How long does a Bichon Frise live?

The listed lifespan for a Bichon Frise is 14–15 years.

How tall is a Bichon Frise?

The listed height for a Bichon Frise is 9.5–11.5 in.

Is a Bichon Frise good with children?

The AKC good-with-children score for a Bichon Frise is 5 out of 5.

When is a Bichon Frise full grown?

The growth size band for a Bichon Frise is 8–12 months.

Non-Sporting Group

Bichon Frise

Bichon Frise is a small dog in the Non-Sporting Group. Adult weight is 12–18 lb, height is 9.5–11.5 in, and the listed lifespan is 14–15 years. AKC describes the temperament as Curious, Playful, Peppy.

Last reviewed November 1, 2026.

Bichon Frise dog — Photo: Bernt Fransson · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Lifespan14–15 years

Weight12–18 lb

SizeSmall GroupNon-Sporting Group

Height

9.5–11.5 in

Energy

4 / 5

Shedding

1 / 5

Grooming

5 / 5

Trainability

4 / 5

Good with kids

5 / 5

The breed record

Across 45 single-size small breeds, a lifespan midpoint of 14.5 years is about 0.9 years longer than the 13.6-year average. A midpoint adult weight of 15 lb is about the same as the 16 lb average for those small breeds.

The listed origin is The Mediterranean. The coat is described as curly, double, long. The AKC energy score is 4 out of 5, 0.5 points above the group average of 3.5 for the Non-Sporting Group. Shedding scores 1 out of 5, so loose hair is limited. Grooming scores 5 out of 5, so a professional schedule is realistic. Trainability scores 4 out of 5, which is a biddable score. Good with children scores 5 out of 5. Good with other dogs scores 5 out of 5. AKC ranked this breed number 49 in 2025.

Adult size is usually reached in 8–12 months (size-band statement (Salt et al. 2017): very small dogs reach maturity at 8-12 months). AKC parent-club recommended health screenings: Patella Evaluation, Hip Evaluation, and Ophthalmologist Evaluation. These are screening tests, not a list of diseases the breed is guaranteed to develop.

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