This article was co-authored by Lancy Woo. Lancy Woo is a Certified Pet Groomer and the Owner of VIP Grooming, a pet grooming salon based in San Francisco, California. VIP Grooming has served San Francisco for over 35 years. Lancy received her pet grooming certification from the WWPSA (Western Word Pet Supply Association). VIP Grooming has been voted "Best in the Bay" in 2007, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2017, 2018, and 2019 and won Bay Woof’s "Beast of Bay" in 2014. In 2018, Lancy's work contributed to VIP Grooming's acceptance onto San Francisco's Office of Economic and Workforce Development's Legacy Business Registry.
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Bichon Frises are a popular breed of small dog. They have exceptionally fluffy fur that makes them soft and aesthetically pleasing but somewhat difficult to bathe. If you bathe them improperly or infrequently, their fur can develop knots or shed excessively. Because of their unique hair, you'll want to bathe your Frise about once every other week. By getting the right materials and bathing it properly, you'll have a squeaky clean puppy in no time.
Steps
Gather Your Supplies
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1Find the right tub and hose. Bichons are small so you can bath them in a deep sink. You can also use a regular bathtub or a kiddie pool if you prefer. Bichons have a lot of fur so make sure it's a surface you can easily clean afterwards.
- The maneuverability and water pressure of a hose will all you to more thoroughly saturate the pup's dense coat. It will be especially difficult to remove the shampoo and conditioner without it.
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2Lay down a rubber mat. If you are using a tub with a slick surface like a sink, your bichon may slip and slide around during the bath. Since the pup will likely try to run away during the bath, they could slip and hurt themselves or end up inhaling water unless you have a rubber surface underneath that will prevent this.[1] You can find a viable rubber mat at anyAdvertisement
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3Place cotton balls in the ears.[2] Bichons have a lot of hair in their inner ears. It will act as a sponge during the bath and be difficult to dry afterwards. If water leaks into their ear canals, it could cause an infection. Gently place a single cotton ball in each ear before the bath begins and remove them after you dry the pup off.
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4Use Bichon-friendly shampoo and conditioner. Bichons are prone to dry, sensitive skin so you'll want a shampoo that is specifically designed for dogs like this. Most shampoos will include a list of breeds that they are ideal for on the label.[3] The dense fur on Bichons tends to get tangled and bristled so use a dog conditioner that moisturizes.[4] You can find these shampoos and conditioners at any pet store and some major retailers like Walmart.
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5Consider a professional groomer. A professional groomer will bathe your puppy for you. They will also offer services to trim its hair, pumice its paws, and brush its teeth. Professional groomers will vary widely in price but the bath will usually cost at least $30 for a small dog like a Bichon with additional charges for other services.
Giving the Bath
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1Fill the tub. Lift the dog and place it in the tub. Fill the tub with lukewarm water.[5] Fill it so that the water rises up to the top of the dog's legs. Wet all of its fur before you apply shampoo.
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2Apply shampoo. Hold your dog with one hand so it doesn't jump out of the tub and apply the shampoo directly to the fur. Place a dollop on each side of the torso to start and rub it in so that it lathers and covers all of the dog's fur. Try to massage the shampoo deep into the fur.[6] Apply more as needed.[7]
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3Rinse the shampoo out. Use either a hose or a jug to pour warm water over the pup. Do this several times until all of the suds are out. You may need to hold the dog tight as it may squirm and try to get away.
- You can wash your dog's fur a second time with shampoo as well. While the first shampoo will lift dirt out of the fur, shampooing again will make your dog's coat pop.[8]
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4Apply conditioner and dry the fur. Apply the conditioner the same way as the shampoo. Start with a small dollop and add more until you thoroughly saturate the fur. Leave it in the fur for about five minutes before rinsing it out thoroughly. Wrap the pup in a soft towel and rub it all over to dry the fur. You can also use a blow dryer on a low heat setting to create a puffy look.
Expert Q&A
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QuestionWhat should I do when I bathe my Bichon Frise?
Lancy WooLancy Woo is a Certified Pet Groomer and the Owner of VIP Grooming, a pet grooming salon based in San Francisco, California. VIP Grooming has served San Francisco for over 35 years. Lancy received her pet grooming certification from the WWPSA (Western Word Pet Supply Association). VIP Grooming has been voted "Best in the Bay" in 2007, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2017, 2018, and 2019 and won Bay Woof’s "Beast of Bay" in 2014. In 2018, Lancy's work contributed to VIP Grooming's acceptance onto San Francisco's Office of Economic and Workforce Development's Legacy Business Registry.
Certified Pet GroomerBichon Frises have thicker hair, so shampooing them twice will help work out dirt and make their coat shine even more. -
QuestionWhat is the best water temperature when bathing a Bichon?Lancy WooLancy Woo is a Certified Pet Groomer and the Owner of VIP Grooming, a pet grooming salon based in San Francisco, California. VIP Grooming has served San Francisco for over 35 years. Lancy received her pet grooming certification from the WWPSA (Western Word Pet Supply Association). VIP Grooming has been voted "Best in the Bay" in 2007, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2017, 2018, and 2019 and won Bay Woof’s "Beast of Bay" in 2014. In 2018, Lancy's work contributed to VIP Grooming's acceptance onto San Francisco's Office of Economic and Workforce Development's Legacy Business Registry.
Certified Pet GroomerWarm is good. Dogs run a little bit warmer than we do, so a little bit more than lukewarm is a nice bath. -
QuestionAt what age do I give my puppy her first bath?
Community AnswerYou should ask your vet when it would be safe to start bathing her.
References
- ↑ http://pets.thenest.com/use-bathe-bichon-frise-9625.html
- ↑ Lancy Woo. Certified Pet Groomer. Expert Interview. 26 February 2020.
- ↑ Lancy Woo. Certified Pet Groomer. Expert Interview. 26 February 2020.
- ↑ http://www.lowchensaustralia.com/grooming/bichon-grooming.htm
- ↑ Lancy Woo. Certified Pet Groomer. Expert Interview. 26 February 2020.
- ↑ Lancy Woo. Certified Pet Groomer. Expert Interview. 26 February 2020.
- ↑ http://bichon.org/grooming-tips/
- ↑ Lancy Woo. Certified Pet Groomer. Expert Interview. 26 February 2020.
- ↑ Lancy Woo. Certified Pet Groomer. Expert Interview. 26 February 2020.
About This Article
To bathe a Bichon Frise puppy, you can use a deep sink, tub, or even a kiddie pool. Since Bichons have a lot of hair in their ears, which can act like sponges when wet, gently place a single cotton ball in each ear to prevent infection. You’ll also want to use a Bichon-friendly shampoo and conditioner since the breed is prone to dry, sensitive skin, dense fur, and tangles. Once you have everything prepared, fill your tub with a few inches of lukewarm water, place your puppy in, and get its hair wet. Then, shampoo and condition its hair and rinse the products out completely before removing your Bichon from the bath. For more tips from our Veterinary co-author, including how to choose a professional groomer for your Bichon, keep reading!
