BICHON FRISE

Companion Dog Group

Official UKC Breed Standard ©Copyright 1991, United Kennel Club
Revised December 1, 2014

The Bichon Frise was recognized by the United

Kennel Club in 1981.

GENERAL APPEARANCE
The Bichon Frise is small, compact and sturdy in
appearance, with medium bone, never appearing
coarse or fine. Its dense, white coat gives the breed the
appearance of a white powder puff. It moves jauntily,
with high head carriage and its plumed tail carried over
its back.
Disqualifications: Unilateral or bilateral cryptorchid.

CHARACTERISTICS
The breed has a merry, playful temperament. It is
sensitive, gentle and affectionate and has a soft,
inquisitive expression with sparkling dark eyes.
Disqualifications: Viciousness or extreme shyness.

The goals and purposes of this breed standard include: HEAD

to furnish guidelines for breeders who wish to maintain The head is in harmony with the size of the body. To be
the quality of their breed and to improve it; to advance considered properly balanced, measured from the nose
this breed to a state of similarity throughout the world; to the stop and from the stop to the occiput, the head
and to act as a guide for judges. should be three parts muzzle to five parts skull. There is
Breeders and judges have the responsibility to avoid a slight stop.
any conditions or exaggerations that are detrimental to SKULL - The skull is slightly rounded, allowing for a
the health, welfare, essence and soundness of this round and forward-looking eye. Cheeks are flat and not
breed, and must take the responsibility to see that very muscular.
these are not perpetuated. MUZZLE - Strong, but not thick or heavy, with fine,
Any departure from the following should be lean, black lips that are never heavy or pendulous. The
considered a fault, and the seriousness with which the slight degree of chiseling under the eyes does not
fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion cause the foreface to appear weak or snipey.
to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare Serious Fault: Flesh-colored lips.
of the dog and on the dog’s ability to perform its TEETH - A full complement of strong, white teeth meet
traditional work, which includes acting as a companion. in a scissors bite.
Serious Faults: Undershot bite. Overshot bite.
HISTORY EYES - The eyes are black or dark brown in color. They
Existence of the Bichon Frise breed has been are round and are set in the skull in such a way that
documented since the 14th century, when French they look directly forward. Eye rim pigment is black.
sailors brought them back from Tenerife, one of the The skin surrounding the eyes (halo) is always black or
Canary Islands. The breed is thought to have been very dark brown.
brought there by traders, using the Phoenician trade Serious Faults: Broken pigment or total lack of pigment
route, as items of barters. The breed’s area of origin is around the eyes. Blank and/or staring expression. Eyes
thought to be Italy and the areas around that country, any other color than black or dark brown.
where most of the Bichon breeds were found. NOSE - Prominent and always black.
The Bichon Frise is unique among the Bichon Eliminating Fault: Flesh colored nose.
breeds as it is double coated, having both an under and EARS - Characteristically dropped ears are covered with
outer coat. This gives the breed its characteristic long, flowing hair. They are set forward on the skull at
“powder puff” appearance. slightly higher than eye level, framing the face when
the dog is alert. In proportion, when the ears are pulled
toward the nose, they extend approximately half the docked and must not be on contact with the back;
length of the muzzle. however, the tail furnishing may fall onto the back. The
tail, if extended toward the head, measures at least
NECK halfway to the withers.
The long, arched neck is carried proudly, blending Serious Faults: Low tail set. Drooping tail. Corkscrew tail.
smoothly into the shoulders. It holds the head erect.
Measured from the occiput to the withers, the length COAT
of the neck is about one-third the distance of the body Coat texture is of utmost importance. The coat consists
length, which is measured from the forechest of both an undercoat, which is soft and dense, and an
(prosternum) to the point of the buttocks. outer coat, which is coarser and curlier. The coat is soft,
but substantial, feeling similar to plush or velvet; and
FOREQUARTERS springs back when patted. After bathing and brushing,
The shoulder blade (scapula) and upper arm (humerus) the coat stands off from the body, giving an overall
are about equal in length. The shoulder layback is at powder puff appearance.
approximately a 45-degree angle. The coat is trimmed only as needed to reveal the
FORELEGS - The medium-boned, straight legs do not natural outline of the body. It may be rounded off, but
curve in the forearm or wrist. The elbows are held never cut so short as to be sculpted and/or squared off.
close to the body. The pasterns slope slightly. The hair on the head, beard, moustache, ears and tail
Dewclaws may be removed. are left longer. The head hair is trimmed to create an
overall rounded, but not unnatural, appearance. The
BODY coat is left long enough to maintain the breed’s
Measured from the prosternum to the point of the characteristic powder puff look.
buttocks, the body is one-quarter longer than tall, Serious Faults: Coat flat, wavy, corded or too short. Lack
measured from the withers to the ground. The of undercoat.
measurement from the withers to the lowest point of
the chest is one-half of the distance from the withers COLOR
to the ground. The backline (from the rear end of the White is the acceptable color, but shadings of buff,
withers to the tail root) is level except for a slight cream or apricot around the ears or on the body are
muscular arch over the loin. acceptable. Pigmentation beneath the coat is preferably
The well-developed chest is wide, allowing free and dark.
unrestricted movement of the front legs. The lowest Serious Faults: Any color, other than white, in excess of
point of the chest extends at least to the elbows, which 10 percent of the entire coat on a mature dog, (not
are placed directly below the withers. The moderately- faulted in puppies).
sprung rib cage extends back to the short, muscular Disqualification: Albinism.
loin. The well-pronounced forechest projects slightly
past the point of the shoulder. The underline has a SIZE AND WEIGHT
moderate tuck-up. In the adult, both dogs and bitches 9½ inches to 11½
inches are the ideal. However, quality is not to be
HINDQUARTERS sacrificed if a superior specimen outside of this range is
The pelvis is broad and the hindquarters are well presented; not to be extended to under 9 inches or over
muscled. 12 inches.
HIND LEGS - The medium-boned legs are placed
moderately wide apart and are well-angulated at the GAIT
stifle and hock joints. From hock joint to foot pad, the At a trot, movement is free and effortless, yet precise.
leg is perpendicular to the ground. Dewclaws may be From the side, the front and hind legs extend equally
removed. with easy reach and drive, maintaining a steady topline.
While in action, the head and neck remain somewhat
FEET erect. As speed increases, the dog tends toward
Feet (paws) are tight and round, cat-like; they point convergence to a center line of travel. The hindquarters
directly forward, turning neither in nor out. Pads are maintain a moderate width between them while
black. Nails are to be kept short. moving, and the footpads can be seen. Movement is
precise and true coming and going.
TAIL
The well-plumed tail is set on level with the topline. The FAULTS
tail is normally carried raised and gracefully curved in The very nature of this breed is one of balance and
line with the spine, without being rolled up. It is not soundness; any structural faults are undesirable.
ELIMINATING FAULTS
(An Eliminating Fault is a Fault serious enough that it
eliminates the dog from obtaining any awards in a
conformation event.)
Flesh colored nose.

DISQUALIFICATIONS
(A dog with a Disqualification must not be considered
for placement in a bench show/conformation event, and
must be reported to UKC.)
Unilateral or bilateral cryptorchid.
Viciousness or extreme shyness.
Albinism.