The Bichon Frise is a small dog breed that originated in the Mediterranean region as early as 600-300 B.C. Spanish sailors first utilized the breed, then known as the Barbichon, to accompany them on trade expeditions. The Barbichon was so naturally sociable that it made an excellent companion on long trips. The popularity of the breed spread as it was introduced to various countries.
Its name was shortened to Bichon over time and later was changed to Bichon Frise by the French. The name in French loosely means curly lap dog. In the Middle Ages, the Bichon Frise was the favorite dog of French royalty. It fell out of favor when it became commonplace but gained popularity when it was discovered that the dogs could be trained as circus performers. The Bichon Frise was famous for walking the tightrope in traveling circuses. The breed's popularity later spread to Australia and America and in 1973, the American Kennel Club (AKC) registered the Bichon Frise. The breed has traits of the poodle, the Barbet and a generic white lap dog. A good Bichon Frise breeder attempts to retain the breed standard traits.
A Bichon Frise breeder will retain the defining characteristic of the Bichon Frise, its white, curly coat. The American Kennel Club breed standard states that at least ninety percent of the coat must be pure white. The ears, areas around the eyes, and the muzzle may have cream or even apricot shadings, which is acceptable. Though Bichon Frise fur does not shed and is hypoallergenic to most people, Bichon Frise themselves are prone to skin allergies. It is important that these dogs be groomed often to keep allergies under control and to maintain the fur's overall volume and texture.
When not competing, fur can be trimmed in a closely cropped puppy cut which is much easier to maintain. Other breed standard traits include brown or black eyes, mouth and nose, pendulous, furry ears, furry tail curled over the back and a human expression. The Bichon Frise must be seven to twelve pounds in weight, nine to twelve inches in height, and have a friendly disposition.
Buyers must do their research before choosing a Bichon Frise breeder. Buyers should educate themselves on the history and breed standard characteristics so that they have a general idea of what to look for and what questions to ask the breeder. Unfortunately, there are illegitimate breeders working to sell fake Bichon Frise, or worse, unhealthy Bichon Frise, to make a profit from unsuspecting buyers. A good sign of a bad breeder is one who sells Bichon Frise to pet stores. No loving breeder would ship and sell puppies like merchandise to just any consumer. A second warning sign is if the breeder is reluctant, unwilling, or unable to provide proper information of the Bichon Frise such as pedigree, medical records, and registration papers. Finally, a bad breeder will not offer any guarantee on the dog's health or behavior.
Buyers must ask many questions to make sure they are getting a real purebred Bichon Frise. The Bichon Frise breeder, if legitimate, will also have questions for the buyer to make sure the Bichon Frise will be going to a loving, appropriate home.
A thorough knowledge of the history and breed standard traits is necessary to determine whether Bichon Frise breeders are selling real, purebred dogs. How to spot a fake Bichon Frise breeder and Bichon Frise information and history is provided in this article.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Finding Bichon Frise Breeders
The Mediterranean region is the point of origin for the dog breed now known as the Bichon Frise. In 600-300 B.C., Spanish sailors used this breed, then known as the Barbichon, to create diplomacy with other countries during trade missions. The Barbichon was naturally friendly and outgoing and had an attractive appearance. The popularity of the breed spread as it was introduced to various countries.
Its name was shortened to Bichon and later, expanded when the French added Frise to the name in reference to the breed's defining characteristic, its curly, soft fur coat. Four types of Bichon Frise existed as Bichon Frise breeders began to breed the dogs in Australia and America. In 1973, the American Kennel Club (AKC) registered the Bichon Frise in the non-sporting group. This adorable and personable dog is believed to be a mix of poodle, generic white lap dog and Barbet. It has traits of all three. The AKC has defined specific characteristics Bichon Frise must have to be a part of AKC competition. A good Bichon Frise breeder attempts to retain the breed standard traits.
The American Kennel Club's breed standard for Bichon Frise to participate in AKC competition is as follows: a double coat of fur consisting of a dense undercoat and curly topcoat, between seven and twelve pounds in weight, between nine and twelve inches in height, a friendly, alert, and charming disposition, all white fur with less than ten percent being less than pure white, a black mouth and brown or black eyes and groomed according to AKC standard.
Competition Bichon Frise must be groomed or professionally trimmed every three months. When not competing, fur can be kept in a shorter puppy cut which requires less maintenance. The full volume look used in competition requires daily brushing. Every Bichon Frise breeder, along with retaining breed standard characteristics, must be aware of the health issues prone to Bichon Frise. For example, though Bichon Frise fur is hypoallergenic to most people, the Bichon Frise suffers from many allergies of the ears, eyes and skin. A good Bichon Frise breeder will explain the breeds' positive and negative traits to buyers prior to purchase.
Some signs of a reputable Bichon Frise breeder include well-maintained kennels, the puppies are comfortable around people and other animals, both the puppies and parents have been screened for genetic defects, availability of medical records, pedigree, and registration papers. Other things that reputable breeders are concerned with include providing a warranty/return policy, interviewing potential buyers to make sure the puppies are going to good homes, either run or are affiliated with animal rescue centers and can be considered to be experts on Bichon Frise information and educate buyers on the breed. Professional breeders do not breed parents with known medical conditions or behavioral problems and do not sell puppies to pet stores.
Questions to ask Bichon Frise breeders include: May I meet the parents/puppy before purchase? Can you teach me how to care for my Bichon Frise? What is the history of the Bichon Frise? What are common health problems specific to Bichon Frise? Can I buy a rescued Bichon Frise instead? Will you provide pedigree and registration papers? Do you offer a warranty? Can I return the Bichon Frise if I can't keep it?
Legitimate Bichon Frise breeders interview buyers to ensure they are a good match for their puppies. Questions to ask a breeder and some general Bichon Frise information is provided in this article.
Its name was shortened to Bichon and later, expanded when the French added Frise to the name in reference to the breed's defining characteristic, its curly, soft fur coat. Four types of Bichon Frise existed as Bichon Frise breeders began to breed the dogs in Australia and America. In 1973, the American Kennel Club (AKC) registered the Bichon Frise in the non-sporting group. This adorable and personable dog is believed to be a mix of poodle, generic white lap dog and Barbet. It has traits of all three. The AKC has defined specific characteristics Bichon Frise must have to be a part of AKC competition. A good Bichon Frise breeder attempts to retain the breed standard traits.
The American Kennel Club's breed standard for Bichon Frise to participate in AKC competition is as follows: a double coat of fur consisting of a dense undercoat and curly topcoat, between seven and twelve pounds in weight, between nine and twelve inches in height, a friendly, alert, and charming disposition, all white fur with less than ten percent being less than pure white, a black mouth and brown or black eyes and groomed according to AKC standard.
Competition Bichon Frise must be groomed or professionally trimmed every three months. When not competing, fur can be kept in a shorter puppy cut which requires less maintenance. The full volume look used in competition requires daily brushing. Every Bichon Frise breeder, along with retaining breed standard characteristics, must be aware of the health issues prone to Bichon Frise. For example, though Bichon Frise fur is hypoallergenic to most people, the Bichon Frise suffers from many allergies of the ears, eyes and skin. A good Bichon Frise breeder will explain the breeds' positive and negative traits to buyers prior to purchase.
Some signs of a reputable Bichon Frise breeder include well-maintained kennels, the puppies are comfortable around people and other animals, both the puppies and parents have been screened for genetic defects, availability of medical records, pedigree, and registration papers. Other things that reputable breeders are concerned with include providing a warranty/return policy, interviewing potential buyers to make sure the puppies are going to good homes, either run or are affiliated with animal rescue centers and can be considered to be experts on Bichon Frise information and educate buyers on the breed. Professional breeders do not breed parents with known medical conditions or behavioral problems and do not sell puppies to pet stores.
Questions to ask Bichon Frise breeders include: May I meet the parents/puppy before purchase? Can you teach me how to care for my Bichon Frise? What is the history of the Bichon Frise? What are common health problems specific to Bichon Frise? Can I buy a rescued Bichon Frise instead? Will you provide pedigree and registration papers? Do you offer a warranty? Can I return the Bichon Frise if I can't keep it?
Legitimate Bichon Frise breeders interview buyers to ensure they are a good match for their puppies. Questions to ask a breeder and some general Bichon Frise information is provided in this article.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Finding Proper Bichon Frise Breeders
With all of the research you have been doing, you have finally been able to come to the point where you have decided on a Bichon Frise and you are secure in the fact that you know everything there is to know about the breed. Now, all you have to do is find some Bichon Frise breeders so you can begin your search and interview process in order to find the perfect one for you and your home.
Although it may seem like with all of the breeds out there being sold, it could take weeks, if not months, to find Bichon Frise breeders but that is just simply not the case at all. There are plenty of them out there if you just know where to look and these breeders often always have a supply of Bichon Frise ready to be adopted and taken home to be loved and cared for.
With the way our world is beginning to function, we are relying on technology such as the Internet for everything from getting ours news, our mail and even for shopping and that includes shopping for a dog. You can easily find a lot of Bichon Frise breeders on the Internet but the problem is that even if they all sound wonderful, without seeing the dog in person, you really do not know what you are getting until the puppy is delivered to the airport.
But, on the bright side, you can always take advantage of the Internet and search for local Bichon Frise breeders and this way, you are getting the convenience of the Internet search but are still able to drive to the location of the breeders and check out the puppies for yourself. All in all, using the Internet can be an excellent tool in trying to find the puppy that you have been waiting for.
Another way to go about trying to find Bichon Frise breeders is by looking through your local newspapers. This will generally take a lot more time then searching the Internet but you will know at least that these are breeders that have the dogs on site and that you can go visit their home environment in order to make sure that you really want a puppy from that breeder.
Depending on where you live and depending on sheer luck, you may have to wait a few months before finding any Bichon Frise breeders, but then again with luck on your side, you may find one the next time you flip open your paper. Also, if you are having troubles finding Bichon Frise breeders, you may want to put a want ad in the paper letting people know the type of dog you are seeking and you never know, you may end up lucky.
Many Bichon Frise breeders are found through searching the Internet but if you wan to find those that are close to you that you want you may want to use another search option. Even though using the newspaper to find Bichon Frise breeders is much slower, this will give you more time to research and learn some Bichon Frise information.
Although it may seem like with all of the breeds out there being sold, it could take weeks, if not months, to find Bichon Frise breeders but that is just simply not the case at all. There are plenty of them out there if you just know where to look and these breeders often always have a supply of Bichon Frise ready to be adopted and taken home to be loved and cared for.
With the way our world is beginning to function, we are relying on technology such as the Internet for everything from getting ours news, our mail and even for shopping and that includes shopping for a dog. You can easily find a lot of Bichon Frise breeders on the Internet but the problem is that even if they all sound wonderful, without seeing the dog in person, you really do not know what you are getting until the puppy is delivered to the airport.
But, on the bright side, you can always take advantage of the Internet and search for local Bichon Frise breeders and this way, you are getting the convenience of the Internet search but are still able to drive to the location of the breeders and check out the puppies for yourself. All in all, using the Internet can be an excellent tool in trying to find the puppy that you have been waiting for.
Another way to go about trying to find Bichon Frise breeders is by looking through your local newspapers. This will generally take a lot more time then searching the Internet but you will know at least that these are breeders that have the dogs on site and that you can go visit their home environment in order to make sure that you really want a puppy from that breeder.
Depending on where you live and depending on sheer luck, you may have to wait a few months before finding any Bichon Frise breeders, but then again with luck on your side, you may find one the next time you flip open your paper. Also, if you are having troubles finding Bichon Frise breeders, you may want to put a want ad in the paper letting people know the type of dog you are seeking and you never know, you may end up lucky.
Many Bichon Frise breeders are found through searching the Internet but if you wan to find those that are close to you that you want you may want to use another search option. Even though using the newspaper to find Bichon Frise breeders is much slower, this will give you more time to research and learn some Bichon Frise information.
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