The Bichon Frise are perfect for agility training. Learn all about how the Bichon Frise and agility training go hand in hand.
The Bichon Frise is an
intelligent, energetic and happy little dog that has proven
capable of performing well in agility, although they are a rare
sight at trials. While bichons can sometimes be a bit stubborn,
if you make training time interesting and enjoyable, you’ll
find that your dog will enjoy agility and may end up winning
titles and ribbons. Even if they don’t bring home the prize,
these dogs love the special attention that comes from regular
agility training sessions and respond favorably to spending
time with you.
The Foundation
While you can start agility training with your bichon frise
at any age, it's best to start as early as possible for top
results. To provide a solid foundation for future training,
start your bichon's socialization and basic obedience training almost as
soon as you get your new
puppy home. Agility requires that dogs respond to their
owners’ commands even when they are off leash and dashing
around the agility course at high speed. A dog who won’t
respond to basic commands can’t go far in agility. Often,
owners who go into agility work with their dogs will get
one or more obedience titles first.
Getting Started
Bichons love to play, so making agility a game usually
produces the best results. Plenty of encouragement and
owner participation helps to keep these dogs motivated and
on task. Some owners also use treats as incentives, but
whether to use them depends on your preferences and your
dog’s personality. Generally, the best way to train a
bichon frise for agility is to join a local club. There,
you have access to advice from experienced owners and all
kinds of obstacles, and your dog learns to ignore lots of
noise and activity. Also set up a few obstacles in your
yard, so you can practice with your bichon between club
training sessions.
Obstacles
You can make or buy agility obstacles to use for practicing
at home. Lightweight jumps and weave poles are fine for
bichons, as long as the equipment is safe. You can make
some from PVC pipe, or you can buy a set. Space may be a
factor in deciding how many obstacles you set up for home
practice, but a couple of jumps, a set of weave poles and a
fabric tunnel are a good start. Try to make them similar to
what your dog will experience in an agility trial, so your
bichon won’t be put off by obstacles that look very
different from those you use at home.
Agility Competitions
Several organizations offer agility trials, including the
American Kennel Club, the United States Dog Agility
Association, and Canine Performance Events. The
organizations have slightly different rules for
competition, so anyone considering competing in an agility
trial should obtain a rulebook from the sponsoring
organization well in advance of the trial date. Variables
include the number of obstacles, the classes offered, and
the height of the jumps. Jump size can be very important
for tiny dogs such as bichons, so pay close attention to
the organization’s rules about the height of your dog and
the height of the jumps. Each group also has rules about
what dogs may compete and the minimum age for dogs in
agility.
Concerns
Make sure your bichon is in good health before you begin a
rigorous agility program. These dogs are prone to patellar
luxation, a condition in which the affected dogs have loose
kneecaps. Other orthopedic conditions that may affect the
bichon frise are elbow
dysplasia, spinal degeneration, hip dysplasia and
Legg-Calve-Perthes disease, a problem that can lead to the
destruction of their hip
bones. Early signs of any of these problems include
lameness or an odd walk. If any of these issues is
suspected, it is important to have the dog evaluated by a
veterinarian before you pursue
agility.
Hairstyles for Bichon Frise
The Bichon Frise is
a small dog with the potential for big hair.
The Bichon Frise, whose name means "curly toy dog" is
a non-shedding, small
dog who, like people, has hair that grows
constantly. The coat of this happy little dog consists of
a thick undercoat and curly topcoat. Because of the
constant growth and thickness of the white fur, monthly
cuts are necessary to prevent matting and remove dander
caught in the undercoat. Bichon Frises should be hand
groomed at least twice a week between cuts. The three
common hairstyles for Bichon Frises are the Lamb cut,
Panda cut and Show cut.
Lamb Cut
The Lamb cut, also known as the Puppy cut, is a
practical Bichon Frise hairstyle for those who don’t
have the time for constant grooming and are not
planning to show their dog. This is the shortest
hairstyle for a Bichon Frise, which makes it a good
choice for dogs with mats that commonly form behind the
ears and the back of the legs. Groomers shave the Bichon
Frise coat close to the body, leaving the dog’s head
and tail with longer fur for the traditional Bichon
Frise puffy face. Even though the Lamb cut is short,
regular weekly grooming with a brush and comb prevents
tangles and mats from reforming.
Panda Cut
The Panda cut is similar to the Lamb cut but styled a
little longer, following the contours of the dog’s
body. This Bichon Frise hairstyle has longer fur on the
head, tail, between the dog’s front legs and behind the
legs. Groomers clip these longer areas of fur with
scissors and use electric clippers on the rest of the
Bichon Frise’s body and chest. This cut
requires daily grooming
to remove any dead fur, dirt or debris from the
longer areas of fur.
Show Cut
The Show cut is the traditional Bichon Frise hairstyle
recommended by the American Kennel Club. This is the
only cut allowed for AKC breed shows. The Show cut
requires the undercoat to remain thick and the outer
coat must be coarse and curly. The fur should be thick
enough to spring back into shape if pressed down. This
cut gives the Bichon Frise a puffy appearance and
outlines the shape of the dog’s body. Groomers trim all
areas of the fur to form a rounded appearance,
especially the head of the Bichon Frise. The fur on the
dog’s face, beard, ears and tail are longer than the
body. Groomers use scissors to style the entire dog’s
body for the Show cut.
Considerations
When choosing a professional groomer for your Bichon
Frise, ask if the shop has experience grooming this
breed. AKC dog show judges fault Bichon Frises if the
fur is not rounded or the wrong length, so ask the
groomers for references or pictures of other Bichon
Frises they groomed before having your dog groomed.
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