They were all selected to be small, elegant companion dogs with even, well-balanced characters and playful temperaments, good with children while maintaining alert watchdog abilities. The were much appreciated by noblemen and royals because they were non-shedding and odorless.
The most famous representative is probably the Bichon Frisé (sometimes referred to as just 'Bichon'), but the Bolognese, Havanese, Maltese, and probably the Coton de Tulear all belong to this family. The Löwchen (Little Lion dog) has long been considered a member of this family, but more recent research seems to indicate it has a completely different origin that pre-dates that of the Bichon dog breeds (see further).
Character and Temperament
Playfull but not overly active. As many small breeds, bichons can be a challenge to housetrain. The Coton de Tulear has more stamina than the other Bichons, probably due to some hunting dog ancestry.
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Origin
The Bichons are a Mediterranean breed, generally named after the region from which they originated. The ancestors of the Bichons were companions and barter products for sailors in the Mediterranean. This explains why varieties of the Bichons prospered on the main Islands of the Mediterranean and in the main cultural or strategic cities of the Renaissance, such as the Maltese (or Bichon Maltais) from Malta and the Bolognese (or Bichon Bolognais) from Bologne in Italy. Some authorities believe the Maltese was not named after Malta, but after the Sicilian town of Melitia. Whichever its origin, the Maltese is considered an italian breed.
Some Bichons accompanied tradesmen on their voyages to the Indian Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. They gave rise to the Bichon Havanais, or Havanese, and the Coton de Tulear, in Cuba and Madagscar, respectively.
Authorities differ as to where the Havanese decended from. Some believe that the Havanese descend from the Italian Bolognese, which were taken by the Italians to Argentina, and there crossed with a small South American Poodle, creating a new member of the Bichon family. Others believe the Havanese is a descendant of the Maltese, brought to the West Indies by the Spaniards, and were at that time called "The Havana Silk Dog".
The Coton de Tulear are said to descend from the Coton de Réunion, dogs from the neighboring island Réunion, who came to Madagascar with tradesmen. The Coton de Tulear was named after the main port city of Tulear on Madagascar and the cottony coat of this Bichon-type dogs. The dog was originally known as 'Royal Dog of Madagascar'. It were the French colonists who gave it its current name.
The modern Bichon Frise or Bichon Teneriffe (or short Teneriffe, as it was originally called) descends from a generally white, small lap dog from which came the name "Barbichon" (later shortened to 'Bichon'), a descendant of the Barbet or Water Spaniel, which was probably crossed with the Poodle. According to other sources it descends from a cross between the Maltese and the Poodle. The breed's name gave rise to the French verb 'bichonner' (to pamper), which originally meant 'to curl one's hair'.
As far as the Löwchen is concerned there are basically two schools of thought. According to the first one, the Löwchen was developed in the Mediterranean and made its way from there into the northern regions of Europe, to Germany, France and Holland, in which case it is considered part of the Bichon family.
More recent research indicates that the Löwchen predates the Poodle and Bichon breeds. It is listed as the Lion dog in several important dog classifications published in encyclopedias and other works beginning in 1756. These timelines indicate the Löwchens existence as a separate breed from the beginning, and not as a breed stemming from either the Bichon family or Poodle.
Maltese (Bichon Maltais):
Develops a long, luxuruous coat that can create a matting problem if not groomed daily. (See also: groom-intensive dogs). The coat is of a pure white color, but light tan or lemon on the ears is permissible, although not desirable. Hair is silky, not curly, without undercoat.
Bolognese:
The Bolognese's hair falls in tufts. The white, cottony coat has no undercoat. The tail hangs limp when relaxed, and curls over the back when the dog is alert. It is slightly more reserved and shy than the Bichon Frise.
Bichon Frise:
An adaptable and happy dog, with a white, fluffy coat that has a tendency to mat (tangle). Buff, cream or apricot around the ears or on the body are accepted, but any color in excess of 10% of the entire coat of a mature specimen is considered a fault.
