This French breed of dog
is small, fluffy, and highly devoted to its master.
The name Bichon Frise in French actually translates
to “curly lap dog”, which is the perfect
description. Originally, this breed came from the
Mediterranean and was a much larger dog that was a
favorite of the Royal family. In fact, when
originally bred, the name was Bichon Tenerife.
However, during the French Revolution, many dogs
were abandoned, left to roam the streets where they
were taken in and used for circus performances.
Although we know of the two varieties mentioned this
breed actually falls within three additional
categories to include the Bichon Bolognais, Bichon
Maltais, and Bichon Havanais, all from the same area
around the Canary Islands. Prior to becoming popular
among the Royals, the varieties of the Bichon were
owned by sailors that would travel with them, using
them to barter for fare.
Although the Bichon fell in
popularity for some time, the breed was resurrected
when Napoleon Bonaparte took control but then
dropped off again in the late 19th century. However,
by the early 1930s, the Societe Centrale Canine of
France took interest in the breed, creating the
official standard. Through breeding and
interpretation, the Bichon Frise was allowed in the
French Kennel Club in 1934. By 1971, the breed was
allowed to show with the American Kennel Club under
“miscellaneous” but just two years later, fell into
the “non-sporting” group of dogs.
Temperament
Without doubt, the Bichon Frise has one of the most
wonderful personalities. Typically, owners of this
breed describe the dog as sensitive, gentle, loving,
and playful. If you want a wonderful family pet,
this is it. This little dog is always happy and
eager to please. The only real downfall to owning a
Bichon Frise is licking, which simply seems to be
the dog’s way of loving its master. Additionally,
the Bichon Frise needs to be handled with love and
care. Unfortunately, if the breed is not provided a
secure home, it may have a tendency to bite.
You do want to remember that if buying a Bichon
Frise for show, it is important to choose wisely,
working only with a top breeder in that this
particular breed can have too soft a temperament for
the show ring. Understanding that the Bichon Frise
is a somewhat shy breed is important. If you
purchase the dog to show but find it is overly shy,
then you know it is not a good show prospect. If you
want a pet for children and/or other pets, you
should have no problem.
Size and Color
The first thing you think of when you see a Bichon
Frise is a walking powder ball. Although a small
dog, the hair can give the illusion of being larger
than actual size. Typically, both male and female
will range from 9.5 to 11.5 inches at the withers
and have a body in correct proportion. The eyes are
dark and round, the skull is just slightly rounded,
the muzzle is nicely balanced to the head with a
prominent nose, and the tail curls gently over the
back. As far as weight, the Bichon Frise weighs on
average 13 to 18 pounds. When cared for properly,
this breed can live anywhere from 14 to 16 years.
The coat is by far the most noticeable of all
features. This breed has a soft but thick undercoat
while the outer coat is curly and coarse. When
petting this breed, you will notice the hair feels
similar to velvet. Obviously, to keep the dog’s coat
looking beautiful, regular grooming is required,
along with bathing and brushing. Finally, the Bichon
Frise has a white hair, although you will also see
hues of apricot, buff, and cream somewhere on the
body or around the ears. Keep in mind that according
to breed standards, any color other than the white
being on more than 10% of the body is considered a
fault.
Feeding and Grooming Requirements
As with many purebred dogs, the Bichon Frise should
be kept on a healthy, balanced diet. With proper
feeding, the breed will do quite well. Just make
sure you do not overfeed to avoid problems with
obesity. Although any of the quality, dog food
brands are a good option, you might also get
involved with making homemade meals, which would be
healthier and rich in nutrition.
As mentioned, the Bichon Frise has two coats, a
thick undercoat, and a curly over coat. This dog
would need to be groomed on a regular basis,
trimming the hair back to show the body’s natural
line. In other words, you want to see rounding from
all viewpoints, never cutting square or short. In
addition, the hair around the dog’s head should be
round with the top line looking level. As for
bathing, this should be done by a groomer at the
time of trimming.
Exercise Needs
One of the keys to keeping a Bichon Frise healthy is
keeping him current on vaccines. The reason is that
most breeds are given shots over years as a means of
helping boost immunity and prevent disease. However,
for this breed (and others), experts are now
recommending dogs be given only core vaccines to
include distemper, parvo, rabies, and adenovirus,
having the veterinarian administer all others on an
as-needed basis only.
Although most Bichon Frise are healthy, they do have
a few common problems to include allergies and skin
irritation, dental problems, bladder stones and
infection, luxating patella, ear infections, and eye
disease. The important thing is to purchase a
certified, healthy dog and to work closely with a
qualified veterinarian if any symptoms of illness
arise.
