There are over 200 different dog breeds, and with every breed comes a new coat type. Depending on the dog, you will have a single layer vs. double layer, straight or wavy, silky to wiry, short or long, and everything in between. With each new variety comes the need for specific grooming tools, and your Bichon Frise is no different.
You may not think that the grooming process is vital, but it is essential to your Bichon’s health. When you brush your Bichon, you help move the natural oils in the skin through their fur, as well as removing all debris, dead skin, and unwanted hair. The process keeps the coat healthy and shiny.
If you don’t groom regularly, the hair will mat, causing skin discomfort and pain. Once matting gets to a particular stage, it will cost you more time and money through expensive grooms and shave downs. However, regular brushing will remove the need for this and keep your Bichon happy.
Bichon Frises have a double coat of fur. There is a dense, soft inner layer known as the undercoat and a long outer layer of guard hairs. The outer layer sheds much like human hair, with just a little bit falling out over time. The undercoat is the layer that sheds the most. While shedding happens year-round, it will get more intense in the Spring and the Fall.
Your Bichon is growing new hair all the time, but since the undercoat is so densely packed, the new hair won’t have anywhere to go. When you brush your Bichon, you pull out the dead hairs and make room for the new growth. However, if you leave it, your Bichon will start to overheat, and the dead hairs will begin to mat and tangle.
This removal of the undercoat is what you should keep in mind when finding the right brushes for your Bichon. You should also be finding tools that separate the hair, help move the oil through the fur, as well as removing dirt, allergens, and other matter.
If you use the wrong tools, they will not only be ineffective, but they could damage the coat of your Bichon or even cause injury. You don’t need a lot of brushes and combs; you just need to know the right ones to use to keep your pal happy and healthy.
There are several different types of recommended brushes for your Bichon Frise. Always remember, however, that every dog is an individual, and your grooming strategy should be personal. Make sure that you’re trying out things and seeing if your Bichon likes it or not, and notice how their coat responds to different treatments.
A comb is an ideal tool to start with during the grooming process. Run it over your Bichon Frise to gently separate loose hairs and prevent undue stress on the fur once you start brushing. Since the undercoat is so thick, combing it will help loosen it up. If you hit any mats, gently work them out with the teeth of the comb.
Find a two-sided comb. One part of the comb should have widely-spaced teeth and will be used for the Bichon Frise’s main body. The other side should have narrowly-spaced teeth and is used for the face, paws, and other areas with shorter fur. You could also purchase a separate face comb, but a double-sided comb will work just as well.
Slicker brushes are a type of brush that is covered in tiny dense rows of pins. These pins will help detangle hairs, but their main job is the help remove all of the dense dead under layer. Since these bristles are so close-set, they can grab all of the necessary hair on your Bichon’s body. Preferably you will brush your Bichon with one of these about every three days.
You will want to make sure that your slicker brush is properly sized for a small dog. Having the right-sized brush will mean you can get into all of the crucial areas on your Bichon’s body. If your brush is too big, you will be tempted to miss some areas, which will cause matting over time.
A pin brush looks much like a human hairbrush, with more evenly spaced out pins. Once you have combed out any knots with your comb and removed all the dead under layer, you will use this brush to finish your Bichon’s coat.
The goal of the pin brush isn’t to be pulling out more hair but to straighten and fluff up their lovely coat. You don’t need to use this during every grooming, but if you want your pet to look a little more finished, this is the ideal tool.
The Hertzko Self-Cleaning Small Dog Slicker Brush is an excellent choice for a quality, every day slicker brush. It has short, bent bristles that will make sure your Bichon Frise has tangle-free, well-cared-for hair.
It has everything you need in a slicker and more. The brush head is high quality and will last you for many years without a need to replace it. The ergonomic handle is easy to use, meaning that you will be comfortable during all of your grooming. However, the most popular function is a unique self-cleaning function.
When you’re using your slicker brush, it should be pulling out all of the dense undercoats. It means that your brush will be filling with hair throughout your grooming session. When too much hair gets stuck in the brush, you just push a button. The pins retract into the plastic head, releasing all of the hair from the brush.
While this may seem like a luxury at first, the self-cleaning function is a huge selling point. All it takes is a couple of times getting frustrated while cleaning your brush to make you feel less excited about grooming. The Hertzko Self-Cleaning Slicker makes it easy and keeps you motivated to brush out your pet.
The FURminator Firm Slicker Brush for Small Dogs is an excellent and quality choice for small dogs that have a thick shedding undercoat. This brush is different because it features curved and straight bristles. While all-over brushing with straight bristles can cause skin damage, the straight bristled can be used to get out nasty tangles.
You can brush your Bichon all over with the curved bristles to get an even coat, and if you ever hit a tangled spot, you can gently use the straight bristles to work out the knots. Once the knots have been removed, you can brush it through with the bent bristles.
The Hartz Groomer’s Best Slicker Brush is a basic quality brush that was originally designed for professional groomers. Rather than having bent pins, it’s tips are covered in a protective coating. It gives you the functionality of straight pins while still protecting your Bichon’s skin.
The handle is ergonomic, making it easy to hold and maneuver. It is a good brush that is gentle enough for daily use. It will nicely pull out the undercoat and decrease shedding in your home.
The Master Grooming Tools Xylan Fine & Coarse Pet Comb is a high-quality comb that will provide professional grooming results. The one feature we love about this comb is that the metal is covered with a unique Xylan material. This material is meant to decrease static and calm down friction.
The teeth of the comb are anchored securely into the spine, which provides excellent durability and strength. The durable metal materials will resist chemical damage and wear, and last you for the life of your pet. It is an essential and quality tool that will get the job done and last.
The ConairPRO Small Dog Pin Brush has reinforced stainless-steel pins with soft comfort tips. It will go into your Bichon Frise’s undercoat smoothly without pain or damage. While the pins may bend if you brush too hard, your Bichon will still be protected. It will effectively eliminate tangles and provide an excellent finish.
The handle has an ergonomic memory grip so that you can be comfortable as well. The slip-resistant coating will form to your hand and make sure you’re not experiencing any hand fatigue during the process.
The SHINY PET Pet Comb is a high-quality stainless steel comb. It has a flat spine with rounded-toped teeth that will help protect your Bichon Frise’s skin. It has the desired combination of widely-spaced teeth on one side and narrowly-spaced teeth on the other.
This comb also has the bonus of being stylish and well designed. The rose gold touches make you feel like you’re pampering your special little pal. Although this comb doesn’t have any extra grip, it is an excellent basic comb for your Bichon.
The Safari Wire Pin Brush is an excellent simple choice for general daily grooming. It will lift out loose hair and debris while separating hairs and is ideal for all coat types. It is a quality brush with a wooden handle that will last you a long time. Although it doesn’t have many bells and whistles, it will do a great job and stand up over time.
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One of the best things about Bichon Frises is their fluffy, adorable coats. Since their fur is puffy and double-layered, it will be best to use the tools listed in tandem to get the best results.
You will want three essential tools that you can use in succession; a comb that can help separate hairs, a slicker brush that can pull out dead hairs in the undercoat, and pin brush to go over the coat and give it a finished look. By using these three brushes one after another, you will get that perfect looking coat Bichon Frise’s are known for.
While you use a slicker brush, you may want to add in the use of a light conditioner spray, which will help with the detangling process. Spritz a little bit of it all over the coat. Then gently work the slicker through the fur in the direction that the hair grows. Go over each section more than once, and if you hit a tangle, work it gently until it comes free.
Although there are many options for grooming, some choices will not work on your Bichon Frise. Make sure that you’re not using anything that cuts the undercoat. Spinning rake tools and de-shedding edges are great for some dogs with an undercoat, but not for your Bichon.
Anything with a blade will cut out both the dead and live hairs in your Bichon’s under layer. If you thin their coat down in this way, it won’t be sufficient to hold up the outer-coat. It will then lie flat and will start to grow back in uneven patches.
Make sure that you’re choosing tools with safety features, so you don’t damage the skin of your Bichon. For your slicker brush, you have two safety options; the pins can have a slight bend at the end, which prevents them from exerting pressure, or the pin tips can have a coating on them. For your combs and pin brushes, make sure the pins have rounded or safety ends. These options will make sure you don’t scratch your Bichon.
Since you will be brushing your Bichon regularly, you will want to make sure that the process is comfortable for you as well. Finding something with an ergonomic handle will prevent hand fatigue and wrist stress. Finding options will anti-slip grip will also make sure you have full control will grooming.
Doing your best to enjoy your grooming process will make it more fun for you and your Bichon!
Although your Bichon will always benefit from more grooming, at minimum, try to brush your Bichon Frise at least three times a week. During the spring and fall shedding, try to brush every day to two days. It will help prevent any loos hair from matting.
Before doing any aesthetic grooming, make sure that all mats and tangles are out of their coat. Proper grooming is less about looks and more about health. When you’re sure that all areas of your Bichon are free of tangles and dead hair, then you can use your pin brush. Starting at the tail, pull the hair upwards and slightly towards the head. Gently go over the whole body. This technique will give the type of fluff Bichon Frises are known for.
There are many tricks to train your Bichon, but the easiest way to calm them down is to calm yourself. When you’re relaxed, you’ll show your pet that everything is okay and they can calm down. Talk to them during the whole process using a gentle and encouraging voice. The more often you groom with successful results, the better trained your Bichon will become.