🐕 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.
Full Bichon Frise profile →
🐶 Yorkshire Terrier
Temperament
Confident, brave, affectionate, sometimes feisty. Yorkies often think they're the size of a German Shepherd and will challenge larger dogs. Bond very closely with one person. Can be yappy without training.
Exercise
30–45 minutes a day plus indoor play. Two short walks plus mental work is enough. Yorkies are easy to over-exercise — their joints are tiny.
Grooming
Daily brushing if kept in a long coat. Most owners opt for a "puppy cut" every 6–8 weeks. Hair grows continuously and doesn't shed (good for allergies). Tear staining around eyes is common — wipe daily.
Health
Tracheal collapse (use a harness, never a collar). Patellar luxation. Liver shunts (puppy screen test). Dental disease (small mouths, crowded teeth — daily brushing essential). Hypoglycaemia in young puppies.
Full Yorkshire Terrier profile →
