Post by charmingnancy on Feb 28, 2009 20:13:12 GMT -5
Bichon Frise
Group: 6- Non-Sporting
Origin: Mediterranean Area, Spain, and the Canary Islands
Purpose: Companion and Boat Dog
Description:
A Bichon Frisé (French, literally meaning curly lap dog) is a small breed of dog of the Bichon type. They are popular pets, similar in appearance to, but larger than, the Maltese. They are a non-shedding breed that requires daily grooming.
Appearance- Breed Standards:
Coat and Colour: The texture of the coat is of utmost importance. The undercoat is soft and dense, the outercoat of a coarser and curlier texture. The combination of the two gives a soft but substantial feel to the touch which is similar to plush or velvet and when patted, springs back. The coat is trimmed to reveal the natural outline of the body. It is rounded off from any direction and never cut so short as to create an overly trimmed or squared off appearance. The furnishings of the head, beard, moustache, arch of neck, ears and tail are left longer. The longer head hair is trimmed to create an overall rounded impression. The topline is trimmed to appear level. The coat is long enough to maintain the powder puff look which is characteristic of the breed, and when bathed, brushed and trimmed, the coat stands off the body, creating an overall powder puff appearance. A wiry coat is not desirable. A limp silky coat that lies down, or a lack of undercoat are very serious faults. The colour is white. There may be shadings of buff, cream or apricot around the ears or on the body. Any colour in excess of 10% of the entire coat of a mature specimen is a fault and should be penalized, but colour of the accepted shadings should not be faulted in puppies.
Head: The skull is slightly rounded, allowing for a round and forward looking eye. The skull should be broad, not coarse, covered with a topknot of hair giving it a rounded appearance. A properly balanced head is three parts muzzle to five parts skull. This is measured from the nose to the stop and from the stop to the occiput. The stop is slightly accentuated. A line drawn between the outside corners of the eyes and to the nose will create a near equilateral triangle. There is a slight degree of chiselling under the eyes, but not so much as to result in a weak or snipey foreface. The lower jaw is strong. The nose is prominent and always black. Lips are black, fine, never drooping. Bite is scissors. A bite which is undershot or overshot should be penalized. A crooked or out of line tooth is permissible, however missing teeth are to be severely faulted. Eyes are round, black or dark brown and are set in the skull to look directly forward. An overly large or bulging eye is a fault as is an almond shaped, obliquely set eye. Halos, the black or very dark brown skin surrounding the eyes, are necessary as they accentuate the eye and enhance expression. The eye rims themselves must be black. Broken pigment, or total absence of pigment on the eye rims produces a blank and staring expression, which is a definite fault. Eyes of any colour other than black or dark brown is a very serious fault and must be severely penalized. The ears are dropped and covered with long, flowing hair. When extended towards the nose, the leathers reach approximately halfway the length of the muzzle. They are set on slightly higher than eye level and rather forward on the skull so that when the dog is alert they frame the face.
Neck: The arched neck is long and carried proudly behind an erect head. It blends smoothly into the shoulders. The length of neck from occiput to withers is approximately one-third the distance from forechest to buttocks.
Forequarters: The shoulder blade, upper arm and forearm are approximately equal in length. The shoulders are laid back to somewhat near a forty-five degree angle. The upper arm extends well back so that elbow is placed directly below the withers when viewed from the side. The elbows are held close to the body. Legs are of medium bone; straight, with no bow or curve in the forearm or wrist. The pasterns slope slightly from the vertical. The dewclaws may be removed. The feet are tight and round, resembling those of a cat and point directly forward, turning neither in nor out. Pads are black. Nails are kept short.
Body: The body from the forwardmost part of the chest to the point of rump is 25% longer than the height at the withers. The body from the withers to lowest point of the chest represents half the distance from withers to ground. The back from the withers to the set of tail is slightly shorter than the dog is tall. The topline is level except for a slight, muscular arch over the loin. The chest is well developed and wide enough to allow free and unrestricted movement of the front legs. The lowest point of the chest extends at least to the elbow. The forechest is well pronounced and protrudes slightly forward of the point of shoulder. The rib cage is moderately sprung and extends back to a short and muscular loin. The abdomen is well muscled, not flabby, with a moderate tuck-up. The loin is short and muscular. There is a slight, muscular arch over the loin. The croup is level.
Hindquarters: Hipbone is flat, not protruding, slightly muscular. The upper and lower thighs are nearly equal in length, meeting at the stifle bend. The leg from hock joint to foot pad is perpendicular to the ground. The stifle joint is well bent. Paws are tight and round with black, thick pads. The dewclaws may be removed.
Tail: The tail is well plumed, set on level with the topline and curved gracefully over the back in line with the spine so that the hair of the tail rests on the back. The tailbone is not to touch the back. Carried in this way and extended forward towards the head it reaches at least halfway to the withers. A low tail set, a tail carried perpendicular to the back or a tail which droops behind is to be penalized. A corkscrew tail is a very serious fault.
Gait: Movement at a trot is free, precise and effortless. In profile the forelegs and hind legs extend equally with an easy reach and drive that maintains a steady topline. When moving, the head and neck remain somewhat erect and as speed increases there is a very slight convergence of legs toward the centre line. Moving away, the hindquarters travel with moderate width between them and the foot pads can be seen. Coming and going, movement is precise and true.
Faults: Cowhocks; incorrect head proportions; poor pigmentation; protruding or almond shaped eyes; undershot or overshot bite; missing teeth; incorrect body proportions; incorrect tail set or carriage; overly trimmed coat on adults or puppies which does not portray a powder puff appearance; aggressive or shy behaviour.
Disqualifications: Over 12" or under 9"; yellow eyes; black hair in the coat; pink eye rims and/or nose; showing aggression by biting or snapping.
Size:
Dogs and bitches 9.5" to 11.5" are to be given primary preference. Only where the comparative superiority of a specimen outside this range clearly justifies it should greater latitude be taken. In no case, however, should this latitude ever extend over 12" or under 9". The minimum limits do not apply to puppies.
Temperament:
The well-bred Bichon Frisé is lovable, playful, and affectionate. Traditionally Bichon Frisés enjoyed socializing with people and most dogs. Bichons may be relatively stubborn, but are also said to be patient. They may have sudden bursts of energy resulting in a "blitz" where they race around in circles until they collapse happily onto their backs. They love having company, even if they are just chewing on a bone. They will get overjoyed and excited when they see someone who is coming to spend time with them. They definitely love being around people.
Grooming:
Bichon Frisés should be professionally groomed every 4 to 6 weeks.
Bichon Frisés being shown in conformation have their coat styled in the full-volume cut required by most show standards. Bichon Frisés not being shown are more often kept in a "puppy cut," which is shorter and requires less maintenance.
Like all dogs that require frequent grooming, Bichon Frisés should be accustomed to grooming from a young age and care should be taken to keep grooming pleasurable. Daily grooming prevents tangles and creates a puffier coat. To prevent matting, the coat should be kept clean, brushed thoroughly before bathing, and brushed and completely dried after bathing.
Excess hair should be removed regularly from ears and between foot pads. The Bichon Frisé's nails grow at a fast to moderate rate so should be cut regularly.
The hair on the face of a Bichon Frisé should be kept clean and trimmed, as eye discharge and mucus tend to accumulate in the hair that grows in front of their eyes. In common with most white dogs Bichon Frisés are prone to tear-staining around the eyes. Tear staining may be caused by allergies, infections, blocked tear ducts, stray eyelashes, or foreign material in the eyes.
Health:
Although Bichon Frisés are often considered a "hypoallergenic" breed for people prone to dog allergies, Bichon Frisés themselves are unusually prone to allergies. Between a quarter and half of Bichon Frisés (depending on the particular survey) in USA/Canada surveys have skin problems and allergies, including atopy (inhalant allergies). Other health issues unusually common in Bichon Frisés include Cushing's Syndrome, dental disease, patellar luxation and cruciate ligament tears, and bladder and kidney stones. Bichon Frisés, like many other dogs with fluffy, flappy ears are prone to ear mites and usually need constant care around the ears.
Bichons are also prone to liver shunts. These often go undetected until later in life, leading to complications that cannot be fixed, and therefore liver failure. Bichons who are underweight, the runts of the liter, or have negative reactions to food high in protein are likely to be suffering from a shunt. Without surgery, Bichons with shunts on average live to be 4-6 years old.
Average Lifespan:
Bichon Frisé in (combined) UK and USA/Canada surveys had an average life span of about 12.2 years, with Bichon Frisé in the UK tending to live longer than Bichon Frisé in the USA/Canada. This breed's longevity is similar to other breeds of its size and a little longer than for purebred dogs in general.
History:
The Bichon Frisé descended from the Barbet or Water Spaniel, Poodle, and is a generally white, small "lap" or ladies' dog, which existed in the Mediterranean area as far back as 600-300 B.C. from which came the name "Barbichon", later shortened to "Bichon". The Bichons were divided into four categories: the Bichon Malteise, the Bichon Bolognaise, the Bichon Havanese and the Bichon Tenerife. All originated in the Mediterranean area.
Because of their merry disposition, they traveled much and were often used as barter by sailors as they moved from continent to continent. The dogs found early success in Spain and it is generally belived that Spanish seamen introduced the breed to the Canary Island of Tenerife. In the 1300s, Italian sailors rediscovered the little dogs on their voyages and are credited with returning them to the continent, where they became great favorites of Italian nobility. Often, as was the style of the day with dogs in the courts, they were cut "lion style," like a modern-day Portuguese Water Dog.
The Bichon went to sea as a working Spanish boat dog. They were perfect for a boat because they do not shed, don't need a lot of exercise, and are fine companions, as well as obedient and easily trained. Though not considered a retriever or water dog, the Bichon, due to its ancestry, has an affinity for and enjoys water and retrieving.
The "Tenerife", or "Bichon", had success in France during the Renaissance under Francis I (1515-47), but its popularity skyrocketed in the court of Henry III (1574-89). The breed also enjoyed considerable success in Spain as a favorite of the Infantas, and painters of the Spanish school often included them in their works. For example, the famous artist, Francisco de Goya, included a Bichon in several of his works.
Interest in the breed was renewed during the rule of Napoleon III, but then waned until the late 1800s when it became the "common dog", running the streets, accompanying the organ grinders of Barbary, leading the blind and doing tricks in circuses and fairs. Even though the Bichon Frisé is no longer known as a common dog, when you go to a circus if any of the acts contain a dog it's very likely to be a Bichon due to its high ability to learn.
On March 5, 1933, the official standard of the breed was adopted by the Société Centrale Canine, the national kennel club for France. This was largely due to the success of the French-speaking Belgian author Herge's "Tintin" books, which featured a small, fluffy, white dog named Snowy. As the breed was known by two names at that time, "Tenerife" and "Bichon", the president of the Fédération Cynologique Internationale proposed a name based on the characteristics that the dogs presented - the Bichon Frisé. ("Frisé" means "curly", referring to the breed's coat.) On October 18, 1934, the Bichon Frisé was admitted to the stud book of the Société Centrale Canine.
The Bichon was brought to the United States in 1955, and was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1973. The first US-born Bichon litter was whelped in 1956. The Bichon Frisé became eligible to enter the AKC's Miscellaneous Class on September 1, 1971. In October, 1972, the breed was admitted to registration in the American Kennel Club Stud Book. On April 4, 1973, the breed became eligible to show in the Non-Sporting Group at AKC dog shows.
Sources:
Wikipedia
Bichon Frise Club of Canada
Pictures:
Photobucket
Group: 6- Non-Sporting
Origin: Mediterranean Area, Spain, and the Canary Islands
Purpose: Companion and Boat Dog
Description:
A Bichon Frisé (French, literally meaning curly lap dog) is a small breed of dog of the Bichon type. They are popular pets, similar in appearance to, but larger than, the Maltese. They are a non-shedding breed that requires daily grooming.
Appearance- Breed Standards:
Coat and Colour: The texture of the coat is of utmost importance. The undercoat is soft and dense, the outercoat of a coarser and curlier texture. The combination of the two gives a soft but substantial feel to the touch which is similar to plush or velvet and when patted, springs back. The coat is trimmed to reveal the natural outline of the body. It is rounded off from any direction and never cut so short as to create an overly trimmed or squared off appearance. The furnishings of the head, beard, moustache, arch of neck, ears and tail are left longer. The longer head hair is trimmed to create an overall rounded impression. The topline is trimmed to appear level. The coat is long enough to maintain the powder puff look which is characteristic of the breed, and when bathed, brushed and trimmed, the coat stands off the body, creating an overall powder puff appearance. A wiry coat is not desirable. A limp silky coat that lies down, or a lack of undercoat are very serious faults. The colour is white. There may be shadings of buff, cream or apricot around the ears or on the body. Any colour in excess of 10% of the entire coat of a mature specimen is a fault and should be penalized, but colour of the accepted shadings should not be faulted in puppies.
Head: The skull is slightly rounded, allowing for a round and forward looking eye. The skull should be broad, not coarse, covered with a topknot of hair giving it a rounded appearance. A properly balanced head is three parts muzzle to five parts skull. This is measured from the nose to the stop and from the stop to the occiput. The stop is slightly accentuated. A line drawn between the outside corners of the eyes and to the nose will create a near equilateral triangle. There is a slight degree of chiselling under the eyes, but not so much as to result in a weak or snipey foreface. The lower jaw is strong. The nose is prominent and always black. Lips are black, fine, never drooping. Bite is scissors. A bite which is undershot or overshot should be penalized. A crooked or out of line tooth is permissible, however missing teeth are to be severely faulted. Eyes are round, black or dark brown and are set in the skull to look directly forward. An overly large or bulging eye is a fault as is an almond shaped, obliquely set eye. Halos, the black or very dark brown skin surrounding the eyes, are necessary as they accentuate the eye and enhance expression. The eye rims themselves must be black. Broken pigment, or total absence of pigment on the eye rims produces a blank and staring expression, which is a definite fault. Eyes of any colour other than black or dark brown is a very serious fault and must be severely penalized. The ears are dropped and covered with long, flowing hair. When extended towards the nose, the leathers reach approximately halfway the length of the muzzle. They are set on slightly higher than eye level and rather forward on the skull so that when the dog is alert they frame the face.
Neck: The arched neck is long and carried proudly behind an erect head. It blends smoothly into the shoulders. The length of neck from occiput to withers is approximately one-third the distance from forechest to buttocks.
Forequarters: The shoulder blade, upper arm and forearm are approximately equal in length. The shoulders are laid back to somewhat near a forty-five degree angle. The upper arm extends well back so that elbow is placed directly below the withers when viewed from the side. The elbows are held close to the body. Legs are of medium bone; straight, with no bow or curve in the forearm or wrist. The pasterns slope slightly from the vertical. The dewclaws may be removed. The feet are tight and round, resembling those of a cat and point directly forward, turning neither in nor out. Pads are black. Nails are kept short.
Body: The body from the forwardmost part of the chest to the point of rump is 25% longer than the height at the withers. The body from the withers to lowest point of the chest represents half the distance from withers to ground. The back from the withers to the set of tail is slightly shorter than the dog is tall. The topline is level except for a slight, muscular arch over the loin. The chest is well developed and wide enough to allow free and unrestricted movement of the front legs. The lowest point of the chest extends at least to the elbow. The forechest is well pronounced and protrudes slightly forward of the point of shoulder. The rib cage is moderately sprung and extends back to a short and muscular loin. The abdomen is well muscled, not flabby, with a moderate tuck-up. The loin is short and muscular. There is a slight, muscular arch over the loin. The croup is level.
Hindquarters: Hipbone is flat, not protruding, slightly muscular. The upper and lower thighs are nearly equal in length, meeting at the stifle bend. The leg from hock joint to foot pad is perpendicular to the ground. The stifle joint is well bent. Paws are tight and round with black, thick pads. The dewclaws may be removed.
Tail: The tail is well plumed, set on level with the topline and curved gracefully over the back in line with the spine so that the hair of the tail rests on the back. The tailbone is not to touch the back. Carried in this way and extended forward towards the head it reaches at least halfway to the withers. A low tail set, a tail carried perpendicular to the back or a tail which droops behind is to be penalized. A corkscrew tail is a very serious fault.
Gait: Movement at a trot is free, precise and effortless. In profile the forelegs and hind legs extend equally with an easy reach and drive that maintains a steady topline. When moving, the head and neck remain somewhat erect and as speed increases there is a very slight convergence of legs toward the centre line. Moving away, the hindquarters travel with moderate width between them and the foot pads can be seen. Coming and going, movement is precise and true.
Faults: Cowhocks; incorrect head proportions; poor pigmentation; protruding or almond shaped eyes; undershot or overshot bite; missing teeth; incorrect body proportions; incorrect tail set or carriage; overly trimmed coat on adults or puppies which does not portray a powder puff appearance; aggressive or shy behaviour.
Disqualifications: Over 12" or under 9"; yellow eyes; black hair in the coat; pink eye rims and/or nose; showing aggression by biting or snapping.
Size:
Dogs and bitches 9.5" to 11.5" are to be given primary preference. Only where the comparative superiority of a specimen outside this range clearly justifies it should greater latitude be taken. In no case, however, should this latitude ever extend over 12" or under 9". The minimum limits do not apply to puppies.
Temperament:
The well-bred Bichon Frisé is lovable, playful, and affectionate. Traditionally Bichon Frisés enjoyed socializing with people and most dogs. Bichons may be relatively stubborn, but are also said to be patient. They may have sudden bursts of energy resulting in a "blitz" where they race around in circles until they collapse happily onto their backs. They love having company, even if they are just chewing on a bone. They will get overjoyed and excited when they see someone who is coming to spend time with them. They definitely love being around people.
Grooming:
Bichon Frisés should be professionally groomed every 4 to 6 weeks.
Bichon Frisés being shown in conformation have their coat styled in the full-volume cut required by most show standards. Bichon Frisés not being shown are more often kept in a "puppy cut," which is shorter and requires less maintenance.
Like all dogs that require frequent grooming, Bichon Frisés should be accustomed to grooming from a young age and care should be taken to keep grooming pleasurable. Daily grooming prevents tangles and creates a puffier coat. To prevent matting, the coat should be kept clean, brushed thoroughly before bathing, and brushed and completely dried after bathing.
Excess hair should be removed regularly from ears and between foot pads. The Bichon Frisé's nails grow at a fast to moderate rate so should be cut regularly.
The hair on the face of a Bichon Frisé should be kept clean and trimmed, as eye discharge and mucus tend to accumulate in the hair that grows in front of their eyes. In common with most white dogs Bichon Frisés are prone to tear-staining around the eyes. Tear staining may be caused by allergies, infections, blocked tear ducts, stray eyelashes, or foreign material in the eyes.
Health:
Although Bichon Frisés are often considered a "hypoallergenic" breed for people prone to dog allergies, Bichon Frisés themselves are unusually prone to allergies. Between a quarter and half of Bichon Frisés (depending on the particular survey) in USA/Canada surveys have skin problems and allergies, including atopy (inhalant allergies). Other health issues unusually common in Bichon Frisés include Cushing's Syndrome, dental disease, patellar luxation and cruciate ligament tears, and bladder and kidney stones. Bichon Frisés, like many other dogs with fluffy, flappy ears are prone to ear mites and usually need constant care around the ears.
Bichons are also prone to liver shunts. These often go undetected until later in life, leading to complications that cannot be fixed, and therefore liver failure. Bichons who are underweight, the runts of the liter, or have negative reactions to food high in protein are likely to be suffering from a shunt. Without surgery, Bichons with shunts on average live to be 4-6 years old.
Average Lifespan:
Bichon Frisé in (combined) UK and USA/Canada surveys had an average life span of about 12.2 years, with Bichon Frisé in the UK tending to live longer than Bichon Frisé in the USA/Canada. This breed's longevity is similar to other breeds of its size and a little longer than for purebred dogs in general.
History:
The Bichon Frisé descended from the Barbet or Water Spaniel, Poodle, and is a generally white, small "lap" or ladies' dog, which existed in the Mediterranean area as far back as 600-300 B.C. from which came the name "Barbichon", later shortened to "Bichon". The Bichons were divided into four categories: the Bichon Malteise, the Bichon Bolognaise, the Bichon Havanese and the Bichon Tenerife. All originated in the Mediterranean area.
Because of their merry disposition, they traveled much and were often used as barter by sailors as they moved from continent to continent. The dogs found early success in Spain and it is generally belived that Spanish seamen introduced the breed to the Canary Island of Tenerife. In the 1300s, Italian sailors rediscovered the little dogs on their voyages and are credited with returning them to the continent, where they became great favorites of Italian nobility. Often, as was the style of the day with dogs in the courts, they were cut "lion style," like a modern-day Portuguese Water Dog.
The Bichon went to sea as a working Spanish boat dog. They were perfect for a boat because they do not shed, don't need a lot of exercise, and are fine companions, as well as obedient and easily trained. Though not considered a retriever or water dog, the Bichon, due to its ancestry, has an affinity for and enjoys water and retrieving.
The "Tenerife", or "Bichon", had success in France during the Renaissance under Francis I (1515-47), but its popularity skyrocketed in the court of Henry III (1574-89). The breed also enjoyed considerable success in Spain as a favorite of the Infantas, and painters of the Spanish school often included them in their works. For example, the famous artist, Francisco de Goya, included a Bichon in several of his works.
Interest in the breed was renewed during the rule of Napoleon III, but then waned until the late 1800s when it became the "common dog", running the streets, accompanying the organ grinders of Barbary, leading the blind and doing tricks in circuses and fairs. Even though the Bichon Frisé is no longer known as a common dog, when you go to a circus if any of the acts contain a dog it's very likely to be a Bichon due to its high ability to learn.
On March 5, 1933, the official standard of the breed was adopted by the Société Centrale Canine, the national kennel club for France. This was largely due to the success of the French-speaking Belgian author Herge's "Tintin" books, which featured a small, fluffy, white dog named Snowy. As the breed was known by two names at that time, "Tenerife" and "Bichon", the president of the Fédération Cynologique Internationale proposed a name based on the characteristics that the dogs presented - the Bichon Frisé. ("Frisé" means "curly", referring to the breed's coat.) On October 18, 1934, the Bichon Frisé was admitted to the stud book of the Société Centrale Canine.
The Bichon was brought to the United States in 1955, and was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1973. The first US-born Bichon litter was whelped in 1956. The Bichon Frisé became eligible to enter the AKC's Miscellaneous Class on September 1, 1971. In October, 1972, the breed was admitted to registration in the American Kennel Club Stud Book. On April 4, 1973, the breed became eligible to show in the Non-Sporting Group at AKC dog shows.
Sources:
Wikipedia
Bichon Frise Club of Canada
Pictures:
Photobucket