Bichon Frize: breed description, character, selection and care

The bichon frize is a popular French variety of dog - these are the very dogs that the elegant ladies of the past centuries loved so much. Today, the popularity of such a pet is also quite high, because it not only looks very pretty, but also has a pleasant temper. Despite the fact that the representatives of this breed will cost potential owners in a tidy sum, this miracle is still worth the money.

The Bichon Frize is a rather old breed, it is certain that it has existed for several centuries. The direct ancestors of this dog are considered to be a Tenerife lap dog, so beloved by medieval Europeans, and water spaniels. Like many other breeds of dogs, originally Bichon Frize, which is otherwise called the French lapdog, was bred for practical purposes - it was an alternative to cats and was often used even on sea vessels to catch rodents, as it could climb into the closest gaps.

Despite the fact that this breed is associated with France, it is not at all proven that it appeared in this country - for example, aristocratic fashion for such pets came to Spain and Italy as early as the 15th century, and in France appeared only 100 years later. Nevertheless, all modern names of this dwarf dog are directly related to France - for example, the Bichon Frize from French translates simply as “curly lapdog”. With the decline of aristocracy in Europe, these beauties remained for some time on the verge of extinction, however, in the last century, their popularity began to grow again, and they managed to revive.

The characteristics of these cute little dogs should start with the size - they are classified as "mini", because their height at the withers does not even reach 30 cm, and the weight of an adult varies between 3-6 kilograms. As a rule, males are slightly larger than females, but in general at exhibitions they do not find fault with them - if only the parameters of the individual fit the above described standard. Pet longevity depends on proper care, but on average Bichon Frize live 12-15 years.

In the general description of the breed standard, these dogs decently resemble their counterparts of other breeds of lapdogs, however, few of the dogs evaluate the wool as strictly as the Bichon Frize. The “correct” dog has a two-layer fur coat consisting of a thick and soft undercoat in combination with a curly and rather coarse outer layer. Such a cover is not wrinkled - after compression, it immediately returns its former volume.

It should be noted that according to the standard, representatives of this breed are allowed only one color option - pure white. In this case, babies often have spots of a characteristic beige shade, which disappear as they grow older.

Like any other breed of dog, representatives of this breed have their own advantages and disadvantages. If you are just choosing a four-legged friend for yourself, it’s worthwhile to study them in advance - the advantages will help you to make a choice in favor of just such a little dog, and the minuses will allow you to prepare for certain difficulties of home keeping such an animal.

Perhaps we should start with a good one.Barbisheon owners (another breed name) can name a lot of the advantages of this type of doggie, but most often the following positive characteristics appear.

• Cheerful and gentle disposition. Bichon Frize is a real small positive charge, it is literally created to please others. From him you will never wait for any negative manifestations in your address.
• Friendliness. A sweet creature just wants to cuddle or stroke, and the French lap dog is not at all against such obvious manifestations of human benevolence. As a rule, Bichon love all family members, because indifferent to this kid just can not stay, especially since he always reciprocates.
• Hypoallergenic. Wool allergies have destroyed many people’s dream of having a pet. With the barbishons, this problem is solved by itself, since their wool does not provoke allergies in humans.
• Versatility. The dog has characteristics that do not interfere with its living in a family of any type. Most often, the potential problem is the presence in the family of the elderly or children, but the first is a fairly calm dog does not interfere, and the second does not provoke an allergy.

After all of the above, some readers have already rushed to look for offers to sell a puppy of the French lapdog, but first you need to see what the drawbacks of the breed are. All of them are surmountable and are not a real barrier to reunion with the dream dog, but the potential owner must be ready for some specific points.

• Wool requires careful care. Beauty pet requires sacrifice, and from the owner. Combing and trimming are needed regularly, as a rule - every day, otherwise a cute animal will turn into a dubious attractiveness “brownie” with felted hair.
• Representatives of the breed are prone to cataracts. When purchasing a pet that can live for 12-15 years, many potential owners rejoice in its longevity, but do not take into account the fact that a pet in old age can easily become disabled, requiring constant care. Unfortunately, for Barbishon, a cataract is a very likely outcome, and as a result of it, it usually goes blind.
• The dog is prone to allergies to many foods. It’s a paradox, but the French lap-dog, which doesn’t cause allergies, suffers from allergies to many types of popular human food. To feed a doggie from your table is impossible - it will have to make a special menu and specially prepare or spend money on expensive food. The situation is aggravated by the fact that the fluffy lump does not understand the peculiarities of his health and loves to beg for food from the dining hosts.

Representatives of this popular breed in childhood are an example of how active and playful a puppy can be. As they grow older, the individual acquires aristocratic composure, and although the grown-up friend is still sometimes prone to playing, desperate children's enthusiasm in dogs is no longer observed. Despite the tiny size and attribution to the decorative breeds, the Bichon Frize is considered to be a pretty smart dog. Such animals are different good learning abilities; in addition, they quickly become accustomed to new conditions and adapt easily.

The owner of the pet loves going out with him for a walk is real happiness for him but at the same time long distances are not exactly created for this dog. The advantage of the breed is that the small size of pets allows them to frolic in plenty even inside the apartment, so if there is no time or energy for a walk, do not worry. Like many other varieties of lapdogs, "French" always wants to communicate, because the long absence of the owners or at least some people leads him into a state of depression.

And when a neglected situation is not solved at all, the pet is able to take out the evil on the master's things - tears sneakers, pulls off the bed on the floor or even tears pillows. It is necessary to prepare for the fact that in this respect the lapdog will not improve - even if you catch a dog on a hot day, he still pretends that he does not understand why he is being scolded.

The convivial nature of the French Bichon will touch everyone - if possible, the dog tries to be friends with everyone and not clash with anyone. The pet treats children and their pranks with a certain degree of understanding, but it is necessary to first explain to the child that it is impossible to mock a living being, because it hurts. Given the modest size of Bichon Frize and its fragility, you need to understand that children can seriously injure a child - not necessarily from evil, simply from misunderstanding or negligence.

For those who, in principle, love animals and are ready to let many of them into their homes, there is a pleasant news - Barbishon avoids conflicts not only with humans, but also with other animals. At the same time, it should be understood that the initiator of the “quarrel” may be the second side. Therefore, the peace-loving should be not only a dog, but also the creature with whom he will have to get along.

Choosing a puppy of this breed, you first need to decide what you need it for - its price will largely depend on it. A cute companion is cheaper than any other options - it is beautiful, but due to non-standard color or other minor flaws it will not be allowed to be shown at the exhibitions and cannot be considered a good partner for always.

Dogs for potential breeding should have an excellent pedigree; you can only find good information about their ancestors without mentioning any diseases. Show dog can be made from any good puppy for breeding, provided that with his health and external breed signs everything is in absolute order. At the same time, an individual for an exhibition is only half of the initial data, whereas the owner’s owner provides the second half of the characteristics with his diligent care for the pet.

Note that the Bichon Frize matures and becomes independent a little later than its related Maltese. Puppies of this breed have a peak price at the age of 3-4 months, when they have just become independent from their mother and are ready to perceive the surrounded world with a completely unclouded look. Older youth usually sell a little cheaper, even though more energy and resources have been spent on feeding and care.

When purchasing an expensive pedigree dog, pay special attention to the choice of the seller. Careful selection of a good nursery with a proven reputation will minimize the risk of fraud or error, because a good breeder will do everything not to spoil his name and sell you exactly the puppy that fits. A professional will not only be happy to tell you which baby to choose, but also give advice on its content.

To form an opinion about the nursery, it makes sense to study the conditions in which the kids live - there should be clean and spacious. Proper content eliminates the presence of an unpleasant smell, because at this point, too, note.Also be interested in a variety of documents on a potential pet - these may be the pedigrees of his parents, the act of their mating, a puppy card and a veterinary passport.

The last stage is the choice of a puppy based on the results of personal observation of its behavior. Kid should be normal in terms of behaviorAfter all, excessive timidity or tendency to aggression may indicate an improperly formed psyche and further deviations, which are unlikely to please the new owner. Bad sign is lethargy - among the active and fun fellow such a puppy may be sick, and then the buyer will have to treat it.

Bichon Frize is a representative of an aristocratic dog breed that looks extremely cute and behaves exactly the same. It would be logical to choose a nickname in such a way that it complements the image of the animal, because it would be extremely strange to name a small fluffy lump of Polkan. On the Internet you can find many options for nicknames, we consider only the most interesting ones.

Given that the French lap-dog is certainly associated with the nobility, the boy can be called the Duke - this name does not overlap with the hackneyed Baron and sounds proudly. Many French male names, for example, Henri or Justin, will fit for the name of a doggie. English names such as Dustin, Chester, Oscar and good old Jack are also very popular, from Russian names Plato sounds very loudly and succinctly.

Often, representatives of this breed are called the sonorous name of Zidane - in honor of an outstanding French football player, and now a coach, was given a similar honor, and Dante - a medieval Italian poet. Because of the minimal similarity (objectively - perhaps in size) with the dog of the hero Jim Carrey, in the movie “Mask”, dogs are often also called Milo. There is always the option of orientation to the exterior - the little dog can be called the Cannon or Ice, hinting at the color of the coat.

Oddly enough, in the case of the girls of the owners the fantasy usually fails - at least 90% of the dogs of the French lapdog breed are simply named by foreign female names. If you focus on all the same aristocracy, the names of Venus, Elsa, Gloria, Tessa, Sophie sound interesting. Those who are not too eager for the sound of the name, but want to give their pet similarities with the heroic dogs of the past, called the female Arrow.

Fans of Russian classics can easily be called darling Bugs. Not the most melodious, but widespread Russian nicknames like Busy or Zhuli also exist.

A small dog designed specifically for breeding in the room - this is definitely not a street dog, able to get used to the absence of any conditions. When purchasing such a dog, stock up on time with everything you need to take care of your pet properly.

• A bowl. The activity of Barbishon can lead to the tipping of the crockery and spilling liquid on the floor, so experienced people recommend choosing an option on a stand or a bowl that is attached to the floor.

• The bed The bichon Frize bed should have a certain degree of comfort. Some owners buy their pets real works of art in the form of houses, but in fact, enough baskets for a cat, or a small mattress.

• Leash and collar. Any companion is needed in order to go for a walk with him at least sometimes. These accessories should be very gentle so as not to harm the beautiful hair of the doggie.

• Tray. The animal living in the room needs the convenience of a civilization like a toilet.Organizationally, the Barbishon toilet resembles a cat's, but its size should be larger, despite the comparable size of the dog and the average cat.

• Aviary for the apartment. Congenital activity of a puppy often leads to the fact that he shoves a curious nose where it should not, and gets injured. While no one is home, it makes sense to lock a four-legged friend in a cage so that he does not fall into extra adventures.

• Basket-carrying. Given that the representatives of this breed do not like to overcome considerable distances on their own small legs, it is worth buying a tank in which you can conveniently move the animal. Purchase is useful already at the first visit to the vet.

• Toys The nature of the dog requires toys with which you can have fun.

Clothing is usually not considered a must-have accessory for a Bichon Frize, because he, in contrast to the kindred Maltese, has a warm undercoat. However, it can be useful to once again protect the pet's curly coat from contact with burrs and debris, which would otherwise have to be combed for a long time.

You can feed your baby either with dry food or with natural food. In the first case, the recommendations are relatively short and intuitive - when choosing feeds you should focus on products of the super premium class.

If you get the right idea about what you can and what you can not feed the French lapdog, there is a sense in the independent preparation of the pet's diet. All food is strictly hypoallergenic, it is not necessary to experiment with the diet of the little dog, since the treatment of the problems that have arisen will be sideways for both the owner and the doggie. At the same time, the menu should be balanced so that the animal receives all the necessary vitamins and minerals. Consider the basic recommendations on how to independently organize a thoughtful daily pet diet:

• raw meat it is the cornerstone of barbichon’s nutrition, however, such a product should not be given in a completely unprocessed form - it must be scalded with boiling water before serving;
• vegetables the menu should be present as the main source of vitamins, while they can be given either boiled or fresh;
• boiled fish those with previously removed bones are usually introduced 2-3 times a week into the diet of an animal, but only marine species are suitable - freshwater cannot be given;
• garnish in the form of buckwheat or oatmeal, thoroughly steamed in boiling water, will help bring the portion size to that which is enough for the baby to eat;
• bone flour It helps to partially solve the problem of lack of vitamins and minerals, but in any case, these products will not provide all that is needed, so consult your veterinarian about vitamin and mineral complexes.

Excessively hot or cold food does not give an animal - hurriedly, it can burn or catch a cold. As for fresh milk, it is permissible only for puppies, whereas for adults only a small amount of fermented milk products is given once a week.

Many popular human snacks or just food are strictly forbidden to the French lapdogs - nothing but a disorder of the digestive system, their inclusion in the diet will not give. The list of such food is typical for dogs of any breed - it includes smoked meats and salty foods, pickled and spicy dishes, barley and legumes of any kind, as well as sweets and pastries.

Caring for a furry pet's fur is so complicated that it should be separated into a separate item - all the more so since the rest of the pet care turns out to be an easier task. Curls further complicate the task - they are easily entangled, they accumulate dust and dirt, because of which the dog from a cutie turns into a creature of questionable beauty. In order for the animal to always look decent, you must follow the following mandatory recommendations:

• daily combing is a necessary procedure, it is undesirable to skip it, and it is also impossible to treat it with insufficient care;
• bathing can be carried out once every 4 months, but if the pet is clearly soiled, an additional procedure for cleaning its covers is possible;
• Bichon Frize wool should be washed with special products designed specifically for dog curls - these are sold in veterinary pharmacies and some of the largest supermarkets;
• Dog grooming is usually perceived as a purely aesthetic procedure to give the pet a stylish look, but in fact a practical approach suggests that they cut out the places that are most susceptible to dirt;
• around the mouth and in the groin area, the coat of the French dog may turn yellow with time, which will not make the pet attractive, therefore periodic treatment with a weak solution of boric acid is required in these places.

Among other things, Barbishon also needs to trim his claws (once in half a month), brush his teeth (twice a week) and rinse his eyes with boiled water with an antiseptic. For the last procedure, tea or any other herbal decoctions are absolutely not suitable - they will spoil the handsome white curls. You are greatly mistaken if you think that a dog likes all these procedures - if before this didn’t happen to it, it will resist with all its might. For this reason To teach a four-footed friend to compulsory procedures is necessary from early childhood.

The French lapdog is smart, but quite self-willed, because the main training is aimed at making the pet more disciplined and obedient. Despite good learning abilities, dogs still rarely train to the level of real service or circus individuals. In contrast to the related "Maltese", the Bichon Frize is considered a rather loud breed that barks on many occasions.

This kid gives a voice to protect the owner or inform him about suspicious activity around, but he also expresses a wide range of emotions from anxiety to delight in the same way.

Doggie need to be trained diligently and consistently. Remember the unwritten truth: representatives of this breed are infected from their master with his mood, so you should not start an activity if you are not ready to demonstrate pleasure from the process itself and radiate joy with each success of your ward.

Even if a dog doesn’t do anything, it’s unacceptable to scold or even beat her - besides the fact that the teacher is often at fault for poor performance, your student may be offended, and then there will be no sense from training. The basics of the discipline are often laid through the mastering of commands "can not", "to me" and "place".

Experts have come to the conclusion that the child’s intelligence is enough to, in most cases, understand a normal trainer right away.At the same time, the French lap-dog has a certain autonomy, because the fact of understanding the order does not mean that the dog will immediately rush to carry it out. Considering this, please be especially patient, because any manifestations of aggression are unacceptable.

In addition, a representative of this breed is especially important to accustom to the tray. Its size is relatively small, which means that there will be enough tray for its needs, especially since this kid is able to fully satisfy the physical activity even in four walls.

Most of the “dog lovers” on the thematic forums are scattered in praises of the barbishons - they do not hide the fact that those also have certain disadvantages, but they believe that the advantages almost always overlap the minuses. There are only 2 global exceptions: the first is that if you are not ready for daily combing and regular cutting of thick curly hair, then your dog will not be beautiful and will not bring joy.

The second significant disadvantage lies in the nature of the representatives of this breed: dog needs constant communication, and if you disappear for days at work, then do not complain that a raised animal suddenly began to mess with no apparent reason.

But the rest of the dog - pA lovely companion and a great pet.. This wool ball does not shed at all, and therefore is well suited to allergy sufferers, and any unpleasant smell is completely unusual for it. The playful pet loves to communicate with all the household, he does not choose for himself one “main” owner, whom he would love and obey more than others.

If a dog as a child was accustomed to the tray on time, you can no longer worry that you don’t have time to walk it - the pet will go without walking, but if you have a desire to walk, you will be happy with your company.

All about the Bichon Frize dog breed, see the following video.