orget about those blazing Border Col- lies, speedy Shetland Sheepdogs, and Fflying Papillons. The 2019 Westminster Masters Agility Championship belonged to a Curly, clever, and powder puff. It didn’t matter that so, so cute, the Winky, a 5-year-old Bichon Frise, completed the course in a leisurely 192 seconds, Bichon Frise was with 92 faults, noted the Rockland/Westchester born to chase Journal News. (The win- ning time was about 32 seconds.) smiles. By the next morning, the tiny lapdog from Agility is her game, but posing brought her By Mara Bovsun New City, New York, fame. Cheers distracted agility dog Winky during was famous. her memorable run at the 2019 Westminster Masters Agility Championship. Playing to the crowd earned her fans around the world. BARRY ROSEN BARRY ROSEN 1/5 s e p t e m b e r / o c t o b e r 2 0 1 9 • a k c f a m i l y d o g Health is Prince is always trying to make magnifi cent new friends. Your Bichon Frisé is known for his distinctive white, curly coat and playful personality. These details are the reason we tailor-made a diet containing nutrients to support a healthy skin and coat. An exclusive formula with high digestibility, prebiotics, and a precise blend of fi bers assists with digestive sensitivities, while reduced dietary fat and L-carnitine helps him maintain an ideal weight. When you feed ROYAL CANIN® BICHON FRISÉ formula, you’ll see him become his magnifi cent best.

Find your breed’s unique formula and download your fi rst purchase coupon Video of her agility “stroll” went viral. ster is a very intense experience, with constant at royalcanin.com/breed Tweeters called her a “spirit animal” and noise, scents, and sights. “the people’s champ.” In an essay, “A Lesson Their day had started before dawn and their from Winky,” Marie Osmond urged fans to second run, the one that went viral, was not “remember Winky…the adorable little soul until 4 p.m. who reminded us all to simply enjoy life and But the real problem? be happy with our efforts…no matter how People. imperfect they may be.” Westminster’s huge crowds touched some- Winky’s owner, Joanne Ouchterloney, thing deep in Winky’s soul—the Bichon told fd that the 13-pound dog is a seasoned Frise’s primal instinct to show off. competitor, precise and quick, who is close Ouchterloney, who has run Bichons in to achieving her Master Agility Champion agility for 15 years, realized right away things (MACH) title. might not go as she hoped. In other words, she knows her way around “I went out there knowing this was going to an agility course. be one of her ‘look at me’ runs,” she says. So what happened? At the top of the A-frame, Winky paused.

For one thing, Ouchterloney says, Westmin- “She was like, ‘Oooooo, I’m on the A-frame MARGARET MANNIX & MIKE POTTS, INNER MOUNTAIN PHOTOGRAPHY

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© ROYAL CANIN® SAS 2019. All Rights Reserved.

FD_ad_template_2017.indd 1 7/22/19 11:34 AM Royal Canin AKC Publication Ads - Family Dog Sept_Oct Bichon.indd 1 7/22/19 9:03 AM 3 What ComesNaturally area,” shesays.“Itwasinsane.” through thecrowdstogobackcrating lieve thecheerswegotaswerewalking them. “Thenitwasover, andIcouldn’t be mortified, hopingthegroundwouldswallow partner recalls. this angle.You seemefrom thatangle,’”her posing upthere.‘Seeme.You seemefrom loney. “‘Thisisfun!’” and lookatallthesepeople,’”saysOuchter / It wasallsocute,funny, so,inaword, While itwashappening,Ouchterloney Then shegottothedogwalk.“Shewas 5

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g o d y l i m a f - - off foryou.’Very typicalBichon attitude.” star oftheshow, andI’mjustgoingtoshow rie Carlton.“ThatisatypicalBichon.‘I’mthe Winky, onashortcuttocenterstage. march totheirowndrummer.” They wanttoknowwhat’s goingon,butthey are veryinquisitive.Theysmart. like livingwithaperpetual3-year-old. They Club ofAmerica. land, NewYork, president oftheBichonFrise Bichon, saysGailAntetomaso,ofLongIs Carlton shouldknow. Shehashada45-year “Winky hadthecrowd,”saysbreederLor The drumbeatgenerallytakesthem,asitdid “Here’s mytakeonBichons,”shesays.“It’s - - him along when she shows other dogs. Even him alongwhensheshows otherdogs.Even he lovesthescenesomuch thatCarltontakes paws whenhewontheshowin2001. strated bythewilddoublepumpofhisfluffy Just Right,alsohadthattalent,asdemon minster BISpredecessor, Ch.SpecialTimes waves deliveredlikeapunchline.HisWest light-snatching stunts,tailwagsandpaw Kennel ClubDogShow. captured BestinShowat2018’s Westminster All ICareAboutIsLove,akaFlynn,who most recenttriumphisGCh.BelleCreek’s career breedingandshowingBichons.Her Flynn retiredrightafter Westminster, but Flynn iswell-knownforhisspot - - - several varieties of a “small, coated dog, often several varietiesofa“small, coateddog,often to antiquity. small breedsthathaverootsstretchingback ancient ancestors,buttheyareoneofseveral Life IsaCircus tail nevergoesdown.” him tomeetkids?Sure,noproblem.…The You wanttopickhimup—no problem.Want “Anyone wantstoloveonhim—noproblem. please thecrowd. from thesidelines,Flynnstillfindswaysto Somewhere along the line, there appeared Somewhere alongthe line, thereappeared Not muchisknownabouttheBichon’s “He sitsontopofthecrate,”saysCarlton.

THIS PAGE LAURA WINSTON 4 They arethoughttohave descendedfrom her 1990book, white,” asauthorBarbara Stubbsnotedin / 5 to lovethem. will thriveanywhereaslongtheyhavepeople lent apartmentdogs,butarehighlyadaptableand dogs andtoplaywithhair. Bichonsmake excel hypoallergenic forallpeople.) vacuuming. (Keep inmind,nodogis100percent may workforthosewhohaveallergiesorhate the breedswithanon-sheddingcoat,sothey They areenergetic,sturdy, andlovetoshowoff. while smartandplayful,havemindsoftheirown. especially withhousetraining—becauseBichons, groom, and,ofcourse, pamper. guage based onthebreed’s name, enteredthelan so pamperedtheirBichonsthatanewverb, Group Islands. the BITS

Best For: Hypoallergenic? Training tips: There’s aword forthat: AKC Recognition: Purpose: Origin r e b m e t p e s —bichonner. : Tenerife, thelargestofCanary People who love to be with their People wholovetobewiththeir About Making peoplesmile. The CompleteBichon Frise / r e b o t c o In English it means to pet, InEnglishitmeanstopet, Consistencyisessential— BICHON Bichons are among Bichonsareamong 1973, Non-Sporting 1973, Non-Sporting

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g o d y l i m a f - . from theselittlecreatures. Therearethe the Barbet,acurly-coated waterdog. Some oftoday’s mostbelovedbreeds came glory. Flynn inhis and lapsofEuropean royaltyinthe1300s. modern BichonFrise. ife terrierisconsideredtheancestorof dog knownastheTenerife Bichon orTener routes, fromCubatotheCanaryIslands. A “curly-haired lapdog.” poil frise, the onesthatFrenchcalled straight-haired types,liketheMaltese,and Bichons madetheirway intothehearts They flourishedalongthemaritimetrade whichtranslatesintoEnglishas bichon à “BichonFriseLying onaRed Pillow,” byL.EugeneLambert, 1854 - urchins dancedandperformed tricks,skills make peoplelovethem. where survivaldependedontheirabilityto kicked outoftheircastlesandtothestreets, Pampered pupsoftherichandroyalwere from theowner’s neck. ing littledogsinbasketsdangledbyribbons uation withhispetssparkedafadofcarry France’s 16th-centurykingHenryIII’s infat Through the19thcentury, caninestreet The FrenchRevolutionendedallthat. - -

LEFT: PATRINA ODETTE; RIGHT AKC MUSEUM OF THE DOG others aftershesawthematadogshow. “They with herBichons,chosethebreedoverseveral work inprogress,” shesays. to prepareaBichonfortheshowring.“It’s always a ongoing conditioning,itcantake acoupleofhours round—round legs,roundbody, round head.” angles. “Thewholeideaisit’s supposedtobe since themid-1980s,saysthereshouldbenohard the idealisa“small, sturdypowderpuffofadog.” explained inthebreedstandard,whichspecifiesthat Club ofAmericapresidentGailAntetomasosaysit’s Puff 5 / Joanne Ouchterloney, whocompetesinagility Easier saidthandone, sheadmits.Evenwith Antetomaso, whohasbeeninvolvedwithBichons What’s withtheball-shapedhead?BichonFrise 5

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g o d y l i m a f py, Prince, istohavefun.Groomingpartofthat. approach. OneidaCintronsayshergoalwithpup to thepros. er. Like her, manyBichonownersleavetheclipping and Macaroni,10—haveregularvisitstothegroom Bichon aBichon.Herthreedogs—Winky, Razzle, 2, still maintainstheroundappearancethatmakes a basis. Shekeeps herathletesinashorterclip, but sports, superfluffishardtoachieveonadaily she recalls. so smarttome. AndI said, thisisthedogIwant,” obviously havetogetsuperfluffed.Theyalllooked were lineduponthegroomingtablebecausethey in NewYork City. Forthem,lifeisall about Go Everywhere, DoEverything of devotedfansinthemodernworld. for thiswork. and jauntytailheldovertheback,weremade rimmed eyes,powder-puff coat(seesidebar) ism. Bichons,withtheirbright,dark,black- needed adorablefacesandpleasingmanner sturdy bodies.To appealtospectators,they and travelingpeddlersearntheirkeep. that helpedorgangrinders,circusperformers, Still, as daunting as it may seem, some prefer a DIY Still, asdauntingitmayseem,somepreferaDIY But withwork,school,afamily, and trainingfor Take OneidaandAlbertCintron,wholive These qualitieshavewonthebreedlegions To learntricks,theyneededbrainsand - - -

well-rounded dog. a off theirhandiworktopeoplewhoappreciate offer advice, and,bestofall,theygettoshow puff. Theytradetipsaboutproductsandtechniques, members devotedtomasteringthefineartof group, AmateurBichonGrooming,thathas3,673 grooming petBichons.ShebelongstoaFacebook are bornandbeforetheygototheirowners. ers willstartthiseducationsoonafterthepuppies enjoy grooming—hair, teeth,andnails.Goodbreed They learntotrust.We havearoutine.” says. “It’s like bonding.Theyrelax.fallasleep. and rideaboogieboard. love thebeach,sotheir doglearnedtoswim fortable anywhereand withanyone.They puppy, Casper, fromabreeder. passed away, shesays,theypurchased a ed aBichonmixfromshelter. Whenhe breed severalyearsagowhentheyadopt purebred Bichon.Theyfellinlovewiththe 10-month-old Prince,thecouple’s second work, andweplaywiththedog.” thing aroundourdog,”saysOneida.“We the Bichon. Apparently, Cintronisnottheonly onewholoves Her advicetonewownersisteachpuppies “It’s notaburden.Theylovetobecombed,” she The CintronstrainedCaspertobecom The CintronsownoneofFlynn’s sons, “Vacations andweekends, weplanevery - - - - Hello! Look!It’s me!” he’s going uptothepersonandsaying,‘Hello! sure he’s being noticed.SaysOneida,“It’s like legs, andpumphispawsintheairtomake typical moveistorunover, standonhishind for makingfriends,canine,andhuman. lax, they’llsitdownandrelaxwithyou.” says. “Butifyouwanttositdownandre When Prince sees a friendly person, his When Princeseesafriendlyperson,his She especiallyadmiresherpuppy’s talent here, walkthere,theyarewithyou,”she their peoplewant. sturdy, lively, andhappytodowhatever enough tobeeasytravelcompanionsbut 11½ inchesattheshoulder, theyaresmall places, thebreedisperfect.At9½to For moreinformation, visit showed asurprisingflairforbarnhunt. ing withtheotherdogsandpeople.He flyball, andhashadagreattimeplay already triedagility, lurecoursing,and NY. and tripstoCanineCampGetawayof swimming lessons,training,packwalks, mersion puppyprogram—socialization, “Bichons, ifyouwanttogohiking, Cintrons immediatelystartedatotalim came intotheirlivessoonafter. The For theCintrons,wholovetovisitnew Before hisfirstbirthday, Princehad Casper diedearlyin2019andPrince FD bichon.org - - . -

LAURA WINSTON