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Bichon Frise |
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EDUCATIONAL section |
BICHON
FRISE |
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Attn: Kroger Shoppers |
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'There is no therapist in the world as effective as an adoring bichon.' |
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BICHON FRISE |
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| Recommendations: |
Bichons do best in adult homes in which someone is home a lot of the time, has the time/willingness & ability to brush out coat each day, can take for extended brisk daily walk/exercise, and securely fenced yard for potty breaks, and has sufficient financial resources to handle the high costs of coat maintenance. |
| Height: | 10-15 inches at shoulder |
| Weight: | 11-22 pounds as adults
(Sorry, bichons are just plain not tiny dogs. Yes, yes, you've read advertisements on the internet that say 7 - 12, but years of experience and hundreds of bichons from all facets of bichonhood represent the truth, and 11-22 lbs is a much more realistic representation of how much that puppy will weigh in adulthood.) |
| Maintenance rating | One of the highest maintenance dogs known. |
| Intelligence: | Very high, but selective in
cooperation level; must be handled carefully. You must never hit a Bichon! They don't respond mentally like other breeds and can be ruined for life. |
| Trainability: | Very high if proficient owner/trainer |
| Good With Children: | Older children, okay, if gentle. Younger, no, smaller dogs are too vulnerable to injury from small children, and thus get snappy. |
| Activity Level: | High through 5 years, then medium |
| Avg. Life Span: | 13-17 years |
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Grooming: |
Professional trimming every 4-6 weeks, must either keep coat in short puppy clip, OR brush up to 1/2 hr/day to keep longer coat free of mats. Must keep coat dry or risk nightmare of tangles/snarls. |
| Watch Dog: | Yes, can be yappy |
| Protection: | No |
| Behavior with Strangers: | Can be reserved & barky |
| Home Environment: | Apartment O.K., but barking may be a problem; Need 30 min. daily brisk exercise |
| Best Owner: | Patient leader (BF's tend to want to be the Alpha) |
| Potential Problems: | Bichons often fail to thrive when left alone all day while owners work or when in families with very young children or any non-gentle children. |
| Behavior Problems: |
Notoriously hard to housetrain,
plus barking, digging, can be nippy |
| Physical Problems: |
Allergies/skin ailments, early onset cataracts, luxating patellas (bad knees), epilepsy, ear infections, Cushing's Disease/Addition's can easily be brought on if cortisone is used for allergies. |
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| Country of Origin: | Mediterranean area (Canary Islands) |
| AKC Group: | Non-Sporting |
| Function: | Originally as companions to Spanish sailors and aristocrats |
| Appearance: | Sturdy, moderately small in size, curly coat, tail curls up over back |
| Color: | White with a little cream or apricot |
| Coat Type: | Non-shedding, curly, soft, thick (requires much maintenance) |
| Good With Other Pets: |
Yes |
| Character: | In the right environment, Bichon Frises are easygoing, lively, affectionate with own family |
