History of the breed

The Bichon Frise descended from the Barbet or Water Spaniel and the Poodle. The word
bichon comes from Middle French bichon ("small long-haired dog"), a diminutive of Old
French biche ("bitch, female dog"), from Old English bicce ("bitch, female dog"), related to
Old Norsk bikkja ("female dog") and German Betze ("female dog"). Some speculate the origin
of bichon to be the result of the apheresis, or shortening, of the word barbichon ("small
poodle"), a derivative of barbiche ("shaggy dog"); however, this is unlikely, if not impossible,
since the word bichon (attested 1588) is older than barbichon (attested 1694).

The Bichons were divided into four categories: the Bichon Maltese, the Bichon Bolognaise,
the Bichon Havanese and the Bichon Tenerife. All originated in the Mediterranean area.
Because of their merry disposition, they traveled much and were often used as barter by
sailors as they moved from continent to continent. The dogs found early success in Spain
and it is generally believed that Spanish seamen introduced the breed to the Canary Island
of Tenerife. In the 14th century, Italian sailors rediscovered the little dogs on their voyages
and are credited with returning them to the continent, where they became great favorites of
Italian nobility. Often, as was the style of the day with dogs in the courts, they were cut "lion
style," like a modern-day Portuguese Water Dog.

Though not considered a retriever or water dog, the Bichon, due to its ancestry as a sailor's
dog, has an affinity for and enjoys water and retrieving. On the boats however, the dog's job
was that of a companion dog.

The "Tenerife", or "Bichon", had success in France during the Renaissance under Francis I
(1515–1547), but its popularity skyrocketed in the court of Henry III (1574–1589). The breed
also enjoyed considerable success in Spain as a favorite of the Infantas, and painters of the
Spanish school often included them in their works. For example, the famous artist, Francisco
de Goya, included a Bichon in several of his works.

Interest in the breed was renewed during the rule of Napoleon III, but then waned until the
late 19th century when it became the "common dog", running the streets, accompanying
the organ grinders of Barbary, leading the blind and doing tricks in circuses and fairs.

On 5 March 1933, the official standard of the breed was adopted by the Societe Centrale
Canine, the national kennel club for France. (This was largely due to the success of the
French-speaking Belgian author Herge's "Tintin" books, which featured a small, fluffy,

white dog named Milou.) As the breed was known by two names at that time, "Tenerife"
and "Bichon", the president of the Federation Cynologique Internationale proposed a
name based on the characteristics that the dogs presented - the Bichon Frisé. ("Frisé"
means "curly", referring to the breed's coat.) On 18 October 1934, the Bichon Frisé was
admitted to the stud book of the Société Centrale Canine.

Sources: Wikipedia, Dogtime, Bichon Frise Personality, CKC