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The Bichon Frise is a descendent of the Barbet or Water Spaniel and is mostly white in color and considered a ladies dog that originates from the Mediterranean region dating as far back as 600-300 B.C. Originally, it was referred to as a Barbichon though this name was later compacted to Bichon of which the four main categories are the Bichon Maltais, the Bichon Havanais, the Bichon Bolognais and the Bichon Tenerife. The Bichon Frise is also a very charming creature that belongs to the non-sporting classification of the American Kennel Club and is in fact mostly used as a companion or show dog.

It was only in the sixteenth century that the Bichon Frise appeared in France where its popularity rose and fell depending on who was pulling the reigns of power in France, though notables such as Francis I, Henry III and Napoleon III were largely instrumental in making the Bichon Frise very popular. In fact, many portraits from this time featured the Bichon Frise along with royals, which lent to their fame and enhanced their stature.

The Bichon Frise, from the time of the Renaissance was called the Bichon Tenerife, which obviously alludes to its origins from the Canary Islands. But its early masters, the Spanish sailors of the early fourteenth century, affectionately named it the Bichon Tenerife.

However, given the Bichon Frise’s ability to learn tricks and perform them well, he did not suffer too much on account of his fall from grace and so he survived until the time when the First World War came to an end.

The history behind the Bichon Frise is both interesting and intriguing, which saw him being elevated to the favored pet of nobility and royalty until later becoming a street dog following the end of the reign of Napoleon III. In the late nineteenth century he had to become a commoner.

Interest in the Bichon Frise was once again renewed after World War I, and it was bred under strict control, and on March 5, 1933 the official Bichon Frise Standard was adopted by Societe Centrale Canine of France.

Even though the fortunes of the Bichon Frise have undergone a fair share of ups and downs, the breed survived because of its immensely likeable nature and also because of his ability to perform tricks, and after he came to the U.S. he has won over the heart of the working class who find him to be an excellent companion as also a show dog.

Thus, the one-time favorite of notable personalities such as Francis I and Henry III has now become darling of the average owner and thus continues to survive even in the modern age.

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