The Bichon Frisé, also known as Curly-Coated Bichon, is a small, white dog with long, curly hair in the shape of a corkscrew. It stands out as a pet for its cheerful, jovial and lively character. In short, it is the perfect dog breed for those who have not adopted before or are looking for a dog that is easy to train, as well as playful and fun. Living with a Bichon Frize is really easy, since it is a dog that adapts perfectly to anyone.
Whether you are considering adopting a curly-haired bichon or if you already live with one and want to expand your knowledge, in this tab on our site we tell you all about it characteristics of the Bichon Frisé, as well as its temperament, basic care, advice on its education and possible he alth problems that may affect it.
Origin of the Bichon Frisé
Already in the 12th century, barbet crosses were known in the Mediterranean basin, an ancient dog that is now extinct, with white lapdogs. The result of these crosses gave rise to the bearded family of dogs and the poodle. That group of dogs became known simply as Bichons, and comprised four different varieties: M altese Bichons, Bolognese Bichons, Havanese Bichons and Tenerife Bichons.
The Tenerife Bichon is the direct ancestor of the current Bichon Frisé, and owed its name to the fact that it was developed mainly on the Canary Island of Tenerife. Despite this, this dog became very popular in France, especially during the reign of Henry III (between 1574 and 1589) and the empire of Napoleon III (in 1852). Like many other dog breeds, the Tenerife bichon practically disappeared during the First World War. Fortunately, the breed was rescued in the 1930s by a group of French breeders, albeit under the name of bichón a poíl frisé which means short-haired bichon curly, and has since been known colloquially only as Bichon Frisé.
During World War II the population of these dogs also decreased, but then stabilized in the 1950s when the Bichon Frize was imported into the Americas. Today the Bichon Frize is a breed known almost everywhere in the world, although it is not overly popular. It is used as a companion animal, an activity in which it stands out over many other dog breeds, and in dog shows.
Characteristics of the Bichon Frisé
The Curly-Coated Bichon's back is broad, muscular and somewhat arched, while its croup is slightly rounded. The chest is well developed and the flanks are tucked into the belly, giving the dog a sleek, fine and elegant appearance.
The head is flattened at the top, and the skull is longer than the snout. The stop is slightly marked, the nose is black and round. For their part, the dark, rounded eyes have an alert expression, and should not be prominent like those of the Pekingese or the Brussels Griffon. The ears hang to the sides of the head and are covered with long, fine, curly fur.
The tail of the Bichon Frize is set somewhat low, originating a little below the line of the back. Generally, the dog carries it raised and gracefully folded, but not curled up or touching the back, although its long hair can rest on it.
The hair, from a single coat, is fine, silky and shaped like a loose corkscrew. It is long, reaching between 7 and 10 centimeters in length in different parts of the body. The only color accepted by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) for the Bichon Frisé is pure white Likewise, the FCI standard does not indicate a weight range for the breed, but the height at the withers must be less than 30 centimeters.
Bichon Frisé character
The Curly-Coated Bichon tends to be Happy, dynamic and playful, while also being sensitive, affectionate and gentle. Due to its dynamism, it usually needs more exercise than other dogs of the same height, although this does not make it a nervous dog, quite the opposite. The Bichon Frize is a dog that loves to receive the affection of its family, rest with them at home and enjoy their company. Therefore, paying enough attention to it is essential to ensure that it lives he althy and happy.
Bichon Frizes tend to socialize easily, whether with people, dogs or other animals. They are especially sociable with children, a characteristic difficult to find in other small breed dogs. Even so, it is important to socialize them as puppies to reduce the risk of shyness or aggression when the dogs are adults.
Bichon Frisé care
As with other long-haired companion dogs, the coat care of the Bichon Frize requires time and effort. The hair of this dog tends to get tangled easily, so it must be brushed and combed at least once a day. To do this, the ideal is to use a butter brush with long bristles, and comb the coat in favor of the hair. In case of finding entanglements, it is best to use a card. Likewise, it is always a good idea to take the dog to the dog groomer approximately every two months, and bathe him only when necessary. As these bichons do not lose hair, they are hypoallergenic dogs.
Being small dogs, Bichon Frizes do not require intense exercise, but their need for physical activity should not be ignored either because they are very dynamic dogs. It is good that they do moderate exercise every day, through at least two walks a day, playtime (fetch the ball and the like) and games with others dogs of your size.
These dogs are excellent for living in an apartment in the city, as they adapt very well to small spaces and can exercise inside the apartment. However, they are not dogs that can spend a lot of time alone, so they are not suitable for people who must spend long hours away from home and cannot take their pet with them. They also cannot live isolated in a patio or garden, as they need a lot of company.
Education of Bichon Frisé
Training a Bichon Frisé is really easy, since they are very intelligent dogsThe exception, perhaps, occurs when teaching the dog to go to the bathroom, since they take a little longer than other canine breeds to learn this. Formerly, these bichons were used as circus dogs, so they can respond very well to freestyle, although they do not excel in dog sports. Of course, training should be done in the positive, either through clicker training or similar style, as these dogs are very sensitive and do not respond well to training traditional.
Generally, these dogs do not present behavioral problems, but in some cases they can bark excessively and take time to learn to relieve themselves outside the home, as we have already mentioned. Remember that the key to having an obedient and balanced dog always lies in rewarding good behaviors, never punishing bad ones. On the other hand, they can be destructive dogs if they spend many hours alone at home or are not given the physical and mental exercise they require.
The Bichon Frize is an excellent breed of dog as a companion animal. A Curly-Coated Bichon can be a great companion for individuals and families in general, and an excellent choice for a first-time dog adopter. Although they tend to get along well with children, it is not a good idea for these dogs to be pets of small children, as they are very small and fragile animals.
Bichon Frize He alth
The Bichon Frize tends to be a he althy dog and there are not many common diseases in the breed. However, special attention must be paid to the following conditions and pathologies:
- Overweight.
- Patellar dislocation due to excessive intense exercise.
- Teeth loss.
- Waterfalls.
To prevent the Bichon Frisé from becoming overweight, it will be essential to offer it quality food, rich in protein, and establish a meal schedule. Small breed dogs should always be controlled by their owners in order to prevent them from gaining too much weight as well as being too thin. On the other hand, it will be essential to deworm them and vaccinate them following the schedule stipulated by the veterinarian, as well as carrying out regular check-ups to detect any anomaly in time.
