Edie MacKenzie

Edie MacKenzie is a published author, traveler, dog lover, and tortoise enthusiast. Passionate about what she does, her books provide peopel a firm grounding in the dog breed and their unique characteristics with a nice touch of humor.

Bichon Frise Breed Focus

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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 originated in Spain during the 13th century, and is thought to have been created by crossing Poodles and Barbet Water Spaniels. They were used as an item of trade by Spanish sailors and as a result reached many European countries. In France, they became a particular favorite of the aristocracy, and by the 16th century, the Bichon was entrenched as the favorite dog of the French royal court.

In addition, Bichons found their way into circuses and performing troupes due to their remarkable 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.

As a dog bred to be a human companion it’s no surprise that the Bichon has a wonderfully balanced personality. They are friendly, outgoing and affectionate, forming close bonds with those they love. They are good with children and other pets, and generally just a joy to have around.

These intelligent and attentive little dogs are easy to train, except in one area – they can be a real hassle to housetrain.

In common with many small breeds, Bichons enjoy a relatively long lifespan, and quite commonly live for 15 years or more. Common health problems include canine cancers (especially in older dogs), cataracts, epilepsy, and fleabite allergies. Bichons may also suffer from a condition known as liver shunts, which needs to be corrected surgically.

As you’d imagine with that luxuriant, white coat, grooming can be a challenge. Your Bichon will require brushing every day, and the coat will also have to be trimmed regularly to keep it in shape. You can also bathe the dog once a month, but don’t overdo it as the dog has sensitive skin. Also be sure to use a mild, dog 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.

Good names for a Bichon Frise can be hard to find. The best advice is to search one of the online dog names, sites, and my personal favorite is Puppy Names HQ. This site has thousands of excellent dog names, including a mega-database of cool dog names to pick from.

Require An Impressive Dog for Hunting? Look Into an American Water Spaniel

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The American Water Spaniel is usually a kind of Spaniel that is employed to hunt birds and other smaller game by flushing them out. Despite the fact that it truly is a flushing dog, it is usually employed to retrieve as well and loves the water. Because of its smaller size, it truly is considered to be a good breed of gun dog for any one hunting on the water in a smaller boat or even a canoe.

History Of The American Water Spaniel

The exact history of the American Water Spaniel is comparatively unknown. You’ll find those that say that the breed developed from a cross between the English Water Spaniel and the Curly Coated Retriever. Others think that it may well be a cross between the English Spaniel and the Chesapeake Bay Retriever.

The breed was recognized by AKC in 1940 and is bred primarily as a hunting dog. The peak of the popularity for this breed of dog was in the early component of the last century. The American Water Spaniel is typically called the “Forgotten American” due to the fact it isn’t shown a great deal anymore, despite the fact that you will find sufficient fans of this breed to create positive that the breed line of this gun dog doesn’t go anyplace soon. You’ll find extremely active associations for this breed such as the American Water Spaniel Field Association.

Look Of The American Water Spaniel

The American Water Spaniel is distinct in look due to its curly marcelled coat. It truly is commonly a extremely dark brown in color, despite the fact that it can typically have a black coat. The coat is extremely thick and enables the dog to be able to resist lots of sorts of inclement weather, such as the cold. This dense and sculpted coat also enables the dog to swim very easily. The ears of the Water Spaniel are floppy like other spaniels but the coat is extremely brief and curly. The dogs weight from 25 to 45 pounds with males weighing a bit far more. They’re about 16 inches in height.

Use Of The American Water Spaniel

This breed is observed as a field dog. It truly is employed for hunting game in the field as well as water. They are going to very easily flush out game and is usually trained to return the game to you. The American Water Spaniel is employed as a hunting companion for hunters who’re typically out in inclement weather and are on the lookout for a dog which will swim and flush out as well as retrieve game. They can be employed to hunt upland birds as well as water fowl. The compact size of the American Water Spaniel makes them an perfect hunting companion for any one living in smaller quarters as they do not need a great deal of room to be pleased. Consistence ought to be employed if you are training the American Water Spaniel and you’ll want to keep away from harsh training tactics if you are trying to train your dog as these can cause the dog to become aggressive or even shy away from you.

The American Water Spaniel is an perfect hunting dog for those that are on the lookout for a smaller gun dog that enjoys the water and can flush out and retrieve smaller game, upland birds or waterfowl.

Picking the appropriate hunting dog supplies is very important. Pay a visit to http://www.gundogsonline.com for a lot more information and facts on Radians and hunting with dogs.

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