Bichon Frise - TOP 10 Interesting Facts

1) Origin

The Bichon Frise was probably developed in the Middle Ages in the Mediterranean region. Their ancestors are water spaniels who were living in this area. Another possibility is, that the Bichon Frise was developed in the Canary Island and they were brought to Europe by sailors. We can not be sure about their exact origin, but contrary to popular belief, they were most likely not originated in France.

2) Royalty

But even though, their origin is not French, they are closely connected to this country. It is because their later development proceed in France. During the Renaissance era, their popularity skyrocketted. It was mostly thanks to the Francis I who loved them. But they were not only popular among the French nobility, Italian, Spanish and English royalty loved them as well. We can at least mention english king Henry II and his famous Bichon Frise named Goya.

3) Hard Times

Bichon Frise is not only the spoiled dog who lived on royal courts. After the French Revolution in 1789, most of the Bichon Frise richs owners ended up in the prison or even dead. Their dogs ended up on streets where they lived for a long time. Their popularity declined a lot during the 19th century and even in the beginning of the 20th century, because of the first and second world war, there was not enough money and food for the dogs, so there were still many Bichon Frise dogs in the streets. This changed when the second world war ended and the popularity of the Bichon Frise increased again.

4) Temperament

So as you can see, this breed has its ups and downs in the history. Thanks to that, they are very adaptable. They are definitely intelligent, curious, playful, affectionate and gentle. Bichon Frise is a great companion for kids and overall they are making amazing family companions.

5) Circus dogs

Mostly because of their cute apperance and high intelligence, many Bichon Frise dogs were used as circus dogs in the 19th century. They were also succesfull street performers.

6) Coat

Probably the most striking and distinctive feature of the Bichon Frisé is their thick, curly and dense white coat. The frequent trimming, brushing, and bathing required to keep the Bichons coat condition, most of the time, it is better if you will go to the groomer with your Bichon Frisé. Great fact about their coat is, that it is almost non shedding and thanks to that, Bichon Frisés are often marked as hypoallergenic dogs.

7) Allergies

Its ironic, but Bichon Frisé is a hypoallergenic dog that suffer a lot from allergies itself. They are especially prone to allergies from flea bites, pollen, dust and various chemicals. There are some treatments on the market, but the best solution is to avoid problematic substances. Keep the home and the dog clean, make sure that he does not have fleas and make sure that he can not get in touch with any chemicals. By the way, they can suffer from allergies to plastic as well, that is why i would always recommend you stainless or ceramic bowl for Bichon Frisé.

8) Size

This is pretty small dog breed with average height between 23-30 cms which is 9-12 inches and weight between 5-10 kgs which is 11-22 pounds.

9) Activity

Bichon Frisé is not complete coach potatoe, definitely not, but they are also not hyperactive. Their activity needs are kinda average and thanks to their small size, it is not hard to meet their needs. Daily walks in addition to good daily playtime are must to have happy and healthy Bichon Frisé. And you might actually be surprised how fast these little dogs can be.

10) Lifespan

If you will decide to get a Bichon Frisé, expcet to have a great companion for a long time. Their average lifespan is between 13-15 years. As we already said, they can suffer from allergies a lot. Another health concerns are dental decay, ear infections.