Griffon Nivernais vs Bichon Frise - Breed Comparison

Contrary to the myths and many of the tales of the history of the Bichon Frise, the breed was originally developed in Spain. Later specific trait development occurred in France to give us the lap dog Bichon Frise that we know today. The original Spanish dog – the Bichon – was a water – sailing dog. It was descended from the poodle breeds crossed with either the water spaniels or the Barbet. These early dogs were friendly and happy and because of this, sailors carried them with them on their ships and even bartered them for supplies. Prior to the 14th century the Spanish probably brought them to the Canary Islands. Later in the 14th century they we discovered again by Italian sailors who returned them to Europe where they lived in the courts of the nobility. During the Renaissance and after the French fell in love with the breed while the Spanish continue to enjoy their presence.

In the late 19th century in France the breed fell out of popularity and became street dogs and circus and fair dogs. They also worked with organ grinders and assisted the blind. In the early 20th century, the Societe Centrale Canine, the National Kennel Club of France, adopted the breed’s official standard – while they were still known as both the Bichon and the Tenerife. The popularity of the breed at this time is heavily attributed to “The Adventures of TinTIn” , by Herge, which featured a small, white, fluffy fox terrier. Then the president of the Federation Cynoloqique Internationale presented a new name for the breed based on its characteristics. The name Bichon Frise kept the Bichon heritage and added “curly” the meaning of Frise. Under this name the breed was admitted to the Societe Centrale Canine stud book in October of 1934.

The Bichon Frise came to the United States for the first time in 19554 and was admitted to the American Kennel Club Stud Book in 1972. They entered the non-sporting group of the AKC in 1973. By 2001 the Bichon Frise, J.R., won the Westminster Dog Show. In 1976, the Bichon Frise came to Australia, imported by Harry and Margaret Begg who oversaw the growth of the breed there. Today there are 4 separate breeds believed to be descended from the original Bichon/Tenerife breeds – the Bichon Frise, the Bichon Bolognaise, the Maltese and the Havanese.

The Griffon Nivernais is a working breed dog originating in France and used as a hunting dog because of his exceptional scent skills and his alertness with hunting.

The idea was to develop a dog that looked much like the hunting dogs of the Middle Ages. French noblemen kept these dogs but the breed disappeared somewhat after the French Revolution, being restored again in 1925.

The restoration of the breed was done based on the Grand Griffon Vendeen but other breeds were also used such as the Otter- and Foxhounds. The breed has yet to receive official recognition by the AKC but it is recognized by both the FCI and the UKC.

The modern Bichon Frise is a white, small dog with a round skull and muzzle. The nose should be black and the eyes round and dark. Depending on the size of the dog, the legs and head are proportionate to the body, while the tail should be curly and long. Both the tail and the ears must not be docked. Their coat is as hypoallergenic as a dog gets. It is white, dense and for most Bichon Frise, it is curly. They should have black lips as well.

As a medium sized dog, the Griffon Nivernais stands at 55 to 62cm in height and weighs between about 22 and 25kg.

He is recognized easily by his distinctive rough or shaggy coat which is a grey with fawn around the muzzle and legs. Other colors can be black and fawn. Sometimes this blend of colors gives him a grizzled look in appearance.

He is also noted for the hairy eyebrows, a beard and mustache. He has dark brown eyes, black nose, long floppy ears and a tail that is held upright and with a slight curve. He is a muscular dog with a deep chest and a slight arch in the back.

Temperament:

Stubborn, courageous and independent, the Griffon Nivernais is a hunting dog with amazing scenting abilities. He is a dog used to working in a pack with other dogs so he tolerates other dogs well. He is a friendly dog, getting on well with children as well.

The Bichon Frise, according to the American Kennel Club is a cheerful and merry dog. They are gentle, playful, sensitive and affectionate. These dogs love people, are very social and like other dogs as well. They love to play with children and they are intelligent and affectionate. They were developed in their latter stages by the French to be “lap dogs” or companion animals. They are not territorial by nature but can become so if confined and encouraged. Start obedience training early and be consistent throughout their lives. They take to training easily if positive techniques are used. They do however, have a reputation for not taking well to housetraining. Be persistent

Your Griffon Nivernais is a sociable, stubborn, independent dog who loves to be around his human family members.

Socialization and training will do him good and round him off, making him obedient and responsive to your commands. He isn't an aggressive dog, but is even tempered and confident.

Exercise him well, feed him quality food, give him a nice warm, dry place to sleep, just like any other family member of yours, and you'll be rewarded with the companionship of a faithful, loving friend.

The coat of the Bichon Frise can easily become matted if not brushed or combed every day. Severe matting can lead to a hematoma in their ears. They are also very prone to ear infections so paying a lot of attention to their ears is imperative. They are will chew and scratch themselves if not groomed well and this can cause skin infections and conditions. They might have allergies to fleas, pollen, chemicals, and dust. The patella (knee cap) can be loose, diabetes, cataracts and heart disease also affect the Bichon Frise. In the United Kingdom the number one cause of death for the breed is old age -13 plus years, with 21% dying of cancer. In North America cancer is the number one killer as it is for most dogs. The Bichon might also be afflicted with hematologic disorders such as AIHA (Autoimmune hemolytic anemia) and ITP (Immune-mediated thrombocytopenia) which while less common than cancer will kill the dog much earlier in life than cancer. The other condition that the Bichon Frise is prone to are liver shunts. If found early they can be surgically corrected but most are not, and liver failure is eventually the cause of death.

The typical lifespan for your Griffon Nivernais is 10 to 14 years. Even though you're highly unlikely to spend much time with him at the vet, there are one or two common dog illnesses worth knowing about -

Ear Infections:

It is the fate of many dogs with floppy ears that they are prone to developing ear infections. You may notice him shaking his head canine, his ears may be red and there could even be a discharge.Get him to the vet as ear infections can be promptly treated with a course of medication.

Immunizations:

Remember to have your Griffon Nivernais puppy vaccinated at 6 weeks of age. Puppies are vulnerable to horrible diseases which can sap the very life from them. These diseases are distemper, canine hepatitis, parvovirus as well as rabies. The puppy’s first vaccinations should be at 6 weeks of age followed by a second vaccination 2 to 4 weeks later.

Feeding

Being a small dog, the Bichon Frise is susceptible to obesity and that condition will be terminal in the end for this breed. So make sure you do not overfeed your Bichon Frise. The same is true with the use of treats. The Bichon loves treats and loves the association with treats of having pleased you. They should be fed small meals – about ¼ cup of good high quality dry food twice a day.

Health issues

As previously mentioned the Bichon Frise is susceptible to:

Hematomas and infections of the ear if not groomed well and consistently.

Cancer is number one killer.

Hematological Issues are deadlier than cancer.

Liver shunts are a very serious concern.

Exercise and games

Though the Bichon Frise is not an overly active dog, they do love to play. They are characterized by short bursts of activity followed by long periods of rest. They can be worn out just by running around the house. You must play with them everyday as well as take them on a walk each day. Bichons are fast and agile and do well in agility trials. They also like to compete in rally and obedience trials. Most of all they love to and need to play with their people every day.

Exercise:

This breed needs to be walked daily, and he needs a large space to run and play. Take him on walks, to the park, or give him a good game with ropes and balls.

Grooming:

In spite of his long, shaggy coat, the Griffon Nevernais doesn't need any special grooming and his shaggy coat will require brushing twice a week to remove loose hairs. When you brush him, you can also check for fleas and ticks.You get special flea combs for this. You can speak to your vet about recommendations too.

Because his coat is of a harsh texture it doesn't tangle or matt. Bathing will only be necessary when he becomes super dirty as too much bathing removes natural oils. He will need to have his nails trimmed if they don't wear down naturally, and he will also need to have his ears cleaned to keep them free of wax and dirt and to prevent ear infections.

Brush his teeth 2 or 3 times a week will also help towards preventing dental disease.

Diet:

He is a high energy dog so he will need to get top quality food. You can feed him the best commercially manufactured food but its to his advantage to include some home-made food too such as cooked chicken, brown rice and vegetables. He'll also need some raw meat from time to time and a constant supply of fresh, cool water.