The Bichon Frise is of Mediterranean ancestry. His oldest ancestor is the Barbet, or Water
Spaniel, from which the name Barbichon cam, later shortened to Bichon. Also descended
from the Barbet are the Caniche, or Poodle, and the Maltese. They have certain similarities
because of their common ancestry, but each long ago became a separate breed.
The Barbichon group of dogs evolved into four breeds: The Bichon Bolognese, the Bichon
Havanese, the Bichon Maltese and the Bichon Tenerife. From the Bichon Tenerife came
today's Bichon Frise. These lively and affectionate dogs found their way from the
Mediterranean area to the Canary Islands, specifically to the Island of Tenerife. They
probably traveled as the companions of Spanish sailors, who may have used them as items of
barter.
By the 1300's, Italy had become a center of trade and commerce and, with the advent of the
Renaissance, began a period of exploration. Now it was the Italian sailors who returned the
Bichon to the continent. In Italy, the Bichon Tenerife attracted the attention of nobility and the
new middle class of merchants. The dog was often groomed in the lion style, which was then
a popular trim, but he should not be confused with the Little Lion Dog (Lowchen). Late in the
1400's, as the French became enamoured of Italian culture, France invaded Italy, and the
Italian influence spread north. Italian artists and scholars went north to serve in the French
courts and, no doubt, carried along favorite pets.
It was about this time that the Tenerife or Bichon made his appearance in France, during the
reign of Francis I (1515-1547), the patron of the Renaissance. His popularity grew under
Henry III (1574-1589). A favorite Bichon legend says that King Henry so loved his Bichon that
he carried him wherever he went in a tray-like basket attached around his neck by ribbons.
What the king does, others at court imitate. The pampered, perfumed, beribboned dogs gave
birth to the French verb "bichonner" (to make beautiful, to pamper). Another period of
popularity in France was during the year’s of-Napoleon III (1808-1873).
Many artists have included a small curly-coated lap dog or a Bichon-like figure somewhere in
their portraits. Among the most famous were Titian (1490-1576) of Italy, Sir Joshua Reynolds
(1723-1792), first President of the Royal Academy of England, and the Spanish artist
Francisco Goya (1746-1828). These works of art help to verify the presence of the Bichon in
various countries.
By the end of the 19th century, the pet of royalty had become less fashionable. In the late
1800's, he became a street dog and could be found doing tricks in the circus or at fairs. The
cuddled pet was now on his own -- and he survived! His charm, his cunning mind and his
sturdiness no doubt enabled him to do so.
Following World War I, a few fanciers recognized the potential of the dogs and began
establishing' their lines through controlled breeding programs. On March 5, 1933, the official
standard of the breed, as written by Madam Abadie of Steren Vor Kennels, was adopted by the
Societe Central Canine de France. As the breed was known by two names, Tenerife and
Bichon, the President of the International Canine Federation, Mme. Nizet de Lemma’s,
proposed a name based on the characteristics that the dogs presented and the name Bichon
a polio Frise (Bichon with the curly coat) was adopted. The anglicized version is Bichon Frise
(curly lap dog). On October 18, 1934, the Bichon was admitted to the official registry of the
French Kennel Club.
The International Canine Federation recognizes the Bichon Frise "as a French-Belgian breed
having the right to registration in the Book of Origins from all countries". The breed is
recognized in most of the world now, but then was recognized in only three countries: Belgium,
France and Italy.
BICHON FRISE
(Bichon à poil frisé)
TRANSLATION : Mrs. Peggy Davis, brought up to date by Dr. J.-M. Paschoud.
ORIGIN : France / Belgium.
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE ORIGINAL VALID STANDARD : 10.01.1972.
UTILIZATION : Companion.
CLASSIFICATION F.C.I. : Group 9 Companion and Toy Dogs.
Section 1 Bichons and related breeds.
Without working trial.
GENERAL APPEARANCE : Merry and playful little dog, with a lively gait, medium length muzzle, long
very loose corkskrew-curled hair, very like the coat of the Mongolian goat. Head carriage is proud
and high, the eyes dark, lively and expressive.
HEAD : In harmony with the body.
CRANIAL REGION :
Skull : Rather flat to the touch although the furnishings makes it appear round. The skull longer than
the muzzle.
Stop : Not much marked.
FACIAL REGION :
Nose : The nose is rounded, black, finely grained and glossy.
Muzzle : The muzzle must not be thick nor heavy, without however being snipey. The furrow between
the superciliary arches slightly visible.
Lips : The lips are fine, rather lean, less however than in the Schipperke, falling only enough so as to
cover the lower lip, but never heavy nor pendulous; they are normally black up to the corner of the lips;
the lower lip must not be heavy nor visible, nor slack and does not allow the mucous membranes to
be seen when the mouth is closed.
Jaws/Teeth : Bite normal, i.e. the incisors of the lower jaw are placed immediately against and behind
the point of the teeth in the upper jaw.
Cheeks : Flat and not very muscular.
Eyes : Dark eyes, as much as possible with dark eyelids, of a rather round shape and not almond
shaped; not placed obliquely; lively, not too big, not showing any white. Neither large nor prominent
as in the Griffon Bruxellois and the Pekingese; the socket must not bulge. The eyeball must not stand
out too much.
Ears : Drooping, well furnished with finely curled long hairs, carried rather forward when the dog is
attentive, but in such a way that the front edge touches the skull and does not stand away obliquely;
the length of the cartilage must not, like in the Poodle, extend to the nose, but stops halfway of the
length of the muzzle. The ears are anyway not as broad and finer than the Poodle’s.
NECK : Reach of neck is fairly long, carried high and proudly. Round and fine near the skull,
broadening gradually to merge smoothly into the shoulders. Its length is approximately a third of the
length of the body (proportion of 11 cm to 33 cm for a dog of 27 cm high), the points of the shoulder
blades against the withers taken as basis.
BODY :
Loin : Broad and well muscled, slightly arched.
Croup : Slightly rounded.
Chest : Well developed; the sternum is pronounced; the false ribs rounded and do not end abruptly,
the chest having horizontally a rather great depth.
Flanks : The flanks are well tucked up at the belly; the skin is fine and not loose, giving quite a
whippety appearance.
TAIL : The tail is set a little more below the back line than in the Poodle. Normally the tail is carried
raised and gracefully curved in line with the spine, without being rolled up; it is not docked and must
not be in contact with the back; however the tail furnishings may fall onto the back.
LIMBS
FOREQUARTERS : Seen from the front, forelegs really straight and perpendicular; fine bone.
Shoulder : The shoulder is fairly slanted, not prominent, giving the appearance of being the same
length as the upper arm, about 10 cm.
Upperarm : Not standing away from the body.
Elbow : Not turned out.
Pastern : Short and straight seen from the front; very slightly oblique seen in profile.
HINDQUARTERS : The pelvis is wide.
Thighs : Broad and muscular; well slanting.
Hock : Compared with the Poodle, the hock joint is more angulated.
FEET : Sinewy. Nails preferably black; it is however an ideal difficult to obtain.
SKIN : The pigmentation beneath the white coat is preferably dark; the genitals are then pigmented
either black, bluish or beige.
COAT
HAIR : Fine, silky, very loose corkscrew curls looking like the coat (fur) of the Mongolian goat, neither
flat nor corded and 7 to 10 cm long.
GROOMING : The dog may be shown with the feet and muzzle slightly tidied up.
COLOUR : Pure white.
SIZE : The height at the withers should not exceed 30 cm, the small size being an element of success.
FAULTS : Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness
with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.
• Slightly overshot or undershot mouth.
• Coat flat, wavy, corded or too short.
• Pigmentation extending into the coat and forming rusty (red) patches.
ELIMINATING FAULTS :
• Pink nose.
• Flesh coloured lips.
• Prognathism (undershot-overshot) so developed to the extent that the incisors do not touch.
• Light eyes.
• Rolled up tail or twisted in a spiral.
• Black spots in the coat.
N.B. : Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.