Appearance
Build: Small, sturdy
Weight: 3-5 kg (7-12 pounds)
Height: 23-30 cm (9-12 inches)
Coat: Textured outer coat lined with a soft, fine, silky undercoat that is 7 to 10 cm (3-4 inches) long
Color: White, often with shadings of buff or cream around the ears or on the body but if these colors exceed 10% of its body then it is a fault.
Head: In proportion to the body
Eyes: Round, dark brown or black (any other color is a fault) and set in the skull to look directly forward
Ears: Covered with long, flowing hair
Tail: Well plumed, with hair of tail resting on the back. Sometimes curled back.
Limbs: Straight
Feet: Tight, round, cat-like
Life span: Median 15+ years
Temperament
The well-bred Bichon Fris� is feisty, sensitive, playful, affectionate and adorable. A cheerful attitude is a prominent personality trait. Most Bichons enjoy socializing with people and most dogs. Bichons may be relatively stubborn, but are also said to be patient. They may tend to nip gently in play. They may have sudden bursts of energy resulting in the "blitz" or "buzz", where they race around in circles until they collapse happily onto their backs. They are great around children and also good watch dogs. They tend to be very friendly towards people even outside of the immediate family.
