🐕 Bichon Frise
Temperament
Cheerful, gentle, playful, affectionate. Bichons are people-magnets and need to be part of the family. Generally great with children, other dogs and cats. Can be barky without training.
Exercise
30–60 minutes of daily exercise plus indoor play. Mental work and short obedience sessions are ideal.
Grooming
High maintenance: daily brushing if kept fluffy, plus a professional groom every 4–6 weeks. Tear staining around eyes is common (genetic). Hair grows continuously and doesn't shed.
Health
Generally healthy and long-lived. Watch for: bladder stones (a Bichon problem — drink lots of water, monitor urine), Cushing's disease, allergies (skin and food), patellar luxation, dental disease.
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🐩 Poodle (Standard)
Temperament
Highly intelligent (consistently rated #2 most trainable behind Border Collies), affectionate with family, dignified with strangers. Standards have a goofy, playful side and bond closely with their people. Reserved guard-dog instincts without aggression.
Exercise
60–90 minutes a day of mixed exercise. Poodles excel at agility, dock-diving, retrieving and obedience. They love water. Without enough mental stimulation, their intelligence turns into mischief — open cabinets, manipulate situations, bond-shop between household members.
Grooming
High commitment. The single curly coat doesn't shed but mats relentlessly without daily brushing. Most owners book a professional groom every 4–6 weeks for a "puppy clip" or short clip. Ear hair must be plucked or trimmed; ears need weekly cleaning to prevent infection.
Health
Generally healthy with proper breeding. Watch for: bloat / GDV (deep-chested), hip dysplasia, Addison's disease, sebaceous adenitis (skin condition), epilepsy in some lines. Cancer rates lower than most large breeds.
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