your dame reaches her first or second heat cycle. Spaying also minimizes uterine infections and makes the female calmer.
What I recommend you do is check your Bichon Frise puppy for juvenile cataracts. They strike at an early age, and if not treated, they can leave severe damage. Always choose a good breeder – someone who will provide you documents from the pup’s health testings, proving he’s completely healthy.
Male Vs Female Bichon Frise: Which Is Pricier?
Bichon Frise dogs are not that common in dog shelters and rescue organizations. The only way you can get a completely healthy Bichon is by buying from a reputable breeder. But,a price of a Bichon Frise is not that cheap. Most high-quality examples of the breed will cost near $3,500.
On average, these dogs range from $900 to $3,500. There is no strict difference in prices between the male vs female Bichon Frise. Some dog breeders will charge more for a male, while some will list males as cheaper. There is no rule when it comes to this pricing. However, most breeders will charge the same for both genders.
When adopting / buying a Bichon Frise puppy, you need a breeder who will take good care of the puppy and its parents. You’re expected to ask the breeder questions about the puppy, the health testing provided, and the condition of the entire litter, its parents, etc. Health tests are included in the price.
But, there are other goodies included in the package other than the puppy, so make sure you know which ones.
Bichon Frise pups are not only expensive to buy, but expensive to maintain. You will spend a little fortune on grooming a Bichon Frise at a professional dog groomer. I suggest you pick up a “Dog Grooming for Dummies” book and get started!
Are Male Bichon Frise Friendlier Than Females?
Bichon Frise dogs are companionable animals. They love spending time around their family, and newcomers and other animals are welcome, too. Still, you need to submit them to early socialization lessons in order to have a well-functioning adult Bichon.
If you’re tight with time, but you need to socialize your pup, I recommend you check the area for local puppy kindergartens or daycare centers. Arranging playdates in the dog park works well, too.
Bichons are very adaptable pups, good for apartment living and all sorts of lifestyles. But, there is a big difference between Bichons in terms of friendliness.
By default, male Bichons are more friendly, but you need to have them neutered to behave well. Unneutered males act territorial, and they often exhibit marking behavior. Once you neuter your sire, he will have a good relationship with other males.
Most dog breeds have dominant males, but that’s not the case with the Bichon. Males are submissive to females, which are dominant. In general, females don’t do well with other females. It brings out their competitive side.
Compared to males, female Bichons are moody and less friendly. They will tell you when they’ve had enough attention by walking away. Unlike males, they don’t really like small kids, but they will still tolerate them. Males are completely okay with rumble, kid noise, and foot traffic.
But, I’m gonna let you in on a tiny secret… Bichons may be loud, but they’re only big barkers, just like Poodles or Beagles. They don’t bite! This makes them good watchdogs. However, if you need a guardian, better get a Rottweiler.
All in all, the Bichon Frise is a family dog, with male counterparts being super friendly and sweet.
Bichon Frise Male Vs Female: Which Is More Problematic?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKEnzGSODE0
When you take into consideration what I’ve learned so far, you can definitely say one gender is more problematic than the other. I know this depends on the owner’s personal preference, but the facts are undeniable: females are more problematic than males.
With their reserved attitude and aloofness, females aren’t everyone’s first choice when choosing a Bichon.
Females aren’t clingy dogs. They’re self-sufficient and don’t care for too much attention. If you’re looking for a cuddle buddy, then a female Bichon shouldn’t be your choice.
Males, whether they’re neutered or not, are terrific companions and generally get along with everyone.
I wouldn’t hesitate to get a male Bichon as a females’ cold energy might not be everyone’s cup of tea.
Who Is More Gluttonous: Male Vs Female Bichon Frise?
Photo from: @kingkong_the_bichon
Bichon Frise pups are small breed dogs that don’t need too much food. In fact, they shouldn’t eat too much in order to prevent obesity. An average Bichon Frise can eat 1/2 to 1 ½ cups of high-quality dog food. Compared to two to three cups of kibble that most dogs eat, this is a fairly small amount.
But, this amount of dog food should be divided into two meals.
Never leave food all the time so that your Bichon eats as much as he can. Limit the meals to keep the dog fit. Bichons are very sensitive dogs. They can develop a condition called urolithiasis or urinary tract stones. That’s why they require plenty of fresh water and dog food appropriate for this dog breed.
Not every bag of kibble will work for your Bichon. If you feed this dog the wrong kind of dog food, you’re risking stomach problems as well as issues with the dog’s immunity system.
To answer the current burning question, we can’t tell who’s more gluttonous. Both males and females can have different feeding habits. But, neither males nor females are huge eaters.
The Final Verdict: Is A Male Bichon Better Than Its Female Counterpart?
When it comes to male vs female Bichon Frise, we can’t make the final decision. What suits one owner might not be okay with another. I can claim male Bichons are sweeter and friendlier, but that won’t work for the next person.
The truth is that both genders are good family dogs. Bichons are sociable dogs. They love spending time with their humans and other pets. Some like it more than others, and that’s completely fine! Not every dog is the same.
I’m not saying you should never get a female Bichon. They can be sweet, too. It’s just that they love for everything to have a boundary. Too much cuddling? No, thank you. Females will politely walk away if they’re not fine with the chosen activity. They will never bite or attack a human without being severely in danger.
Bichon Frise dogs are my #1 choice for small, lap-sized dogs. They are cute, happy, and smiling all the time. These are the perfect words to describe this wonderful fluffy pooch!