Bichon Frise 22

The Bichon Frise has a long history and is considered part of the Barbichon breed types. Barbichon refers to the ancient dog breeds that make up a clan of little white dogs. It includes the Bichon Frise, Bolognese, Maltese, and Havanese.

The Spanish used the Bichon breed type as sailing dogs and brought them to Tenerife, the largest island of the Canary Islands, where the breed became known as the Bichon Tenerife. These dogs were also popular with the Italian nobility in the 14th century.

However, one of the facts about the Bichon Frise is that it was the French that developed the Bichon into the gentle lap dog we know as today’s Bichon Frise. The AKC first recognized the Bichon Frise in 1971 and it gained full breed recognition in 1973 as part of the Non-Sporting Group.