The Bichon Family
Merchants and sailors especially those who travelled between the West of Europe and South America, often carried small companion dogs, usually from the Bichon family to present as gifts to the wives of the wealthy land owners. The gift of one of these delightful small white hairy dogs ensured the traders' entry into the foreign houses in order to trade their goods.
So, from the birth of the most popularly known Bichon, the Bichon Frise, Cuba developed the Havanese, France developed the Lowchen and Madagascar developed the Coton de Tuleur. Opinions vary as to whether the Maltese and Bolognese of Italy preceded the Lowchen and Bichon Frise of France. But all these breeds are considered members of the Bichon family.