Best dog food for a Bichon Frise
A Bichon Frise is a small, cheerful breed with a curly, non-shedding coat, and two things matter most when choosing their food: sensitivity, since this breed can be prone to skin and coat issues, and portion size, given how easily a small dog gains weight on treats built for something bigger.
Feeding a Bichon Frise
A small breed
An adult Bichon Frise typically weighs 5–10 kg, so a healthy Bichon Frise eats a modest amount compared with other breeds. Every feeding guide on a bag is written per kilo of body weight, not per breed — start there, then adjust to the dog in front of you.
Life stage
A small breed is usually done growing at 10–12 months, which is roughly when a puppy food has finished its job. With a typical lifespan of 12–15 years, there is a long adult stretch in the middle; switch to a senior food when your vet thinks it is worth it rather than on a birthday.
Small mouths, crowded teeth
Smaller breeds get dental disease more often than big ones, largely because the same number of teeth are packed into a shorter jaw. Kibble size is worth checking, and a dental chew counts towards the daily 10% of calories from treats.
Mealtimes can do some of the work
A breed that struggles to settle on its own gets more out of a meal that takes effort — a lick mat, a snuffle mat or a puzzle feeder using part of the daily ration rather than extra food on top of it.
How much should a Bichon Frise weigh?
Adult 5–10 kgfully grown at 10–12 months
| Age | Stage | Typical weight | Of adult size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 weeks | Just home | 0.8–1.7 kg | 17% |
| 3 months | Young puppy | 1.4–2.7 kg | 27% |
| 6 months | Growing fast | 2.7–5.4 kg | 54% |
| 10–12 months | Fully grown | 5–10 kg | 100% |
A guide, from the same rule of thumb our puppy growth predictor uses — each age is that share of the way to maturity for a small breed. Puppies grow fastest early, so a real puppy usually sits a little above the middle rows. Weigh yours and ask your vet if the number worries you.
Complete dog foods that suit a Bichon Frise
Complete foods from our range, matched to a Bichon Frise's size band and what the breed typically needs. Stock levels and delivery dates are live on each product.
Pedigree Can in Jelly Puppy 6 Pack
Complete Pedigree puppy food in jelly with chicken, lamb and poultry recipes
£10.15
Arden Grange Adult Dog Calming Turkey Sweet Potato
A grain-free complete turkey food with added L-tryptophan and chamomile
From£16.99
Forthglade Cold Pressed Natural Turkey
Cold-pressed turkey kibble for dogs from 2 months, soft enough to mix with water for young pups
£45.99
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Salmon
Cold-pressed grain-free dry food for dogs, built on fresh and dried salmon
From£16.99
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Duck
Cold-pressed grain-free duck food with fruit and botanicals, in two bag sizes
From£16.99
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Chicken
Cold-pressed grain-free chicken food with fruit and botanicals, in three bag sizes
From£16.99
Forthglade Complete Meal Lightly Baked Turkey
A lightly baked complete dry food, 50% turkey, for adult dogs of any breed
From£12.49
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Turkey
Grain-free cold-pressed turkey kibble for dogs, gentle on sensitive stomachs
£69.69
Forthglade British Classics Chicken Family Lunch
Complete Forthglade wet dog food with 75% chicken in a 395G tray
£2.45
Harringtons Puppy Turkey & Rice
Complete turkey puppy food with 30% protein and feeding bands by adult weight
£6.49
Harringtons Just 6 Dry Dog Food Lamb
Grain-free lamb dry dog food in 2KG and 12KG sizes, with size-specific formulas
From£13.99
Skin, coat and sensitive digestion
The Bichon's dense, curly coat needs regular grooming to stay matt-free, and this is a breed where skin sensitivity shows up reasonably often, sometimes alongside a sensitive stomach. A food built around a single named protein, without unnecessary fillers or artificial additives, is a sensible default rather than something to reach for only once a problem appears.
If your Bichon has recurring loose stools, itching, or a dull coat despite regular grooming, a sensitive-formula food is worth trying, but ongoing skin or digestive issues are also worth mentioning to your vet, since diet is only one part of managing either.
Keeping a small, food-motivated dog at a healthy weight
Bichon Frise dogs are small enough that a handful of treats can represent a meaningful share of their daily calories without you noticing, so it is worth measuring food and treats properly rather than guessing. Their genuine cheerfulness around food makes portion control a matter of habit rather than restriction — small, frequent training rewards work well if they are accounted for in the day's total.
Regular exercise suited to a small dog's stamina, paired with a properly portioned diet, is the more effective long-term approach than cutting food back sharply after weight has already crept on.
Dental care for a small, crowded mouth
Like many small breeds, a Bichon's mouth is comparatively crowded for its size, which is one reason dental disease turns up more often in small dogs than large ones. A dental chew sized specifically for a small breed, used alongside regular brushing, helps manage plaque buildup between vet checks.
Watch for bad breath, visible tartar, or reluctance to chew on one side, and get it checked rather than assuming it is just "how their teeth are" — dental disease is common in small breeds, but it is also very treatable when caught early.
Common questions
- Is a Bichon Frise prone to allergies?
- Skin sensitivity and, in some dogs, food sensitivity are reasonably common in the breed. A simple, single-protein food is a sensible starting point, but persistent itching or digestive upset is worth discussing with your vet rather than working through diets alone.
- How much should I feed a Bichon Frise?
- Follow the guidance on your chosen food as a starting point, adjusted for your individual dog's activity level and body condition, and measure it rather than estimating by eye. Because they are small and genuinely food-motivated, treats can add up quickly, so factor them into the daily total.
- Do Bichon Frise dogs need special dental care?
- Like most small breeds, their mouths are crowded relative to their size, which makes dental disease more common. Regular toothbrushing alongside a dental chew sized for a small dog is a sensible routine, and any bad breath or visible tartar is worth a vet check.
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Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.