Picture taken from www.about-cocker-spaniels.com
From the desk of Sharda Baker.
6/29/2014
Hi and welcome everyone!
This is Sharda with another Bichon Frise newsletter.
Today I give to you a Bichon Frise safety guide!
Doggy accidents can be both terrible and heartbreaking.
So today, let’s take a look at some of the things you should remember when dealing with your Bichon Frise.
BICHON FRISE SAFETY FIRST
All owners of a Bichon Frise want their pet to be a healthy, happy member of the family.
Although they are delicate in appearance and small, Bichon Frise dogs are athletic and hardy and require a moderate amount of daily exercise.
Good exercise routines and activities depend upon the dog’s physical condition and its likes and dislikes.
Walking your Bichon Frise twice daily at a moderate pace on a leash is usually sufficient exercise for an adult, healthy dog.
Using an extendible leash on a Bichon Frise that tends to pull could be dangerous because, if unlocked, your dog could suddenly dart out onto the road.
A six-foot leash of nylon is lightweight but gives you excellent control over your Bichon Frise as you can shorten or lengthen the leash by wrapping it around your hand.
Use a harness type leash on a dog that pulls because a regular collar pulling against their neck could damage your Bichon Frise’s trachea.
Some Bichon Frise dogs are very easy to train to walk properly on a leash, while others pull at the slightest distraction. It is dangerous to let your Bichon Frise off-leash in unenclosed areas where you have little control over him.
A fenced yard or supervising your dog in a private dog park is a far safer alternative. Bichon Frise love playtime exercise activities and toys. Be sure the toys you select for playtime exercise are safe and not dangerous for your pet.
NEVER get a toy or ball too small for your pet as it could end up stuck in the dog’s throat when playing fetch.
Never play fetch with sticks because your dog could damage his mouth or end up with a splinter.
Take your dog’s own toys to the park or backyard for fun exercise and playtime to avoid contact with possible bacterial and viral infections on other dog’s toys.
When it comes to exercise activity, Bichon Frise puppies under six months tire rapidly and should exercise at their own rate and never after eating.
Between six months and eighteen months of age, be very careful not to over-exercise your puppy, as it could be dangerous or harmful. Your Bichon Frise puppy’s joints, until older than eighteen months, are very tender and susceptible to injuries and bone problems because their bones do not develop as quickly as the puppies’ bodies.
As puppies develop, their growing weight combined with over-exercise can certainly cause problems such as bone damage.
When it comes to safe exercise for your Bichon Frise puppy, remember the best rule, which is often and little, until he becomes an adult.
If your Bichon Frise is a senior, many dogs need more frequent, but shorter walks if his health permits. It is dangerous to force your senior dog to exercise beyond what he is capable of because he will tire quicker and may be prone to problems with their heart or respiratory system.
Talk to your veterinarian about any exercise plans for your senior or overweight Bichon Frise so you do not put them in any danger.
Remember to always ask your vet for his/her home number in case of emergency situations and to remain calm.
I hope that you learned a lot from today’s Bichon Frise newsletter!
All the best and take care
Warmly,
Sharda Baker