Is the Bichon Frise or the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier better for families with children?

Both the Bichon Frise and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier are considered good with children when properly socialised and supervised.

Which sheds more, the Bichon Frise or the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier?

The Bichon Frise and Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier shed a similar amount (very low).

Which is easier to train, the Bichon Frise or the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier?

Both breeds have comparable trainability. Consistency and positive reinforcement work well for each.

Is Bichon Frise or Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier bigger?

Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is the larger breed; Bichon Frise is smaller and more compact.

Which barks more, Bichon Frise or Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier?

Bichon Frise tends to be the more vocal of the two, so Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is the quieter choice.

Which is better for apartment living, Bichon Frise or Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier?

For apartment or flat living, Bichon Frise and Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier are an even match — either can work well.

Bichon Frise vs Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier: Which Is Quieter?

Bichon Frise vs Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier: full comparison

Trait	Bichon Frise	Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
Size	Small	Medium
Energy level	Medium	Medium
Trainability	Medium	Medium
Friendliness	Very High	Very High
Good with children	Very High	Very High
Grooming needs	Very High	Very High
Shedding	Very Low	Very Low
Barking	Medium	Low
Protectiveness	Low	Medium
Adaptability	Very High	High
Typical lifespan	15 years	13 years
Hypoallergenic	Yes	Yes

Key differences at a glance

The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is a larger dog than the Bichon Frise, which affects space, food and exercise needs.

Size and living space

The Bichon Frise is a small dog that lives comfortably in a flat and asks for very little space. By comparison, the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is a medium-sized dog that settles into most homes, although a garden makes life easier. If space, transport or budget are tight, the smaller of the two is the more practical choice.

Exercise and energy needs

The Bichon Frise thrives on daily walks plus a bit of active play. The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier thrives on daily walks plus a bit of active play. Their exercise needs are broadly the same, so this is unlikely to be a deciding factor.

Grooming and shedding

The Bichon Frise is a serious grooming commitment, with daily brushing and regular salon visits and leaves virtually no hair around the house. The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is a serious grooming commitment, with daily brushing and regular salon visits and leaves virtually no hair around the house. Both are considered hypoallergenic, so either works well for allergy-conscious homes. Grooming upkeep is similar for both.

Temperament, training and family life

The Bichon Frise trains reasonably well with regular positive sessions, gives voice moderately, typically when something warrants it and has a reputation for being wonderfully tolerant with kids. The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier trains reasonably well with regular positive sessions, keeps fairly quiet, barking occasionally and has a reputation for being wonderfully tolerant with kids. On guarding instinct, Bichon Frise is not especially protective and is welcoming to visitors, whereas Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier will alert you to visitors but is not an aggressive guardian.

Which is better for…

For apartment or flat living, Bichon Frise and Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier are an even match — either can work well.
For families with young children, Bichon Frise and Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier are an even match — either can work well.
For first-time dog owners, Bichon Frise has the edge, as it is easier to train and more forgiving of beginner mistakes.
For being left alone during the workday, Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier has the edge, coping better with independence and being quieter when unsupervised.
For allergy sufferers, Bichon Frise and Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier are an even match — either can work well.

Which should you choose?

Choose the Bichon Frise if you want a longer-lived breed, you want a more adaptable dog, or you want a smaller, more apartment-friendly dog.

Choose the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier if you want a more protective, watchful guardian, you prefer a quieter dog, or you want a bigger, more substantial dog.

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Frequently asked questions

Is the Bichon Frise or the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier better for families with children?: Both the Bichon Frise and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier are considered good with children when properly socialised and supervised.
Which sheds more, the Bichon Frise or the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier?: The Bichon Frise and Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier shed a similar amount (very low).
Which is easier to train, the Bichon Frise or the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier?: Both breeds have comparable trainability. Consistency and positive reinforcement work well for each.
Is Bichon Frise or Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier bigger?: Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is the larger breed; Bichon Frise is smaller and more compact.
Which barks more, Bichon Frise or Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier?: Bichon Frise tends to be the more vocal of the two, so Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is the quieter choice.
Which is better for apartment living, Bichon Frise or Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier?: For apartment or flat living, Bichon Frise and Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier are an even match — either can work well.

Bichon Frise vs Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier