Scout enters the ring in memory of our son, J. Andrew Rosio, who was a Paralegal and a BSA Eagle Scout.Hence the AKC registered name, GCH CH Rosemont Legal Eagle, “Scout.”
Your Trusted Expert in Breeding and Maintaining Healthy Bichon Frisé
Prominent Canines
Famous Bichon Frisé:
- Special Times Just Right “JR” winner of Best in Show at the AKC National Championship and the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in 2001 and eventually sired over 60 champions
- GCHP CH Belle Creek’s All I Care About is Love “Flynn” winner of Best in Show
Notable Champions:
- Rosemont Bichon Frise, AKC Breeder of Merit Laura (Rosio) Winston has owned several #1 Bichons in the USA including GCHG CH PaRay’s Power and Privilege, “Dominick” who was AKC #1 Bichon Frise in 2012, 2013. He was collected in 2010 when Dr. Christensen was at UC Davis Theriogenology Dept., and 14 years later his straws were used with dam GCH CH Legend’s Surprise Party at Rosemont, “Dany” to produce a healthy litter of 6 puppies. Dany’s first litter sired by Rosemont’s Rocco produced 9 puppies by Kokopelli C-section including 2 AKC Champions. This litter saw GCHB CH Rosemont Legal Eagle “Scout,” become the AKC #1 Bichon Frise Bitch and #2 Bichon in the USA 2025, currently on the path to Westminster 2026.
- DeMartini Bichon Frise, Highly recognized Breeder Donna DeMartini bred her dam GCHB Blitzin Georgette Trés Jolie at DeMartini, “Gigi”x GCHG Belle Creek's All I Care About is Love, “Flynn” which produced GCHG DeMartini’s HRH Prince George of Cambridge, “George.” Kokopelli has collected George many times to preserve this champion line. George became AKC #1 Bichon Frise in 2020 after advancing from #2 in 2019. George’s legacy is stored with Kokopelli for future use.
- To make this an interesting pedigree, Rosemont’s Dany is a granddaughter, and DeMartini’s George is a son, both descendants from Flynn. Those who enjoy the dog fancy will recall Flynn was only the 2nd Bichon Frise to win Best in Show at Westminster in 2018, many years after CH Special Times Just Right, “JR” was BIS in 2001.
- FCI CH Rosemont Amé Jumelle “Rose” arrived at Kokopelli by C-section in August 2018, then exported in October 2019 becoming an FCI CH in Argentina, and shown internationally. In 2023 Rose became #1 Bichon in Argentina.
- Rosemont kennel imported GCHG Fanatic Scott YF “Scott” from China November 2018. Scott became the AKC #1 Bichon Frise in USA 2019 being awarded numerous Best in Shows including BFCA National Specialty winner, AKC National Champion, and Westminster KC Select Dog 2020. Scott returned to China in February 2020 and became the China Kennel Union #1 Bichon Frise in 2022. Kokopelli has collected several Scott semen specimens and has them in storage for future use.
GCHB CH Rosemont Legal Eagle “Scout”
GCHG CH PaRay’s Power and Privilege “Dominick”
Breeder Insights
Kokopelli (and Kokopelli-adjacent) Bichon Frisé in Action:
Our lovely Bichon Frisé, Dany, was delivered by c-section with Scout as one of seven puppies, by Dr. Christensen who has been our reproductive specialist since the UC Davis days 15 years ago. We have had numerous Bichons Frisés followed by Kokopelli Reproductive Veterinary Services over the years. We are very grateful to be recognized as an AKC Breeder of Merit with many generations of happy, healthy puppies.
Rosemont Bichons
The Bichon Frisé is a stunning, beautiful, white powder puff of a dog, whose personality is as appealing as its appearance. Friendly, playful and hypoallergenic makes this breed the perfect companion dog.
J’adorable Bichons
What We Love About Bichon Frisé:
- Bichons are a wonderful, easy breed to love. Their coat is soft and curly to feel and soothing during quiet times, yet when running and leaping outside, they are easily bathed and dried. This grooming time is a nice time to bond with your Bichon. They enjoy traveling and easily can be carried onboard when flying. Routine is best as they are learning their daily activities. This makes their eating and potty schedule very predictable. Bichons love their people and their pets, getting along well with other dogs and cats. In fact, they do better with companion pets. They don’t like being left alone for long periods. Bichons are always ready to greet you whether you’ve been gone an hour or a day - - it’s forever to them, they are so happy you’re home.
What’s not to love about a Bichon? They are fun, loving, and adorable companions.
Be Aware of...
- Personality—Bichons are very sociable and do best with people and other dogs around. They want to be everyone’s friend.
- Exercise—Bichons are great dogs in small spaces but do need to get out and exercise. They are energetic, active dogs and need regular, moderate exercise to stay healthy. They are excellent dogs to use in obedience and agility trials.
- Grooming— Daily coat brushing is recommended to prevent matting. Scissoring or trips to the groomer are recommended about once a month.
- Shedding— Bichons are low-shedding dogs.
- Stimulation— Bichons are very smart and will be happiest with an engaged owner who will take the time to train and interact with them.
- Barking—Bichons tend to be alert-barkers rather than incessant barkers, making them good watch dogs.
Breed Health
Health Predispositions:
- Medial luxating patellas
- Hip dysplasia
- Cataracts, glaucoma, entropion, distichiasis, corneal conditions, irritation from hair, tear staining
Health Clearances Recommended for Breeding a Bichon Frisé (more on each of these below):
- Patellar evaluation OFA: performed by any experienced veterinarian
- Hip OFA: radiographs or PennHip testing performed by a veterinarian and submitted for evaluation to the OFA
- Ophthalmologist Companion Animal Eye Registry (CAER) OFA: performed by a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist
Spaying/Neutering Recommendations:
Kokopelli veterinarians are as concerned as any dog-lover about the overpopulation of unwanted dogs which results in euthanasia of so many healthy dogs every year. Our veterinarians, however, recognize that dogs belonging to responsible families, who keep their dogs on a leash or contained within fenced yards, are not contributing to this problem. Spaying or neutering these responsibly controlled dogs does nothing to decrease the surplus population of stray dogs. When we counsel responsible dog owners about spaying and neutering, our advice is focused on health and behavioral concerns related to reproductive status (whether a dog is spayed, neutered, or intact). Various options exist beyond the traditional spay or neuter procedure, including vasectomy or Suprelorin implants for males (or just leaving them intact), and ovary-sparing spays or laparoscopic spays for females. We encourage you to investigate the hyperlinks provided here, and to reach out to our clinic for a consult if you would like to discuss your specific questions about your canine companions.
Future Owner Tips
Kokopelli Support for Breeders:
The mission of Kokopelli Assisted Reproductive Services at Kokopelli Veterinary Center is to fully support responsible breeders in creating the healthiest puppies possible. Part of that mission is advising breeders in health testing and advising potential puppy buyers in what they should be considering when looking at adopting a puppy.
Temperament:
One of the absolute joys of working with Kokopelli breeders is the wonderful temperament of the majority of the dogs we see. We can usually tell within seconds of entering a room if the dog is trained as a show dog or in some specific competition by the way their dog behaves towards us. Dogs who belong to people who show, train, or otherwise compete have confidence and are not afraid of strangers. They know how to listen to their owners and behave appropriately. Different breeds are expected to have different temperaments, but no dog of any breed is intended to be fearful or aggressive in non-threatening circumstances. Temperament is partly determined by genetics and partly by socialization and training. A good breeder will consider proper temperament as equally important as good physical health. An excellent breeder will practice appropriate socialization of puppies from day one and then each and every day until that puppy joins their forever family. At that point, it is imperative that the new family take over proper socialization and training.What to Ask the Breeder if You are Considering Bringing a Bichon Frisé into Your Home:
The top goal of every responsible breeder is not to make money on a litter, but to produce the healthiest puppies possible. Dedicated, responsible breeders are passionate about their breed and want to contribute to the continuation of their breed by placing healthy puppies into caring homes. As such, responsible breeders will only breed dogs with the appropriate temperaments and who have also been tested for diseases of concern for their specific breed. The sire and dam of your prospective puppy should have been tested minimally for patellar luxation, hip dysplasia, and eye disease (see health clearance section on each of these below) and those records should be available to you. You can use the list below to have an informed conversation with the breeder of your prospective puppy to try to make it as likely as possible that you will be adopting as healthy a Bichon Frisé as possible, or that at least you are aware of the potential health risks and challenges your new puppy may face. When talking to a breeder ask about health, temperament, conformation to the breed standard, and pedigree.An AKC Breeder of Merit, or recognized breeder of the parent club (BFCA) are designated to provide education and resources to help you with your new puppy or adult dog concerns. Reputable breeders are working toward purebred preservation and not for the pet market so you may have to be on a wait list for some time, but building a relationship with your breeder is most important. They will work with you to place a wonderful Bichon that matches your lifestyle, whether it's as a companion to take long walks and be by your side, an agility dog, or perhaps a therapy dog. Breeders remain a resource for you for all things Bichon. When looking for a Bichon Frise Breeder, do your homework by researching the BFCA website for their Breeder’s Directory. The AKC also has a Breeder’s Marketplace for Breeders that currently have puppies available. Breeders of Merit are designated.
Breed Health Certifications:
Responsible breeders go to great effort and expense to ensure that the puppies they produce are as healthy as possible. They know that the puppies they produce reflect back on them; their kennel’s reputation among their peers means more than the fast buck they can get selling puppies produced by cutting corners. Responsible breeders first and foremost love their breed and their goal is to improve the health of the breed through responsible decisions on who and how they breed. A large part of this effort is done by conducting health testing on potential breeding dogs and bitches and then using that information, along with considerations of conformation, temperament, genetic relatedness, and other factors in choosing the best matches for breeding. The following is a list of health testing that can or should be done in Bichon Frisé prior to making a breeding decision:
- Patella OFA: Medial patellar luxation is a condition more common in small breed dogs. The patella is the knee cap. Luxation means that it pops out of place. Medial means it pops out to the inside of the leg. The condition may be diagnosed by any veterinarian (no specialty certification required). The vet will examine the gait of the dog and palpate both hind legs, extending and bending the stifle (knee) joint, feeling for laxity in the joint. If any luxation is palpated, the severity is graded from 1 to 4. Grades 1 and 2 are less serious and may not show evident clinical signs until the dog is older and usually involves a skipping gait where the hind leg(s) are held up and touch the ground every few steps. Grades 3 and 4 are more serious and usually present with clinical signs at a younger age, which may include a crouching, bow-legged stance. Pain may be associated with the luxation, but not always. This condition is usually heritable and so breeding affected animals is discouraged. The Bichon Frise Club of America (BFCA) recommends all breeding dogs have patella clearances. Patella OFAs are offered by Kokopelli Veterinary Center and only require an appointment at the client’s convenience. Dogs should be at least 12 months before being evaluated for OFA certification. Please call our front desk to make an appointment.
- Hip dysplasia is an orthopedic condition that can be debilitating for dogs by making every step they take painful and difficult. The condition is caused because the bones of the hip joints are not formed and seated appropriately. Eventually they wear away at the cartilage and bone will rub on bone, which is painful. Signs that a dog will eventually become dysplastic can be detected early in life through radiographs (x-rays). Two testing options exist for hip dysplasia: Hip dysplasia OFA, and PennHIP, both of which are available by appointment at Kokopelli Veterinary Center. Since the predilection for hip conditions is genetic, breeding affected dogs together increases the risk that the resultant puppies will have bad hips, often necessitating expensive and difficult surgical corrections at some point in their lives. It is recommended that dogs with poor conformation not be bred and dogs with moderate changes be bred to dogs with excellent joints. The BFCA strongly recommends all breeding dogs have hip clearances. OFA testing for hips can be done in dogs that are 24 months of age. PennHip can be performed in dogs as young as 16 weeks. Sedation is strongly recommended for all OFA testing and required for PennHIP. Please call our front desk to schedule an appointment.
- Companion Animal Eye Registry (CAER): Eye diseases are often progressive and some are not detectable until a dog ages. It is recommended that breeding dogs have annual CAER examinations, which must be performed by a board-certified ophthalmologist. The BFCA strongly recommends all breeding dogs have annual eye health clearances. Eye disease OFA clinics are held a few times a year at Kokopelli Veterinary Center. Please call our front desk to schedule your dogs for our next clinic.
Links for Further Information:
- American Kennel Club—Bichon Frisé
- Bichon Frise Club of America
- The Kennel Club-Bichon Frise
- Bichon Frise Club of Northern California
- Bichon Frise Club of San Diego
- Bichon Frise Reporter
- Grooming a Bichon by Lindsey Dicken, Master Groomer
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