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Bichon is the name for a type of related non-sporting category dog breeds. They vary in appearance, but all have tails curled over their back, fur that doesn't readily shed, has a short snout, drop ears, and large, dark eyes. They were all bred to be amiable companion dogs and have a friendly, alert temperament. Their life expectancy is 15 years or more. The Bichon Frise, a type of bichon, is sometimes simply called a Bichon. ==Etymology and history== The word ''bichon'' comes from Middle French ''bichon'' ("small long-haired dog"), a diminutive of Old French ''biche'' ("bitch, female dog"), from Old English ''bicce'' ("bitch, female dog"), related to Old Norse ''bikkja'' ("female dog") and German ''Betze'' ("female dog").〔 Auguste Scheler, ''Dictionnaire d'étymologie française d'après les résultats de la science moderne'', "bichon". 〕〔 Donkin, Diez, ''An etymological dictionary of the Romance languages'', "biche". 〕 Some speculate that the word ''bichon'' originated as the result of the apheresis, or loss of syllable, of the word ''barbichon'' ("small poodle"), a derivative of ''barbiche'' ("shaggy dog"); however, this theory seems chronologically unlikely (if not impossible) despite the apparent similarity of the two words. The French word ''bichon'' is attested from 1588, but ''barbichon'' does not appear until 1694.〔 Centre National de Ressources Textuelles et Lexicales, "bichon". 〕〔http://www.myetymology.com/french/barbiche.html〕 Bichons descend from the ancient ancestors of the poodle, the barbet. From this, the ''barbichon,'' a small curly-coated water spaniel and another name for this family, was bred. Bichons comprise various Mediterranean breeds, each generally named for the region of origin. The original breeds were the Bichon Tenerife, from the Canary Islands; the Bichon Maltais, or Maltese; and the Bichon Bolognese, or simply Bolognese. There is argument about whether the Tenerife is the original stock for all bichons, or whether the Maltese (which seems to be an old type found on the islands before even the barbet was known) is the progenitor of the bichons, through its breeding with barbets. Ultimately, most of the modern bichon breeds have developed through the introduction of a variety of dogs to the barbichon type, establishing a family with recognizable characteristics in both temperament and type but without a single distinct progenitor. Bichons were ''the'' court dogs of medieval Europe, especially finding favor in France, Italy and Spain. The French word ''bichonner,'' which means to pamper or doll up, derives from the be-ribboned and lavish lifestyle enjoyed by the bichon owned by Henry III of France (reigned 1574-1589), which was carried in a little basket wherever the King went. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Bichon」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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