Comparison: Bichon Frise and West Highland White Terrier

Bichon Frise and West Highland White Terrier are marked as similar in our database. The table compares only the data we have on the breeds.

Bichon Frise
Photo: Alex D Stewart, CC BY 2.0, source
West Highland White Terrier
Photo: Dominic Nelson, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Bichon FriseWest Highland White Terrier
FCI group9. Companion and Toy Dogs3. Terriers
Country of originFranceUnited Kingdom
CategorySmallSmall
Height at withers23–30 cm25–28 cm
Weight5–8 kg6–10 kg
Life span12–15 years12–16 years
Recognition features
  • White ´curly´ powder-puff coat
  • Dark round eyes and black nose
  • Tail carried in a curve over the back
  • Pure white harsh coat with soft undercoat
  • Small erect pointed ears and dark eyes
  • Carrot-shaped tail, square build, about 28 cm tall
CoatFine, dense, curly coat, white.Hard wiry coat with a soft undercoat, white.
PurposeA Mediterranean bichon, popular at medieval European courts; later a circus and street dog.A Scottish terrier from Argyll bred for vermin hunting; the white coat prevented it being mistaken for quarry.

Breed page: Bichon Frise · Breed page: West Highland White Terrier

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The information is indicative. Texts are based on available sources and may contain inaccuracies; for binding details (e.g. for breeding or shows) use the official breed standard.