Exercise and the Bichon Frise

Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012 at 2:06 pm

The Bichon Frise dates back as far as the 13th century. The breed is a descendent of the Barbet Water Spaniel and the Poodle. It was traded all over the world by Spanish sailors. The dog eventually became a favorite of the 16th century French royal courts. In the 19th century it was a popular organ grinder’s dog and also a circus performer, Today the Bichon Frise is primarily a companion and show dog.

Breed type	Companion Dog
Physical characteristics	small, sturdy, little dog muzzle is shorter than the skull, is not pointed with a slightly pronounced stop ears are dropped covered in long hair tail is carried over the back the outer coat is 3 to 4 inches (7-10cm.) long and is coarser and curlier than the soft dense undercoat, Coat colors include solid white, cream, gray or apricot
Personality	loves human company known for having bursts of energy independent spirit, intelligent, affectionate, bold and lively has a self-assured, happy temperament that is easy to live with fine in the company of other dogs & pets and are excellent with children
Best exercises	Walks (15 – 20 minutes) Chasing – Try games like Fetch or Keep-away Indoor games (light wrestling, chase, musical chairs)
Suggested exercise plan	Even though these are small “house” type dogs, this breed is known for being lively and having bursts of energy. Short lively exercise is best most days for this dog. A brief walk, 15 – 20 minutes, is good. Because these dogs are generally good natured, an active game (chasing games, gentle wrestling) for 15 minutes will be fun for him or her too.
Things to know	They can be very sensitive to flea bites so watch were you spend outdoor time.