Griffichon

The Bichon Frise has been around since the ancient times in France and its name means curly coat in French due to its coat. They are related to the Barbet and French Water Dogs. There are four groups of Bichons, which include the Bichon Tenerife, Bichon Havanese, Bichon Bolognese, and the Bichon Maltais. The Coton de Tulear is also thought to have some ties to these Bichons. They all came from the Mediterranean and first came to Europe in the 14th century when they were royal companions to King Henry III. Starting in the 1800s, they were found to have a high intelligence and were charming performers so they were used in the circus as show dogs and companions for street performers. After World War one, French breeders began to preserve the breed and it was acknowledged by the International Kennel Club (IKC) of France in 1933. Because of this, the Bichon Frise became popular in the United States and was accepted into the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1972. Today, the Bichon Frise is the 45th most popular dog in the United States. The Brussels Griffon started out as a rat and mouse hunter in the 19th century in Belgium. They were used to keep vermin out of the stables and eventually ended up riding with the horse drawn cabs to protect them from would  be robbers. The Brussels Griffon is a mix of the Griffon d’Ecurie, Affenpinscher, Yorkshire Terrier, and English Toy Spaniel. Although they are no longer used as ratters, they are still liable to chase small critters around the yard when they get a chance. There are three varieties of the breed, which include the Petit Brabancon, Belgium Griffon, and Brussels Griffon and they come in rough and smooth types. They are the 97th most popular dog breed in the United States and were accepted by the AKC in 1910.