Bichon Frise vs Standard Poodle

A Bichon Frise
Photo: Heike Andres
A Poodle (Standard)
Photo: John Leslie from London, UK

Side by side

Bichon Frise
Standard Poodle
Adult weight
5.4–8.2 kg (12–18 lb) (breed club figure)1
Males 27–32 kg (60–70 lb); females 18–23 kg (40–50 lb) (breed club figure)2
Height
Males 24.1–29.2 cm; females 24.1–29.2 cm (breed club figure)1
Males 45–60 cm; females 45–60 cm3
Lifespan
Median 12.5 years4
Median 14 years4
Fully grown
10 months, both sexes5
11 months, both sexes5
Group
Companion & toy6
Companion & toy3
Coat
Curly coat6
Curly coat or corded coat3
Shedding
Holds loose hair until it is brushed or clipped out
Grooming
Brushing a few times a week
Exercise
A modest amount
Health
Cushing's syndrome (much more likely); Torn cruciate ligament in one knee (more likely)7,8
No sourced figure
Class
Lap dog
Family

Which suits you

Size
The Standard Poodle is far larger: about 25 kg (55 lb) as an adult, against 6.8 kg (15 lb) for the Bichon Frise.
Lifespan
In UK vet records the Standard Poodle lives longer: a median of 14 years, against 12.5 for the Bichon Frise.
Temperament
They differ most on affection (Bichon Frise: a lap or leaning dog; Standard Poodle: affectionate on its own terms) and on independence (Bichon Frise: cooperative, with its own ideas; Standard Poodle: keen to work with you).
Alike
Both are rated the same on sensitivity: needs a calm, predictable home.
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.

Standard Poodle
Companion & toy · Medium

In temperament the Standard is alert, quick to learn and energetic, moving with a springy gait and a proud carriage.

The Bichon Frise page →The Standard Poodle page →

Breed traits

Day to day
Bichon Frise
Standard Poodle
Activity
Differs
Happy with modest walks
Needs lots of exercise
Intelligence
Differs
Learns readily, likes games
Needs daily brain work
Handler demand
Differs
Suits a first-time owner
Needs steady training
With people
Bichon Frise
Standard Poodle
Affection
Differs
A lap or leaning dog
Affectionate on its own terms
Loyalty
Differs
Friendly with everyone
Bonded to its family
Independence
Differs
Cooperative, with its own ideas
Keen to work with you
Around the home
Bichon Frise
Standard Poodle
Sensitivity
Needs a calm, predictable home
Needs a calm, predictable home
Voice
Barks to alert, then settles
Barks to alert, then settles
Prey drive
Differs
Usually fine with small pets
Chases; needs managing
Breed explains only about 9% of how individual dogs differ in behaviour9. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home10,11.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes
The Standard Poodle grows to the heavier adult, about 25 kg against the Bichon Frise's 6.8 kg.
Bichon Frise
Standard Poodle
0102030402m4m6m9m12m18m
0102030402m3m4m6m9m12m18m

More comparisons

Compare the Bichon Frise with
Standard Poodle vs Toy PoodleBichon Frise vs MalteseMiniature Poodle vs Standard PoodleLabradoodle vs Standard PoodleGoldendoodle vs Standard PoodleBichon Frise vs Toy PoodleAll breed comparisons →

Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·