BICHON FRISE BREED AND HISTORY
A cheerful, happy dog, the Bichon frise is small and sturdy with a dark-eyed inquisitive expression and a plumed tail it carries merrily over its back. They are usually no more than 12 inches at the shoulder and weigh 13 - 17 pounds. The Bichon is a delightful companion that loves human companionsip and children. The Bichon is an intelligent ,affectionate dog and can very quickly steal your heart.
The Bichon is a very versatile little dog. It is equally at home in a small apartment or on a large estate. Although the breed does not physically require a lot of exercise, they love to romp around the house and be taken for walks. They are the right sizt to "go anywhere".
The Bichon has a non-shedding white coat which when trimmed properly has a powder-puff appearance. The breed is not low maintenance - they must be properly brushed and combed several times a week and trimmed approximately every five - six weeks.
Although ancestors of the Bichon Frise date back centuries, it is believed that it originated in the mediterranean. Ancestors of the Bichon frise appeared in the 13th Century as descendents from the Barbet or Water Spaniel. They were traded by Spanish sailors and transported form continent to continent. During the French Renaissance they became the darlings of royalty who pampered them. They also appeared in the paintings of several famous artists, Goya, Durer and others. Later on, these little dogs also became dogs of the street and the common people, sometimes performing in circuses and with organ grinders because of the affectionate nature and versatility they possessed.
After World War 1 a few fanciers in France and Belgium took an interest and began breeding the Bichon ( Then being known as Bichon a Poil Frise as well as the Bichon Teneriffe) and in 1933 a standard for the breed was written. The breed was recognized in France in 1934 and given the name "Bichon Frise" which literally translated from French means " curly lap dog" and often is loosely tranlated "curly coat".
The Bichon arrived in the United States in 1956 when Helene and Francois Picault arrived from France with seven little dogs. It wasn't long before American breeders took an interest in the breed and after much hard work on the part of the breeders and the Bichon Frise Club of America, the breed was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1973. In 1976 the Bichon Frise Club of America held its first licensed Specialty Show. In February 2001, a Bichon Frise , Champion Special Times Just Right , won Best in Show at the prestigious Westminster Kennel Club, Madison Square Garden, New York City.
In most recent years, the Bichon Frise has had a meteoric rise in popularity which also has a downside. Unfortunately, puppy mills and backyard breeders thrive on breeding popular breeds for sale, often to pet shops. They breed for quantity, not quality and , as a result , many poor specimens are being bred, some of which hardly resemble what the Standard requires and some have health problems.
BUY FROM A REPUTABLE BREEDER.
The Bichon is a very versatile little dog. It is equally at home in a small apartment or on a large estate. Although the breed does not physically require a lot of exercise, they love to romp around the house and be taken for walks. They are the right sizt to "go anywhere".
The Bichon has a non-shedding white coat which when trimmed properly has a powder-puff appearance. The breed is not low maintenance - they must be properly brushed and combed several times a week and trimmed approximately every five - six weeks.
Although ancestors of the Bichon Frise date back centuries, it is believed that it originated in the mediterranean. Ancestors of the Bichon frise appeared in the 13th Century as descendents from the Barbet or Water Spaniel. They were traded by Spanish sailors and transported form continent to continent. During the French Renaissance they became the darlings of royalty who pampered them. They also appeared in the paintings of several famous artists, Goya, Durer and others. Later on, these little dogs also became dogs of the street and the common people, sometimes performing in circuses and with organ grinders because of the affectionate nature and versatility they possessed.
After World War 1 a few fanciers in France and Belgium took an interest and began breeding the Bichon ( Then being known as Bichon a Poil Frise as well as the Bichon Teneriffe) and in 1933 a standard for the breed was written. The breed was recognized in France in 1934 and given the name "Bichon Frise" which literally translated from French means " curly lap dog" and often is loosely tranlated "curly coat".
The Bichon arrived in the United States in 1956 when Helene and Francois Picault arrived from France with seven little dogs. It wasn't long before American breeders took an interest in the breed and after much hard work on the part of the breeders and the Bichon Frise Club of America, the breed was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1973. In 1976 the Bichon Frise Club of America held its first licensed Specialty Show. In February 2001, a Bichon Frise , Champion Special Times Just Right , won Best in Show at the prestigious Westminster Kennel Club, Madison Square Garden, New York City.
In most recent years, the Bichon Frise has had a meteoric rise in popularity which also has a downside. Unfortunately, puppy mills and backyard breeders thrive on breeding popular breeds for sale, often to pet shops. They breed for quantity, not quality and , as a result , many poor specimens are being bred, some of which hardly resemble what the Standard requires and some have health problems.
BUY FROM A REPUTABLE BREEDER.
AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB OFFICIAL BREED STANDARDS
BICHON FRISE STANDARD
The standard gives us an image of the perfect Bichon that we endeavor to breed and is what judges at conformation dog shows use to evaluate the dogs being shown.
General Appearance
The Bichon Frise is a small, sturdy, white powder puff of a dog whose merry temperament is evidenced by his plumed tail carried jauntily over the back and his dark eyed inquisitive expression. This is a breed that has no gross or incapacitating exaggerations and therefore there is no inherent reason for lack of balance or unsound movement. Any deviation from the ideal described in the standard should be penalized to the extent of the deviation. Structural faults common to all breeds are as undesirable in the Bichon Frise as in any other breed, even though such faults may not be specifically mentioned in the standard.
Size, Proportion, Substance
Size-- Dogs and bitches 9 1/2 to 11 1/2 are to be given primary preference. Only where the comparative superiority of a specimen outside this range clearly justifies it should greater latitude be taken. In no case however, should this latitude ever extend over 12 inches or under 9 inches . The minimum limits do not apply to puppies.
Proportion -- The body from the forward-most point of the chest to the point of the rump is 1/4 inch longer than the height at the withers. The body from the withers to lowest point of the chest represents 1/2 the distance from withers to ground. Substance -- Compact and of medium bone throughout ; neither coarse nor fine.
Head- Expression
Soft, dark eyed, inquisitive, alert. Eyes --are round black or dark brown and are set in the skull to look froward. An overly large or bulging eye is a fault as is an almond shaped, obliquely set eye. Halos, the black or very dark brown skin surrounding the eyes , are necessary as they accentuate the eye and enhance expression. The eye rims themselves must be black. Broken pigment , or total absence of pigment on the eye rims produce a blank and staring expression, which is a definite fault. Eyes of any color other than black or dark brown are a very serious fault and must be severely penalized.
Ears --are drop and are covered with long flowing hair. When extended toward the nose , the leathers reach approximately halfway the length of the muzzle. They are set on slightly higher than eye level and are rather forward on the skull, so that when the dog is alert they serve to frame the face .
The Skull --is slightly rounded, allowing for a round and forward looking eye. The Stop is slightly accentuated.
Muzzle -- A properly balanced head is three parts muzzle to five parts skull, measured from the nose to the stop and from the stop to the occiput. A line drawn from the outside corners of the eyes and to the nose will create a near equilateral triangle. There is a slight degree of chiseling under the eyes, but not so much as to result in a weak or snipy foreface. The lower jaw is strong.
The Nose -- is prominent and always black. Lips -- are black, fine and never drooping. Bite -- is scissors. A bite which is overshot or undershot should be severely penalized. A crooked or out of line tooth is permissible, however missing teeth are to be severely faulted.
Neck, Topline and Body
The arched Neck -- is long and carried proudly behind an erect head. It blends smoothly into the shoulders. The length of neck from occiput to withers is approximately 1/3 the distance from forechest to buttocks. The Topline is level except for a slight arch over the loin. Body -- The chest is well developed and wide enough to allow free and unrestricted movement of the front legs. The lowest point of the chest extends at least to the elbow. The ribcage is moderately sprung and extends back to a short and muscular loin. The forechest is well pronounced and protrudes slightly forward of the point of the shoulder. The underline has a moderate tuck-up. Tail -- is well plumed, set on level with the topline and curved gracefully over the back so that the hair of the tail rests on the back. When the tail is extended towards the head it reaches at least halfway to the withers. A low tail set, a tail carried perpendicularly to the back, or a tail which droops behind is to be severely penalized. A corkscrew tail is a very serious fault.
Forequarters--Shoulders
The shoulder blade, upper arm and forearm are approximately equal in length. The shoulders are laid back to somewhat near a forty-five degree angle. The upper arm extends well back so the elbow is placed directly below the withers when viewed from the side. Legs -- are of medium bone , straight, with no bow or curve in the forearm or the wrist. The elbows are held close to the body. The pasterns -- slope slightly from the vertical. The dewclaws may be removed. The feet -- are tight and round, resembling those of a cat and point directly forward, turning neither in nor out. Pads -- are black. Nails -- are kept short.
Hindquarters
The hindquarters are of medium bone, well angulated with muscular thighs and spaced moderately wide. The upper and lower thigh are nearly equal in length meeting at a well bent stifle joint. The leg from hock joint to foot pad is perpendicular to the ground . Dewclaws may be removed. Paws are tight and round with black pads.
Coat
The texture of the coat is of upmost importance. The undercoat is soft and dense, the outercoat of a coarser and curlier texture. The combination of the two gives a soft but substantial feel to the touch which is similar to plush or velvet and when patted springs back. When bathed and brushed , it stands off the body creating an overall puff appearance. A wiry coat is not desirable. A limp, silky coat , a coat that lies down, or a lack of undercoat are very serious faults. Trimming -- The coat is trimmed to reveal the natural outline of the body. It is rounded off from any direction and never cut so short as to create an overly trimmed or squared off appearance. The furnishings of the head, beard, moustache, ears and tail are left longer. The longer head hair is trimmed to create an overall rounded impression. The topline is trimmed to appear level. The coat is long enough to maintain the powder puff look which is characteristic of the breed.
Color
Color is white, may have shadings of buff, cream or apricot around the ears or on the body. Any color in excess of 10% of the entire coat of a mature specimen is a fault and should be penalized, but color of the accepted shadings should not be faulted in puppies.
Gait
Movement at a trot is free, precise and effortless. In profile the forelegs and hind legs extend equally with an easy reach and drive that maintain a steady topline. When moving, the head and neck remain somewhat erect and as speed increases there is a very slight convergence of legs towards the center line. Moving away, the hindquarters travel with moderate width between them and the foot pads can be seen. Coming and going, his movement is precise and true.
Temperament
Gentle mannered, sensitive, playful and affectionate. A cheerful attitude is the hallmark of the breed and one should settle for nothing less.
The standard gives us an image of the perfect Bichon that we endeavor to breed and is what judges at conformation dog shows use to evaluate the dogs being shown.
General Appearance
The Bichon Frise is a small, sturdy, white powder puff of a dog whose merry temperament is evidenced by his plumed tail carried jauntily over the back and his dark eyed inquisitive expression. This is a breed that has no gross or incapacitating exaggerations and therefore there is no inherent reason for lack of balance or unsound movement. Any deviation from the ideal described in the standard should be penalized to the extent of the deviation. Structural faults common to all breeds are as undesirable in the Bichon Frise as in any other breed, even though such faults may not be specifically mentioned in the standard.
Size, Proportion, Substance
Size-- Dogs and bitches 9 1/2 to 11 1/2 are to be given primary preference. Only where the comparative superiority of a specimen outside this range clearly justifies it should greater latitude be taken. In no case however, should this latitude ever extend over 12 inches or under 9 inches . The minimum limits do not apply to puppies.
Proportion -- The body from the forward-most point of the chest to the point of the rump is 1/4 inch longer than the height at the withers. The body from the withers to lowest point of the chest represents 1/2 the distance from withers to ground. Substance -- Compact and of medium bone throughout ; neither coarse nor fine.
Head- Expression
Soft, dark eyed, inquisitive, alert. Eyes --are round black or dark brown and are set in the skull to look froward. An overly large or bulging eye is a fault as is an almond shaped, obliquely set eye. Halos, the black or very dark brown skin surrounding the eyes , are necessary as they accentuate the eye and enhance expression. The eye rims themselves must be black. Broken pigment , or total absence of pigment on the eye rims produce a blank and staring expression, which is a definite fault. Eyes of any color other than black or dark brown are a very serious fault and must be severely penalized.
Ears --are drop and are covered with long flowing hair. When extended toward the nose , the leathers reach approximately halfway the length of the muzzle. They are set on slightly higher than eye level and are rather forward on the skull, so that when the dog is alert they serve to frame the face .
The Skull --is slightly rounded, allowing for a round and forward looking eye. The Stop is slightly accentuated.
Muzzle -- A properly balanced head is three parts muzzle to five parts skull, measured from the nose to the stop and from the stop to the occiput. A line drawn from the outside corners of the eyes and to the nose will create a near equilateral triangle. There is a slight degree of chiseling under the eyes, but not so much as to result in a weak or snipy foreface. The lower jaw is strong.
The Nose -- is prominent and always black. Lips -- are black, fine and never drooping. Bite -- is scissors. A bite which is overshot or undershot should be severely penalized. A crooked or out of line tooth is permissible, however missing teeth are to be severely faulted.
Neck, Topline and Body
The arched Neck -- is long and carried proudly behind an erect head. It blends smoothly into the shoulders. The length of neck from occiput to withers is approximately 1/3 the distance from forechest to buttocks. The Topline is level except for a slight arch over the loin. Body -- The chest is well developed and wide enough to allow free and unrestricted movement of the front legs. The lowest point of the chest extends at least to the elbow. The ribcage is moderately sprung and extends back to a short and muscular loin. The forechest is well pronounced and protrudes slightly forward of the point of the shoulder. The underline has a moderate tuck-up. Tail -- is well plumed, set on level with the topline and curved gracefully over the back so that the hair of the tail rests on the back. When the tail is extended towards the head it reaches at least halfway to the withers. A low tail set, a tail carried perpendicularly to the back, or a tail which droops behind is to be severely penalized. A corkscrew tail is a very serious fault.
Forequarters--Shoulders
The shoulder blade, upper arm and forearm are approximately equal in length. The shoulders are laid back to somewhat near a forty-five degree angle. The upper arm extends well back so the elbow is placed directly below the withers when viewed from the side. Legs -- are of medium bone , straight, with no bow or curve in the forearm or the wrist. The elbows are held close to the body. The pasterns -- slope slightly from the vertical. The dewclaws may be removed. The feet -- are tight and round, resembling those of a cat and point directly forward, turning neither in nor out. Pads -- are black. Nails -- are kept short.
Hindquarters
The hindquarters are of medium bone, well angulated with muscular thighs and spaced moderately wide. The upper and lower thigh are nearly equal in length meeting at a well bent stifle joint. The leg from hock joint to foot pad is perpendicular to the ground . Dewclaws may be removed. Paws are tight and round with black pads.
Coat
The texture of the coat is of upmost importance. The undercoat is soft and dense, the outercoat of a coarser and curlier texture. The combination of the two gives a soft but substantial feel to the touch which is similar to plush or velvet and when patted springs back. When bathed and brushed , it stands off the body creating an overall puff appearance. A wiry coat is not desirable. A limp, silky coat , a coat that lies down, or a lack of undercoat are very serious faults. Trimming -- The coat is trimmed to reveal the natural outline of the body. It is rounded off from any direction and never cut so short as to create an overly trimmed or squared off appearance. The furnishings of the head, beard, moustache, ears and tail are left longer. The longer head hair is trimmed to create an overall rounded impression. The topline is trimmed to appear level. The coat is long enough to maintain the powder puff look which is characteristic of the breed.
Color
Color is white, may have shadings of buff, cream or apricot around the ears or on the body. Any color in excess of 10% of the entire coat of a mature specimen is a fault and should be penalized, but color of the accepted shadings should not be faulted in puppies.
Gait
Movement at a trot is free, precise and effortless. In profile the forelegs and hind legs extend equally with an easy reach and drive that maintain a steady topline. When moving, the head and neck remain somewhat erect and as speed increases there is a very slight convergence of legs towards the center line. Moving away, the hindquarters travel with moderate width between them and the foot pads can be seen. Coming and going, his movement is precise and true.
Temperament
Gentle mannered, sensitive, playful and affectionate. A cheerful attitude is the hallmark of the breed and one should settle for nothing less.