Here are some fun and fascinating facts about Bichon Frise that will surely surprise a lot of people!
The true ancestors of this breed were the Barbets (water spaniels) and because of that, they were started to be called as Barbichon. After some years, this name was shortened to just ‘Bichon’ which in French translated to ‘Lap Dog’. And, as this breed had a frizzy coat, the term Frise was later added to their name which means ‘curly’ in French.
When Bichons were born, they were categorized into different groups on the basis of slight differences in their appearance, their overall size and due to some other factors. These groups comprised of Bichon Havanese, Bichon Maltese, Bichon Bolognese, and Bichon Tenerife. Eventually, after gradual development, the Bichon Tenerife became the Bichon Frise, the fluffy pooches that we know and love today.
Well, many people have a hard time pronouncing the name of this breed correctly. And, it is mostly due to the fact that the right pronunciation of their name is French and it should be pronounced as BEE-shon Free-zay.
These pooches have a fluffy, curly and soft coat which is only found in a white color. They can have a very small amount of other colors like cream, apricot, and buff around their ears and face area, but the rest of their body is covered in a white-colored coat only.
Bichon Frise canines don’t shed their fur that often and are also known to produce less dander than many other breeds out there. And, this is highly advantageous for those people who usually suffer from various kinds of allergies.
In the 1300s, when the Italian sailors brought these dogs back with them from the Canary Islands, they slowly became immensely famous among the wealthy sections of Italy and France. These fluffy canines were highly adored and pampered by both the French and Italian nobility. They started living a lavish lifestyle, they were given all the luxurious amenities that anyone could have asked for and became the favorites of Kings and Queens as well. These canines were even adored and appreciated by King Francis I.
The huge following and popularity of this breed gradually faded away and during the World War I, they were on the brink of extinction. But their intelligence and likeable personality probably saved them from wiping away from the face of this planet. After being neglected by the royalty, these canines began to perform in the streets as tricksters. They started showing their skills in circuses and gradually, because of the efforts of some devoted French breeders, this breed eventually saw a revival and their numbers slowly increased.
Despite being so tiny in size and stature, this breed is categorized under the Non-Sporting Group by the American Kennel Club.
Bichon Frise is a people-pleasing pooch. These canines love the company of other people and are happy when they are surrounded by their loved ones. But, if they are left alone in the house for long periods of time, they can become extremely sad, frustrated and disheartened because of separation anxiety. They are not meant for the people who are looking for a pooch that can be left alone in the house while they go out for long periods of time for work or leisure purposes.
With qualities like great adaptability, sociability, trainability et cetera, the Bichon Frise are known to make wonderful family companions and house pets. These canines are not only friendly and warm with their own family members, but they are immensely affable even with strangers, small children, other animals such as cats and other dogs as well.
Unlike many other dog breeds, the Bichon Frise is not the kind of canine that loves to swim or stay in swimming pools. These pooches are not so keen on the water, so don’t expect them to be amazing swimmers.
Famous artists and painters such as Francisco de Goya, Auguste Renoir, and Titian were huge fans of this amazing breed and they even portrayed these dogs in many of their paintings and artworks.
Their average life-span is about 12-15 years, but in many cases, these canines can easily cross 15+ years of age. They are known to have a pretty respectable lifespan.