Bichon Frisé: A Simply Adorable Little Dog
A small white dog, with long curly hair, with a happy character and ideal for company. This is how we could summarize the main characteristics of the Bichon frisé, but there is much more to say about this beautiful and intelligent dog. Let’s discover the characteristics of the Bichon frisé.
A dog whose ancestors resided in the Canaries
It seems that the origins of the Bichon à poil frisé, also known as the curly-haired Bichon, date back to the 22nd century, in the Mediterranean basin.
At that time the Barbet , an ancient French breed that has now disappeared, was crossed with white dogs. From this cross the Poodle and the Poodle were born which, with the passage of time, began to be called “Bichon”.
Four varieties belong to the Bichon: the Maltese, the Bichon Havanese, the Bolognese and the Coton de Tulear. The latter, who originally resided in the Canary Islands, can be considered the direct ancestor of the current Bichon frisé. Soon this breed became the favorite of the noble class of the time.
However, the breed was about to disappear during the First World War. In the 30s of the last century some specimens were rescued by some French and Belgian breeders, and thus became known as Bichon a poil frisé (curly-haired Bichon). Then, in the mid-1950s, these cute dogs arrived in America.
Read on to discover the characteristics of the Bichon frisé, an elegant and small dog that stands out for its white and curly fur, but also for its intelligence, friendliness and great adaptability.
Physical characteristics of the Bichon frisé
With a height of less than 30 centimeters, by breed standards, the Bichon Frisé is a strong and sturdy dog despite its small size. Among the physical characteristics of this refined and elegant dog we can highlight:
- Weight : between three and six kilos.
- Hair : dense, fine and smooth.
- Physiognomy : it has a slightly arched, broad and muscular body.
- Tail: Low, although it is usually raised and slightly curved.
- Neck: long and erect.
- Head: flattened at the top. The skull is longer than its muzzle.
- Muzzle: large, black and rounded.
- Eyes: dark and round, with an alert and intelligent expression.
- Ears: Hanging, long and hairy.
The personality of the Bichon frisé
Very active, outgoing and playful, yet adapting quickly to different circumstances and spaces, the Bichon frisé is ideal for people who have not had previous experiences of living with pets.
Affectionate, sociable and sensitive, he gets along well with other pets and children. However, given its small size, care should be taken if it lives with children under the age of five, who still don’t have enough self-control to gauge their strength and who could hurt them.
As if that weren’t enough, he is an obedient and easy to train dog. However, like any animal, he’s not perfect, so he can’t stand being alone for too long. So this is a point to keep in mind when choosing it as a pet.
How to take care of this breed
Another point to keep in mind when deciding to have a Bichon Frisé as a pet is the care of its fur. This is because it is an animal that does not shed hair and, to keep it tidy and avoid knots, brushing should be daily or at least rather frequent.
In addition, he needs a lot of exercise, more than other dogs of his size. The Bichon frisé enjoys hiking outdoors and can also participate in agility competitions.
With a life expectancy of between 12 and 16 years, it is a dog that is generally in excellent health. However, it is worth paying attention to:
- Loss of teeth.
- Cataract.
- Accumulation of tartar.
- Tendency to be overweight.
- Patellar dislocation (dislocated kneecap), due to strenuous exercise.
- Skin allergies.
- Bladder stones.
- Ear infections.
As for other treatments, an adequate diet based on its characteristics and according to each phase of its life, periodic visits to the veterinarian and compliance with the vaccine calendar, are essential details for a dog of any breed to conduct a healthy and happy life.
