What color is a Bichon Frise dog?

A Bichon Frise dog is white. The breed is known for its soft, curly, predominantly pure-white coat, which gives it the distinctive fluffy appearance associated with show dogs and companion pets. Its name comes from French: bichon à poil frisé means roughly “curly-haired small dog.”

Bichon Frises have a double coat made up of a dense undercoat and a curly outer coat. Although the hair is white, puppies younger than one year can sometimes show slight cream or beige shading, especially around the ears or body. Breed standards generally allow only limited temporary coloration in young dogs; adults are expected to have a white coat.

People sometimes confuse a Bichon Frise with a white poodle because both breeds have curly, low-shedding coats and are often groomed into rounded shapes. They are separate breeds, however, with different histories and proportions. The Bichon developed from Mediterranean water dogs and became especially popular as a companion in Europe, including at the French and Spanish courts. Its dark eyes and black nose strongly contrast with its white fur.