The Rundown
Best Overall: Blue Buffalo Adult Dry Dog Food
“Your Bichon Frise deserves the best and Blue Buffalo Adult Dry Dog Food only has top quality ingredients supplemented with immune-boosting LifeSource Bits. Not only will your fur ball love its delicious flavor, it will also give him the nutrients he needs.”
Best Value for the Money: Diamond Skin & Coat Dry Dog Food
“The Diamond Skin & Coat Dry Dog Food contains premium quality ingredients that are usually present only in products at a higher price range. At less than a dollar per pound, this superfood-packed kibble is budget-friendly and wholesome.”
Best for Weight Management: Blue Buffalo Natural Veterinary Diet
“Keep your dog’s weight in check with a diet that has everything he needs and more. The Blue Buffalo Natural Veterinary Diet does not only regulate your dog’s weight, it also gives your dog’s skin and coat a boost and a shine!“
A Bichon Frise needs proper nourishment from a young age. They’re highly energetic, so their food needs to offer them enough energy to see them through their day. At the same time, they need to remain slim to prevent joint problems, so a low-calorie dog food with added joint supplements is ideal.
The best dog food for Bichon Frise pups must also nourish that curly coat, and give them all the micronutrients they need to stay healthy.
Below are 12 dog foods we recommend. Compare them and find the best one for you and your Bichon Frise!
Table of Contents
- The Rundown
- Best Dog Food for Bichon Frise
- 1. Blue Buffalo Adult Dry Dog Food
- 2. Diamond Skin & Coat Dry Dog Food
- 3. Blue Buffalo Natural Veterinary Diet
- 4. American Journey Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
- 5. Taste of the Wild Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
- 6. Acana Singles Limited Ingredient Dry Dog Food
- 7. Blue Buffalo Limited Ingredient Diet Dry Dog Food
- 8. Nulo Freestyle Senior Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
- 9. Merrick Grain-Free Puppy Food
- 10. Wellness CORE Grain-Free Small Breed Dry Dog Food
- 11. Wellness CORE 95% Grain-Free Canned Dog Food
- 12. Wellness CORE SIX Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
- 1. Blue Buffalo Adult Dry Dog Food
- Key Elements in a Bichon Frise Dog’s Diet
- Common Health Problems
- Questions & Answers
Best Dog Food for Bichon Frise
Here are our top picks for the best dog food for Bichon Frise:
- Premium Option: Blue Buffalo Adult Dry Dog Food
- Best Value for Money: Diamond Skin & Coat Dry Dog Food
- Best for Weight Management: Blue Buffalo Natural Veterinary Diet
- Best for Multi-Dog Families: American Journey Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
- Best without Glucosamine: Taste of the Wild Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
- Best Limited Ingredient: Acana Singles Limited Ingredient Dry Dog Food
- Best Low Protein: Blue Buffalo Limited Ingredient Diet Dry Dog Food
- Best for Bichon Frise Seniors: Nulo Freestyle Senior Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
- Best for Bichon Frise Puppies: Merrick Grain-Free Puppy Food
- Best for Active Dogs: Wellness CORE Grain-Free Small Breed Dry Dog Food
- Best Wet Food: Wellness CORE 95% Grain-Free Canned Dog Food
- Best for Skin & Coat: Wellness CORE SIX Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
1. Blue Buffalo Adult Dry Dog Food
Premium Option: Healthy and immune-boosting recipe
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Key Features
- Moderate protein and good fat count
- High Omega fatty acid levels
- Added joint supplements
- LifeSource Bits boost the immune system
We recommend Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula for your Bichon Frise. It’s made from a combination of top quality ingredients and includes extra supplements to prevent the most common Bichon Frise health conditions, such as joint dysplasia and urinary stones.
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2. Diamond Skin & Coat Dry Dog Food
Best Value for Money: Wholesome dog food at less than a dollar per pound
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Key Features
- Added probiotics for better digestion
- Contains superfood ingredients
- No chicken ingredients for sensitive tummies
- Omegas and DHA included
Choose Diamond Naturals if you’re looking for a premium quality dog food that’s well within your budget. It comes with an excellent ingredient list which is complemented by vitamins, minerals, and probiotics for better digestion.
It contains DHA so it may be suitable for less energetic Bichon Frise puppies. Adult dogs can also benefit from DHA. It improves vision and nourishes brain tissue, keeping their eyes and minds sharp as they age.
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3. Blue Buffalo Natural Veterinary Diet
Best for Weight Management: Lower in fat and includes L-carnitine for energy management
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Key Features
- Retains a high protein count
- Dual-purpose dog food
- Regulates metabolism
- Balanced minerals
Bichon Frise are prone to becoming overweight. The lower fat count plus L-carnitine in this dog food help your chunky dog to lose weight. It’s also a urinary care food. As Bichon Frise dogs are prone to urinary stones, this food boosts health in more ways than one.
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4. American Journey Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
Best for Multi-Dog Families: Suitable nutrients for puppies, adults, and senior dogs
Key Features
- Contains DHA, which is helpful for puppies and seniors
- Good calcium phosphorus ratio
- Joint supplements added
- High protein and moderate fat
Pet parents who have several Bichon Frise dogs at various life stages or a second dog of a different breed can be confident feeding their Bichon Frise and other dogs this kibble. It’s designed to meet the nutritional needs of puppies, adult dogs, and seniors.
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5. Taste of the Wild Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
Best without Glucosamine: Great for dogs who are already on a joint supplement
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Key Features
- High in both protein and fat
- Grain-free recipe
- High levels of Omegas
- Added probiotics
We recommend Taste of the Wild dog food for a Bichon Frise who is already taking a joint supplement. It’s high in protein and fat and would be best suited for an active Bichon Frise.
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6. Acana Singles Limited Ingredient Dry Dog Food
Best Limited Ingredient: Rich in all the nutrients and supplements a dog needs to avoid allergies
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Key Features
- Great variety of flavors
- Good protein and fat for small breeds
- Contains all the necessary supplements
- Suitable for all life stages
A Bichon Frise with allergies would benefit from this limited ingredient dog food. This kibble avoids common allergens while providing all the nutrients your small breed dog needs.
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7. Blue Buffalo Limited Ingredient Diet Dry Dog Food
Best Low Protein: Lower in protein but remains high in fat for energetic pups
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Key Features
- Single source animal protein
- Variety of grain-free recipes
- Limited ingredient formula
- Contains immune-boosting LifeSourceBits
This dog food is best for a Bichon Frise whose vet has recommended a low-protein diet. It has limited ingredient formulation. It’s lower in protein but retains a good fat count for energy.
There’s a range of recipes to choose from so your dog won’t get bored. Every recipe contains added supplements to improve your dog’s health.
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8. Nulo Freestyle Senior Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
Best for Bichon Frise Seniors: High protein, lower fat, and without chicken for senior stomachs
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Key Features
- No chicken ingredients
- Low fat count but remains high in protein
- Contains joint supplements
- Added L-carnitine for metabolic support
Seniors need a specific nutrient profile in their dog food. The Nulo Freestyle Dry Dog Food comes highly recommended because it avoids common food allergens and grains while offering a full range of supplements. It’s especially formulated to help senior Bichon Frises stay healthy as they age.
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9. Merrick Grain-Free Puppy Food
Best for Bichon Frise Puppies: Puppy-specific nutrition to help them develop properly
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Key Features
- Smaller kibble size for puppies
- DHA for healthy eye and brain growth
- Joint supplements added
- High-quality, wholesome ingredients
This puppy-specific dog food contains everything a little Bichon Frise needs to develop in a healthy way. It’s also made with smaller kibbles, so your Bichon Frise puppy can eat comfortably without struggling.
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10. Wellness CORE Grain-Free Small Breed Dry Dog Food
Best for Active Dogs: High in healthy protein and fat
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Key Features
- Small kibble size for small breeds
- Provides the right amount of energy for active dogs
- Contains joint supplements
- High in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants
We recommend this grain-free small breed dog food for Bichon Frises who get vigorous daily exercise. Dogs who are active will be able to make the most of the high protein and fat counts in this dog food. Added joint supplements also support active joints.
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11. Wellness CORE 95% Grain-Free Canned Dog Food
Best Wet Food: High quality protein, lower in calories than most
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Key Features
- Higher in protein than most wet foods
- Healthy real food ingredients
- Chelated minerals for easy digestion
- Great for adding moisture to your dog’s diet
Be careful not to feed your Bichon Frise too much canned food as it can increase his calories dramatically. But it’s good to have if your dog needs soft food for a few days, and Wellness CORE 95% is our top recommendation, thanks to its healthy nutrient profile.
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12. Wellness CORE SIX Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
Best for Skin & Coat: High in essential fatty acids to nourish the coat and skin
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Key Features
- Just 6 ingredients
- High protein and fat counts
- High in both Omega-3 and Omega-6
- Added joint supplements
This grain-free recipe is unusually high in Omega-3 fatty acids, and has good levels of Omega-6 too. These are wonderful for your Bichon Frise’s skin and coat health, so we recommend it if they have dry, itchy skin or brittle fur from allergies.
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Key Elements in a Bichon Frise Dog’s Diet
The right ingredients can help keep disease away, strengthen your dog’s body, and prevent possible health problems. Your dog’s diet should be complete and balanced, and consist of easily digestible ingredients.
Here’s what you need to look for on the guaranteed analysis list.
Protein
Protein is responsible for building muscle and repairing cells. A high-quality animal protein should be the first ingredient on a Bichon Frise food. Plant proteins are acceptable if they’re not the main protein source.
The average Bichon Frise will need between 25% and 35% protein in their dog food. As a general rule, the more active your dog is, the more protein they will need.
Because Bichon Frises tend to suffer from allergies, some proteins may not be suitable for them. Chicken, beef, lamb, and egg products are common allergens. This will depend on the dog, though.
A low-protein diet should be avoided unless specifically recommended by your dog’s veterinarian.
Fat
The fat content is what provides your dog with energy. Small breeds like Bichon Frises actually need more fat than large breeds to keep their energy up.
Kibble for Bichon Frise dogs should contain 14% or 15% fat. More than that is acceptable only if your dog is very active and can burn it off.
Weight management foods contain lower fat counts. Overweight Bichon Frises may benefit from a low fat diet – between 9 and 12% fat.
Named animal fat (eg. chicken fat, pork fat) is first prize. Other good sources of fat include canola oil and flaxseed. Note that crude fat is different to the Omega fatty acid content.
Healthy Carbohydrates
The carbohydrate content isn’t as important as the quality of its source. Carbohydrates don’t provide energy, but instead offer vitamins and fiber.
Fruits and vegetables are the best carbohydrate sources. They add healthy nutrients and are packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Be careful of potatoes and legumes, as they can be allergens.
Gluten-free grains are also healthy and loaded with fiber. These may include rice, oatmeal, barley, sorghum, millet, and quinoa.
Carbohydrate ingredients you don’t want to see are corn, wheat, and soy. This includes different forms like corn gluten meal or wheat gluten. These are indigestible and contain no nutritional value. They can contribute to or cause allergies.
Omega Fatty Acids
Feed your Bichon Frise a food containing high Omega levels to nourish the coat and skin, keeping your dog’s white fur healthy and lush.
You’ll find both Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids on a dog food label. They’re both important, and we recommend choosing a food for Bichon Frise dogs that contains between 2% and 3% Omega 6.
If you can’t find these on the guaranteed analysis list, they’re also known as Linoleic Acid (Omega 6) and alpha-linoleic acid, or ALA (Omega 3).
Two other important Omegas are DHA and EPA, which are both Omega 3s. These encourage healthy growth, and are essential for puppies and pregnant dogs.
Joint Supplements
The Bichon Frise is small, but his tiny joints need all the support they can get. Most dog foods for Bichon Frise will contain joint supplements to strengthen and maintain joint mobility.
Glucosamine is what you’re looking for. Sometimes it’s joined by chondroitin. Levels can vary from 200mg/kg to 1200mg/kg.
Not all dog foods for Bichon Frise will contain these joint supplements. If you choose a kibble without it, we advise buying a separate supplement to keep your dog’s joints protected from wear and tear.
These supplements are even more important if your dog is overweight. They will protect the joints from excess strain caused by extra pounds.
Common Health Problems
The right food for Bichon Frise dogs can help reduce their chances of developing health problems. Here are the most common conditions to watch out for.
1) Joint Dysplasia
Knee, hip, and elbow dysplasia can affect even small breed dogs. It happens when the ball and socket joint in the hip doesn’t move smoothly, and it deteriorates over time and loses its strength.
Bichon Frises are bouncy dogs and their activity can put strain on their joints. Symptoms include:
- A loss of interest in physical activity
- A decreased range of motion in the joint
- Lameness or stiffness in certain joints
- Displaying signs of pain when walking, running, or standing
- A strange “bunny hop” walk
This condition is more common in overweight dogs. Extra weight puts pressure on the joints with every step. Weight loss is the first step in treating joint dysplasia.
Joint supplements in a Bichon Frise dog kibble are essential to strengthen the joints and protect them against impact. Otherwise, supplementation with chews is necessary.
2) Intervertebral Disc Disease
Intervertebral Disc Disease can cause pain, partial paralysis in the hind limbs, and a loss of feeling. It occurs in one of three specific places: the neck, the middle of the back, or the lower back.
Between every vertebra is an intervertebral disc, which acts as a shock absorber. When these discs begin to wear away, the vertebrae begin to rub against one another, causing pain. But the worst of IVD is when the center of the disc pops out and presses against the spinal cord. This leads to pain and an inhibition of movement.
Any kibble containing a good amount of calcium and joint supplements should help. We recommend Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula, as it’s not only great for the bones and joints, but it also contains immune-boosting ingredients that help to keep weight stable, which is a big factor in reducing the chances of developing this condition.
3) Urinary Problems
Bichon Frises are also prone to urinary stones and diabetes. Stones can form as a result of urinary tract infections, highly acidic food, or an increased level of purines. Purines are mostly found in beef and legumes.
Symptoms of urinary stones include struggling to urinate and blood in the urine. Symptoms of diabetes include:
- More frequent urination
- Excessive thirst
- Weight loss despite an increased appetite
The first step to preventing both of these conditions is a healthy diet. A high quality ingredient list, moderate protein levels, high moisture, and vitamins and minerals are essential.
We recommend Blue Buffalo Weight Management Dry Dog Food. It’s free from beef, legumes, and low-quality fillers. It also contains cranberries, which are known to improve urinary health. The low fat count and balanced mineral content also help.
4) Food Allergies
Food allergies are common in Bichon Frises. Often, these manifest as skin and fur conditions, or digestive problems like vomiting and diarrhea.
Food allergies can develop suddenly. The most common food ingredients that dogs are allergic to are:
- Chicken
- Beef
- Dairy products
- Grains containing gluten, such as corn, wheat, and soy
If your dog is displaying discomfort, scratching excessively, or shedding an unusual amount, allergies could be the reason.
It can be difficult to pinpoint the ingredient your dog is allergic to. We recommend switching to a limited ingredient diet if your dog shows signs of allergies.
We suggest Wellness CORE SIX Dry Dog Food. It’s packed with Omegas to heal and nourish the coat and skin, and is made from just 6 healthy ingredients. Other highly recommended limited ingredient brands include Acana Singles and Blue Buffalo Basics.
Questions & Answers
How often should I feed my Bichon Frise? What’s the correct schedule?
A Bichon Frise won’t handle large meals. Their daily calories should be split between two or three meals per day, from the age of about 10 weeks.
Calculate how much your dog should be eating based on their weight. Their kibble will have a handy feeding chart on the packaging that you can use to calculate their daily calorie intake.
Split this total between two meals – one in the morning, and one in the evening. If your dog starts to leave food behind in the morning, it’s a sign that you should be feeding him three meals instead of two.
Simply split the daily calorie count in three instead of two, and make sure you’re feeding the right amount at each meal.
Is grain-free dog food bad for Bichon Frise?
A grain-free food isn’t necessarily bad for Bichon Frise dogs. Some dogs will handle grains well, but dogs with a sensitive stomach may have trouble digesting them.
You can feed your Bichon Frise a grain-free kibble from the start. Or, you can feed them a food containing grains and see how their stomach deals with it.
If you do choose to feed your dog a food containing grains, make sure the grains are gluten-free. Avoid corn, wheat, and soy in all forms. These can be detrimental to your dog’s health, but gluten-free grains can be quite healthy, even providing a good amount of fiber.
How do I transition my Bichon Frise from one dog food to another?
Switching your dog from one kibble to another should be a well thought-out process. On day one, mix 10% new kibble with 90% of their regular food. Let your Bichon Frise eat this combination for a few days.
If they show no signs of digestive distress or allergies, increase it to 20% new kibble and 80% old kibble. Again, give it a few days. If all goes well, increase it to 50/50% for a few days, then 75% new food and 25% old, until you can switch them out entirely.
If your dog shows any signs of digestive discomfort or reluctance to eat the mixed food, it could be a sign that they’re not happy with the new food.
How much food should I feed my Bichon Frise?
This depends on two things: how many calories per day they need, and how many calories are in the food you’re feeding your dog.
An active Bichon Frise—that is, one who gets daily exercise in the form of a walk or vigorous play—will need between 400 and 650 calories in a day. Seniors and less active dogs need between 300 and 500.
Get a baseline calorie count by using the chart on the back of your dog’s food. To figure out if your dog is eating the right amount, look at his weight. If he’s starting to get a big pudgy, reduce his calories by 50 and wait a few days to see how he responds. If you can see his ribs, increase his calories by 50 and give it a few days.
Once you have an idea of how many calories your dog should be eating, you’ll need to figure out how much of his food to feed him. For example, imagine that:
- Your dog needs 600 calories per day
- Split between three meals
- One cup of food contains 300 calories
You’ll need to give him ⅔ cup per meal to reach 600. Remember, treats need to be added to the calorie count. Even just a few extra treats per day can push him over his correct weight and lead to health issues.
What vegetables are good in a Bichon Frise food?
Fruits and veggies offer an excellent array of vitamins and minerals. Sweet potato, squash, and pumpkin are wonderful for providing sustained energy and adding extra fiber to your pup’s diet.
Chickpeas, lentils, and peas can be good options for dogs who aren’t sensitive to legumes. Some dogs may be able to handle potatoes, but others may react badly to them.
Greens are healthy and easy to digest. Spinach, broccoli, kale, and collard greens are often found in dog kibble. Carrots are a wonderful source of beta carotene that offer many health benefits.
For a complete list of foods your dog can’t eat, read our guide!