Hello, pet parents! Welcome to my ultimate guide to feeding a Bichon Frise.
In this guide, I will cover how much to feed a Bichon Frise, how often to feed your Bichon Frise, when to feed your Bichon Frise, what foods to feed your Bichon Frise, what foods to avoid feeding your Bichon Frise, and other questions you may have about your Bichon Frise’s nutrition.
You can read the article to the end or go through the table of contents below and jump to the section that answers the questions you have on your mind.
- Bichon Frise Nutritional Requirements
- Factors Affecting The Feeding of Your Bichon Frise
- Bichon Frise Feeding Amount
- Bichon Frise Feeding Frequency
- Bichon Frise Feeding Schedule
- What Kind of Food Should You Feed Your Bichon Frise?
- The Kind of Food To Avoid Feeding Your Bichon Frise
- When To Transition Your Bichons Frise From Puppy Food To Adult Food
- Why Your Bichon Frise Is Not Eating
- Why Your Bichon Frise Is Always Hungry
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Final Thoughts
Bichon frises are one of the most popular lap dogs in the world, and they are loved for their gentle and playful nature, as well as their beautiful fur.
Bichon frises are active dogs; they are known to be intelligent, sociable, and gentle. Even though they may be small, they are very active and will require exercises like daily walks with their pet parent.
I have created this ultimate guide to feeding your Bichon Frise for curious and new pet parents to solve your dog’s nutrition problem. I will go into detail on every feeding question you may have based on my personal experience working for a veterinarian.
Let’s jump into the article.
Bichon Frise Nutritional Requirements
Bichon frises are small dogs that require specific nutrients in order to grow healthy. Like other dog breeds, if some of these nutrients are present in excess amounts or less, it would end up endangering the overall health of your dog.
When your Bichon Frises are growing, their diet should include 22-27% protein, adults 18-22% protein, 15-18% fat as puppies, and 15-18% fat as adults, as well as fiber, carbohydrates, multivitamins, and minerals.
Your Bichon Frise’s feed should contain an adequate number of vitamins for a healthy immune system and minerals for healthy, strong bones. Its source of fiber should come from wholesome vegetables like broccoli, carrots, cabbage, and sprouts, while its source of protein must come from animal flesh like fish, chicken, turkey, beef, and organ meat. Its source of fat must come from vegetables and fish oil.Â
Nutritional Requirement for a Bichon Frises Puppy
The diet of a Bichon Frise puppy should consist of 22–27% protein, 115–18% fat, and 6% fiber. Puppies have a faster metabolism and need as many nutrients to grow muscles and strong bones; this is the growing phase of your dog, and they will be fed more often than in other stages.
Nutritional Requirement for Adult and Mature Bichon Frises
The meal plan for mature and adult Bichon Frises should consist of 18-22% protein, carbohydrate, 15-18% fat, and fiber. At this stage, Bichon Frises are most active and will need protein and carbohydrates to keep their weight and energy level optimal. However, you should avoid overfeeding your pet at this stage as Bichon Frises are prone to obesity and will develop health complications.
Nutritional Requirement For Senior and Geriatric Bichon Frises
At this stage of your dog’s life, it is less active than at other stages. Your pet’s food at this stage of life should ideally consist of 18-22% protein, 15-18% fat, and fiber. Senior Bichon Frises will need minerals and vitamins added to their food to keep their immune system and bones healthy.
Factors Affecting The Feeding of Your Bichon Frise
Some factors will affect the diet of your Bichon Frise, such as the size of the breed, its age, its activity level, and its underlying health conditions.
Let’s take a quick look at those factors before we jump into the quantity of food to feed your dog.
Size consideration
The average length of a Bichon Frise male is 23-30 cm, and for females, it is 23-28cm from the sole of its feet to its shoulder. The weight of a male Bichon Frise is 6-7 kg, and that of a female is 4-5 kg.
Males are slightly larger than females, and as such, males will typically need more calories than females to maintain a healthy body weight.
Age consideration
Bichon frise puppies are in the growth stage, and as such, their feed is usually packed with nutrients for growth and energy. The adult stage is the active stage; they’ll need nutrients for maintaining body weight and energy generation. As seniors, your pup is less active and will require fewer calories than at the adult stage, or else they might become overweight and develop serious health problems.Â
Activity Level
Bichon Frise are very active and agile dogs, and must be fed a strict and quality diet to remain healthy. Adult Bichon Frises should not be fed puppy food or they might become obese. Seniors are less active and so will require minimal calories to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Health Consideration
Bichon frises are prone to certain health conditions, which should be taken into consideration in their diets if you wish to manage or prevent those issues.
Some health issues that affect your Bichon Frise  include luxating patellas, dental disease, hereditary cataracts, liver problems, kidney stones, and diabetes.Â
Some of these health issues can be prevented or controlled by feeding your dog the right food and following strict guidelines when feeding them.
Feeding your Bichon Frise low-quality food may cause health complications down the road. It’s better to invest money in low-quality food now than pinch pennies, which will likely lead to spending that money on treatment when your dog develops health complications.
Bichon Frise Feeding Amount
Your Bichon Frises, just like any other dog breed, will require different amounts of food according to its stage of development. The amount of food a puppy will need will be different than the amount of food an adult will need according to their nutritional requirement.
On average, feed your puppy Bichon Frise 0.7 to 1 cup of food that has 272 to 389 kcal per day; feed your adult Bichon Frise 0.7 to 1 cup per day that has 350 to 389 kcal per day, according to their activity level; and feed your senior Bichon Frise 0.7-0.8 cup per day that has 272 to 311 kcal per day.
I will provide you with charts below to help you plan your dog’s meals from its puppy years to its senior years. However, this meal plan is not one-size-fits-all. It’s just a general guideline that should be followed based on your dog’s needs and recommendations from your vet or dog nutritionist.
How Much To Feed Your Puppy Bichons Frises
For your puppy and adolescent to grow into healthy adults, the meal should be high in protein and low in fat, which can be obtained from animal meat.
A Bichon Frise puppy should be given 0.7 to 1 cup of food per day that contains 272 to 389 kcal of nutrients based on its age, weight, size, gender, and physical activity.
The feeding requirement of your puppy is given in detail in the charts below:
| Age | Daily FoodQuantity (Cups) | Kilocalories(Per day) | Protein | Fats |
| 3–5 months | 0.7-0.8 | 272 – 311 | 22-27% | 15-18% |
| 6 – 12 months | 0.7 – 1 | 350 – 389 | 22-27% | 15-18% |
Following the above guidelines will aid in bone development and muscle growth, as well as strengthen their immune system to combat common bacteria and viruses that can cause health complications.
How Much To Feed Your Adult Bichon Frise?
The nutritional requirements of an adult Bichon Frise differ from those of a puppy. To avoid obesity, a mature Bichon Frise’s food should contain a lower percentage of proteins and fats. This is done by reducing the feeding frequency to two times per day.
A mature and adult Bichon Frises puppy should be given 0.7 to 1 cup of food per day that contains 350 to 389 kcal of nutrients based on its age, weight, size, gender, and physical activity.
The chart below will give you an understanding of the daily consumption of adult Bichon Frises to help you with their meal plan.
| Age | Daily Food Quantity(Cups) | Kilocalories(Per day) | Protein | Fats |
| 1 –8 years | 0.7 – 1 | 350 – 389 | 18-22% | 15-18% |
How Much To Feed Your Senior Bichon Frise?
Senior Bichon Frises are generally less active than their younger counterparts due to fragile bones and joints. This means their meals will contain lesser quantities of calories, protein, and fat.
Geriatric bichon frises are often plagued with health issues. Some of these issues can be alleviated by supplementing your senior dog’s diet with vitamins and minerals to help revive his or her weakened immune system and fragile bones.
Senior and geriatric Bichon Frises puppies should be given 0.7 to 0.8 cups of food per day that contains 272 to 311 kcal of nutrients based on their age, weight, size, gender, and health issues.
The table below gives you some details about the meal plan of an older Bichon Frise.
However, you must still ensure that they get the essential nutrients they need.
| Age | Daily Food Quantity(Cups) | Kilocalories(Per day) | Protein | Fats |
| 9 years and above | 0.7 to 0.8 | 272-311 | 18-22% | 15-18% |
You can continue giving your senior dog the same food you gave them as an adult, only in a lesser quantity, as they don’t need as many calories as adult dogs. However, you should still consult your vet or pet nutritionist to be on the safe side.
Bichon Frise Feeding Frequency
Your Bichon Frise’s meal frequency will vary the same as the feeding amounts, which are majorly dependent on its age. Below is a list of how often to feed your Bichon Frise:
How Often Should You Feed Your Bichon Frise Puppy?
•     During the weaning process or at 8 weeks old and below: feed them four times a day at equally spaced intervals.
•     8 weeks to 3 months old: feed them four times a day at equally spaced intervals.
•     4 months to 12 months old: gradually transition to feeding them three times to four times a day with equally spaced time intervals
How Often Should You Feed Your Adult Bichon Frise?
You should feed your adult Bichon Frise two times a day, with 12 hours of spacing between meals. Ideally one in the morning and one in the evening.
How Often Should You Feed Your Senior Bichon Frise?
You should feed your senior Bichon Frise two times a day except given a specific schedule by a vet.
| Age | Feeding Frequency |
| 0–12 weeks | Four times a day |
| 2 – 12 months | Three times a day |
| 1 – 8 years | Twice a day |
| 9 years and above | Once or twice a day |
Bichon Frise Feeding Schedule
•       Bichon Frises puppies should be free-fed or fed in the morning, afternoon, evening, and night due to a faster metabolism in comparison to their adult colleagues
•     Adolescent Bichon Frises should be fed in the morning, afternoon, and evening to help them transition properly into an adult.
•     Adult and Senior Bichon Frises should also be fed in the morning and in the evening unless stated differently by your vet or pet nutritionist.
As a general rule, you should feed your Bichon Frise a few hours before going to bed in the evening, so they have enough time to digest the food before going to sleep.
In total, we shouldn’t spoil our companions with treats as they may grow too attached to them. Treats should be heavily used as a reward when training your dog.
| Age | Optimal Feeding Times |
| 0 – 12 weeks | 6:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m., 11:00 p.m. |
| 2 – 12 months | 7:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., and 7:00 p.m. |
| 1 – 8 years | 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. |
| 9 years and above | 7:00 a.m. or 7:00 p.m. |
What Kind of Food Should You Feed Your Bichon Frise?
The food you feed your Bichon Frises should be designed specifically for large breeds and contain the nutrients required for a strong and healthy dog.
The kind of food to feed your Bichon Frise includes dry dog food, wet dog food, a home-cooked diet, and biologically appropriate raw food to ensure your dog eats a balanced diet.
Let me touch on these few points to help you understand what to feed your dog:
                Dry Food: Dry dog food or kibble is a portion of commercial pet food made by grinding and mixing up ingredients like meats, grains, and nutritional additives, which are then shaped into little kernels and cooked at high temperatures to remove the water content. Dry Dog contains more carbs, less fat, less water, and sometimes less protein and is often recommended by vets due to its lower cost, dental health benefits, convenience, weight loss support, and playtime perks.
                Wet Food: Wet dog food, or canned food, is made by mixing up and cooking the ingredients before adding or extracting varying amounts of water. Unlike dry dog food, wet dog food contains more water, fewer carbs, more fat, and often, more protein. They are recommended by veterinarians due to their high-water content, taste, ease of eating, and high nutritional profile.
                Home-Cooked Diet: Home-cooked diets are a great option for pet parents who are not into commercial dog food, and want to go the extra length to prepare a meal for their furry companion. Feeding your dog a home-cooked meal gives you control over its nutrition and can put your mind at ease knowing that you are always providing the best care for your dog.
                BARF Diet: Biologically Appropriate Raw Food is a diet that includes raw meat, raw eggs, crushed animal bones, fruits, vegetables, probiotics, and other natural ingredients. BARF diets are used as a substitute for processed foods with preservatives. However, consult your vet before feeding your pet a raw diet to avoid health complications from harmful substances.
The Kind of Food To Avoid Feeding Your Bichon Frise
We should take caution before giving whatever food we’re eating to our Bichon Frise. They have large appetites, which makes it tempting to hand them whatever we find ourselves eating.
There are certain human foods, fruits, and vegetables to avoid feeding your Bichon Frise because these foods contain toxins that are harmful to your pet that could lead you to frequent trips to the vet.
Human food to avoid feeding your Bichon Frise include chocolates, coffee, gum, peanut butter, candies, cooked bones, etc.
Fruits and vegetables to avoid feeding your Bichon Frise include grapes, avocados, garlic, onions, etc.
You should always check the ingredients on the food label to see if these ingredients are present in the food. Or you can simply consult a vet or pet nutritionist to check the ingredients with them.
When To Transition Your Bichons Frise From Puppy Food To Adult Food
You should transition your Bichon Frise puppy from puppy food to adult food when he’s around 10–12 months old.
Transitioning your adolescent Bichon Frise from puppy food to adult food is an important stage in your dog’s development. Puppy food contains more calories and nutrients than adult food to meet the nutritional requirements at that stage of life.
Transitioning needs to be gradual by introducing adult feed bit by bit until you get to 100% adult feed.
However, feeding your adult puppy food will fill them with more protein and fat than their body requires and will lead to obesity due to the high fat content the body doesn’t need for optimum growth.
Why Your Bichon Frise Is Not Eating
Your Bichon Frise will not eat if it has one or a combination of the factors listed below:
Illness, dental problems, teething, medication, separation anxiety, time of day, spoiled food, stress, and picky eaters
Bichons Frises are known to be clingy, so a lack of contact can contribute to this problem. If their teeth are not brushed, it can lead to dental disease, and your dog won’t be able to eat. If your pup refuses to drink water or eat food, it may be a sign of a serious underlying illness, and you should see the vet as soon as you can.
Why Your Bichon Frise Is Always Hungry
Bichon Frises, due to their size, are not big eaters compared with other breeds, but for their size, they can eat a lot, and the reason they are hungry all the time may stem from a host of issues like learned bad habits, lack of training, a lack of quality nutrients, and stress.
An alternative reason may be if your dog is infected with worms.
You should ensure that your Bichon Frise is properly trained concerning food. Too much indulgence in food can cause diabetes in your dog.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Bichon Frises Eat A Lot?
Yes, for their body weight, Bichon Frise can eat a lot. This, however, should be avoided because it can lead to weight problems such as obesity as well as stomach issues such as bloating.
Can Bichon Frise Become Vegetarians?
The Bichon Frises breed can live on a vegetarian diet as long as this diet consists of all the essential nutrients required by the Bichon Frises to thrive and grow optimally.
If you are taking your dog on a vegan diet, then ensure that meals contain micronutrients that may not be present in a vegan diet.
You should consult your vet or pet nutritionist while planning your vegan meals to ensure your Bichon Frise does not encounter any health complications.
Can Bichon Frises Eat Bones?
Bichon frises can be fed raw bones, not cooked bones, as this will encourage healthy bones and teeth and, as a bonus, contain a lot of micronutrients that may not be in their food.
However, you ensure that bones fed to your dog are disposed of after two to three days to prevent infection. Some guidelines concerning this have been stipulated by the American Kennel Club.
What Human Food Can I Feed My Bichon Frise?
You can feed your Bichon Frise different types of human foods, such as beef, chicken, pork, turkey, salmon, tuna, and eggs. They can also eat noodles, oatmeal, sweet potatoes, unsalted peanuts, parsnips, and other foods such as rice and pasta, yogurt, cheese, and peanut butter.
What Fruits and Vegetables Can I Feed My Bichon Frise?
Bichon frises can eat many types of fruits, such as strawberries, apples, bananas, raspberries, peaches, mango, pears, blueberries, plums, melon, pineapple, oranges, and kiwi fruit. They can also eat vegetables such as pumpkin, carrots, peas, corn, cauliflower, spinach, cabbage, broccoli, and more.Â
Should You Give Your Bichon Frises Supplements?
Your Bichon Frises don’t need to be given supplements if you feed them a commercial diet that meets their nutritional requirements. However, you may need to feed them supplements if you feed them home-cooked meals as recommended by your vet or dog nutritionist.
Final Thoughts
Bichon frises are one of the cutest dog breeds out there, and any pet parent will be lucky to have this adorable pup as his/her companion and lap dog. To ensure that your puppy grows healthy with little or no illness, you must ensure that they are fed adequately and with the best nutrition.
Options such as dry, wet, raw, and homemade diets are all great for them. You can free-feed your Bichon Frise as a puppy, but you have to draw up a strict plan as they grow. It is also essential to know what foods are healthy and should be avoided, as some are toxic.
However, if you desire more information on how to take care of your Bichon Frise, you should contact the nearest vet for information on essential nutrients, and you can also see a pet nutritionist for a regimen schedule for your pet.
