Bichon
Frise Breed Standard
Non-Sporting Group
General
Appearance
The Bichon Frise is a small, sturdy, white powder puff of
a dog whose merry temperament is evidenced by his plumed
tail carried jauntily over the back and his dark-eyed inquisitive
expression.
This is a breed
that has no gross or incapacitating exaggerations and therefore
there is no inherent reason for lack of balance or unsound
movement.
Any deviation
from the ideal described in the standard should be penalized
to the extent of the deviation. Structural faults common
to all breeds are as undesirable in the Bichon Frise as
in any other breed, even though such faults may not be specifically
mentioned in the standard.
Size,
Proportion, Substance
Size Dogs and bitches 9½
to 11½ inches are to be given primary preference.
Only where the comparative superiority of a specimen outside
this range clearly justifies it should greater latitude
be taken. In no case, however, should this latitude ever
extend over 12 inches or under 9 inches. The minimum limits
do not apply to puppies. Proportion--The
body from the forward-most point of the chest to the point
of rump is ¼ longer than the height at the withers.
The body from the withers to lowest point of chest represents
½ the distance from withers to ground. Substance--Compact
and of medium bone throughout; neither coarse nor fine.
Head
Expression--Soft, dark-eyed, inquisitive,
alert. Eyes are round, black or dark brown and are set in
the skull to look directly forward. An overly large or bulging
eye is a fault as is an almond shaped, obliquely set eye.
Halos, the black or very dark brown skin surrounding the
eyes, are necessary as they accentuate the eye and enhance
expression. The eye rims themselves must be black. Broken
pigment, or total absence of pigment on the eye rims produce
a blank and staring expression, which is a definite fault.
Eyes of any color other than black or dark brown are a very
serious fault and must be severely penalized. Ears are drop
and are covered with long flowing hair. When extended toward
the nose, the leathers reach approximately halfway the length
of the muzzle. They are set on slightly higher than eye
level and rather forward on the skull, so that when the
dog is alert they serve to frame the face. The skull is
slightly rounded, allowing for a round and forward looking
eye. The stop is slightly accentuated. Muzzle--A
properly balanced head is three parts muzzle to five parts
skull, measured from the nose to the stop and from the stop
to the occiput. A line drawn between the outside corners
of the eyes and to the nose will create a near equilateral
triangle. There is a slight degree of chiseling under the
eyes, but not so much as to result in a weak or snipey foreface.
The lower jaw is strong. The nose is prominent and always
black. Lips are black, fine, never drooping. Bite is scissors.
A bite which is undershot or overshot should be severely
penalized. A crooked or out of line tooth is permissible,
however, missing teeth are to be severely faulted.
Neck,
Topline and Body
The arched neck is long and carried proudly behind an erect
head. It blends smoothly into the shoulders. The length
of neck from occiput to withers is approximately 1/3 the
distance from forechest to buttocks. The topline is level
except for a slight, muscular arch over the loin. Body--The
chest is well developed and wide enough to allow free and
unrestricted movement of the front legs. The lowest point
of the chest extends at least to the elbow. The rib cage
is moderately sprung and extends back to a short and muscular
loin. The forechest is well pronounced and protrudes slightly
forward of the point of shoulder. The underline has a moderate
tuck-up. Tail is well plumed, set on level with the topline
and curved gracefully over the back so that the hair of
the tail rests on the back. When the tail is extended toward
the head it reaches at least halfway to the withers. A low
tail set, a tail carried perpendicularly to the back, or
a tail which droops behind is to be severely penalized.
A corkscrew tail is a very serious fault.
Forequarters
Shoulders--The shoulder blade,
upper arm and forearm are approximately equal in length.
The shoulders are laid back to somewhat near a forty-five
degree angle. The upper arm extends well back so the elbow
is placed directly below the withers when viewed from the
side. Legs are of medium bone; straight, with no bow or
curve in the forearm or wrist. The elbows are held close
to the body. The pasterns slope slightly from the vertical.
The dewclaws may be removed. The feet are tight and round,
resembling those of a cat and point directly forward, turning
neither in nor out. Pads are black. Nails are kept short.
Hindquarters
The hindquarters are of medium bone, well angulated with
muscular thighs and spaced moderately wide. The upper and
lower thigh are nearly equal in length meeting at a well
bent stifle joint. The leg from hock joint to foot pad is
perpendicular to the ground. Dewclaws may be removed. Paws
are tight and round with black pads.
Coat
The texture of the coat is of utmost importance. The undercoat
is soft and dense, the outercoat of a coarser and curlier
texture. The combination of the two gives a soft but substantial
feel to the touch which is similar to plush or velvet and
when patted springs back. When bathed and brushed, it stands
off the body, creating an overall powder puff appearance.
A wiry coat is not desirable. A limp, silky coat, a coat
that lies down, or a lack of undercoat are very serious
faults. Trimming--The coat is
trimmed to reveal the natural outline of the body. It is
rounded off from any direction and never cut so short as
to create an overly trimmed or squared off appearance. The
furnishings of the head, beard, moustache, ears and tail
are left longer. The longer head hair is trimmed to create
an overall rounded impression. The topline is trimmed to
appear level. The coat is long enough to maintain the powder
puff look which is characteristic of the breed.
Color
Color is white, may have shadings of buff, cream or apricot
around the ears or on the body. Any color in excess of 10%
of the entire coat of a mature specimen is a fault and should
be penalized, but color of the accepted shadings should
not be faulted in puppies.
Gait
Movement at a trot is free, precise and effortless. In profile
the forelegs and hind legs extend equally with an easy reach
and drive that maintain a steady topline. When moving, the
head and neck remain somewhat erect and as speed increases
there is a very slight convergence of legs toward the center
line. Moving away, the hindquarters travel with moderate
width between them and the foot pads can be seen. Coming
and going, his movement is precise and true.
Temperament
Gentle mannered, sensitive, playful and affectionate. A
cheerful attitude is the hallmark of the breed and one should
settle for nothing less.
AKC, Approved
October 11, 1988, Effective November 30, 1988
Bichon
Frise History
The Bichon Frise
descended from the Barbet or Water Spaniel, from which came
the name "Barbichon", later shortened to "Bichon".
The Bichons were divided into four categories: the Bichon
Maltais, the Bichon Bolognais, the Bichon Havanais and the
Bichon Teneriffe. All originated in the Mediterranean area.
Because of their
merry disposition, they traveled much and were often used
as items of barter by sailors as they moved from continent
to continent. The dogs found early success in Spain and
it is generally felt that Spanish seamen introduced the
breed to the Canary Island of Teneriffe. In the 1300s 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."
The "Teneriffe"
or "Bichon" had success in France during the Renaissance
under Francis I (1515-47) but its popularity skyrocketed
in the court of Henry III (1574-89). 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, 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 1800s 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 March 5,
1933 the official standard of the breed was adopted by the
Societe Centrale Canine of France. As the breed was known
by two names at that time, "Teneriffe" and "Bichon",
the president of the International Canine Federation proposed
a name based on the characteristics that the dogs presented
- the Bichon Frise. ("Frise" refers to the dog's
soft, curly hair.) On October 18, 1934 the Bichon Frise
was admitted to the stud book of the French Kennel Club.
The first Bichon
litter was whelped in the U. S. in 1956. In 1959 and 1960
two breeders in different parts of the U. S. acquired Bichons.
This, then, provided the origins for the breed's development
in this country.
The Bichon Frise
became eligible to enter the Miscellaneous Class on September
1, 1971. In October, 1972 the breed was admitted to registration
in the American Kennel Club Stud Book. On April 4, 1973
the breed became eligible to show in the Non-Sporting Group
at AKC dog shows.
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