As the owner of a Bichon Frisé, you want your dog to be a healthy member of the family.This article will show you several ways to enhance the physical and mental health of your Bichon Frisé.Despite the Bichon's small size and delicate appearance, he is a hardy, athletic dog.This breed will thrive on a moderate amount of physical activity.But what is the best kind of exercise? Your dog may enjoy trotting around the backyard, but don't just send him outside and expect him to exercise sufficiently by himself.Instead, make a habit of walking your dog on a leash as often as possible.Steady walking at a moderate pace is the most beneficial type of activity for the Bichon Frisé's heart, muscles, and joints.Two walks a day, for at least half a mile each, is a good minimum level of activity to aim for.A little more is even better, especially if your dog is restless or misbehaving for no apparent reason.Apartment dwellers are generally conscientious about walking their dogs.However, these Bichon owners should try to find safe locations where the dog can run off leash once in a while, such as a friend's property, an empty schoolyard, or a dog park.And here's another tip. use a plain, six-foot nylon leash.The extendible leashes are popular, but many professional dog trainers recommend that you don't use them.Why is that? It's important for your Bichon's safety and comfort that he learns to walk nicely on a leash without pulling (at least most of the time).However, a dog who is always on an extendible leash actually learns to pull constantly during walks.Furthermore, a regular nylon leash gives you a closer connection to your dog.This allows you to react to any hazards that may appear.You can easily wrap the leash around your hand, shortening or lengthening it to adjust to the situation, without losing control of your dog.On the other hand, if your extendible leash isn't locked, it can pull out to a dangerous length unexpectedly when your Bichon Frisé decides to suddenly dash into the street.Finally, although you'll want to encourage your Bichon to walk at a steady pace, do let him have plenty of opportunity to sniff around and savor the aromas of the outdoors.This sniffing behavior is mentally stimulating and very rewarding to your dog.Training is another way to enhance your Bichon Frisé's health.Dogs enjoy the mental challenge of learning new skills.You may be surprised to discover that for a dog, using his brain is more tiring than using his body.Just two or three short (5 minute) training sessions a day will give your dog a good mental workout, making him calmer and more contented.Training shouldn't be unpleasant for you or your dog.Bichons learn best with positive reinforcement training methods.You can find books on the subject at the pet supply store or bookstore.Look for newer books that discuss reward-based methods like clicker training.You may also want to sign up for dog training classes.Taking a class is a great way to learn the basics, but you must continue the training on your own after the class is done.Training your Bichon doesn't have to be limited to sit, stay, and come (although these skills are essential for any dog).Think up some cute tricks to teach your Bichon.It's fun to get your pup to show off for company with tricks like rolling over, dancing, shaking a paw, or crawling on his tummy.Create an obstacle course with items you have around the house.Teach your dog to go through a hoop, under a chair, across a board, around a box, and then back again.The next thing to look at is what goes into your dog's mouth.You probably feed a quality dog food at meal time, but what about treats? There's nothing wrong with a few between-meal goodies, especially when you use them to reward correct behavior or to help in training.But too many treats can turn your Bichon Frisé into a chubby puppy, with all the associated health risks.Even a little extra weight puts a strain on muscles, joints, and the circulatory system.You don't have to stop giving food rewards, though.Instead of fattening cookies, offer your dog small pieces of vegetables and fruit.Many dogs love all kinds of produce, much to their owners' astonishment.(It's best to avoid feeding grapes, which have been reported to be toxic to some dogs.) Vegetables may be raw or cooked, fresh or frozen.Canned vegetables are fine as long as no salt was added in processing.Your Bichon will benefit from the nutrition and fiber.Feeding nutritious, low-calorie treats, providing an adequate amount of proper exercise, and adding a few training sessions to the schedule are all simple things you can do to help improve your dog's physical and mental health.Why not get started today?
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Caring for the Bichon Frise - Tips for Better Physical and Mental Health
As the owner of a Bichon Frisé, you want your dog to be a healthy member of the family.This article will show you several ways to enhance the physical and mental health of your Bichon Frisé.Despite the Bichon's small size and delicate appearance, he is a hardy, athletic dog.This breed will thrive on a moderate amount of physical activity.But what is the best kind of exercise? Your dog may enjoy trotting around the backyard, but don't just send him outside and expect him to exercise sufficiently by himself.Instead, make a habit of walking your dog on a leash as often as possible.Steady walking at a moderate pace is the most beneficial type of activity for the Bichon Frisé's heart, muscles, and joints.Two walks a day, for at least half a mile each, is a good minimum level of activity to aim for.A little more is even better, especially if your dog is restless or misbehaving for no apparent reason.Apartment dwellers are generally conscientious about walking their dogs.However, these Bichon owners should try to find safe locations where the dog can run off leash once in a while, such as a friend's property, an empty schoolyard, or a dog park.And here's another tip. use a plain, six-foot nylon leash.The extendible leashes are popular, but many professional dog trainers recommend that you don't use them.Why is that? It's important for your Bichon's safety and comfort that he learns to walk nicely on a leash without pulling (at least most of the time).However, a dog who is always on an extendible leash actually learns to pull constantly during walks.Furthermore, a regular nylon leash gives you a closer connection to your dog.This allows you to react to any hazards that may appear.You can easily wrap the leash around your hand, shortening or lengthening it to adjust to the situation, without losing control of your dog.On the other hand, if your extendible leash isn't locked, it can pull out to a dangerous length unexpectedly when your Bichon Frisé decides to suddenly dash into the street.Finally, although you'll want to encourage your Bichon to walk at a steady pace, do let him have plenty of opportunity to sniff around and savor the aromas of the outdoors.This sniffing behavior is mentally stimulating and very rewarding to your dog.Training is another way to enhance your Bichon Frisé's health.Dogs enjoy the mental challenge of learning new skills.You may be surprised to discover that for a dog, using his brain is more tiring than using his body.Just two or three short (5 minute) training sessions a day will give your dog a good mental workout, making him calmer and more contented.Training shouldn't be unpleasant for you or your dog.Bichons learn best with positive reinforcement training methods.You can find books on the subject at the pet supply store or bookstore.Look for newer books that discuss reward-based methods like clicker training.You may also want to sign up for dog training classes.Taking a class is a great way to learn the basics, but you must continue the training on your own after the class is done.Training your Bichon doesn't have to be limited to sit, stay, and come (although these skills are essential for any dog).Think up some cute tricks to teach your Bichon.It's fun to get your pup to show off for company with tricks like rolling over, dancing, shaking a paw, or crawling on his tummy.Create an obstacle course with items you have around the house.Teach your dog to go through a hoop, under a chair, across a board, around a box, and then back again.The next thing to look at is what goes into your dog's mouth.You probably feed a quality dog food at meal time, but what about treats? There's nothing wrong with a few between-meal goodies, especially when you use them to reward correct behavior or to help in training.But too many treats can turn your Bichon Frisé into a chubby puppy, with all the associated health risks.Even a little extra weight puts a strain on muscles, joints, and the circulatory system.You don't have to stop giving food rewards, though.Instead of fattening cookies, offer your dog small pieces of vegetables and fruit.Many dogs love all kinds of produce, much to their owners' astonishment.(It's best to avoid feeding grapes, which have been reported to be toxic to some dogs.) Vegetables may be raw or cooked, fresh or frozen.Canned vegetables are fine as long as no salt was added in processing.Your Bichon will benefit from the nutrition and fiber.Feeding nutritious, low-calorie treats, providing an adequate amount of proper exercise, and adding a few training sessions to the schedule are all simple things you can do to help improve your dog's physical and mental health.Why not get started today?
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