Bichon Frise vs Coton de Tulear

A Bichon Frise
Photo: Heike Andres
A Coton de Tulear
Photo: CamilleVila

Side by side

Bichon Frise
Coton de Tulear
Adult weight
5.4–8.2 kg (12–18 lb) (breed club figure)1
Males 4–6 kg (8.8–13 lb); females 3.5–5 kg (7.7–11 lb)2
Height
Males 24.1–29.2 cm; females 24.1–29.2 cm (breed club figure)1
No sourced figure
Lifespan
Median 12.5 years3
Median 14.2 years3
Fully grown
10 months, both sexes4
Group
Companion & toy5
Companion & toy2
Coat
Curly coat5
No sourced figure
Shedding
Holds loose hair until it is brushed or clipped out
No sourced figure
Grooming
Brushing a few times a week
No sourced figure
Exercise
A modest amount
Health
Cushing's syndrome (much more likely); Torn cruciate ligament in one knee (more likely)6,7
No sourced figure
Class
Lap dog
Companion

Which suits you

Size
The Bichon Frise is larger on average: about 6.8 kg (15 lb) as an adult, against 4.6 kg (10 lb) for the Coton de Tulear.
Lifespan
In UK vet records the Coton de Tulear lives longer: a median of 14.2 years, against 12.5 for the Bichon Frise.
Temperament
They differ most on loyalty (Bichon Frise: friendly with everyone; Coton de Tulear: sticks close to its people) and on independence (Bichon Frise: cooperative, with its own ideas; Coton de Tulear: keen to work with you).
Alike
Both are rated the same on affection: a lap or leaning dog.
Neither is the better dog in general. Which suits you depends on your home, your days and the care you can give.
Take the breed matcher

What they're like

Bichon Frise
Companion & toy · Small

In temperament the Bichon is cheerful, sociable and quick to learn, qualities that suited its years as a performer.

Coton de Tulear
Companion & toy · Toy

Cotons are lively, playful and affectionate, like to stay close to their people, and are usually friendly towards strangers and other animals. They have a reputation for clowning.

The Bichon Frise page →The Coton de Tulear page →

Breed traits

Day to day
Bichon Frise
Coton de Tulear
Activity
Happy with modest walks
Happy with modest walks
Intelligence
Learns readily, likes games
Learns readily, likes games
Handler demand
Suits a first-time owner
Suits a first-time owner
With people
Bichon Frise
Coton de Tulear
Affection
A lap or leaning dog
A lap or leaning dog
Loyalty
Differs
Friendly with everyone
Sticks close to its people
Independence
Differs
Cooperative, with its own ideas
Keen to work with you
Around the home
Bichon Frise
Coton de Tulear
Sensitivity
Differs
Needs a calm, predictable home
Average
Voice
Barks to alert, then settles
Barks to alert, then settles
Prey drive
Usually fine with small pets
Usually fine with small pets
Breed explains only about 9% of how individual dogs differ in behaviour8. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home9,10.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes
The Bichon Frise grows to the heavier adult, about 6.8 kg against the Coton de Tulear's 4.8 kg.
Bichon Frise
Coton de Tulear
02.557.5102m4m6m9m12m18m
02.557.5102m3m4m6m9m12m18m

More comparisons

Compare the Bichon Frise with
Bichon Frise vs MalteseBichon Frise vs Standard PoodleBichon Frise vs Toy PoodleBichon Frise vs Shih TzuCoton de Tulear vs MalteseBichon Frise vs HavaneseAll breed comparisons →

Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·