Dog Breed Guide

Bichon Frise

Profile

Size

Small

Country of origin

France, Belgium

Origin

Around the 14th century

Bred for

Companion

Height

23 - 30cm (9 - 12in)

Weight

5 - 8kg (11 - 18lb)

Life span

12 - 15 years

Its greatest charm is a pure white, fluffy coat like cotton candy. Its round black eyes and black nose stand out sharply against its white face, and when the coat is trimmed round it looks like a stuffed toy. The name means "curly little dog" in French.

Bright and cheerful, the Bichon is friendly to everyone and a crowd favorite. It loves playing with its family, and when it gets excited it may tear around the room at top speed in what fans call the "Bichon blitz." It is smart and good at learning tricks.

It sheds little, but its coat keeps growing and tangles easily, so daily brushing and regular grooming are a must. Tear stains and skin allergies are concerns.

Good to know

Its ancestors were small dogs beloved by sailors crossing the Mediterranean. Dogs raised on Tenerife, in Spain's Canary Islands, are said to have reached Italy around the 14th century and become pets of the nobility. Sailors are said to have traded these dogs as merchandise from port to port.

When France invaded Italy in the 16th century, the dogs spread to the French court too. There is even a story that King Henry III loved them so much that he carried them around in a ribbon-decorated basket hung from his neck.

As times changed, the aristocracy lost interest, and the Bichon survived as a street performer, doing tricks on street corners alongside organ grinders. Its intelligence and charm later led people to rediscover it as a family dog.