Bichon Frise
Group: Non Sporting
Lifespan: 15+ Years
Pups per Litter: 1-6
Average Weight: 7-12 lbs.
Average Height: 9-12 inches
Exercise/Actvity Level: Moderate
Temperment with:
Children 
Other Dogs Other Animals
History
The Bichon Frise was thought to have been created around the 14th century by cross breeding a Barbet, Water Spaniel, or some have thought they had part poodle. The dog had been distributed by Spanish sailors. The Bichon was originally created in Spain and then later on taken around and bred to France where they were companion dogs.
Traits
The Bichon Frise is a lapdog. They love human affection and are happy, affectionate little dogs. They are obedient and enjoy being around their owners at all time. Unlike some little dogs, the Bichon is not a barker, they are sweet, goofy and are dogs meant to uplift people. They are a type of breed that everyone it meets, becomes their best friend!
Appearance
Weighing in at 7-12 lbs( 3-5 kgs) and averaging 9-12 inches high, this little guy is a big dog in a little dog body. They are fluffy dogs that have a curly outer coat and a smooth fine undercoat. They can be either white, apricot, grey, or cream colouring. The Bichon has small floppy ears and their eyes are small and dark. The tail is almost curled over.
Health
The Bichon Frise is prone to a few eye problems one being excessively watery eyes, cataracts, and another being infection. They are also prone to Epilepsy and skin problems.
Training
The Bichon is an obedient little dog that for the most part is quite easy to train. They would excel in obedience trials as they love to please their owners. They might be a bit more difficult to housetrain, so a constant eye around that time is a good plan.
Care
The Bichon is more of a high maintenance breed, as they need to be brushed quite frequently and they should be bathed more often then most breeds, which is about once a month. They will need the fur around their eyes clipped as it can get too long and it will be harder to see for them. Also they are excessive tearers so keeping the eyes clean is a must. This dog is a very low shedder and is famous for being hypoallergenic, meaning people with allergies to dogs, could co exist with this breed.
Breed
This breed is categorized in the Non Sporting Group. They make great apartment dogs as their size is compact and they don’t need a big area. Regular exercise such as walks would be perfect because this breed of dog does not need a big back yard to run around in. The average lifespan for the Bichon is 15 years and up. They have on average 1-6 pups per litter. When obtaining a baby Bichon, keep in mind that every puppy is different and to research your breed before bringing the baby home!
Reference pages for Information:
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/bichonfrise.htm Bichon Frise Breed Information
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bichon_Fris%C3%A9 Bichon Frise Information
http://www.akc.org/breeds/bichon_frise/index.cfm Bichon Frise AKC Standards
http://www.bichonfriseclubofcanada.com/ Bichon Frise Club of Canada
http://www.smallpawsrescue.org/ Bichon Frise Rescue
