About Bichon Frise:

A playful, affectionate, and happy breed. It makes for a gentle and obedient companion, although this breed can be stubborn. The Bichon is pleasant with children and easygoing with other pets. Altogether a most appealing breed and a wonderful pet. 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.

Care and Exercise:

Coat requires considerable grooming to keep it fluffy and elegant (show trim calls for a powder-puff” look); brush about 30 minutes a day. Occasional professional trimming necessary. Needs little exercise and is thus a highly suitable breed for apartment life. May be hard to housebreak.

Recommended Households:

This attentive, charming breed is exceptionally good with children. It is intelligent and cheerful, and has a stylish appearance and confident manner. Because of the breed’s burgeoning popularity, would-be owners should shop with care, as unscrupulous breeders may sell poor-quality animals. The Bichon Frise is an excellent city pet for an owner that is willing to provide the daily coat care required.

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Bichon Frise

Uncle Bill’s Pet Center is an ethical, humane source for a wide variety of pets, including Dogs, Cats, Fish, Birds, Rabbits, Guinea Pigs, Reptiles, Amphibians, and other small and exotic animals. We are the premier pet store in the Indianapolis area, with locations on the east, northeast, and west sides of Indianapolis, as well as in Fishers, Greenwood, and Ft. Wayne. Uncle Bill’s Pet Center carries a large inventory of pet supplies, and is committed to helping our customers understand and care for their animals throughout their lives.