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Bichon is the name for a group of related toy dogs. They vary in size and type, but all have tails curled over their back, long hair that doesn't readily shed, short snouts, drop ears, and large, dark eyes. They were all bred to be amiable companion dogs and have a friendly, alert temperament, The Bichon Frisé is also simply called Bichon in North America.
History: The Bichons are descended from the ancient
ancestors of the Poodle, the Barbet, a water spaniel. From
this, the Barbichon, a small curly coated water spaniel and
another name for this family, was created. The Bichons are a
Mediterranean breed, generally named for the region from where
they originated. The original breeds were the Bichon Tenerife,
from the Canary Islands; the Bichon Maltais, or Maltese; and
the Bichon Bolognese, or simply Bolognese.
There is argument on whether the Tenerife is the original
stock for all Bichons, or whether the Maltese (which seems to
be an old type found on the islands before even the Barbet was
known) is the progenitor of the Bichons, through its breeding
with the Barbets. Ultimately, most of the modern Bichon breeds
have developed by introducing a variety of dogs to the
Barbichon type, creating a family with recognisable
characteristics in both temperament and type but no single
distinct progenitor.
The Bichons were the court dogs of medieval Europe,
especially finding favour in France, Italy and Spain. The
French word bichonner, which means to pamper or doll up,
derives from the be-ribboned and lavish lifestyles of the
Bichon of Henry III of France, who was carried in a little
basket wherever the King went.
Types: The Maltese is undoubtedly ancient, and dogs of its
type, with long hair and dropped ears, were described in Roman
times on the island of Malta. In earlier imagery of the breed,
it is shown with wavy fur, more typical to the Bichons, and
its relatively recently that a totally smooth coated Maltese
was the final type. It has also steadily retained its
popularity throughout the centuries, unlike any other Bichon,
most of which became very rare at least once in their history
as fashions and governments changed.
The Bolognese was already being developed as a toy dog as
early as the 11th century in Bologna, Italy. A favorite gift
between courts, the little dog traveled to places like Spain,
Belgium, France, Russia (as a gift to Catherine the Great!)
and Austria.
The modern Bichon Frisé was created by combining the now
extinct Tenerife with the poodles and barbets of the day to
produce a tightly curled, rather than wavy, coated Bichon,
hence the full name, Bichon a poil Frisé. The Tenerife also
traveled to Reunion Island to develop the now extinct Coton de
Reunion, which then traveled to nearby Madagascar and became
the Coton de Tulear. The Bichon Havanais, or Havanese, seems
to have been descended from a variety of small, Bichon-type
dogs that traveled with Spanish and Italian sailors to Cuba.
They were possibly bred with a now extinct poodle type from
South America to produce a wavy coat which was also silky, but
it may be that they simply expressed a wavy coat trait through
a random chance of genetics.
The Löwchen is an enigma. Though classically considered a
Mediterranian Bichon dog, research into the origins of the dog
show it may not have passed through the Mediterranian at all
to travel to its current originating countries of Germany and
the Netherlands. It is possible that the breed had some Bichon
blood, or that it's simply a terrier type from Tibet with no
connections at all to the Bichons. It does have a typical
friendly Bichon temperament, though!
Behind the Iron Curtain, specifically Russian Bichons were
developed. After the retreat of Napoleon's army, left behind
Bichons, primarily the Bolognese and Bichon Frisé, were bred
into a unique breed called the Franzuskaya Bolonka. After
World War II, the French Bolonka was then bred with poodles
and silky terriers such as the Yorkshire Terrier to produce a
small dog with a multi-coloured, long, wavy coat, called the
Tsvetnaya Bolonka, or Multicoloured Bichon. Until recently,
these breeds were unknown outside of Germany and Russia.
The Modern Bichons: It may be hard to believe now,
but almost all Bichons, even the very popular Frisé, went
through a period in the 1800's where they were hardly fancied
at all. Breeds like the Havanese and Bolognese are still
recovering from this, and even more common Bichons like the Löwchen
and Bichon Frisé were almost extinct at the beginning of the
20th century. Court dogs were not very well regarded in Europe
at the turn of the last century, and many Bichon types are now
extinct due to this neglect.
But Bichons are seeing a second renaissance with popularity
they haven't seen the likes of since the last Renaissance. The
Bichon family of dogs were all selected for the same reason,
to be small, charming companion dogs with even temperaments
and playful attitudes.
Over a thousand years of dedicated breeding to making a
friendly, playful and affectionate dog for court is finding
new use for the needs of a house pet. More and more, dog
owners are interested in companion type dogs that have good
all around temperaments, and there is an increased desire for
small dogs which won't be yappy, stand-offish, nervous or
aggressive, all traits the Bichons should not have if properly
bred.
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