Bichon Frize, or French lap dog

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

The history of the French lapdog is rooted in the ancient past. It is said that the common breed of Bichon was bred by the ancient Romans from the barbet dog. Her homeland is the island of Melit (now M alta). On the mainland, the dog was presented as a precious gift to the senators and rulers of Rome. Later, the M altese Bichons began to be bred as an ornamental breed at the courts of the nobility.

Thus, new subspecies arose: French, Bolognese, Havana and Tenerife. Why is it customary to call these small dogs lapdogs in Russia? Yes, because they came to us from Bologna. During the Renaissance, bichon bolognese were highly valued at the court of Catherine de Medici and were presented to Russian sovereigns.

But here we will talk about the Bichon Frise - the French variety. This is a small decorative dog with a funny muzzle and a snow-white wavy coat. By the way, other colors, spots and even vanillashade of white according to the standard is not allowed. The eyes and nose should also be black or dark brown. The typical French lap dog you see here looks like a soft toy.

What are bichons valued for? Firstly, this is a godsend for allergy sufferers: dogs do not have an undercoat, they do not smell like a dog and do not shed. Secondly, they can be started by people who do not always have the opportunity to provide their pets with long walks. Bichons are easily trained to go to the tray. In addition, the French lap dog will “fit” well into a small apartment. She gets along well with children and other pets. She has a cheerful disposition, even in old age she retains playfulness and liveliness. It lends itself well to training, but the owner should not be harsh with her, but softness - bichons are very touchy.

Now a few words about the breed standard, which was officially approved in 1988. Height at the withers 20-30 cm, weight - 3-4 kg. We have already mentioned white fur without the slightest flaw, black button eyes and the same nose. In addition, the French lapdog must have a thick coat with light curls up to 20 cm long, and the tail must be thrown over the back. The transition from the nose to the forehead is pronounced. The ears are set high on a round, flat head, but hanging down. Paws are short, straight. It is desirable that the pads and claws be black. The presence of an undercoat may disqualify a dog.

As long as you don't have a show specimen, the Frenchie does not require much care. Naturally,the owner of such a fluffy fur coat needs to be combed daily with a special brush, but since the bichon's coat is not prone to matting and tangling, this should not take you much time. You can bathe your dog every month. It is necessary to cut pets from a professional dog hairdresser at least once a quarter and even more often to cut the hair on the muzzle and between the fingers on your own. The fact is that the eyes of the bichons begin to water because their own hair gets into them, which is very noticeable on the snow-white fleece.

French lap dog is included in the happy list of long-lived breeds. Fifteen years is their average lifespan, but with proper care, the dog remains he althy and cheerful up to 18-20 years. The only thing you should pay attention to is the tendency to allergies. However, all white dogs suffer from this. Be responsible with food: food coloring will immediately "appear" on your pet's coat.