Hellenic Hound vs Bichon Frise - Breed Comparison

Hellenic Hound vs Bichon Frise - Breed ComparisonBichon Frise is originated from Spain but Hellenic Hound is originated from Greece. Bichon Frise may grow 25 cm / 9 inches shorter than Hellenic Hound. Bichon Frise may weigh 10 kg / 22 pounds lesser than Hellenic Hound. Bichon Frise may live 7 years more than Hellenic Hound. Both Bichon Frise and Hellenic Hound has almost same litter size. Both Bichon Frise and Hellenic Hound requires Low Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Companion dog
Hound dog
undefined
Spain
Greece
Height Male:
23 - 30 cm
9 - 12 inches
47 - 55 cm
18 - 22 inches
Height Female:
21 - 29 cm
8 - 12 inches
45 - 53 cm
17 - 21 inches
Weight Male:
5 - 10 kg
11 - 23 pounds
17 - 20 kg
37 - 45 pounds
Weight Female:
4 - 8 kg
8 - 18 pounds
15 - 18 kg
33 - 40 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 19 Years
10 - 12 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 6
6 - 8
Size:
Small
Medium
Other Names:
Bichón Tenerife • Bichon à poil frisé Bichon
Greek Hound or the Hellenikos Ichnilatis The Hellenic Hound, Greek Harehound
Colors Available:
white
Black with tan markings
Coat:
Medium length, silky texture with corkscrew curls
Short, smooth, sleek
Shedding:
Minimal
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Friendly, Intelligent, Loving, Playful, Social, Stubborn, Sweet
Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Playful, Stubborn, Sweet
Grooming:
Low Maintenance
Low Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
Yes
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
No

History

bichon friseContrary 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.

hellenic houndDeveloped in Southern Greece, the Hellenic Hound was bred to hunt hare and is an ancient breed. It is a medium sized breed with strong scent and tracking skills. It is believed to have been in existence for thousands of years. The ancestry of the breed included the Lagonikoi or laconikoi, native to southern Greece in ancient times. The breed was spread by sailors on Greece trading ships and colonization.

Todays Hellenic Hound is found throughout Europe. Kept somewhat isolated by the mountains, the breed was protected from outside breeding and they remained pure for centuries. It is a fearless, smart and hyped up purebred. The Hellenic Hound needs to have a job and if you don’t give him one, he will find one. He is smart and independent which sometimes makes him stubborn. It also takes this dog longer to mature than others, sometime between two and three years. It is not good for first time owners. Today’s hound is still a popular hunting dog and companion animal as well. They are rarely seen outside of the Greek country.

In 1996 the Hellenic Hound was recognized as the first Greek dog breed into the FCI. They are not recognized by the AKC. Its numbers continue to decline.

Description

bichon frise puppy - descriptionThe 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.

hellenic hound puppy - descriptionToday’s Hellenic Hound is not a big dog but rather very average or medium. It is an athletic dog and looks like it. It has a balanced body with a deep chest and thick neck. It has medium height legs that are strong and muscular with paws that are prepared for the terrain it always works on. Its coat is short and tight. The colors of the Hellenic Hound are black with tan or white on the chest. Their heads are noble and rounded with a rectangle shaped muzzle. They have v shaped, long ears and round eyes. Their toe nails are black and so is their nose. It has excellent scent glands, very quick responses, speed and stamina. Their tail is thick and tapers off.

Characteristics

bichon frise dog - characteristicsThe 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

Children friendliness

hellenic hound dog - characteristicsyes, they are very fond of children as long as they are carefully socialized.

Special talents

Great hunter, stamina ,scent, voice

Adaptable

He needs to have a yard or land. He doesn’t do well in apartments.

Learning

The breed is very intelligent and can be very trainable. However, they can also be stubborn and that makes training harder.

Health Problems

bichon frise puppies - health problemsThe 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.

hellenic hound puppies - health problemsThe Hellenic Hound is a fairly healthy breed having been isolated on the Island of Greece for the most part. They are susceptible to:

Joint dysplasia

Could be hips, elbows or knees. If untreated can lead to lameness or inability to walk.

Arthritis

Causes joint pain and can cause lameness or inability to walk.

Bloat

Can be fatal if not treated immediately. To avoid it don’t feed a large meal before or after exercise.

Hunting injuries

Can be a variety of things that occur during the hunt.

Ear infections

Need to keep the ears clean and dry in order to avoid infections.

Caring The Pet

Feeding

bichon frise dogs - caringBeing 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.

Feeding the puppy

hellenic hound dogs - caringFeed the puppy 2-3 times a day a total of 2 cups

Feeding the adult

Feed the adult twice a day a total of 2-3 cups

Points for Good Health

The Hellenic Hound has excellent stamina, speed and scenting ability.

Games and Exercises

This is a very active, athletic dog that needs to work and needs exercise. He is powerful, quick and has great endurance. It thrives on hunting but will need other activities on the days it doesn’t hunt. It needs a yard or land to play in. Agility, Field Trials, tracking, hunting and fly ball are all activities the Hellenic Hound will enjoy.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Hellenic Hound vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  2. Hellenic Hound vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  3. Hellenic Hound vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  4. Hellenic Hound vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  5. Hellenic Hound vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. Hellenic Hound vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  7. Hellenic Hound vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  8. Hellenic Hound vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Hellenic Hound vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. Hellenic Hound vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  11. Hellenic Hound vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  12. Hellenic Hound vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  13. Hellenic Hound vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  14. Hellenic Hound vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  15. Hellenic Hound vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  16. Hellenic Hound vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  17. Hellenic Hound vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  18. Hellenic Hound vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  19. Hellenic Hound vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  20. Hellenic Hound vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  21. Hellenic Hound vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  22. Hellenic Hound vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  23. Hellenic Hound vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  24. Hellenic Hound vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  25. Hellenic Hound vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. Bichon Frise vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Bichon Frise vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Bichon Frise vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Bichon Frise vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Bichon Frise vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Bichon Frise vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Bichon Frise vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Bichon Frise vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Bichon Frise vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Bichon Frise vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Bichon Frise vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Bichon Frise vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Bichon Frise vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Bichon Frise vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Bichon Frise vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Bichon Frise vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Bichon Frise vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Bichon Frise vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Bichon Frise vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Bichon Frise vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Bichon Frise vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Bichon Frise vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Bichon Frise vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Bichon Frise vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Bichon Frise vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison