Topic: A Brief BREED PROFILE of the Bichon Frise!

[EDDEL]

Each time, DOG FANCY features a breed in their magazine, they do a brief BREED PROFILE .  And as most of you know, the March 2009 issue had our beloved breed on the cover!


I'm copying hereunder, the brief BREED PROFILE from said issue of Dog Fancy magazine.  This thread (and the new board ) is geared towards helping would-be and first-time Bichon owners.


BICHON FRISE BREED PROFILE

Country of origin	Probably in or around Italy
Original use	Companions; later circus performers
Group	Non-sporting group (AKC); Companion (UKC)
Life span	12 to 15 years
Color	White
Coat	Soft, dense undercoat; coarser curly outercoat
Grooming	Professional grooming every four to six weeks Brush & comb three times weekly Brush teeth at least weekly
Height	9½ to 11½ inches
Weight	10 to 16 pounds
Personality	Cheerful, playful, affectionate, adaptable
Trainability	High, although house-training can be challenging
Activity level	High as puppies; adaptable to owners as adults
Known health problems	Luxating patellas (slipping kneecaps) Bladder infections and stones Skin allergies Cataracts Gingivitis
Good with children	Yes
Good with other pets	Yes
National Breed Club	Bichon Frise Club of America (BFCA) www.bichon.org   413-663-7109 Karen Chesbro, corresponding secretary, kcbichon@verizon.net
Rescue Organizations	Bichon Frise Club of America Charitable Trust www.bichonrescue.org   866-473-0722 Small Paws Rescue www.smallpawsrescue.org adoptions@smallpawsrescue.org

[EDDEL]

To turn this into an informational thread for would-be and first-time owners....

Members , please feel free to add your input about the breed in general... like their temperatment (from your perspective & experience with your Bichon), their trainability (if your Bichon has done obedience/agility trials).  Just short, quick bites of information that will help those who are thinking of getting a Bichon, or who are new to the breed.

[EDDEL]

I will start by saying that the May 2005 issue of DOG FANCY had a more accurate description of our breed's Country of Origin.

France is often cited, although the breed's wider-flung roots are in the Mediterranean, including the Canary Islands.

France is often cited because the Societe Centrale de France was the first to adopt an official breed standard in 1933.

[Annie36]

great idea Del

Grooming is a absolute must everyday.....they need to learn as puppies how to be brushed and how to behave while being brushed out. This takes time....Jake still(one and a half) does not like to be brushed, but has learned it is going to happen anyway. When the adult coat start coming in, grooming is more important than ever, for they will matt very easily.

[Carol]

Awesome, Del!! Looking forward to taking a few minutes to read through this. It looks like there's a lot of great information, even for us "oldies".

[Terri]

What would we do without you Del? You're our information "go to" gal.
I don't think I'd have made it three years with Belle is it weren't for you and your informative and very knowledgeable posts.
Thank you dahlink

[EDDEL]

right back atcha Cap'n!   All I did was just copy-and-paste .  I know most of us already know about the breed, but for soon-to-be or first-time Bichon owners, this (thread) would be helpful I reckon .

Carol.  And Annie, I your concise input!  

[SuperMax (Susan)]

Great job, Del!

It also reminded me that I need to go buy that magazine!!

[pam]

Can I add stubborn on an information thread?  I heard it expressed politely -as not like a lab - more stubborn!
Pam

[princess]

Bichons do not like to be left alone. Although this is mentioned on every site I looked at before we got Princess, nothing can quite prepare you for the fact that Bichons really dont like been left behind/alone/not with you. 

[SuperMax (Susan)]

Bichons do not like to be left alone. Although this is mentioned on every site I looked at before we got Princess, nothing can quite prepare you for the fact that Bichons really dont like been left behind/alone/not with you. 

I always wondered if that is very specific to the breed ... I know it is mentioned alot in books... but never having personal experience owning any other breed as an adult... I always assumed MOST breeds would prefer to be not alone/with their owners .. for those of you that had/have other breeds.. is it that much more apparent with the Bichon?   Like if you have a Bichon and a Cavaliar (or poodle, etc) .. when you leave... is your Bichon all  upset.. but the Cavy just sits there all calm?

[princess]

  is it that much more apparent with the Bichon?   Like if you have a Bichon and a Cavaliar (or poodle, etc) .. when you leave... is your Bichon all  upset.. but the Cavy just sits there all calm?

That about sums it up    except Princess doesnt get upset as such - she just gives me "the look" and follows me around   

We went to London last week for a few days and my sister took them both. She was amazed at how quickly she had a shadow 

 but boy o boy did I pay for my absence  I have been on the receiving end of a Very Cold Shoulder for the last week (albeit still stuck to me in case I may leave again  ) meanwhile Rogue is "whos feeding me today????"

[Annie36]

Jake is the clingiest dog I have ever known He never wants to be apart from me.....not even if I go potty.....go smoke.....go to the kitchen......go to the bedroom.....the only time he doesn't mind being apart is when he has to go do his buisness outside.....then he don't mind it......he really don't mind if he sees a bird I have Labs and they don't really like being left alone but are nowhere near as clingy....unless you count Buddy........he is worse than Jake but only about his BOY.....Jake is that way with Gary too.... I honestly don't think any pet likes to be left, but some are just better at handling it than others......Rosie used to act like she was chasing the squirells and birds away when we got home.....the neighbors told us, she just lays in the yard all day and sleeps til you get home.....LABS

[SuperMax (Susan)]

That is interesting about Princess and Jake compared to your other breeds. .... I laughed about the "following you wherever you go" ... it drives my husband and son crazy (with jealousy ) that if they are cuddling with da boys and I get up to leave the room they HAVE to follow me! ... my husband has always joked that Max thinks I'm his "b*t*h"!

[Annie36]

I get that here too I think he is just jealous