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BICHONS: WHAT TO CONSIDER
BEFORE GETTING ONE
by Cyndie Adams - Leverre's
Bichon Frises
Bichons are
wonderful, funny, loving, happy, playful, smart dogs, BUT
they are NOT for everyone!! Bichons have some
special needs and quirks that people need to be aware of
before deciding if this is the breed for them.
The most
obvious consideration is their coat care.
Bichons require A LOT of grooming to look like a Bichon and to be
healthy. They must be thoroughly brushed (daily is best, but
weekly is mandatory) to prevent matting of the coat. They should
have their hair cut every 4-6 weeks, and depending on the area in
which you live, this can be costly. If you are considering this
breed, be prepared to figure in the cost of getting the dog
professionally groomed on a routine basis.
Bichons
were bred as companion animals. As such, they want to be
with their people…..all the time! Many
Bichons do not do well when left alone for long periods of time on a
daily basis. They can suffer from separation anxiety, which can
lead to depression, destructive behavior, personality changes, fear,
excessive barking, and housebreaking problems. Bichons are an “in
your face” breed. They want to be with you, and when you are in the
house they will follow you everywhere, they want to be on your lap
or snuggled next to you when you are sitting down, they DEMAND
attention!
And
speaking of housebreaking….
This can be a big issue with the breed and one of the main reasons
that Bichons are placed in rescue or given up to shelters.
Depending on the start that the dog gets from the breeder and it’s
personality, depends on how difficult it will be to housetrain the
dog, and Bichons are notorious for being difficult to housebreak!
Some dogs “get it” quickly and some dogs take a long time before
they are housebroken. If you are considering this breed, you MUST
be prepared to have accidents in the house, and you MUST be prepared
for housebreaking to take time!
Bichons like to think that they DESERVE to be waited on . . . .
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. . . . and if not properly trained, they WILL run the house. In
order for a Bichon to be a good family member it is important for
the owner to obtain some basic obedience training for the dog.
Obviously this will require some time and nominal expense, but it
will be worth the effort, especially for the new dog owner.
Bichons are inquisitive, nosey dogs.
Be prepared to loose some personal articles if you leave them in
reach of the dog! This attitude also applies to the outside world.
If you do not have a secure, fenced in yard, you MUST have the dog
on a leash at all times when it is outside! If you let the dog off
leash, or do not hold onto the leash, the dog will take off to
investigate new things, run just for the fun of it, or chase cars,
squirrels, etc.
Bottom line .....
If you have the time, patience and resources to cope with all
of the above, you will not find a better dog to be your best friend
than a Bichon!
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