Comments about Bichon Frise

Bichon-type dogs, descendants of the Barbet, or Water Spaniel, were known in the region surrounding the Mediterranean during the Middle Ages. Then as now, these friendly little dogs were valued for their appealing personalities. Seafarers took them on voyages and often used them as articles of trade. In the 14th century, Italian sailors are said to have found the breed on the Canary Island of Tenerife and taken it home to Europe, where the Bichon, or Teneriffe, became the prized pet of both the Italian and French nobility. The breed won further popularity in the English court during the reign of Henry II, and it is featured in the paintings of the Spanish masters, including several of Goya’s works. By the end of the 19th century, however, its status declined to that of an ordinary street dog. The Bichon Frise’s popularity rose once again after World War I, when a small group of French enthusiasts began to reestablish the breed’s bloodlines. The breed’s present name was adopted in 1933, and the Bichon Frise was admitted to the French Kennel Club in 1934. A French family brought the first Bichon Frises to America in 1956, and the breed has enjoyed a loyal following in this country ever since. In 1973 it was recognized as an AKC non-sporting dog.