The Bichon Frise is an all-white, curly-furred lap dog that originated in the Mediterranean region. This breed is believed to be a mix of Barbet, poodle and generic white lap dog. The breed has an illustrious history. An early version, called the Barbichon, existed as early as 600 B.C. This dog accompanied Spanish sailors on trade routes throughout the Mediterranean region.
As years passed, the breed name was shortened to Bichon. During the Renaissance the Bichon became a favorite dog of French royalty. Unfortunately, the Bichon became commonplace and fell out of favor among the elite though it gained favor among the common people. Many were trained to perform tricks in traveling circuses. The French added Frise to the name to reference the breed's soft, curly fur. From the 1930s-1970s, the Bichon Frise's popularity rose and spread throughout Europe, to Australia, and then to the United States. The American Kennel Club registered the breed in the non-sporting group in 1973. Today, each Bichon Frise breeder must meet the specific AKC breed standard to register dogs in competition.
The most common and desirable trait of the Bichon Frise is its white, curly fur coat. The breed's powder puff coat consists of a dense undercoat and a springy, plushy topcoat. The fur springs back into shape when touched. Bichon Frise fur must be at least ninety percent pure white to meet breed AKC standards. The fur does not shed and is thus hypoallergenic. However, like most white breeds, the Bichon Frise are themselves prone to many skin, ear, and eye allergies. A Bichon Frise breeder can educate a potential buyer on how to properly groom and care for the Bichon Frise to keep its allergies under control.
Another desirable and standard trait of the Bichon Frise is its outgoing personality. The American Kennel Club even lists its friendly disposition as a breed standard trait. Besides being sociable, the Bichon Frise are also intelligent and extremely active. There is even a phrase to describe their random bursts of hyperactivity- the Bichon Frise blitz.
Buyers must do their research before choosing a
Bichon Frise breeder. Buyers should educate themselves on the history and breed standard characteristics so that they have a general idea of what to look for and what questions to ask the breeder. Unfortunately, there are illegitimate breeders working to sell fake Bichon Frise, or worse, unhealthy Bichon Frise, to make a profit from unsuspecting buyers. A good sign of a bad breeder is one who sells Bichon Frise to pet stores. No loving breeder would ship and sell puppies like merchandise to just any consumer. A second warning sign is if the breeder is reluctant, unwilling, or unable to provide proper information of the Bichon Frise such as pedigree, medical records, and registration papers. Finally, a bad breeder will not offer any guarantee on the dog's health or behavior.
Buyers must ask many questions to make sure they are getting a real purebred Bichon Frise. The Bichon Frise breeder, if legitimate, will also have questions for the buyer to make sure the Bichon Frise will be going to a loving, appropriate home.
A thorough knowledge of the history and breed standard traits is necessary to determine whether
Bichon Frise breeders are selling real, purebred dogs. Tips on how to distinguish between a real versus fake Bichon Frise breeder and general
Bichon Frise information is provided in this article.