Glucosamine For Dogs

Developed solely to be a companion dog, the Bichon Frise is a friendly, happy little dog. These delightful little characters have a long and interesting history.

The breed was originally developed from the Poodle and Barbet Water Spaniel, and can trace its ancestry back to Spain in the 1200s. Spanish sailors used them as an item of barter and this is perhaps how they came to France, where by the 1500s they were the chosen lap dogs for members of the French Royal court.

The Bichon also found itself in great demand with circuses and other traveling shows due to its unsurpassed ability to learn and perform tricks.

The Bichon Frise is a small dog that is classified in the Toy or Companion Group by most registries. They are sturdy little dogs, weighing up to 12 pounds and standing between 9 and 12 inches tall. The coat is soft and silky and is considered hypoallergenic, making the Bichon an ideal pet for someone with allergies. Coat color is always white, although there may be apricot or cream shading on the ears.

These little dogs have wonderful personalities and are friendly, outgoing and affectionate. They bond closely with their human family and are less snappy than other small breeds. They are good with kids, and get on well with other dogs, and with non-canine pets.

These are intelligent dogs with a strong desire to please, so training is an absolute pleasure. That is, unless you bring house training into the equation. The Bichon has a reputation for being difficult to housebreak.

This is a relatively healthy breed, although not immune to the conditions typically present in purebred dogs. Cancer, epilepsy, cataracts and fleabite allergies are among the health issues that afflict the breed, while liver shunts, a condition requiring surgery, is also known to occur. Despite this, the Bichon is a long-lived breed, with a lifespan often exceeding 15 years.

Grooming a Bichon Frise is a labor intensive task requiring daily brushing as well as regular clipping to keep the coat in shape. The dog can be bathed in required, but don’t do this more than once a month as the skin is quite sensitive. Always use a mild dog shampoo, never a human shampoo.

It goes without saying that this is an indoor dog. The Bichon is perfect for apartment living and needs to always be close to his human family. They are quite prone to separation anxiety, and should therefore not be left unattended for long periods. As with all dogs, the Bichon needs regular exercise, and while much of this can be met with indoor games, you’ll still need to get your dog outdoors for a short walk daily.

If you’re stuck for puppy names, for your Bichon Frise, I’d recommend that you check out Puppy Names HQ, an online database that has thousands of excellent dog names including a huge list of female dog names.

Tags: dog names puppy names, dog-breeds, dogs

This entry was posted on Sunday, February 19th, 2012 at 6:05 am and is filed under Dog Stuff. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.