Knowing your Bichon Frise weight and size is essential in understanding their health, exercise, and dietary needs. The answer to this adorable pooch’s size and weight lies in its history. Beloved for being clever, quick, and showy, French breeders saw the potential in this small breed and made them into the perfect lapdog and canine companion.
In this article, we aim to give you a good idea about what to expect in terms of the size and weight of your Bichon so you’ll be better prepared to meet their specific needs.
A wonderful family pet, the Bichon Frise is a small-sized pooch. The average Bichon adult is between 5-8kg, and its size is between 24-30cm.
Although the Bichon is small, their personalities are big. A people-pleaser with a cheerful attitude, Bichons excelled at being circus dogs in the 1800s, and today, they are small but mighty contenders in the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.
Bichon Frises reach full maturity at between 10-12 months old and will stand at just under 30cm and should weigh 5-6kg.
The first four months is where the most dramatic change occurs for a Bichon puppy, and then another, albeit small, growth spurt at around 6 months.
Once your Bichon becomes a full-blown adult dog, you should learn more about their diet and exercise needs, as well as the maintenance of their curly coat by a professional groomer.
Size and weight can vary from dog to dog, and you’ll need to take both the age and gender of your Bichon into consideration. But the official breed standard for this dog’s weight is between 3-5kg.
Bichons are active dogs, and without sufficient exercise, they can quickly become overweight. Obesity can cause major health issues, so avoid overfeeding.
If your Bichon appears to be struggling to achieve a healthy weight or size, there may be underlying health conditions.
The best way to determine whether your Bichon is overweight is to see whether it weighs 10-20% above the ideal weight. If your Bichon weighs more than 6kg, they’re overweight.
Besides regularly weighing your Bichon, you can feel their ribs to determine whether they’ve picked up a little too much. You should be able to feel the outlines of their ribs with a little pressure; if not, they may be overweight.
At a normal weight, your Bichon’s chest will be larger than its abdomen.
Unlike larger dog breeds, Bichon Frises have an incredibly fast growth rate and longer life span. One moment, they’re attending a puppy kindergarten class, and the next, they’re full-blown adults.
To help determine if your Bichon puppy is growing at a healthy rate, you should monitor their weight gain until they reach their full weight and size maturity at 10 months.
Moreover, it’s important to know your dog’s diet and exercise needs for their age to ensure your Bichon achieves optimal growth and a healthy life span.
They don’t come in different sizes. However, their average size and weight differ ever so slightly between the sexes. An average male Bichon’s height is 30 cm and weighs 5kg, while a female’s height is 27cm and weighs just over 4kg.
If you have an overweight Bichon, reduce the amount you feed by 25% and consult your veterinarian about moving them onto different dog food with a light, calorie-restricted diet. Increasing their daily exercise is also key.
Certain factors can indicate that your Bichon is underweight. Prominent bones with no trace of fat, lethargic behaviour, and dull-looking dog hair are all signs of an underweight dog.
It is best to consult your vet to ensure there are no major illnesses or health problems with your Bichon.
Joining a national breed club can benefit you in many ways. Breed clubs are dedicated to providing owners with all information on breeding dogs, training, care, and the overall well-being of that breed. A great place to start is the American Kennel Club and Bichon Frise Club.
By consistently monitoring your Bichon’s weight and size, you’ll be able to identify any abnormalities. Like other dogs, many things can affect the growth of a puppy, like genetic disease, nutrition, and physical activity.
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