Bichon Frise Dog Breed Birmingham AL

The charming Bichon Frise has a personality that makes you feel everything would be right in the world if everyone had a little white dog to make them smile. Their enthusiasm for life is catching, and they have a way of training their humans to acquiesce to their demands without minding one bit.

There are many suppositions about the lineage of this breed. Some think it originated on the Island of Malta, and others think the dog came from Italy. We do know predecessors of the Bichon Frise lived in Europe during the 1200s in the Mediterranean area. Spanish sailors carried these dogs on their voyages and used them as barter. Eventually, the dogs found their way into the Renaissance palaces of Italy and France. King Frances I kept many during his reign, as did King Henry the III. It is said that he wore his smaller dogs on a beribboned tray around his neck. I would have loved to see that. The ladies of the court also carried their little white dogs everywhere. But the fickle aristocracy soon went on to new fads.

Once Napoleon acquired a Bichon in the 1800s, the breed became popular again. The French were responsible for the final naming of the Bichon Frise (Bichon of the curly coat), and the breed was admitted into the Stud Book of the French Kennel Club in 1934. The first documentation of the dog coming to the United States was in 1956, receiving full AKC recognition in 1973. The dog immediately won the heart of America, and in their first year here, there were more than 1,000 Bichons registered.

In 2001, Champion Special Times Just Right became Best in Show at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog show. He celebrated by jumping into his trophy.

The Bichon is a cheerful and pleasant little fellow to be around. They are gregarious with other animals and do very well with children, even babies. They are intelligent and very human-oriented, which means they want to be wherever you are. They are very much a companion animal and do not like being left home along for long periods of time. In fact, many breeders will not sell a Bichon puppy to a couple where both have full-time jobs and work long hours.

As wonderful as these dogs are, they do have their drawbacks. For one thing, they can be a bit hard to housebreak. In fact, this tends to be the No. 1 reason this breed is turned over to rescue groups. You need to be patient and consistent in order to succeed. The other drawback is the commitment needed to grooming. While you can do the weekly bathing and brushing, you also have to be willing to get them professionally groomed every month. While they are considered one of the best breeds for people suffering from allergies, they are prone to allergies, which can manifest themselves as skin problems.

As with all popular small breeds, the Bichon is a favorite of puppy mills and pet stores. Please go to a responsible breeder and ask some necessary questions, which cannot be answered by a pet store. Do the parents of the puppy have allergies? Has either parent experienced kidney stones? Do not even think of buying a puppy from anyone who does not do testing for eye problems or hip dysplasia, and always ask to meet the dogs on the premises and check out their temperaments.

This is a wonderful little dog that has a big personality. If you would like to learn more about the Bichon or want help in finding a responsible breeder, please visit www.bichon.org.

Norwich Bulletin

Rene Knapp writes Pet Talk, which appears Sundays. Reach her at helpingpaws@sbcglobal.net. Also, find her column online at www.norwichbulletin.com.