Tag Archives: toy dogs

Italian Greyhound

The grace and hunting instincts of a greyhound… in a smaller size. The Italian greyhound is the smallest of the sight hounds. Historians believe that the breed developed more than two thousand years ago in the Mediterranean basin. Likely sites for the breed’s origin include Greece and Turkey. The miniature greyhounds appear in art and architecture dating back at least two thousand years. The breed became prominent in the sixteenth century. Across southern Europe, miniature breeds rose in popularity with the upper classes — the greyhound’s popularity in Italy earned the breed its name. English, Italian, Prussian, Russian, and Danish … Continue reading →

Bichon Frise

Posted on by

It’s hard to forget a Bichon Frise if you’ve seen or met one. These little wooly white dogs are clever and playful. The breed comes from the Mediterranean and is descended from the Barbet (also known as the Water Spaniel). Originally called the “Barbichon”, the name was shortened to Bichon. These little dogs traveled well and were often used in trade between continents. Spanish sailors introduced the breed to the Canary Islands; Italian sailors rediscovered the little dogs in the 1300s and brought them back to Europe. During the Renaissance, the Bichon Frise was seen as a court dog under … Continue reading →