AKC
Bichon Frise Breed Standard
General Appearance
The Bichon Frise is a small, sturdy, white powder puff of a dog whose merry temperament is evidenced by his plumed
tail carried jauntily over the back and his dark-eyed inquisitive expression.
This is a breed that has no gross or incapacitating exaggerations and therefore there is no inherent reason for
lack of balance or unsound movement.
Any deviation from the ideal described in the standard should be penalized to the extent of the deviation.
Structural faults common to all breeds are as undesirable in the Bichon Frise as in any other breed, even though
such faults may not be specifically mentioned in the standard.
Size, Proportion, Substance
Size Dogs and bitches 9½ to 11½ inches are to be given primary preference. Only where the
comparative superiority of a specimen outside this range clearly justifies it should greater latitude be taken. In
no case, however, should this latitude ever extend over 12 inches or under 9 inches. The minimum limits do not
apply to puppies. Proportion--The body from the forward-most point of the chest to the
point of rump is ¼ longer than the height at the withers. The body from the withers to lowest point of chest
represents ½ the distance from withers to ground. Substance--Compact and of medium bone
throughout; neither coarse nor fine.
Head
Expression--Soft, dark-eyed, inquisitive, alert. Eyes are
round, black or dark brown and are set in the skull to look directly forward. An overly large or bulging eye is a
fault as is an almond shaped, obliquely set eye. Halos, the black or very dark brown skin surrounding the eyes, are
necessary as they accentuate the eye and enhance expression. The eye rims themselves must be black. Broken pigment,
or total absence of pigment on the eye rims produce a blank and staring expression, which is a definite fault. Eyes
of any color other than black or dark brown are a very serious fault and must be severely penalized.
Ears are drop and are covered with long flowing hair. When extended toward the nose, the
leathers reach approximately halfway the length of the muzzle. They are set on slightly higher than eye level and
rather forward on the skull, so that when the dog is alert they serve to frame the face. The
skull is slightly rounded, allowing for a round and forward looking eye. The
stop is slightly accentuated. Muzzle--A properly balanced head
is three parts muzzle to five parts skull, measured from the nose to the stop and from the stop to the occiput. A
line drawn between the outside corners of the eyes and to the nose will create a near equilateral triangle. There
is a slight degree of chiseling under the eyes, but not so much as to result in a weak or snipey foreface. The
lower jaw is strong. The nose is prominent and always black.
Lips are black, fine, never drooping. Bite is scissors. A bite
which is undershot or overshot should be severely penalized. A crooked or out of line tooth is permissible,
however, missing teeth are to be severely faulted.
Neck, Topline and Body
The arched neck is long and carried proudly behind an erect head. It blends smoothly into
the shoulders. The length of neck from occiput to withers is approximately 1/3 the distance from forechest to
buttocks. The topline is level except for a slight, muscular arch over the loin.
Body--The chest is well developed and wide enough to allow free and unrestricted movement
of the front legs. The lowest point of the chest extends at least to the elbow. The rib cage is moderately sprung
and extends back to a short and muscular loin. The forechest is well pronounced and protrudes slightly forward of
the point of shoulder. The underline has a moderate tuck-up. Tail is well plumed, set on
level with the topline and curved gracefully over the back so that the hair of the tail rests on the back. When the
tail is extended toward the head it reaches at least halfway to the withers. A low tail set, a tail carried
perpendicularly to the back, or a tail which droops behind is to be severely penalized. A corkscrew tail is a very
serious fault.
Forequarters
Shoulders--The shoulder blade, upper arm and forearm are approximately equal in length.
The shoulders are laid back to somewhat near a forty-five degree angle. The upper arm extends well back so the
elbow is placed directly below the withers when viewed from the side. Legs are of medium bone;
straight, with no bow or curve in the forearm or wrist. The elbows are held close to the body. The
pasterns slope slightly from the vertical. The dewclaws may be removed. The
feet are tight and round, resembling those of a cat and point directly forward, turning
neither in nor out. Pads are black. Nails are kept short.
Hindquarters
The hindquarters are of medium bone, well angulated with muscular thighs and spaced moderately wide. The upper and
lower thigh are nearly equal in length meeting at a well bent stifle joint. The leg from hock joint to foot pad is
perpendicular to the ground. Dewclaws may be removed. Paws are tight and round with black pads.
Coat
The texture of the coat is of utmost importance. The undercoat is soft and dense, the outercoat of a coarser and
curlier texture. The combination of the two gives a soft but substantial feel to the touch which is similar to
plush or velvet and when patted springs back. When bathed and brushed, it stands off the body, creating an overall
powder puff appearance. A wiry coat is not desirable. A limp, silky coat, a coat that lies down, or a lack of
undercoat are very serious faults. Trimming--The coat is trimmed to reveal the natural
outline of the body. It is rounded off from any direction and never cut so short as to create an overly trimmed or
squared off appearance. The furnishings of the head, beard, moustache, ears and tail are left longer. The longer
head hair is trimmed to create an overall rounded impression. The topline is trimmed to appear level. The coat is
long enough to maintain the powder puff look which is characteristic of the breed.
Color
Color is white, may have shadings of buff, cream or apricot around the ears or on the body. Any color in excess of
10% of the entire coat of a mature specimen is a fault and should be penalized, but color of the accepted shadings
should not be faulted in puppies.
Gait
Movement at a trot is free, precise and effortless. In profile the forelegs and hind legs extend equally with an
easy reach and drive that maintain a steady topline. When moving, the head and neck remain somewhat erect and as
speed increases there is a very slight convergence of legs toward the center line. Moving away, the hindquarters
travel with moderate width between them and the foot pads can be seen. Coming and going, his movement is precise
and true.
Temperament
Gentle mannered, sensitive, playful and affectionate. A cheerful attitude is the hallmark of the breed and one
should settle for nothing less.
Approved October 11, 1988
Effective November 30, 1988
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