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The Bichon is of Mediterranean ancestery , descending from the Barbet or Water Spaniel, and is related to the Maltese. He is not part poodle. Bichons have been a distinctive breed since about 1400. A few Bichons came to his country in the 1950's, primarily from France and Belgium. The Bichon Frise Club of America was founded in 1964 and the breed recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1972. The Bichon is a strong competitor in the Non-Sporting Group and has proven to be an excellent competitor in Agility competition. The sturdy, muscular and sound Bichon is quite athletic and you should expect this " lap dog" to give you a good time with his playful antics.
What else you should know about a Bichon. The Bichon is a fluffy white dog though there may be some touches of buff or apricot on a puppy. This will eventually fade with time. Lips, eye rims, halos and foot pads should be black. He should stand 9 1/2 to 11 1/2 inches at the shoulder as an adult will weigh about 10 to 16 pounds, unless much smaller or much larger than the standard calls for. A quality dog food, perferably dry kibble purchased at a pet or feed and seed store is the recommended diet. Over or underweight dogs are less likely to stay healthy, so lots of extra treats are not a good idea. |
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