The hybrid called the La-Chon is a new breed of
dog that does not have a detailed history, though the two breeds that combine
to create the breed have long histories. Buddhist monks that lived in the
Tibetan mountains developed the Lhasa Apso as sentinels for the temples and
monasteries. It is believed by some that the dogs descended from Tibetan
Terriers, while others believe that dogs of the breed may have been influenced
by dogs from the North. Upon studying the breed’s DNA, it appears that one of
the Lhasa Apso’s ancestors may be a type of mountain wolf. The breed was
developed to handle cold temperatures and their judgement ability helped them
to determine whether someone approaching was a friend or an enemy. Dogs of the
breed were never sold, though the the Dalai Lamas would give a pair as a gift
on occasion to Imperial families and visiting dignitaries. In 1933 the breed
first arrived in the U.S. when the 13th Dalai Lama offered a group
of the small dogs to Mr. and Mrs. Suydam Cutting. The breed’s beginning in the
U.S. came from these dogs and the breed gained recognition by the American
Kennel Club in 1935. Multiple beliefs exist about the history of the Bichon
Frise. While some feel that the breed has been in existence since before the
time of Christ, others believe the breed descends from the Maltese, while still
others reference accounts that point to the breed descending from the Barbet,
Water Spaniel and possibly the Poodle. Bichons, all thought to have come from
the Mediterranean region, were divided into four categories: bichon Bolognais,
the bichon Havanais, the bichon Maltais and the bichon Teneriffe. According to
history, dogs of the breed were bartered with by sailors. Popular in Spain, it
is believed that Spanish sailors were responsible for introducing the breed to
Teneriffe, an island in the Canaries. Italian sailors rediscovered the dogs in
the 1300’s and the breed became popular with Italian nobility. The breed was
also popular in France during the Renaissance, achieving increased popularity
under Henry III. The breed’s popularity decreased in the late 1800’s when the
dogs were participants in fairs and the circus. In 1933, the president of the International
Canine Federation recommended that the breed be called the Bichon Frise. The
first of the Bichon Frise born in the United States was in 1956.