Bichon Frise vs Toy Poodle

Photo: Heike Andres

Photo: Basile Morin

Side by side

Bichon Frise

Toy Poodle

Adult weight

5.4–8.2 kg (12–18 lb) (breed club figure)1

1.8–2.7 kg (4–6 lb) (breed club figure)2

Height

Males 24.1–29.2 cm; females 24.1–29.2 cm (breed club figure)1

Males 24–28 cm; females 24–28 cm3

Lifespan

Median 12.5 years4

Median 14 years4

Fully grown

10 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

Gum disease (more likely)9

Class

Lap dog

Which suits you

Size

The Bichon Frise is far larger: about 6.8 kg (15 lb) as an adult, against 2.3 kg (5 lb) for the Toy Poodle.

Lifespan

In UK vet records the Toy Poodle lives longer: a median of 14 years, against 12.5 for the Bichon Frise.

Temperament

They differ most on loyalty (Bichon Frise: friendly with everyone; Toy Poodle: sticks close to its people) and on independence (Bichon Frise: cooperative, with its own ideas; Toy Poodle: 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.

Toy Poodle

Companion & toy · Toy

In temperament the Toy Poodle is alert, lively and quick to learn, moving with a light, springy gait and a proud carriage.

The Bichon Frise page →The Toy Poodle page →

Breed traits

Day to day

Bichon Frise

Toy Poodle

Activity

Happy with modest walks

Intelligence

Differs

Learns readily, likes games

Needs daily brain work

Handler demand

Suits a first-time owner

With people

Bichon Frise

Toy Poodle

Affection

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

Toy Poodle

Sensitivity

Needs a calm, predictable home

Voice

Barks to alert, then settles

Prey drive

Usually fine with small pets

Breed explains only about 9% of how individual dogs differ in behaviour10. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home11,12.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes

Summary

Detail

The Bichon Frise grows to the heavier adult, about 6.8 kg against the Toy Poodle's 2.3 kg.

Bichon Frise

Toy Poodle

More comparisons

Compare the Bichon Frise with

Miniature Poodle vs Toy Poodle Standard Poodle vs Toy Poodle Bichon Frise vs Maltese Bichon Frise vs Standard Poodle Bichon Frise vs Shih Tzu Bichon Frise vs Coton de Tulear All breed comparisons →

Sources

1
American Kennel Club. Bichon Frise breed page. ↑
2
American Kennel Club. Toy Poodle breed page. ↑
3
FCI. Breed standard no. 172. Fédération Cynologique Internationale. © FCI. ↑
www.fci.be/Nomenclature/Standards/172g09-en.pdf
4
McMillan et al., 2024. Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk from early death. Scientific Reports 14, 531 (VetCompass). CC BY 4.0. ↑
doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-50458-w
5
Hawthorne et al., 2004. Body-weight changes during growth in puppies of different breeds. Journal of Nutrition 134(8 Suppl): 2027S–2030S (WALTHAM). ↑
doi.org/10.1093/jn/134.8.2027S
6
FCI. Breed standard no. 215. Fédération Cynologique Internationale. © FCI. ↑
www.fci.be/Nomenclature/Standards/215g09-en.pdf
7
Schofield et al., 2022. Frequency and risk factors for naturally occurring Cushing's syndrome in dogs attending UK primary‐care practices. CC BY 4.0. ↑
doi.org/10.1111/jsap.13450
8
Pegram et al., 2023. Risk factors for unilateral cranial cruciate ligament rupture diagnosis and for clinical management in dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK. CC BY 4.0. ↑
doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2023.105952
9
O'Neill et al., 2021. Epidemiology of periodontal disease in dogs in the UK primary‐care veterinary setting. CC BY 4.0. ↑
doi.org/10.1111/jsap.13405
10
Morrill et al., 2022. Ancestry-inclusive dog genomics challenges popular breed stereotypes. Science 376: eabk0639 (Darwin's Ark). ↑
doi.org/10.1126/science.abk0639
11
Dogs Trust. Finding a good, responsible breeder. ↑
www.dogstrust.org.uk/dog-advice/getting-dog/choosing-dog/finding-a-breeder
12
American Kennel Club. Screening puppy buyers: how top breeders find the best homes. ↑
www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeding/screening-puppy-buyers-how-top-breeders-find-the-best-homes/
13
Salt et al., 2017. Growth standard charts for monitoring bodyweight in dogs of different sizes. PLoS ONE 12(9): e0182064 (WALTHAM). CC BY 4.0. ↑
doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0182064

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