The small but sturdy and resilient Bichon Frise stands among the world’s great “personality dogs.” Since antiquity, these irresistible canine comedians have relied on charm, beauty, and intelligence to weather history’s ups and downs.

Curious, playful, and peppy, the Bichon Frise is a small dog with a big personality. They're surprisingly athletic and thrive in a variety of settings.

There is more to the Bichon Frise than meets the eye. Here are some facts you might not know.

The adorable Bichon Frise is among the canine kingdom’s great survivors, relying on charm and intelligence to weather history’s ups and downs.

For much of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show’s 142-year existence, winning the country’s most famous dog show meant the fast track to retirement. Sure, sometimes a plucky soul returned the following year for another grab at the brass ring: After all, the very first Westminster Best in Show winner, the Smooth Fox [...]

Following two nights of challenging competition, GCHP CH Belle Creek's All I Care About Is Love, a Bichon Frise known as "Flynn," has been awarded the coveted Best in Show title at the 2018 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show presented by Purina® Pro Plan® at Madison Square Garden in New York on Feb. 13. The decision was [...]

Each February, thousands of people travel to New York City for either Fashion Week or The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. But for some, these two worlds collide. Flynn, the 2018 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show Best in Show, took to the runway this year. On Feb. 7, he strutted his stuff at the American Heart Association [...]

A full crowd at Madison Square Garden watched as seven incredible canines stood in front of the 2018 Westminster Kennel Club Best in Show judge, Mrs. Betty-Anne Stenmark, on Feb. 13. As Stenmark pointed at Flynn, the Bichon Frise, his owners went wild in the stands. After competing against 11 other Bichons, Flynn won Best of Breed on [...]

The AKC classifies the Bichon Frise’s bark level as “barks when necessary,” but the way things went last night at the 142nd Annual Westminster Kennel Club Show, there was plenty to bark about. Flynn, the winner for the Non-Sporting Group earned the coveted title of Best in Show at the 2018 competition, which came to [...]

Barbara Lundy owns Patchwork Pet Resort in Marshall, Texas. She has traveled the world showing her champion Bedlington Terriers, but her true love is the Bichon Frise. She has spent her career caring, grooming, training, showing, boarding and breeding four-legged furry children. AKC: How did you get started in breeding dogs? Barbara: I began working [...]

There are certain situations where it’s ok and actually preferred to have more fluff.For example:More fluff on your peanut butter and marshmallow sandwich? Yes! More fluff for your favorite pillow—Please!More fluff all over your black dress pants—No, thank you! Fortunately, regular bathing and [...]

Thousands of dogs will start 2019 off by traveling to the Kennel Club of Palm Springs Dog Show at the Empire Polo Grounds in Indio, California. Whether you’re attending in person (it’s free!) or watching from your home, here are three competitors on why they started showing dogs. Make sure to tune in to [...]

If you are unfamiliar with the spunky, sturdy breed known as the Havanese, you might make the mistake of thinking it is some sort of Poodle. Or, you might think it is related to the Bichon Frise. If you guessed any of these well-known breeds, you’d be on the right track, because all of [...]

Kristi Storum lives in Louisburg, NC with her Bichons Frise and a Standard Poodle. She is at the beginning of her breeding career, though she has been involved in dogs for nearly 15 years. She is a nationally certified professional groomer who participates in competitive grooming. AKC: How did you get started in breeding dogs? Kristi [...]

Generally speaking, smaller dog breeds can make good companion dogs for apartments or condominiums. They adapt well in confined spaces, and they don't need a tremendous amount of exercise to keep them happy and healthy. But there are many dog breeds that make good choices for apartments, some of which you may not expect! Bulldog [...]

Many breeders design holiday cards and send them out digitally or via “snail mail” to puppy buyers, friends, and family. Holidays are a great time to get in touch with your puppy owners and thank them for giving wonderful homes to your special pups. We thank these breeders for sharing their cards and hope they [...]

  GCHB CH Cordmaker Mister Blue Sky, a Puli known as “Preston,” owned by E. Charles, J. Beaudoin, L. Pitts, P. Kelly and S. Huebner triumphed over nearly 5,000 dogs to earn a $50,000 cash prize and the title of Best in Show at the AKC National Championship presented by Royal Canin, held this weekend in Orlando [...]

After two long days of breed judging at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, the best dogs came out to compete in their respective groups. A grand audience at Madison Square Garden watched closely as these beautiful dogs made their way around the ring. Here are the winners for 2018.   Hound Group Winner GCHG CH [...]

Grooming is an important piece of the puzzle to consider when owning a fluffy dog. Whether your dog is short-haired or long-haired, it's important to maintain a healthy coat by regularly brushing, grooming, and bathing to control shedding. This is especially important for dogs with fluffy coats. Grooming routines for some dogs can be done [...]

Owning a dog is a huge commitment, but is arguably one of the most rewarding experiences you’ll ever have in your life. While there are a lot of decisions to make when it comes to choosing the right dog for you, you might find you’ll have to make some compromises. Temperament, exercise requirements [...]

Not everyone enjoys cleaning up copious amounts of dog hair. If you are looking for a small dog with equally small amounts of shedding hair, you are in luck. From small dogs that don't shed at all, to dogs who shed minimally, here are the dog breeds you need to know about to help you [...]

It's the moment we've all been waiting for: Now that all of the Best of Breed Group Winners have officially been named, we're one step closer to crowning this year's AKC National Championship Best in Show winner. In case you missed our livestream on AKC.org, here's a recap of [...]

Mister Murphy THDD owned by Christine Witzler of Bowling Green, OH Murphy is a 10-year-old Bichon Frise that Christine rescued when he was a year and a half old. “You could tell at the first meeting that he was born to be a therapy dog,” she said. “He has been in cribs [...]

Look at Me! By Mara Bovsun for AKC Family Dog, September/October 2019 Issue Look-At-Me-AKC-Family-Dog-Sept-Oct-2019 Printable Version Digital Version Directions: Read and Annotate. Then answer the questions below. Next to your answer, provide the paragraph number that supports each answer. 1. How did Winky’s performance in the Agility Championship compare with the winning performance? a) Winky [...]

There are also ways to prep your home that will help keep allergens at bay when you have a dog. Be sure to wash your pet‘s bed often, keep up with his grooming, and don‘t let him sleep on your bed. It‘s also helpful to remove heavy carpets and [...]

Plus, Hairless Breeds: Nothing To Sneeze At  While no dog is 100 percent hypoallergenic, there are many breeds which the American Kennel Club (AKC®) suggests people with allergies consider. Most of these breeds have non-shedding coats, which produce less dander. It's the dander, not the hair, which causes most pet allergies. For those who can't do [...]

  Less Than Two-Weeks Left to Cast Your Vote for The Best "Canine Candidate" for the Obama Family @ www.presidentialpup.com The American Kennel Club® (AKC) reports a tight race between the Poodle and Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier in their poll to determine America's breed of choice for the Obama family. Preliminary results [...]

New York, NY — The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) has recognized seven breeding programs from the Sporting, Hound, Working, Terrier, Toy, Non-Sporting and Herding groups as 2015 AKC Breeder of the Year group honorees. “The individuals that make up these breeding programs have dedicated their lives to the advancement of the purebred dog [...]

There are a variety of breeds that don’t shed, each with different temperaments and energy levels, so you can find the right breed for your lifestyle. Breeds that Don‘t Shed Bedlington Terrier: The gentle, loveable Bedlington Terrier is known for its curly, wooly coat that resembles a lamb. The breed doesn [...]

The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mark Dunn to the position of Director, Internal Consulting Group (ICG), effective July 20, 2009. AKC’s ICG provides business consulting services to AKC divisions; identifies opportunities to improve efficiency, increase customer service and increase revenue; and develops future leaders through business training, sport exposure [...]