Bichon Frise

Its ancestors were small Barbet-type water dogs kept across the Mediterranean, likely brought to the Canary Islands and southern Europe by sailors and traders, then valued in Spanish and Italian courts by the fourteenth century. French nobility adopted the breed in the Renaissance, and it became fashionable at the court of Henry III, carried in sleeves and baskets rather than put to any working purpose. Its popularity dipped and rose over the following centuries, falling out of aristocratic favour after the French Revolution and later becoming a familiar sight as an organ-grinder's and circus performer's dog, valued for its trainability and cheerful stage presence, before French and Belgian breeders standardised it as a show and companion breed in the twentieth century.

Living with a Bichon Frise means living with a genuinely sociable, upbeat, people-focused small dog that gets on well with children, other dogs and generally with strangers too. It is bright and food-motivated enough to train reasonably easily, though house-training can take patience with some individuals. The curly, non-shedding coat is a major commitment: it mats readily without regular brushing and needs clipping roughly every six to eight weeks to maintain the breed's characteristic rounded look.

Today it remains a popular companion breed worldwide, prized by owners who want a low-shedding dog suited to smaller households and allergy-conscious families, provided they are willing to keep up with the grooming demands the coat carries.