TRANSLATION: Ian Nicholson. Original version: (FR)
Standard revised and updated by Dr. C. Guintard.
ORIGIN: Franco-Belgian.
PATRONAGE: France and Belgium.
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE OFFICIAL VALID
STANDARD: 04.04.2016.
UTILIZATION: Companion dog.
F.C.I. CLASSIFICATION:
Group 9 Companion and toy dogs.

BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY: The Bichon Frisé was brought to France from Italy during the Renaissance. As it looked like a very small Barbet, it was given the name of “barbichon” which was then shortened to “bichon”. In the 17th and 18th centuries, many renowned painters depicted these little dogs which accompanied kings, nobles and other noteworthy persons. The breed came back into fashion under Napoléon III, and it was known at that time as the “Ténériffe”. It was then popularized, becoming well-liked in both Belgium and France. It almost disappeared after the two world wars. It is thanks to the passion of a few French and Belgian breeders that a population was able to be reconstituted. The first dog, registered in Belgium, was Pitou, born on 23rd March 1924 and was registered in the Belgian studbook (LOSH) in 1932. N° 1 in the French studbook (LOF) was attributed to Ida, a female Bichon Frisé on 18th October 1934. The current French name – Bichon à poil frisé – was given in 1978 and was recognized as a Franco-Belgian breed. 


GENERAL APPEARANCE: A cheerful little dog, with a lively gait and very loose, white corkscrew-curled hair. Head carried proud; the eyes are dark, lively and expressive. The tail is carried gracefully curved over the back.
 

IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS: The Bichon Frisé is longer than it is tall, the length of the body (from the point of the shoulder to the point of the buttock) is greater than the height at the withers. The body is rectangular.
 

The ratio of the length of the skull to the length of the muzzle is 3 to 2. The depth of the chest is equal to the height measured from the floor to the elbows.
 

BEHAVIOUR AND TEMPERAMENT: It is a true companion dog which can be taken anywhere without trouble. It is neither nervous nor does it often bark, it is very sociable towards both people and dogs, even if it does not know them. It has a great capacity to adapt and is very attached to its masters.
 

HEAD: In good proportion with the body. The eyes and nose, being three easily visible black points on an otherwise white head, should form an equilateral triangle.
 

CRANIAL REGION:
Skull: Rather flat to the touch, although the furnishings make it appear rounded. The frontal furrow is slightly pronounced. The skull is longer than the muzzle. It is not as wide as it is long and makes up 3/5 of the length of the head. The superciliary ridges are not too pronounced. Stop: Marked, but not too pronounced.
 

FACIAL REGION:
 

Nose: Rounded, black, finely grained and glossy. Muzzle: Very wide at the base, not becoming much thinner towards the nose, it forms 2/5 of the length of the head. Straight nose bridge, neither down-pointing nor up-tilting. Lips: Fine, rather lean, falling only enough to cover the lower lip, but never heavy or pendulous; they are normally pigmented black up to the corner. The lower lip must not be heavy, visible or slack. The corner of the lips is well closed and does not allow the inner side of the lips to be seen. Jaws/teeth: The upper and lower jaws are wide, each one with six evenly set incisors. Scissor bite is preferred; pincer bite is tolerated. Full dentition is preferred.
Cheeks: Flat. Eyes: Very dark, medium-sized, rather round in shape, neither almond-shaped nor protruding. They must not be set obliquely. The pigmentation of the eye rims must be completely black. When the dog is looking forwards, the whites of the eyes should not be showing.
Ears: The ears are drooping and are well-furnished with profuse hair. They are attached above the eye-line, forming an equilateral triangle, and hang vertically along the cheeks. When they are pulled forward, the leathers should reach at least the corner of the lips, and at the most should reach the middle of the muzzle. The ears are mobile, especially when something catches the dog’s attention.
 

NECK: Quite long, carried high and proudly. It is round and slim near the skull, gradually broadening to fit smoothly into the shoulders. Its length is approximately a third of its body length. Without dewlap.
 

BODY:
Topline: Straight, approximately horizontal up to the base of the tail. Withers: Quite marked.
Back: Horizontal, well-muscled.
Loin: Wide and well-muscled, slightly arched.
Croup: Wide, slightly rounded, very slightly sloping.
Chest: Well-developed, well let down to the elbows, deep brisket, the floating ribs are well sprung and do not end abruptly, the chest being rather long.
Underline and line of the belly: The underside of the chest rises slightly towards the line of the belly, which is moderately tucked up. The flanks are well tucked up; the skin is fine and not loose.
 

TAIL: Attached moderately high, slightly below the line of the back, it is carried raised and gracefully curved in line with the spine, without being rolled up or docked. The extremity of the tail, regardless of the hair, does not touch the dog’s back. The tail furnishings may fall onto the back. The tail must not hang when the dog is moving.
 

LIMBS:
 

FOREQUARTERS:
General appearance: Seen from the front, the forelegs are straight. Moderate bone.
Shoulder: Well laid back.
Upper arm: Forming good angulation with the shoulders.
Elbows: Close to chest.
Forearm: Straight and perpendicular seen from all sides.
Pastern: Short and straight seen from the front, very slightly sloping seen from the side.
Feet: Tight, round and well knuckled up, neither turned inward nor outwards, the pads must be black and the nails should preferably be
black.
 

HINDQUARTERS:
General appearance: The pelvis is broad. The hind legs are well muscled and seen from behind, they are parallel to each other. They are vertical.
Thigh: broad and well muscled.
Stifle joint (knee): Well angulated, neither turning in nor out.
Lower thigh: Approximately the same length as the thigh.
Hock joint: Set low and well marked.
Rear pasterns: Lean, without dewclaws.
Feet: Tight, round and well knuckled up, neither turned inward nor outwards, the pads must be black and the nails should preferably be black.
 

GAIT/MOVEMENT: Quick-moving, free, covering a lot of ground. When trotting, the head is carried high, the tail is well curved over the back. Hind legs have good drive. Parallel tracking.
SKIN: Stretched tight over all the body; dark pigmentation is preferred; however, it does not influence the colour of the hair. The scrotum should preferably be black.
 

COAT:
Hair: Profuse coat. The hair of the outer coat forms loose spiral curls (this is the curly structure). The soft and dense undercoat must be present. The coat is neither flat nor corded, neither woolly, nor matted.
Colour: Pure white. However, before 12 months of age, the coat can have the tendency to be slightly beige (champagne), but this tinge must not cover more than 10% of the dog.
 

SIZE AND WEIGHT:
Height at the withers: 25 to 29 cm. A tolerance of 1 cm taller is accepted for males, A tolerance of 2 cm lower is accepted for females, provided that the proportions remain balanced and that the sexual dimorphism is well marked.
Weight: Approximately 5 kg, in proportion with the size.
 

FAULTS:
 

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault, and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.
 

SEVERE FAULTS:
 

• Temperament: A dog which is lacking in self-assurance.
• Head: Pointed muzzle.
• Nose: Loss of pigmentation.
• Lips: Pink or partially depigmented, slack corners of the lips.
• Eyes: Light-coloured, incomplete pigmentation of the eye rims, visible whites of the eyes. The coat under the eyes should not have traces of lacrimal secretions.
• Chest: Underdeveloped.
• Tail: Rolled up, curled in a ring, raised perpendicularly or dropped whilst in movement.
• Limbs: Insufficient angulations.
• Hair: Not profuse enough and/or incorrect curl, causing the coat to be open or flattened.
• Colour: Colouring in the coat (except for dogs under the age of 12 months).
 

DISQUALIFYING FAULTS:
• Aggressive or overly shy dogs.
• Any dog clearly showing any physical or behavioural abnormalities will be disqualified.
• Dentition: Prognathism (overshot or undershot).
• Total depigmentation of the nose, lip edges and rims of the eyelids.
• Eyes: Small, almond-shaped, protruding, too light or wall eye.
• Hair: Total lack of curly structure.
• Colour: Any colour other than white in the coat on subjects over the age of 12 months.
• Size: Outside tolerated measurements.
• General appearance: Any evidence of dwarfism.
• General build: Any dog whose general build fits into a square.
 

N.B.:
 

• Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
• Only functionally and clinically healthy dogs, with breed typical conformation, should be used for breeding.
 

ADDITION TO STANDARD:
Clipping is accepted.
Head: The ears, beard and moustache are shortened and sculpted so as to give the head either a round or a bell shape.
Body: In order to give the impression of elegance and slenderness, the hair is shortened (but not less than 3 cm) on the loins and the flanks. The underside of the belly is furnished with hair.
Limbs and feet: Cylindrical aspect.
Tail: Must not be clipped.