Casper

Meet Casper, my daughter's Bichon Frise. He is 12 years old and I'll bet he's licked his nose over 5 million times. He is constantly licking his nose. He likes to lick people as well. My daughter says that's a trait of this breed. I wonder if that's because he's French--it's the romance in him.

Bichon Frise are similar in appearance than the Maltese, but larger. They are generally happy, playful, gentle mannered and affectionate. Bichon Frise's are non-shedding, but must be kept clean with brushing and bathing. They should be brushed daily and groomed every 3 months to prevent matting of their fur, which can lead to hematomas. They are also considered good pets for allergic people because they are hypo-allergenic to all but the extremely sensitive.

The Bichon Frise's life expectancy is 12 years, but some have been known to live to 16 years.