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Bichon Frise Breeder Information

The Bichon Frise is an all-white, curly-furred lap dog that originated in the Mediterranean region. This breed is believed to be a mix of Barbet, poodle and generic white lap dog. The breed has an illustrious history. An early version, called the Barbichon, existed as early as 600 B.C. This dog accompanied Spanish sailors on trade routes throughout the Mediterranean region.

Its name was shortened to Bichon over time and later was changed to Bichon Frise by the French. The name in French loosely means curly lap dog. In the Middle Ages, the Bichon Frise was the favorite dog of French royalty. It fell out of favor when it became commonplace but gained popularity when it was discovered that the dogs could be trained as circus performers.

A good Bichon Frise breeder is an expert on the history of the breed as well as breed standard characteristics.

A Bichon Frise breeder will retain the defining characteristic of the Bichon Frise, its white, curly coat. The American Kennel Club breed standard states that at least ninety percent of the coat must be pure white. The ears, areas around the eyes, and the muzzle may have cream or even apricot shadings, which is acceptable. Though Bichon Frise fur does not shed and is hypoallergenic to most people, Bichon Frise themselves are prone to skin allergies. It is important that these dogs be groomed often to keep allergies under control and to maintain the fur’s overall volume and texture.

When not competing, fur can be trimmed in a closely cropped puppy cut which is much easier to maintain. Other breed standard traits include brown or black eyes, mouth and nose, pendulous, furry ears, furry tail curled over the back and a human expression. The Bichon Frise must be seven to twelve pounds in weight, nine to twelve inches in height, and have a friendly disposition.

Some telltale signs of a Bichon Frise breeder who may be selling fake or unhealthy Bichon Frise includes not having a kennel, not being able to supply any documentation of puppies’ ancestry, not offering any medical records, immunizations, or veterinary references and they cannot provide Bichon Frise information and history.

Other questionable practices include a breeder that will not allow buyer to meet puppies or their parents prior to purchase, sells to pet stores, the prices seem either too low or too high, has too many puppies available at one time, and offers overnight or next day puppies while shipping puppies all over the country. In puppy mills the puppies have never been socialized and are not comfortable around people or other animals.

Reputable Bichon Frise breeders will have a warranty/return policy, supports animal rescue centers, has references from other breeders, explains in detail proper care instructions and asks many questions of potential buyers to ensure a good pet match.

Friday, June 6th, 2008 at 8:55 am and is filed under Dog. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.