BICHON FRISE

BLADES & TOOLS

COAT & GROOM TIPS

Like many other long coated breeds hair shed can and often does remain in the under coat until it is removed by proper brushing and combing. Hair shed not removed will, with time or immediately upon getting damp or wet, begin to "tangle" and "matt" whereby the hair shed both wraps and compresses around the existing hair coat. Matts simply ruin the beauty of the Bichon Frise coat, and severe matting causes any pet discomfort and even poor skin health.

We recommend hair shed and matts be removed before bathing the Bichon Frise, and that it only be hand fluff-dried with a professional force blow dryer. Your type of bathing and drying equipment will affect the way in which you groom the Bichon Frise. Experienced groomers may choose to leave some of the hair shed and matt removal until after the bath, and apply special coat conditioning products to ease matt removal.

Bichon Frise owners are strongly recommended to use the services of a professional groomer for exceptional results. Again, we reiterate that owners of this breed must keep in mind that the success of having a beautifully coated Bichon Frise requires a significant commitment on their part to regular brushing and combing between grooming appointments.

Learning to do a correct "Teddy" face was so much easier having a picture around to refer to during grooming. Learning how to do this style took me longer than anything else in grooming to really master.

Facing de-matting is common for this breed. Our recommendation for all de-matting is a maximum of 30 minutes. Putting this sweet breed through more time is simply too hard on the pet. Where the owner refused to allow us to strip, and yet we held to our 30 minute limit, we booked 2 appointments a couple days a part. We de-matted 30 minutes the first appointment and up to another 30 minutes the next appointment along with the finish grooming.

De-matting spray is an essential product to have on hand. You just know that occasionally Bichon's will come in for grooming and of course be matted. It can really make it easier on them.

Besides the de-matting spray a good tear stain remover is just as essential for this breed.

"I have developed quite a reputation for my Bichon grooming. I use more scissors than clippers and more than most groomers that I know. However, it does take longer and I have to charge more. There simply is a different look created with the scissors compared to the blades. If I get a request for a short clip I use the #4, nothing shorter except in the most exceptional terrible condition. I demat the most before the bath, but some is easier to remove under the force dryer after the bath. When asked I say never more than 5 weeks between groomings." Submitted by Sandy Kay

"Use corn flower combed through their coat for that constant fluffy white look." Submitted by Paul McCulloch

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