Bichon Frisé
A Bichon Frisé (meaning curly lap dog) is a small breed of dog and a member of the Bichon family. They are popular pets, similar in appearance to, but larger than the Maltese. The Bichon Frisé is a member of the Non-Sporting Group of dog breeds in the US and a member of the Toy Dog group in the UK.
History
The Bichon Frisé descended from the Barbet or Water Spaniel and the Standard Poodle. The word bichon comes from Middle French bichon (“small long-haired dog”), a diminutive of Old French biche (“bitch, female dog”), from Old English bicce (“bitch, female dog”), related to Old Norse bikkja (“female dog”) and German Betze (“female dog”). Some speculate the origin of bichon to be the result of the apheresis, or shortening, of the word barbichon (“small poodle”), a derivative of barbiche (“shaggy dog”); however, this is unlikely, if not impossible, since the word bichon (attested 1588) is older than barbichon (attested 1694).
Though not considered a retriever or water dog, the Bichon, due to its ancestry as a sailor’s dog, has an affinity for, and enjoys water and retrieving. On the boats however, the dog’s job was that of a companion dog.
The Bichons are a Mediterranean breed, generally named for the region from where they originated. The original name of the Bichon Frisé is the Bichon Tenerife, from the Canary Islands. The “Tenerife”, or “Bichon”, had success in France during the Renaissance, but its popularity skyrocketed in the court of Henry III. The breed also enjoyed considerable success in Spain as a favorite of the Infantas, and painters of the Spanish school often included them in their works. For example, the famous artist, Francisco de Goya, included a Bichon in several of his works.
Interest in the breed was renewed during the rule of Napoleon III, but then waned until the late 19th century when it became the “common dog”, running the streets, accompanying the organ grinders of Barbary, leading the blind and doing tricks in circuses and fairs.
On 5 March 1933, the official standard of the breed was adopted by the Société Centrale Canine; the national kennel club for France. This was largely due to the success of the French-speaking Belgian author Hergé’s The Adventures of Tintin, which featured a small, fluffy, white fox terrier dog named Milou (Snowy in the English editions). As the breed was known by two names at that time, “Tenerife” and “Bichon”, the president of the Fédération Cynologique Internationale proposed a name based on the characteristics that the dogs presented – the Bichon Frisé. (“Frisé” means “curly”, referring to the breed’s coat). On 18 October 1934, the Bichon Frisé was admitted to the stud book of the Société Centrale Canine.
The Bichon was popularized in Australia in the mid-1960s, largely thanks to the Channel Nine mini-series Meweth, starring Bruce Gyngell alongside his pet Bichon, Molly. The show ran for one season only, however it gained an occult following. In subsequent years Bichon ownership, especially in the Eastern states, climbed dramatically.
The Bichon was brought to the United States in 1955, and was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1972. The first US-born Bichon litter was whelped in 1956. In 1959 and 1960, two breeders in different parts of the USA acquired Bichons, which provided the origins for the breed’s development in the USA.
The Bichon Frisé became eligible to enter the AKC’s Miscellaneous Class on 1 September 1971. In October, 1972, the breed was admitted to registration in the American Kennel Club Stud Book. On 4 April 1973, the breed became eligible to show in the Non-Sporting Group at AKC dog shows. In 2001, a Bichon Frisé named JR won best-in-show at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. In the United States the Bichon Frisé was ranked the 40th most popular breed in 2013 according to the American Kennel Club.
The Bichon Frisé is a small dog that weighs approximately 5–10 kg (10–20 lbs) and stands 23–30 cm (9–12 in) at the withers, but slightly larger dogs are not uncommon. The skull is slightly rounded and the muzzle is not pointy. The tail is groomed to be long and curly and is carried over the back. It has a black nose and dark round eyes, its white hair consists of a curly, dense coat with little shedding (much like a poodle), although many of the Breed do tend to have less curly hair than others. A small amount of buff, cream, or apricot colour may be seen around its ears, snout, paws or body, but normally these colours do not exceed 10% of its body. Coat colours are solid white, apricot or grey. A white coat is preferred in the show ring. The head and legs are proportionate in size to the body, and the ears and tail are natural (not docked or cropped). The coat is trimmed often to make the hair seem like an even length. Bichon Frisés can have a medium-high intelligence
The American Kennel Club (AKC) refers to the Bichon Frisé as “merry” and “cheerful”, and the breed standard calls for a dog that is “gentle mannered, sensitive, playful and affectionate”. The Bichon Frisé loves human company and demands much of your attention. They are generally very sociable and do well with an owner that takes them along on outings. They are charming, affectionate, and intelligent. Bichon Frisés do well with children because they are playful and have lots of energy. If affiliated with a particular territory and encouraged by owners, they can become very territorial. Bred to be companion dogs, the Bichon Frisé tends to get along well with both children and other animals. Bichon Frisés are very obedient if training is started early and continued constantly.
Bichon Frisés often appear on lists of dogs that do not shed (moult). The grooming required to maintain the Bichon Frisés coat helps remove loose fur, and the curl in the coat helps prevent dead fur and dander from escaping into the environment, as with the Poodle’s coat. Frequent trimming, brushing, and bathing is required to keep the Bichon looking its best and removes fur and dander and controls the other potent allergen, saliva. It is best to have a Bichon Frisé groomed approximately every four to eight weeks. Daily brushing of the coat helps to prevent matting. If a Bichon’s coat gets severely matted, they may develop a hematoma, most likely in the ears.
Bichon Frisé’s are considered suitable for people with allergies, as they are bred to be hypoallergenic. It is important to note that human sensitivity to dog fur, dander, and saliva varies considerably. Although fur, dander, and saliva can be minimized, they are still present and can stick to “clothes and the carpets and furnishings in your home”; inhaling the allergens, or being licked by the dog, can trigger a reaction in a sensitive person.
Height: Males 9 – 12 inches (23 – 30 cm) Females 9 – 11 inches (23 – 28 cm)
Weight: 7 – 12 pounds (3 – 5 kg)
Bichon Frisé’s are also prone to liver shunts. These often go undetected until later in life, leading to complications that cannot be fixed, and therefore liver failure. Bichons who are underweight, runts of the litter, or have negative reactions to food high in protein are likely to be suffering from a shunt. When detected early, shunt often can be corrected through surgery. However, the later in life the shunt is detected, the lower the likelihood of surgery being a success. Shunts can be kept under control through special diets of low protein and through medications to support liver function, help flush toxins that build up in the kidneys and liver, and control seizures that often occur as a symptom of the shunt. Without surgery, Bichons with shunts on average live to be 4–6 years old. Owners of a smaller than average size bichon must consult a vet. Other symptoms include dark urine, lethargy, loss of appetite, increase in drinking. Seizures come in all forms; episodes of seizures can begin early on but go undetected. Early seizures can appear to be the bichon in a hypnotic state (staring at something not there), or to be experiencing an episode of vertigo, or being drunk. Shunts are a serious condition of smaller breeds, and often not associated with Bichons.
Bichon Frisé in (combined) UK and USA/Canada surveys had an average life span of about 12–13 years, with Bichon Frisés in the UK tending to live longer than Bichon Frisés in the US/Canada. This breed’s longevity is similar to other breeds of its size, and somewhat longer than purebred dogs in general. The longest lived of 34 deceased Bichons in a 2004 UK survey died at 16.5 years. The oldest Bichon Frisés for which there are reliable records in various US/Canada surveys have died at 19 years.