HISTORY
The Bichon Frisé is originally from Spain. These dogs first worked as herding dogs, and then, the French converted them into a gentile lapdog variety.
The Bichon breed is descended from the Poodle and Barbet-type dogs and from one of the Spaniel breeds.
Today the Bichon Frise has four categories:
- The Bichon Frise or Tenerife
- The Maltese
- The Bolognese
- The Habanero.
These four categories are now separate dog breeds.
These dogs were popular in Spain, and it is generally believed that Spanish sailors introduced the early breed to Tenerife in the Canary Islands.
On March 5, 1933, the Société Centrale Canine, the national kennel club of France, adopted the official breed standard.
On October 18, 1934, the Bichon Frisé was admitted to the book of the Société Centrale Canine.
The bichon arrived in the United States in 1955.
In recent years, Bichons have become more popular as people learn about the breed’s desirable traits.