By Amanda Aaron
The Bichon Frisé is a very popular breed in the United States; however, as groomers, we usually see them with a variety of skin issues, allergies, matted hair and severe staining.
The trim I will outline is a great option for clients that enjoy the look of a Bichon breed profile trim without the upkeep. This trim can be modified with a variation of lengths and clipper comb attachments to fit each individual client’s maintenance schedule.
Fig 1) Starting at just under the ear, I chose a #2 attachment comb and passed it down to the elbow.
Fig 2) Using the same attachment, clipper over the loin, down to the base of the tail.
Fig 3) Clip from the shoulder and follow down around the ribs. I prefer to scissor the tuck-up, as clipping this hair out disrupts the balance of the breed profile, but some may find this hair matted and are unable to keep it.
Fig 4) Lift the tail and expose the point of rump by clipping it with the same attachment comb. Follow that down to the bend in the back leg. Keep the hair on the side of the thigh, as you’ll scissor that in later.
Fig 5) Clip the hair off the chest from the throat, down between the front legs. I prefer to scissor this area to help shape it; however, this is a common matting area so clip when necessary.
Fig 6) Lifting the tail, you’ll want to define the rump and the tail base by using scissors.
Fig 7) Using shears, blend the rump into the side of the thigh. Follow your scissor work into the tuck-up and ribs to create a seamless, round transition.
Fig 8) Round all of the feet.
Fig 9) The legs can be any shape or size depending on your client’s maintenance schedule. For this groom, the legs are completely scissored and we are balancing out the fuller legs with the shorter body. You can also use a snap-on comb on the legs for a shorter variation. Carefully scissor the inside of the legs down to the foot in a parallel line.
Fig 10) Scissor-blend the top of the legs by following it down to the foot.
Fig 11) Trim around the eyes. The style is the preference of the groomer and/or owner of the dog.
Fig 12) This is usually a tricky area, but I’ve found the easiest way to trim a Bichon ear is to push the ears forward from behind the head. This simulates the perked ear. I start at the bottom of the ear, trimming in a round shape to the top.
Fig 13) Pet Bichons can experience a lot of staining and matting in the muzzle area. After you’ve fluffed up the hair on the muzzle, starting at the outside corner of the eye and working towards the nose, scissor a rounded shape.
Fig 14) Comb the hair forward on the muzzle and lightly trim.
Fig 15) With the head up and back, scissor the sides of the crest to blend. If this is an area that gets matted often, clipping this hair off may be the best option for the dog.
Fig 16) Carefully, push the head back to trim the longest point of the head in a straight line down to the shoulder.
Fig 17) Using curved shears, reverse them and trim the hair so that it gradually slopes into the crest.
Fig 18) Pass your shears over the whole dog to give it a good scissor finish.
Add a cute bow or feathered collar and you’re done! ✂️