A Bichon Frise(French, literally meaning Curly lap dog; often spelled Bichon Frise in English) is a small breed of dog. They are popular pets, similar in appearance to but larger than the Maltese. They are very intelligent.

The well-bred Bichon Fris¨Ś is feisty, sensitive, playful, and affectionate. A cheerful attitude is a prominent personality trait. Most Bichons enjoy socializing with people and most dogs. Bichons may be relatively stubborn, but are also said to be patient. They may tend to nip gently in play. They may have sudden bursts of energy resulting in the "blitz" or "buzz", where they race around in circles. They are great around children and also good watch dogs. They tend to be very friendly towards people even outside of the immediate family.