The best kind of food for a Bichon Frise
A Bichon Frise generally does best on a small-breed recipe with a good quality named protein, since the breed is known for sensitive skin and can react to lower-quality fillers more visibly than some breeds do, often showing up as itching or a dull coat rather than digestive upset.
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
What makes this breed's needs a little different
Bichon Frises are a small breed, typically five to ten kilograms as adults, with a curly, dense double coat that sheds very little but can show the effects of a poor diet in its condition faster than a shorter coat would. A dull, dry or flaky coat is one of the more visible early signs that a food is not agreeing with a Bichon.
The breed is also commonly associated with skin sensitivities, and while true food allergies are less common than owners often assume, a recipe built around a single named protein rather than a long list of mixed meats and by-products is generally the safer starting point if your dog has ever shown skin irritation.
Kibble size and eating habits
A small breed kibble, sized for a smaller mouth and jaw, is worth choosing over a standard or large breed formula, since Bichons can be reluctant eaters and an oversized biscuit is one more small barrier to a fussy dog actually finishing a meal.
Bichons are also prone to dental tartar build-up given their small mouths, so a kibble with some texture to it, rather than a very soft or crumbly one, does a little extra work for teeth with every meal alongside proper dental care.
What we'd point you towards
A sensitive-stomach or limited-ingredient recipe such as those from James Wellbeloved, built around a single named protein like lamb, is a sensible starting point for a Bichon with any history of skin or coat issues. For a Bichon doing well already on a standard small-breed diet, there is no need to switch simply because of the breed's reputation.
Whatever recipe you choose, introduce it gradually over a week or so if switching from a different food, since a Bichon's digestion, like most small breeds, tends to react more visibly to a sudden change than a larger dog's would.
Common questions
- Are Bichon Frises actually prone to food allergies?
- Genuine food allergies are less common than owners often assume, and many skin issues put down to food actually have other causes such as environmental allergens or parasites. That said, a limited-ingredient recipe is a reasonable first thing to try if a vet has ruled out other causes for ongoing skin problems.
- Why is my Bichon Frise such a fussy eater?
- Some individual dogs are simply choosier than others regardless of breed, but a kibble sized too large for a small mouth, or a sudden change of food, can both put a Bichon off eating readily. Sticking to a consistent small-breed recipe and avoiding constant flavour-hopping often helps more than switching foods repeatedly.
- Does a Bichon Frise's white coat mean they need a special diet?
- Not specifically for coat colour, though a good quality diet does support healthy skin generally, which shows more visibly through white fur than darker coats. Tear staining, which is common in the breed, is influenced by several factors beyond diet, so a vet is the right person to ask if it becomes a concern.
Related
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.