History of the Bichon Dog Breed

The Bichon Frise is a small, white dog that loves to feel part of a family. Its clownish personality and affectionate nature make the Bichon a good family dog, and its eagerness to learn makes it easily trainable. The Bichon Frise has a colorful history and has traveled across the world.

  1. Origins

    • Originally from the Mediterranean region, the Bichon Frise and other Bichon breeds descended from the water spaniel, or barbet, resulting in the name Barbichon. The original Bichon breeds were the Bichon Maltese, the Bichon Bolognese, the Bichon Havanese and the Bichon Tenerife, according to the American Kennel Club. The current Bichon Frise dog breed is descended from the Bichon Tenerife.

    Travel

    • The Bichon dog breeds traveled from continent to continent as items of barter, according to BichonFrise.org. The dogs were popular in Spain and introduced to the Canary Island of Tenerife by Spanish sailors, giving the Bichon Teneriffe its name. Italian sailors discovered the dog breed on their travels in the 14th century and the dog became a favorite of the Italian nobility.

    Popularity

    • The Bichon's popularity grew as it made its way to France around 1515, according to the Bichon Frise Club of America, Inc. The breed went in and out of fashion but remained a favorite of kings, including Henry III and Napoleon III. King Henry III was such a fan of his Bichon that he carried it wherever he went.

    Recognition and Renaming

    • The French Kennel Club adopted an official standard of the Bichon in 1933, according to the American Kennel Club. At that time, the breed went by two names: "Bichon" and "Tenerife." The president of the International Canine Federation proposed the name Bichon Frise because of the dog's curly coat, which is called "Frise" in French.

    Bichons in America

    • The first Bichon Frises arrived in America in 1956. They were brought over by Mr. and Mrs. Francois Picault, who immigrated to Milwaukee, Wisconsin from France. Fanciers of the Bichon Frise began to breed litters and eventually formed the Bichon Frise Club of America in 1964. The American Kennel Club admitted the breed to their stud book in 1972, and the breed became eligible to show in competition in 1973.