Grooming Your Bichon

 

 

Bichons require regular grooming, which does involve some time and expense.  Bichons require frequent trimming (scissor cut), nail care, ear care, and sometimes eye care for tear staining.

Many Bichon owners have their Bichons trimmed by a professional groomer, every month or two.  Some Bichon owners have learned the art of trimming their Bichons, being taught by another Bichon groomer, training videos, or a helpful website.

We personally take our Bichons to a professional groomer, and only attempt occasional trimming around the face or other areas.  We have been fortunate to find a groomer in our area who not only charges a very reasonable price, but also grooms our Bichons the right way!  Many Bichons have come back from the groomers looking like poodles, which usually does not make the owners very happy.  Here are some tips on finding a groomer:

1) The best way:  find another Bichon owner or owners in your area, and obtain recommendations from them.  You will be able to tell by how their Bichon is cut as to if the groomer knows the correct techniques for Bichon trimming.    You might also be able to find out how much the groomer charges, and other information you may want to know on the groomer and his/her business.

2) Your veterinarian and other reputable dog breeders in your area should be able to provide you with names of groomers they know, and have had experiences with.

3) You can also reference the telephone book, call several grooming businesses, and find out if they groom Bichons (that's right...many groomers do not groom Bichons).   If they do, find out the following:
 

• Do they scissor cut? (The body should always be scissor cut)
• Does their fee include nail trimming and ear hair pulling? (This should always be done)
• Can they provide references from other Bichon owners in the area?
• Do they have any pictures of Bichons they have groomed that they would share?
• What do they charge for grooming?

A good groomer would understand why you would ask so many questions, because they have many of the same concerns about their pets.  If a groomer is hesitant to answer questions, or if they do not meet your criteria for grooming your Bichon, keep looking.

4) Once you feel you have found the right groomer, visit the shop with your Bichon before your grooming appointment.  That not only gives you a chance to meet the groomer(s) in person, but will also give your Bichon the opportunity to become acquainted with the surroundings.

5) Once you find a groomer you are satisfied with, make your next appointment before returning home with your Bichon.  This will ascertain you will get worked in to the groomer's busy schedule.  Many groomers book appointments well in advance, because of their extremely tight schedules.

Cost of Grooming

A question frequently asked by new or prospective Bichon owners, is how much does professional grooming of Bichons cost?  Cost of grooming varies from groomer to groomer, and depends greatly on the cost of living in your area.   You will have to do your homework in your own geographical area to find out what Bichon grooming will cost you.   This information can be obtained from groomers and other Bichon owners in your area.  If cost is of concern, do this homework before you decide to bring a Bichon into your family.  Many Bichon owners groom their own Bichons, which saves this expense, especially if they own more than one Bichon.

Grooming Supplies at Home

Even if you take your Bichon to a professional groomer for trimming, bathing, etc., your Bichon will still require regular combing, brushing, and other care in between those visits.  Your breeder should be able to provide recommendations of products he/she likes, along with instruction on the grooming required for your Bichon.   Here are the supplies we personally keep on hand, but keep in mind you may find your needs to be somewhat different:

1) Greyhound brand comb
2) Small, soft slicker brush (for feet, ears, etc.)
3) Large, soft slicker brush (for the body)
4) Pin brush (for the tail)
5) Rotating teeth comb (to remove mats)
6) Toothbrush (I recently bought a finger toothbrush...works great!)
7) Doggy toothpaste (beef flavored)
8) Ear Cleaner (for ear flushing/wax removal)
9) Ear drying solution (for after the flushing and baths)
10) Ear resin powder, for hair removal
11) Whitening Shampoo
12) Crème Rinse
13) No-rinse shampoo (for in between bathing)

Tresors.org has an excellent listing of grooming products you may wish to purchase for your Bichon, including pictures!

Combing and Brushing Your Bichon

Regular (sometimes daily) combing and brushing is required to prevent mats from forming in your Bichon's coat.  Mats usually form in inconspicuous places, such as behind the ears, at the base of the tail, and underneath the legs.  We have one Bichon in our family with such a full undercoat; he requires daily combing to prevent mats.  Mats can develop with scratching, getting the coat wet outdoors, and over time if the coat is not combed out regularly.  When I comb and brush my Bichon, I use a Greyhound brand comb (the 7 1/2" Medium/Coarse) to thoroughly comb through the coat, checking to make sure there are no mats (especially in the areas listed above).  If I do find any mats, I either remove them with some baby powder and my fingers, or I use the rotating teeth comb to work them out.   I then use the large soft slicker brush to comb through the body, moving in the direction opposite the hair growth.  Then I use the small soft slicker brush to brush out the smaller areas of the body, again in the direction opposite the hair growth.  The pin brush is then used to brush out the tail.  I finish up by touching up with the comb.  This is the technique, which has worked best for me, though you may find your routine to differ somewhat.

Bathing Your Bichon

Bathing during visits to the groomer may be sufficient for your Bichon.  Some people bathe their Bichons on a regular schedule, or just as needed at home.  If your Bichon runs and plays outside, he/she very likely will need more frequent baths.   Most Bichon fanciers recommend a whitening shampoo, and crème rinse that will not discolor the white Bichon coat.  We also use a no-rinse shampoo (ProLine Self Rinse Plus) in between bathings to help with dirty feet and faces.  The most important thing to remember while bathing your Bichon is to rinse thoroughly!  Leaving behind residual shampoo and conditioner can cause irritation and itching.

Ear Care

Keeping the ears dry and free of hair is very important with Bichons.  Excess moisture in the ears can cause yeast and other infections.   We simply use our fingers (as does our groomer) to gently pull the hair from the ears.  Resin powder can help you to maintain a good grip on the hair with your fingers.   I flush the ears with an ear cleaner with every bath or as needed for earwax, and gently remove any visible earwax with a swab.   I then follow that with an ear drying solution, though some cleaners are drying so this step might not be necessary.   I make sure the ears are good and dry after each bath, even if the ears do not require flushing.

Dental Care

Your veterinarian should check your Bichon's teeth during your his/her yearly checkup, and a yearly professional teeth cleaning may be required as your Bichon gets older.  It is recommended that teeth be brushed daily to avoid tartar buildup.

Interested in trimming your Bichon yourself?  Visit these websites:
 

Thanks to Kim Campbell for your contributions.

 

Copyright 1999

Jennifer McSparin