11 Things You Should Know about the Bichon Frise

1995 was the year when the Bichon Frise first stepped foot in America. And since then, people can’t help but be fascinated by this breed of dog.

And since then, it wasn’t only the Americans who were smitten with him. Just about everybody around the world were hooked. By simply looking at the Bichon Frise, you’d understand.

The Bichon Frise is an attention-grabber

Below are 11 things that will help you get to know more about this breed.

1. A popular children’s book inspired its standards.

“The Adventures of Tin-Tin” is a story by a Belgian author named Herge. It stars Milou (in French and Belgian editions) who is a white fox terrier.

And even though Milou was a fox, the children’s book was what started the standards for the Bichon Frise. You see, it highlighted the awesome existence of small, white dogs.

Because the book was such a hit, you can also say the same for the emerging popularity of small white dogs. And soon, it led to the adoption of the official standards for the Bichon Frise by the national kennel club of France in 1993.

2. There are 4 types of this breed.

Saw a dog that looks like the Bichon Frise? You should know, though, that there are different types of Bichon Frise. 

Did you know that the Maltese and the Havanese are among the most popular dog breeds? Respectively, they rank as the 20th and 36th on the list.

And beyond their popularity, another common fact about these two is that they’re types of Bichon Frise dogs. They’re among the four types, to be exact.

The other type is the Tenerife, which was the original Bichon Frise. And the last one is the Bolognaise, which originated from mainland Italy.

3. He is small and has a white curly coat.

One of the Bichon Frise’s distinctive features is this. His white coat is always thick and curly. The curliness of his coat, however, is not similar to all the Bichon Frise dogs. Some of this breed’s coats are curlier compared to others.

Here’s a video that will tell you what to expect when you welcome the Bichon Frise into your home:

4. His name paved the way for a famous English swear word.

You guessed it right, the derogatory word for the female dog came from this breed. And this name came to be a subject of debate.

As some would argue, his name originated from the Old French word “biche”. But others would also chime in and say that it’s from the word “barbichon”, which means small poodle.

And then there’s another group who heats things up even further. This group goes on claiming that the name comes from the word “barbiche”, which means shaggy dog.

5. He is at a higher risk of two causes of premature deaths among the breed.

Immune-Mediated Thrombocytopenia (or ITP) is a disease where your dog’s body attacks its own platelets. Symptoms include increased respiratory rate, pale gums, and lethargy.

It’s a serious disease that could lead to a premature fatality. And sadly, the Bichon Frise has a higher risk of developing this disease.

Another disease that puts this breed at a higher risk is the Autoimmune Hemolytic Anaemia (or AIH). Like the above-mentioned disease, it also leads your dog’s body to launch an attack. This time, it’s to his red blood cells.

So if your Bichon Frise is showing signs of inexplicable weakness, weight loss, and a lack of appetite, you should call a veterinarian. Ask this professional to check your dog so you will know the real deal.

6. You need to groom him regularly.

If you don’t always groom him, he might not look as adorable.

If he hates being groomed, you need to help him find a way to (at least) accept it. You can check out dog grooming tips, do some reverse psychology tricks, or some clever shenanigans. No matter what approach you use, it has to happen.

After all, the Bichon Frise requires lots of grooming. In fact, he needs it more than any other breed of dog. Or else, he could get matted fur, hematoma, skin and ear infections, and more.

He needs daily brushing, cleaning, and caring. So if you don’t think you can handle it, hiring a professional dog groomer is the solution!

7. He is hypoallergenic.

If your Bichon Frise smells bad, it might be due to food allergies. But to be fair, you shouldn’t worry too much about allergies.

After all, he is listed as one of the top hypoallergenic dogs in the world. The reason? The fact that he requires lots of grooming.

Because you groom him often, you also take care of him often. This means he is often clean!

8. He is classified as a toy.

One look at the Bichon Frise is all it takes. If he stays stationary for a couple of minutes, it’s possible to mistake him as one of those stuffed dog toys you can buy at malls.

He is also officially classified in the toy division. The United Kennel Club (or UKC) and Federacion Cynologique International (or FCI) categorized him Section 1.1 Group 9 #215.

9. He is an A+ travel buddy.

Looking for tips about how to have an epic time when travelling with your Bichon Frise? Well, you’ve got some good news coming your way.

You see, this dog breed is a natural as a well-behaved travel buddy. He sits still and only follows your lead. Whenever you’re not in home territory, he knows better than to act like a rascal.

Particularly, this breed has been adopted by Spanish sailors and adapted to life as a ship dog. So if you’re into sailing, the Bichon Frise will gladly engage in the activity with you!

10. He is a star performer.

If you want to raise a superstar, the Bichon Frise is the dog for you! 

The Bichon Frise championed the Westminster Club Dog Club in the US twice. The first one was way back in 2001. More than a decade later, in 2018, at the New York-held event, this breed took center stage yet again.

And you should also know about Ozzie. He’s the Bichon Frise who walks the earth as a social media sensation.

Ozzie is owned by Kayleigh Langdon. She set up a Facebook page for him where he does amazing tricks such as skateboarding and helping with laundry. And the result? He has more than 4,000 followers!

So why not go and take an incredible picture with your Bichon Frise? Because his breed is a star, he just might like it!

11. Many celebrities walk around with this breed.

Do you know Martha Stewart is a proud owner of the Bichon Frise? The American executive businesswoman sure is and she is seen on walks with her dog often!

Apart from her, there’s a lineup of other celebrities who are owners of the Bichon Frise. To name a few, there’s Susan Sarandon, Barbra Streisand, and Eva Longoria.

Final thoughts

It’s undeniable that the Bichon Frise is a class A dog. As you can see from the facts mentioned above, he’s an all-around lovable companion.

Just remember to look after him. Like all dogs, this breed needs love and care from you. If you sprinkle him with loads of those, you shouldn’t be surprised that he’ll sprinkle them right back at you!