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Bichon Frise
Other Names | Bichon à poil fries, Bichon Tenerife |
Country of Origin | Belgium/Spain |
Weight | 7 - 12 lbs. (3 – 5 kg) |
Height (at withers) | Males: 9 - 12 in. (23 – 30 cm) Females: 9 - 11 in. (23 – 28 cm) |
Coat | The outer coat is 3 to 4 inches (7-10 cm) long and is coarser and curlier than the soft dense undercoat. The coat is hypo-allergenic. |
Colour | Coat colours include solid white, cream, gray or apricot. White is preferred in the show ring. |
Litter Size | 1 - 6 puppies, average 4 - 5 |
Life Span | 12 to 15 Years |
Origin & History | There are very few breeds whose origin is as disputed as that of the Bichon Frise. There are two commonly suggested origin theories for this breed, and a third less commonly suggested theory that is probably more likely to be true. What all fanciers agree is that the Bichon Frise was first found in its modern form in the 1500’s in France, and that the breed was originally popular as a companion to the French nobility. The Bichon Frise is a member of a group of companion dogs known as Bichons, which probably comes from an archaic French word meaning either small white dog or small female dog. As the name would suggest, the Bichons are known primarily for their small size, white coloration, and fluffy fur. The Bichon family always includes the Bichon Frise, Bolognese, Havanese, Coton de Tulear, several breeds of Russian Bolonka, and the now extinct Bichon Tenerife, and most experts place the Lowchen and Maltese in the family as well. Along with the Italian Greyhound, the Bichon family was probably the very first group of European companion dogs to be developed. Historical documentation for the Maltese goes back at least 2,500 years, and the breed was very well known to both the Ancient Greeks and the Ancient Romans, who called the breed the Melitaei Catelli and the Canis Melitaeus respectively. These early Maltese were probably originally descended from either a small Spitz-type dog from Switzerland or a long-haired primitive Mediterranean sighthound. The Maltese was spread across the Mediterranean by the Greeks, Romans, and possibly the Phoenicians. Although there is no definitive historical evidence, the Maltese is almost certainly the direct ancestor of the Bolognese and the Bichon Tenerife, although it is also quite possible that those breeds were developed by crossing the Maltese with a Poodle, Barbet, or Lagotto Romagnolo. The most commonly held theory for the development of the Bichon Frise is that the dog was developed from the Bichon Tenerife. The now-extinct Bichon Tenerife was a native of the Canary Islands, a Spanish territory located off the Moroccan coast. Spanish traders introduced the breed to France in the early 1500’s. The breed quickly became popular with the French nobility, who called it either the Bichon or the Tenerife. Many claim that this breed is the ancestor of the modern Bichon Frise. There is historical documentation suggesting that the Bichon Tenerife was imported to France, and until the 20th Century the Bichon Frise was often called the Tenerife. However, Bichon-type dogs were well-known in France for several centuries before the Bichon Tenerife was discovered by Europeans. Additionally, the Havanese, the only confirmed direct descendant of the Bichon Tenerife, is considerably less similar to the Bichon Frise than the Bolognese. If the Bichon Frise is descended from the Bichon Tenerife, it has almost certainly been heavily crossed with other breeds. The second most commonly held theory for this breed’s origin is that it was developed from very small Poodles and/or Barbets. Both the Poodle and the Barbet are some of the most ancient European breeds, and both were very popular in France at the time that the Bichon Frise was developed. It is also telling that both of those breeds were favored by the French nobility that later came to treasure the Bichon Frise. However, the Bichon Frise has historically been much more closely associated with the other Bichons than either the Poodle or Barbet, and is in fact more similar to the Bichons than those breeds. It is quite likely that the Bichon Frise has some Poodle and/or Barbet ancestry, but likely as a result of crosses to other Bichons. Although rarely postulated, there is a third potential ancestry for the Bichon Frise that is in many ways much more likely. Since time immemorial, small white companion dogs have been extremely popular with the upper classes of Northern Italy. The Maltese was well known in the region during Greek and Roman times, and its descendants are thought to have been present in the region ever since. Beginning in the 1200’s, the Bolognese (as these dogs came to be called) became extremely popular in the art and written records of the Italian Renaissance. The numerous Italian noble and merchant families had contacts all across Europe and often gave their dogs as gifts to the nobility of other European countries. These dogs became highly prized from Spain to Russia. A number of these dogs are known to have been imported into France, possibly as early as the 1100’s. In the opinion of this writer, the modern Bichon Frise is almost certainly primarily descended from the Bolognese. The Bolognese more similar to the Bichon Frise than any other breed, the two dogs are native to neighboring countries, and there are numerous records detailing the popularity of the Bolognese. Perhaps most persuasively, the breed first became popular during the reign of Francis I, a famous admirer and supporter of the Italian Renaissance. It is also quite possible that the Bichon Frise was developed by crossing a number of different breeds. At the time, dogs were not kept as pure as they are today, and any small fluffy white dogs probably would have been bred together. Although the full truth will probably never be known, the modern Bichon Frise was probably developed by crossing the Bolognese, Maltese, Bichon Tenerife, Poodle, Barbet, and possibly the Lagotto Romagnolo. However the Bichon Frise was developed, it came to prominence in France in the 1500’s. The breed first became popular during the reign of Francis I (1515 – 1547). The Bichon Frise reached the peak of its popularity with the French nobility during the reign of Henry III (1574 – 1589). Henry III was so fond of his Bichon Frises that he allegedly carried them with him wherever he went in a basket tied with ribbons. Other nobles began to emulate the King and the French verb, “Bichoner,” was developed which means, “to make beautiful,” or, “to pamper.” Bichon-type dogs were very frequently painted by famous masters, although many of those dogs were probably actually Bolognese. After the reign of Henry III, the Bichon Frise fell somewhat out of favor but it remained popular with the European nobility. A sizable number of Bichon Frises were exported to Russia where they were crossed with Bolognese to develop several small breeds known collectively as Bolonkas. The Bichon Frise again rose to prominence during the reign of Napoleon III (1808 – 1873) when it was once again among the most popular dogs with the French nobility. It became popular to bring these tiny dogs onboard ships to entertain and provide companionship to crews on long voyages. Many of these dogs were exported to Madagascar where they became extremely popular. These dogs eventually gave rise to the Coton de Tulear. After Napoleon III’s reign came to a close, the Bichon again fell out of favor with the French aristocracy. By that time, the breed had acquired a very large number of fanciers who were not of noble birth. The French economy had advanced to the point where most people could afford to keep a small companion dog, and the Bichon Frise was perhaps the most popular choice. The highly intelligent and trainable breed became a favorite of French performing artists, and was regularly seen performing alongside street performers, organ grinder, and in circuses. The Bichon Frise also became perhaps the world’s first seeing-eye dog, and was used by visually handicapped Frenchmen to guide them through city streets. Because the Bichon Frise was by then primarily kept by commoners, it was not initially popular at French dog shows, nor was it standardized at the same time as other French breeds. In the years after World War I, the Belgian comic-strip creator Herge began to publish Tintin comics and books. Tintin was often accompanied by his small white dog Milou. Even though Milou was not a Bichon Frise, he increased the popularity of the breed across France. Breeders and fanciers of Bichon Frises got together to standardize their breed and begin to keep breeding records. In 1933, the first written standard was published by Madame Abadie, operator of Steren Vor Kennels. This standard was adopted by the French Kennel Club the next year. Because the breed was known by two names, the Bichon and the Tenerife, the president of the Federation Cynologique Internationale (FCI), Madame Nizet de Lemma, proposed the name Bichon a poil Frise as an official FCI name, which loosely translates to “Small white dog with a fluffy coat.” During this time, Madame Abadie and three other breeders were most influential in the continuing development of the breed. There are rumors that the first Bichon Frises to arrive in the United States were brought back with soldiers who had fought in World War I. However, these dogs were not bred, and it is unclear how many actually arrived. The breed did not become established in the Western Hemisphere until 1956, when Mr. and Mrs. Picault immigrated to Milwaukee with their six Bichon Frises. The Picaults whelped the first American Bichon Frise litter shortly after moving to the United States. In 1959 and 1960, Azalea Gascoigne of Milwaukee and Gertrude Fournier of San Diego also imported Bichon Frises to the United States and began to breed these dogs. In 1964, these four fanciers joined together to form the Bichon Frise Club of America (BFCA). The BFCA worked diligently to increase the American Bichon Frise population, and to inspire other breeders to join their efforts. The small and charming Bichon Frise proved an ideal fit for the rapidly urbanizing population of the United States, and breed numbers grew rapidly. The goal of the BFCA was always to gain full recognition for their breed with the American Kennel Club (AKC). In 1971, the AKC added the breed to its Miscellaneous Class, at that point the first step towards full recognition. Although most breeds spend many years in the Miscellaneous Class, the BFCA and the Bichon Frise so quickly impressed the AKC that the breed was granted formal recognition in 1972. In 1975, the Bichon Frise Club of America held its first national breed specialty show. In 1981, the United Kennel Club (UKC) also granted full recognition to the Bichon Frise. From the 1960’s until the 1990’s, the Bichon Frise rapidly grew in popularity in the United States. During this time, the Bichon Frise was among the most popular and fashionable small companion dogs in the United States. By the end of the 1990’s, the breed had become one of the 25 most popular breeds in terms of AKC registrations. However, this popularity came with a price. Many inexperienced Bichon Frise breeders bred dogs that were of inferior quality to those whelped by experienced breeders. Even worse, the small size, low exercise requirements, and high monetary value of pure bred Bichon Frises made the breed one of the most popular breeds with commercial dog breeders, who run operations commonly called puppy mills. Commercial dog breeders care only about the potential profits that they can make, not about the quality of their puppies. Many dogs from such operations exhibit poor and unpredictable temperaments, bad health, and very low levels of conformation to official breed standards. As a result the overall quality of Bichon Frises suffered significantly, although many reputable breeders continued to produce outstanding animals. Many of these puppy mill Bichons proved to be difficult for owners to handle and many ended up in animal shelters and rescue groups. The popularity of the Bichon Frise began to fall significantly around the turn of the millennium. Part of this was surely due to the damage the breed suffered as a result of its popularity. However, it is probably more due to the fact that breed popularity is cyclical, especially that of smaller breeds. With the exceptions of the Poodle, Yorkshire Terrier, Chihuahua, and possibly the Shih Tzu, most companion breeds go through very large fluctuations in popularity in the United States as trends and fashions change. Over the last decade, a new group of breeds such as the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Havanese, and French Bulldog have made dramatic gains in popularity, and have probably reduced the demand for Bichon Frises. However, the Bichon Frise remains a very popular breed in the United States and in 2011 ranked 39th out of 173 total breeds in terms of AKC registrations. The Bichon Frise has been primarily bred as a companion dog throughout its history, and the vast majority of breed members are companion animals. Historically, the breed has also been used extensively in the entertainment industry, and many of these dogs are still found in circuses, alongside street performers, and on the large and small screens. In recent years, the Bichon Frise has also made a name for itself as a high level in a number of canine sports such as competitive obedience and agility. The Bichon Frise is also very popular as a therapy dog and service animal for the handicapped. |
Personality | The Bichon is a fluffy, little white dog that loves human company. It has an independent spirit, is intelligent, affectionate, bold and lively. This charming, gentle dog is not a yapper. It has a self-assured, happy temperament that is easy to live with. These bright little dogs are easy to train and just plain old love everyone. They need people to be happy. They are naturally sociable and are happiest when they are part of a family that takes them everywhere. This sociable trait also means that they are fine in the company of other dogs and pets and are excellent with children. Used as watchdogs and to perform tricks, this breed is competitive and obedient. Like a lot of smaller breeds, the Bichon may be difficult to housebreak. The Bichon Frise needs rules to follow, and limits to what they are and are not allowed to do. They also need a daily pack walk. Do not allow this little dog to develop Small Dog Syndrome, a human induced behavior where the dog feels he is pack leader to humans. This can cause varying degrees of a wide variety of behavior problems. including, but not limited to, obsessive barking, guarding, separation anxiety, snapping, and even biting. These are not Bichon traits, but rather behaviors brought on by the way the dog is treated. If you begin to be your dog’s pack leader, and are consistently self-assured, calm and assertive toward the dog, providing daily pack walks, the Bichon will be a very stable-minded, trustworthy dog. |
Care Requirements
Health | The Bichon Frise is a generally healthy breed. There are not life threatening or debilitating diseases that are especially prevalent in this breed. The Bichon Frise is regarded as being amongst the longest lived of all breeds. This dog has a life expectancy of between 12 and 15 years, and it is far from unheard of them to reach ages of 18 or 19. However, this does not meant that the Bichon Frise is immune to genetically inherited health problems. The BFCA has long been on the leading edge of canine health testing and studies and has conducted a number of studies on Bichon Frises in America. They have found the following conditions to be of the greatest concern in order of prevalence and severity: skin allergies, atopy, bladder infections, bladder stones, patellar luxation, disc disease, dental disease, eye diseases, cancers, cardiac disease, disease of the liver, gastrointestinal problems, and metabolic diseases. There is almost universal agreement that the Bichon Frise’s most common health issue is skin disorders. Many Bichons have very sensitive skin, and many others have severe skin allergies. These allergies can be extremely uncomfortable for a dog, which can lead to constant scratching and injury. Luckily, many of these conditions are entirely treatable, but most treatments are lifelong and costly. Because skeletal and visual problems are known to occur in this breed (especially cataracts and patellar luxation), it is highly advisable for owners to have their pets tested by both the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) and the Canine Eye Registration Foundation (CERF). The OFA and CERF perform genetic and other tests to identify potential health defects before they show up. This is especially valuable in the detection of conditions that do not show up until the dog has reached an advanced age, making it especially important for anyone considering breeding their dog to have them tested to prevent the spread of potential genetic conditions to its offspring. |
Grooming | This breed should be groomed frequently and bathed every month. Professional grooming is recommended every 4 weeks. Trim around the eyes and ears with a blunt pair of scissors and clean the eyes extensively to prevent staining. Show dogs are trimmed with scissors. The body of pet dogs may be clipped with electric clippers though the rest of the dog must still be cut with scissors. The Bichon sheds little to no hair and is good for allergy sufferers. |
Exercise | These are active little dogs that need a daily walk. Play will take care of a lot of their exercise needs, however, as with all breeds play will not fulfill their primal instinct to walk. Dogs that do not get to go on daily walks are more likely to display behavior problems. They will also enjoy a good romp in a safe, open area off-lead, such as a large fenced-in yard. |
Other Considerations | The Bichon Frise can live in an apartment if it gets enough exercise. They are fairly active indoors and will do okay without a yard. |