Bichon Frises Information - General Information Bichon Frises are lap dogs and belong to the toy group of dogs. Their cute white powder puff appearance doesn't prevent them from making good watchdogs and nice companions for their masters. The Bichon Frise is a perfect pet for families with children as its lively temperament, ready-to-play air and relatively easy care taking is sure to make everyone take to it at once. Moreover, these dogs are said to be non-allergic for people and odorless. Bichon Frises Information - Pictures Photo courtesy of Die erste Bichon Frise Home page http://doggytoggery.com/escape-proof-dog-crates/ Bichon Frises Information - Description Bichons are small, fluffy, white-colored dogs with black or dark brown round eyes with dark halos around .The eyes must be set in the slightly rounded head to look directly forward. Any deviation in color of the eye-rims or the size or position of the eyes is considered a fault. Droop ears are longhaired. The nose is black and prominent. The Bichon Frise's coat deserves special attention. Its unique texture gives the dog its famous furry look and the velvet feel when patting the dog. The undercoat is smooth and soft. The outer coat is rather curly and rough. The adult dog's body is sturdy, muscular, and moderate-boned. The Bichon moves with its tail raised and curled over the back. The tail mustn't be docked or raised to touch the back of the dog. Height: 9 to 11 inches. Weight: 7 to 12 pounds. Life Span: Can live to be over 15 years old. Bichon Frises Information - Caring and Grooming The Bichon Frise's coat is non-shedding. It requires grooming preferably once a month. Regular bathing and brushing is necessary. Having sensitive skin, the Bichon Frise might be susceptible to flea infestation. Therefore, it's advisable to exclude the dog from contact with filthy surroundings. Ear infections can cause a problem if ear grooming is neglected. The Bichon's drop ears are to be kept free of dirt and hair. The Bichon Frise is basically a healthy breed. Veterinary aid may be limited to vaccination. Bichon Frises Information - History Bichon Frises Information - Pictures Photo courtesy of Dogomania Galerie The Bichon Frise (also the Bichon Tenerife, the Tenerife Dog or the Bichon a poil Frise) got its beautiful name thanks to its bright appearance. The Bichon Frise means fluffy little dog. Though its origin is unknown, Bichons are believed to be descendents of the Water Spaniel and the Barbet and related to the Maltese. Some claim that the Bichon Frise was already well known before the time of Christ. It is more likely though that the breed was brought to the Canary Islands by Spanish sailors and became a popular breed in 1400. In Europe, the Bichon enjoyed the reputation of being the royal breed. The dogs were loyal companions to the French kings, Francis the First and Henry the Third. Bichons were first brought to the USA in the 1950s. But only in 1973 did the American Kennel Club officially recognize the Bichon Frise, though the Bichon Frise Club of America had been active since 1964. Bichon Frises Information - Trainability The Bichon loves being around people and can be called a born companion and entertainer. It is a fast and eager learner of tricks. The Bichon Frise is highly trainable, but needs a special approach by the owner. The owner should be warned against being too firm or too mild with the pet to avoid control issues. Play training and treat training prove to work out well, but the latter means of training has a certain danger of making the pet overweight. Bichon Frises are most suitable as therapy dogs in hospitals and nursing centers.