How to Identify a Bichon Frise Dog
The Bichon Frise’s origin can be traced back to the 14th century when the Barbet Water Spaniel was crossbred with the French Poodle. They became a favorite of the 16th century French Royal Court and found a niche as mascots for organ grinders as well as being circus performers. Today this breed makes a great indoor pet regardless of your living situation. Here is a guide on how to identify a Bichon Frise.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Easy
Instructions
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Identifying A Bichon Frise
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Look at the dog’s shape and size. A Bichon Frise should be between 9 and 12 inches in height from the shoulder and weigh between 7 and 10 pounds. From head to tail the dog should be about a foot long. Its back should be straight and the body should be tubular. The legs should be short and arched outward slightly like the legs of a rocking horse. Its tail should be an inch or two long puffball.
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Examine the dog’s fur. It should have a coat of loosely curled frizzy hair that sticks out three to four inches from every part of the dog except its eyes, mouth, and nose. An unsheared sheep has a similar style of fur. This fur is typically a uniform snow white but patches of cream, grey, or peach colored hair can occur.
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Examine the dog’s head. It should have a long neck and a wide skull which is accentuated and exaggerated by the puffball-like fur coming from the top, sides, and underside. The ears should be almost completely invisible underneath the fur. The dog’s eyes and snout should seem recessed by the dog’s surrounding hair. Its eyes should be large, round, and have a thin black rim. If the dog matches this description then you’re looking at a Bichon Frise.
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Tips & Warnings
The Bichon Frise is an incredibly social dog. They need people to be happy, it’s as simple as that. As long as they live in close proximity with their masters they will suffer from no social problems. The Frise can be trained easily to perform tricks and obey commands, though don’t go expecting it to do anything against its inherent nature. This dog is good for a large multi-pet household as they don’t need too much exercise apart from daily playing; they also get along well with children, other pets, and other dogs. They are also very quiet, not a common trait among small dogs, which is a blessing for people who don’t need another distraction in their lives.
Due to over-breeding in the 70s some Bichon Frises can be a little nervous and moody. If you want one make sure to purchase only from a reliable breeder.
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