As the owner of a Bichon Frise, you might be wondering about their sleeping patterns and how long a Bichon Frise should sleep. You might be concerned that your dog is sleeping too much or maybe you’re wondering why they are not getting enough sleep.
Sleep is as important for our dogs as it is for us humans so it’s a good idea to understand how much time your Bichon Frise should spend sleeping.
On average, a Bichon Frise sleeps for between 12 to 14 hours per day. This can vary depending on the age of your Bichon as puppies tend to sleep for even longer (18 to 20 hours). Additionally, older Bichons need more sleep than younger Bichons.
Now that we’ve answered the question of how long a Bichon Frise should sleep, the rest of this article will look at the sleep patterns of the Bichon Frise in more detail.
We’ll look at what to do if your Bichon is sleeping too much, where your Bichon should sleep, and tips for creating the perfect Bichon Frise sleep routine for your dog.
Table of Contents
How Long Should A Bichon Frise Puppy Sleep?
When you first bring home your new Bichon Frise puppy, one of the first things you’ll notice is how much they sleep.
This is nothing to be concerned about. It’s common for Bichon puppies to sleep for most of the day while they are developing.
In fact, a Bichon Frise puppy sleeps for between 18 to 20 hours a day. This can vary depending on how active they are and how much mental stimulation they get.
As your puppy grows, it will start to sleep less and will develop a sleep routine in line with yours. This can take some time so it’s important to remember the first few months of owning a new puppy will be difficult on everybody’s sleeping patterns.
The key is to maintain a consistent sleep schedule for your puppy. This means going to bed and waking up at the same time. Over time, your puppy will become used to the routine and will be less likely to wake up during the night.
Is My Bichon Frise Sleeping Too Much?
It’s quite common to think your Bichon Frise is sleeping too much.
For instance, when you’re doing things around the house your Bichon is fast asleep in bed. It may seem unusual for a dog to be less active than you but this is normal for a dog. In fact, dogs spend much of their day sleeping or lying around and only a small percentage actually being active.
The exception to this is for working dogs like police dogs, sniffer dogs, or guide dogs. These types of dogs are a lot more active during the day and so tend to sleep less.
With that being said, you might still be concerned your dog isn’t active enough.
Remember this: as long as your Bichon is getting at least 30 minutes of physical activity each day and plenty of mental stimulation, they should be sleeping the correct amount.
The main thing to keep an eye on with your dog’s sleeping patterns is a drastic change in the amount of sleep they are getting. If your dog is suddenly sleeping a lot more or a lot less this is something worth noting.
It’s a good idea to discuss this with your vet who can look for any health issues that may account for the changes in your dog’s sleep behavior.
How Can I Make Sure My Bichon Gets Enough Sleep?
The most important thing you can do to help your Bichon Frise puppy get enough sleep is to make sure they get enough exercise and mental stimulation each day.
If you want to learn more about making sure your Bichon Frise puppy gets enough exercise including some practical tips, here’s a helpful article I wrote: How Often Should You Exercise A Bichon Frise?
Secondly, it’s important to make sure your Bichon Frise sleeps someplace quiet, secure, and comfortable.
Your Bichon needs to feel comfortable and safe in their sleep space so they aren’t woken up by unusual noises or people moving around the house.
We’ll look at this in more detail in the section below on where a Bichon Frise should sleep.
Are Bichon Frises Lazy?
Some dog breeds can have a reputation for being lazy or less active than other dog breeds.
This may be something that impacts your decision when choosing a certain dog breed. For instance, if you lead a particularly active lifestyle, then you will look for an active and energetic dog. On the other hand, if you’re a couch potato that enjoys a short walk once a day, you’ll look for a dog with lower exercise requirements.
Based on my experience with owning a Bichon, I would consider the Bichon Frise to be a moderately active dog and therefore not lazy. You will never see a Bichon stay lying on the couch when the mail arrives!
With that said, it is possible for any dog to become lazy if they are not exercised regularly. This is why you should make sure your dog has a regular and consistent exercise routine.
Remember: Adult Bichons need 30 minutes of physical activity per day as well as plenty of mental stimulation in the form of playing, socializing with others, and obedience training.
Where Should A Bichon Frise Sleep?
An important question all dog owners should consider is where their dog should sleep in the home.
This decision will have a huge bearing on you and your dog’s sleeping habits for the life of your dog. Once your dog becomes used to sleeping in one place it will be difficult to change it in later life. It’s the difference between letting your dog sleep in your bed or sleeping in a crate downstairs.
Above all, it’s important for your dog to have someplace safe and quiet to sleep.
This will help them to feel comfortable and they’ll be less likely to be woken up by various noises around the house.
With all this in mind, let’s look at some options for where your Bichon Frise should sleep.
Should My Bichon Frise Sleep In A Crate?
Most dog owners will advocate for crate training, especially with a new puppy.
Crate training has many benefits for a Bichon Frise and is a good option to consider when looking at where your dog should sleep in your home.
Sleeping in a crate pros and cons list:
| Pros ✅ | Cons ❌ |
|---|---|
| Helps with toilet training + general obedience training | Some crates can be expensive and take up a lot of space |
| Can lessen the symptoms of dog separation anxiety | Requires a lot of patience to train your dog to use |
| Creates a safe space for your dog to sleep | Can be seen as a punishment if not implemented correctly |
| You know where they are at night |
Looking for some recommendations for what dog crate to buy for your Bichon Frise? Here’s an article I wrote: 3 Best Collapsible Dog Crates For A Bichon Frise.
If you’re looking for more information on how to start crate training your Bichon Frise, I found this great video below:
Should My Bichon Frise Sleep In A Dog Bed?
Another good place for your Bichon Frise to sleep is in a dog bed. Once you have picked out the best dog bed though, where you put it is arguably more important.
Make sure to put the dog bed someplace quiet, ideally in a small room with a door you can close. Double-check there’s nothing in there your dog could get at or tear up. You don’t want your freshly pressed shirt ripped apart and covered in doggy saliva!
Closing the door of that room creates a small, safe space for your dog to sleep in and can also assist with toilet training as your dog usually won’t go to the toilet next to where they sleep.
Sleeping in a bed pro and cons list:
| Pros ✅ | Cons ❌ |
|---|---|
| It will help with toilet training as they usually won’t go where they sleep | Your dog can wander around at night if the door is not closed and could become destructive |
| Creates a comfortable space where your dog can feel safe | Depending on the dog bed you choose, your dog could chew through the material or rip it up |
| It is cheaper than investing in a dog crate |
Should My Bichon Frise Sleep In My Bed?
This option is controversial among dog owners and is always a topic of debate.
There are certainly pros and cons to your dog sleeping in your bed. But, this is something you should consider before doing as it will be difficult to change once the habit is in place.
Everybody will have a different opinion on this topic so it is something you should decide on for yourself.
Sleeping in my bed pros and cons list:
| Pros ✅ | Cons ❌ |
|---|---|
| Creates a warm and secure sleeping place for you and your dog | It may affect the pecking order of the house and show your dog that they’re on the same level or better than you |
| Creates a stronger bond between you and your dog | Potential hygiene issues including the spreading of fleas |
| Dog snoring may keep you awake! |
If you would like to learn more about letting your dog sleep in your bed, I found this article from AKC.org: Should I Let My Dog Sleep With Me.
I also found this adorable video linked below on what your dog’s sleeping position reveals about their personality. It’s worth a watch 😄
Should My Bichon Frise Sleep Outside?
More and more dogs today are sleeping indoors in the family home but you might be wondering if it would be beneficial for your Bichon should sleep outside.
This is a contentious topic most people have different opinions on but I would recommend your Bichon Frise doesn’t sleep outside.
I feel more comfortable with my Bichon sleeping in the house as I can be sure they are safe, secure, and comfortable when we go to sleep at night.
Conclusion
I’ve discussed quite a lot in this article so let’s summarize what was covered:
- How long should a Bichon Frise sleep?
- How long should a Bichon Frise puppy sleep?
- Is your Bichon Frise sleeping too much?
- How you can make sure your Bichon gets enough sleep.
- Are Bichon’s lazy?
- Where your Bichon Frise should sleep in your home.
I hope you found some value in this article on how long should a Bichon Frise sleep. If you did, please consider sharing it on social media. It will help other dog owners to find it.
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