Bichon Frize

The bichon frize, formerly known as teneriffe, is a cheerful and playful little white dog.

The Bichon Frize was born during the Italian Renaissance (1400-1560) from the cross between the Maltese Bichon and other small dogs, mainly the poodle and the barbet, a water hunting dog also an ancestor of the poodle. Known since the 14th century, in the Mediterranean basin, it was during this century introduced to the Canary Islands. This episode earned him the name of "Tenerife", named after the capital of this archipelago. It will retain this name for a very long time, until recent years. The Bichon Frise was introduced to France in the 16th century during the reign of François I, who made it his favorite companion. But it was under the reign of Henry III (1574-1589) that it reached its peak, the sovereign himself being a fervent admirer of this breed. It was during this century, during the occupation of Flanders by the Spaniards, that the Bichon Frise established itself in Belgium. During the 17th and 18th centuries, it was adored by the greats of this world and can be found in all the salons of France in the company of the ladies and lords of the kingdom. Madame de Pompadour, in particular, has several. His notoriety is such that the painter Fragonard (1732-1806) represents him in one of his paintings, as well as Goya, who makes him appear in several of his works. At the beginning of the 19th century, while it was experiencing a small empty passage in our territory, it enjoyed great success in Spain. It is found in all the courts accompanying most of the Iberian notables. In France, it became fashionable again in the second half of the 19th century, under Napoleon III. Until the beginning of the 20th century, it remained the companion of the aristocracy before becoming more democratic and becoming very popular with the entire population. Thus, during the Belle Epoque, we began to see the Bichon Frize running through the streets, busy with various tasks. It was not uncommon to meet him in the company of barrel organ players or alongside the disabled. Until the Great War, he was very widespread and appreciated by all populations. Unfortunately, as for many other breeds, the First World War dealt it a severe blow and in the inter-war period, breeding practically disappeared. Faced with such a disaster, a Belgian breeder decided in the 1920s to put all his energy and talent into saving the breed. The bet will be met and the Bichon Frize will be recognized by France in 1933. After a second hard blow caused by the Second World War, it is reborn again and experiences a new boom in the middle of the 20th century. In 1960, the International Cynological Federation (FCI) gave it Belgium and France as its origins. The Bichon Frize has experienced a resurgence in popularity since the 1970s. In the United States, the Bichon Frize Club was created in 1964 and the breed was recognized by the Kennel Club in 1973.

This dog is welcoming with displays of joy. He is as playful with children as he is gentle with the elderly. It is comfortable in an apartment or in a garden. He is able to adapt to all situations. It is a very sociable dog with humans and other animals. The Bichon Frize is a poor guardian, but can alert you when there is a stranger coming. He loves to perform, but it's quite difficult to get him to do tricks, because he's so smart that he wants to do it his way, which is where he's the alpha of the gang. He is a dog who must always have attention, and who cannot stay at home for more than five hours without causing damage or crying. It takes a lot of patience to get him used to his environment, but the best way is to play and pet him. The Bichon Frize is a dog that is always happy in the presence of other humans or other animals. When he is a young puppy, he prefers to stay with children. The Bichon Frize is a dog that is always playful and happy. He often has energy leaps, also called blitzes or buzzes in English, during which he will jump, run in circles, roll, fidget as much as possible to get attention. It happens most often between the ages of one and seven and the only way to calm it down is to be calm yourself. The Bichon Frize needs constant care because it has fine hair but is hard to untangle when there are knots. Once he gets used to it, he'll even end up liking it. The bichon is also a very docile and very kind animal.