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Origin: The Mediterranean
Height: 9-12 inches at the
shoulder
Weight: 7-12 pounds
average
Exercise Needs: Moderate
Grooming Needs: High
Life Expectancy: 15+ years
Good With Kids: Yes
Trainability: Easy
Common Misspellings: Beeshon Freese, Bichon
Freese, Beeshon Frise, Beachon Frise, Beachon
Freese, Bishon Frise
Alternate Names: Has also been known as the
Bichon Teneriffe, the Bichon Maltais, the Bichon
Bolognais, and the Bichon Havanais
Originally developed in the Mediterranean,
the Bichon Frise is a descendant of the Barbet,
a variety of Water Spaniel that was common to
that area. While he was first called the
“Barbichon,” his name would eventually be
shortened to “Bichon” and, originally, this
unique little dog was divided up into four
different categories: the Bichon Teneriffe, the
Bichon Maltais, the Bichon Bolognais, and the
Bichon Havanais. Regardless of what number of
names he was known by, he would eventually come
to be one of the most popular breeds of small
dog in the world. How was it that this little
powder puff of a dog came to be so widely-known?
Most Bichon fans will tell you that it’s all
about the personality.
The Bichon Frise are generally very happy and
cheerful individuals, and they seem to have a
great love of traveling. Quite often, sailors
would barter with these little white dogs, using
them as trade items as they traveled across the
seas and from continent to continent. It is
believed that it was the trading practices of
the Spanish sailors that first introduced the
Bichon Frise to the Canary Islands, but as far
back as the early 1300’s, Italian sailors
claimed to have discovered this unique little
island-bred dog and they eagerly reintroduced it
back to the Continent. In no time, they became a
favorite of the Italian nobility and, amongst
those that frequented the courts, the Bichon
Frise was often clipped in a fashionable style,
resembling a lion.
In addition to their popularity in Italy, the
Bichon also remained a favorite of the Spanish
Infantas, and the painters of the Spanish school
frequently painted the Bichon Frise in many of
their works. During the Renaissance, this
adorable little white dog also captivated the
French, though it wasn’t until the court of
Henry III, that the Bichon truly gained a place
amongst the French nobility. Of course, as court
fashion came and went, it wasn’t long before the
powder puff Bichon was set aside for something
else that was new and exciting.
The Bichon Frise would enjoy a brief popularity
peak while Napoleon III ruled, but he would soon
become known as the "common dog" and was then
left to the peasants, where he ran loose in the
streets or performed in local fairs and
circuses. Popular amongst the organ grinders
from Barbary, this happy-go-lucky white dog
enjoyed his place in the spotlight and eagerly
learned new tricks that endeared him in the
hearts of many. Common dog or not, he was
determined to make his mark in the dog world.
In 1933, the Societe Centrale Canine of France
adopted an official standard for this fluffy
white dog. At this time, they were known as
either the "Bichon" or the "Teneriffe," so the
president of the International Canine Federation
proposed that a single name would be decided,
that would identify the traits of this unique
little dog and, with that, so he was named the
Bichon Frise ("Frise" making reference to the
breed’s soft and curly hair).
The Bichon Frise stands between 9 and 12
inches at the shoulder and is well known for his
incredibly curly, soft coat. With their only
variety being white, they are quite often
referred to as powder puffs, simply because of
their fluffy appearance. Coupled with a plumed
tail which is always carried happily draped over
his back and very dark, inquisitive eyes, the
Bichon seems to radiate exuberance and a willing
nature.
The Bichon is best described as a very open
and "happy" dog, full of personality and
generally friendly to all. Rarely are
Bichon Frise suspicious or aloof dogs, and
skittishness is something that few Bichon will
ever exhibit. More likely than not, a
properly-socialized Bichon Frise puppy will
greet everyone at the door with a happy attitude
and acting as if they are long-lost friends...
even if he's never met them before!
Bichon are usually very friendly with other
pets, including cats and other dogs.
Children are especially favored, particularly if
they are big enough to play a gentle game of
tug-o-war, but old enough so as to know better
than to pull ears and tails.
While the Bichon Frise are playful and
outgoing little dogs, they do not require a
great deal of exercise. If you’re the type of
person who doesn’t like to go for lengthy walks,
but isn't adverse to a short trip to the park or
you enjoy a light game of tug-o-war or fetch in
the living room, then the Bichon Frise may be
well-suited to you. While not a lazy dog, those
short legs have to cover twice as much ground as
that of their human counterparts, and can
quickly get worn out, making them a good match
for the elderly or for those who do not have a
fenced in yard and enjoy taking the dog out for
an afternoon walk.
For many, this is the deciding factor on
whether or not to get a Bichon Frise puppy; with
their soft and wooly coat, they easily fall into
the high-maintenance pooch category. Requiring
either a thorough brushing at least every other
day or a couple of trips to the grooming salon,
every week, this is often far too much for a
person with a busy lifestyle to even consider
taking on. In addition to this, pale colored
dogs can get rust-stains at the corners of their
eyes or the hair around their muzzles can get
dirty when they eat. In addition to bathing the
Bichon Frise, responsible owners also have to
take the time to dry their furry companions,
particularly if the weather is cool.
If you’re considering taking a look at some
Havanese puppies, be sure to keep in mind just
how much work one of these little dogs will be,
and weigh that into your pros and cons.
The Bichon Frise possesses a very keen mind
and sharp wit. More often than not, he is quick
to learn obedience commands, as well as tricks.
Provided he is properly encouraged and his good
behavior is properly reinforced, the Bichon
owner is sure to discover that her four-legged
friend will learn a wealth of tricks. Just
beware that the Bichon Frise enjoys playtime and
is not adverse to playing the clown, if he
thinks it will make his humans happy. His lack
of seriousness can sometimes grate on the nerves
of the more serious dog trainers.
Unlike many purebred breeds, the Bichon Frise
does not suffer from a long list of various
maladies. Nevertheless, there are some various
conditions that can affect your Bichon puppy and
it’s best to be educated on the subject. Bichon
Frise health concerns include, but are not
limited to:
- Dental problems
- Bladder infections
- Eye Disease
- Patellar Luxation
- Skin conditions
- Ear infections
The Bichon is a wonderful companion animal
and is generally happy and friendly. Rarely
snappish, they are a favorite amongst the
elderly, as well as with those who are allergic
to most dogs, due to the fact that they don’t
shed like many breeds. Bichon also love children
and tend to get along, very well, with cats and
other dogs as well.
There are three main concerns to keep in
mind, if you’re thinking about getting a Bichon
Frise puppy. The first of these is the amount of
time that you have to spend with your puppy;
Bichons are companion animals and they enjoy
company. While they can be taught to stay in a
crate happily, they dislike being left alone for
long periods of time, and they do love to
travel. The second and third concerns have to be
the safety issues within your home - do you have
larger, more aggressive dogs? If you do, you may
want to have them meet on a more neutral
territory and make sure that they get along.
The last and one of the most important
concerns has to deal with children. While the
Bichon Frise is an excellent family dog, and is
very good with children, be wary of getting any
puppy until your child is over the age of 5
years. Puppies are very fragile creatures and
can easily break bones if they are dropped,
kicked, or fallen on. Be sure to protect your
baby Bichon, just as you protect your own baby.
For more information on the Bichon, or to
examine whether or not a Bichon Frise will do
well in your home, contact your veterinarian or
local breeders and be sure to ask lots of
questions. If you decide on one of these
adorable little dogs, discuss with the breeder,
ahead of time, what will be needed for your new
puppy. You definitely won’t regret having such a
warm and happy individual cross paths with you!
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There are a wealth of resources online that can help you learn
more about the Bichon Frise dog breed. We've compiled a list of
Bichon Frise information sites to assist you in quickly locating
quality information about the Bichon Frise dog breed, while avoiding
the "garbage" sites that are nothing more than poor attempts to
capitalize on the popularity of dog breeds in general. If you know
of a Bichon Frise information site that offers unique, quality
information and photos of the Bichon Frise breed, please contact us
with the URL and a brief description so that our editors can
consider it for inclusion in our list below.
Bichon Frise dogs are a very photogenic dog breed. By looking at
Bichon Frise pictures, you can usually gain more insight into what
these dogs and puppies are like as a breed, and this can help you
decide if you really want to become a Bichon Frise owner. The
following sites below offer pictures of Bichon Frise dogs, Bichon
Frise puppy photos, funny Bichon Frise photos and more. Enjoy!
Now that you have decided that the Bichon Frise is the right
breed for you, it's time to start the process of finding a
responsible Bichon Frise breeder from which to buy a healthy,
well-socialized puppy. Not all breeders are alike; there are good
breeders - and bad breeders. Don't be in a hurry to buy the first
Bichon Frise puppy you find at the cheapest price available! To buy
a puppy from a responsible Bichon Frise breeder, you may need to pay
more and wait longer. The additional money and waiting time will be
well worth it. Buy a puppy in haste from a newspaper ad, pet store
or "backyard breeder", and you'll likely also purchase a great deal
of additional expense and heartache, since you will likely end up
falling in love with a puppy with health and behavioral problems
that will likely need special care, plenty of veterinary visits,
regular medication - or even euthanasia. But do your homework and
find a responsible, caring Bichon Frise breeder who home-raises
their puppies with love, screens their breeding dogs for health
problems, offers a health guarantee and post sale support, and who
genuinely loves the Bichon Frise breed and is in it for the love of
the breed, rather than profit, and you can be fairly well assured of
getting a healthy, happy, long lived and affectionate family
companion that will provide you and your family with many years of
joy, laughter and companionship.
Further information about choosing a responsible breeder...
Here are a few breeder directory sites that we recommend. These
sites attempt to screen advertisers to ensure that the breeders
listed are responsible and sell healthy, home-raised Bichon Frise
puppies to carefully screened buyers. There are many, many sites
now online that advertise dog breeders - many are a Mecca for puppy
mills and backyard breeders. We recommend that you steer clear of
these resources in favor of sites that are more selective in the
breeders whom they allow to advertise.
We Highly Recommend:
Bichon Frise clubs and rescues web sites can help you learn even
more about the Bichon Frise dog breed, help you locate a responsible
Bichon Frise breeder, or help you find a Bichon Frise dog or puppy
in need of a second chance for a loving, forever home. We've
compiled the following list of Bichon Frise clubs and Bichon Frise
rescues web sites for your convenience:
Choosing a name for your Bichon Frise puppy can be a daunting
task! There are so many names to choose from that it can take a lot
of thought and research to find just the right name for your Bichon
Frise. Usually, it's best to get to know your puppy for a few days
or weeks. Often your puppy's personality will help you decide on
just the right name to choose. Does he have a sense of humor? A
serious side? A goofy way of cocking his head to one side? A strange
love of cantaloupe? By observing your new Bichon Frise puppy over
the first days or weeks, you should at least have a clue about what
type of name you want to give. There are a ton of dog names and pet
names web sites on the internet. Some are wonderful information
resources, while others, unfortunately, are just "garbage" sites set
up with the sole purpose of cashing in on visitor hits for this
popular subject.
We recommend the following sites to assist you in choosing a name
for your new Bichon Frise puppy. These sites offer inventive,
unique, original and creative pet names suggestions that have helped
thousands of new puppy owners in selecting just the right name for
their new baby!
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The
Bichon Frise
