The Bichon Frise is
of Mediterranean ancestry. His oldest ancestor is the Barbet, or Water
Spaniel, from which the name Barbichon cam, later shortened to Bichon.
Also descended from the Barbet are the Caniche, or Poodle, and the Maltese.
They have certain similarities because of their common ancestry, but each long
ago became a separate breed.
The Barbichon group of dogs evolved into four breeds: The
Bichon Bolognese, the Bichon Havanese, the Bichon Maltese and the Bichon
Tenerife. From the Bichon Tenerife came today's Bichon Frise. These
lively and affectionate dogs found their way from the Mediterranean area to the
Canary Islands, specifically to the Island of Tenerife. They probably
traveled as the companions of Spanish sailors, who may have used them as items
of barter.
By
the 1300's, Italy had become a center of trade and commerce and, with the advent
of the Renaissance, began a period of exploration. Now it was the Italian
sailors who returned the Bichon to the continent. In Italy, the Bichon
Tenerife attracted the attention of nobility and the new middle class of
merchants. The dog was often groomed in the lion style, which was then a
popular trim, but he should not be confused with the Little Lion Dog (Lowchen).
Late in the 1400's, as the French became enamoured of Italian culture, France
invaded Italy, and the Italian influence spread north. Italian artists and
scholars went north to serve in the French courts and, no doubt, carried along
favorite pets.
It
was about this time that the Tenerife or Bichon made his appearance in France,
during the reign of Francis I (1515-1547), the patron of the Renaissance.
His popularity grew under Henry III (1574-1589). A favorite Bichon legend
says that King Henry so loved his Bichon that he carried him wherever he went in
a tray-like basket attached around his neck by ribbons. What the king
does, others at court imitate. The pampered, perfumed, beribboned dogs
gave birth to the French verb "bichonner" (to make beautiful, to
pamper). Another period of popularity in France was during the year’s
of-Napoleon III (1808-1873).
Many
artists have included a small curly-coated lap dog or a Bichon-like figure
somewhere in their portraits. Among the most famous were Titian
(1490-1576) of Italy, Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723-1792), first President of the
Royal Academy of England, and the Spanish artist Francisco Goya (1746-1828).
These works of art help to verify the presence of the Bichon in various
countries.
By
the end of the 19th century, the pet of royalty had become less fashionable.
In the late 1800's, he became a street dog and could be found doing tricks in
the circus or at fairs. The cuddled pet was now on his own -- and he
survived! His charm, his cunning mind and his sturdiness no doubt enabled
him to do so.
Following
World War I, a few fanciers recognized the potential of the dogs and began
establishing' their lines through controlled breeding programs. On March
5, 1933, the official standard of the breed, as written by Madam Abadie of
Steren Vor Kennels, was adopted by the Societe Central Canine de France.
As the breed was known by two names, Tenerife and Bichon, the President of the
International Canine Federation, Mme. Nizet de Lemma’s, proposed a name based
on the characteristics that the dogs presented and the name Bichon a polio Frise
(Bichon with the curly coat) was adopted. The anglicized version is Bichon
Frise (curly lap dog). On October 18, 1934, the Bichon was admitted to the
official registry of the French Kennel Club.
The
International Canine Federation recognizes the Bichon Frise "as a
French-Belgian breed having the right to registration in the Book of Origins
from all countries". The breed is recognized in most of the world
now, but then was recognized in only three countries: Belgium, France and Italy.
It was the development of the Bichon Frise in the United States that was to
bring about the recognition of the breed in other countries.
At
the end of World War I, American soldiers brought a few of these dogs back with
them as pets. Some may remember having seen them but no effort was made to
breed or to keep records.
In
1956, Mr. and Mrs. Francois Picault immigrated to our country with six Bichons.
They settled in Milwaukee, where their first litter arrived, sired by Eddy White
de Steren Vor out of the bitch Etoile de Steren Vor. The Picaults were to
eventually meet two Americans, Azalea Gascoigne, a breeder of Dachshunds, in
Milwaukee, and a Collie breeder, Gertrude Fournier, in San Diego. It was
some time before these ladies met. In the meantime, each had begun to
Breed the Bichon Frise and each had made efforts to organize with other Bichon
breeders. The Bichon Frise Club of America, formed in May 1964, was
established as a result of their combined efforts. At this time Bichon
enthusiasts began to increase in number. As members of BFCA, they worked
diligently to establish the breed in this country and to gain recognition by the
American Kennel Club. Smaller groups of Bichon breeders began to form
local clubs under the guidance of the national club.
September
1, 1971, was a big day for the Bichons and their dedicated owners. It was
on this date that the Bichon Frise was permitted to compete in American Kennel
Club shows in the miscellaneous class. When competing in Miscellaneous,
the dog receives ribbons according to his placement in the class but he is not
awarded points toward his championship. Many breeds spend years in this
class before being granted full recognition by AKC. However, at the
October 10, 1972, meeting of the American Kennel Club, it was announced that the
Bichon Frise had been granted recognition and would be eligible to compete for
championship points on April 4, 1973. Hard work had paid off and a major
goal was reached.
Now
that AKC recognition of the breed had been achieved, the next step was to have
the national club recognized. Although a strong organization existed
already, it had yet to become officially acknowledged. One aim of a
national breed club is to hold Specialty shows, limiting entry to one breed.
Under AKC guidelines, a club must hold a series of "match shows".
A match show is, in effect, a practice show. All the procedures of a point
show are followed. Four match shows were held, hosted by local clubs in
San Diego, Atlanta, Virginia and New York, from April 7, 1973, through October
26, 1975. With the last match, all the requirements had been met.
Permission was granted on November 26, 1975, for BFCA to conduct the first
Specialty. The first National Bichon Frise Club of America Specialty,
obedience Trial and Sweepstakes was held on May 14, 1976, and was hosted by the
Bichon Frise Club of San Diego.
The
next major undertaking was a revision of the Standard, that guideline by which
all Bichons are judged and toward which all breeding must be aimed.
Following months of preparation, the Revised Standard was presented to the
membership of BFCA for approval and, subsequently, to the American Kennel Club.
Its current version was approved on October 11, 1988, and can be found in this
book. The new standard is a more complete word picture of the perfect
Bichon. In the future, it will be accompanied by an Illustrated Standard.
Since
1976, each local Bichon Club has been given the opportunity to bid on hosting
the Specialty, held in the spring. Many local clubs now conduct their own
specialties while some clubs hold AKC sanctioned B or A specialty matches.
But it is the annual National Specialty, which is most eagerly anticipated.
Bichon owners throughout North America attend. The highlight of the week
is the show itself and each seems more beautiful than the last. There is
no sight more spectacular than a room full of perfectly groomed Bichons Frises.
It is with a great deal of pride that the Bichon Frise Club of America looks
back on the history of this "small, sturdy, white powder puff of a dog with
the merry temperament''* - The Bichon Frise.
* from the Revised Standard for the Bichon Frise