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Knowing how much walking is right your bichon frise is important for its health – but also for your sanity!
A bored pup will chew on your household items, destroy your favorite pair of sneakers, and have energetic bursts (blitzes) around the home, potentially injuring itself. Also, a lack of physical exercise can lead to obesity and many related health issues.
Thus, check out the next sections to find everything you should know about walking a bichon frise.
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How Much Walking Does a Bichon Frise Need?
Just like humans, a bichon’s walking needs depend on its age. Let’s break down different age categories and walking needs depending on whether your pooch is a puppy, adult, or senior.
1. Puppy
A puppy’s body is underdeveloped, so they are much more fragile than adult dogs. Too much physical activity can put damaging pressure on their joints, muscles, and bones. Equally important, you should not take your puppy out on a walk if it is not fully vaccinated, otherwise it can get deadly illnesses.
A puppy can be happy and safe if you opt for indoor exercises during the first months of its life. You can get some puppy toys and even combine playing with training to teach your pup important skills at the same time. The amount of exercise depends on your puppy’s age in months.
For each month, your bichon frise needs about 2-5 minutes of exercise. For instance, if your puppy is 3 months old, it needs 6-15 minutes of physical exercise per day. But, you should not go over 30 minutes per day for pups older than 6 months.
2. Adult
Adult bichons require 30 minutes per day of walking. Now that your bichon is fully vaccinated, you can take it outdoors to have some fun. You can still fulfill its needs while playing indoors, but keep in mind that outdoor walking provides mental stimulation, which keeps your pup entertained and healthy.
3. Senior
As your bichon reaches its senior years, you will have to adjust your routine to factor in the fact that its body also gets weaker. Just like a puppy, too much exercise for a senior dog leads to joint, bone, and muscle issues.
In general, the right amount of time depends on your pooch. Simply adjust the time based on how it feels – for instance, when you notice that your senior bichon starts to slow down when walking, just head back home as it means it’s tired. Also, keep the walks at a slower pace to avoid pressure on its joints.Older pooches may also get enough exercise if you simply play with them indoors while offering some toys for mental stimulation.
Do Bichons Frises Like Long Walks?
Small dogs should not be taken on long walks. A very long walk can lead to exhaustion, anxiety, injuries, and even mobility problems in the long run. It’s best to go for 30 minutes at most; ideally, you could break this into two sessions of 15 minutes each.
3 Best Places to Take Your Bichon Frise on a Walk
Are you looking for ideas to take your bichon frise on a walk? Check out the following tips.
1. Park
The park is perhaps the first choice for many dog owners. It is safe, away from cars, and your dog has plenty of space to run around and explore. If possible, try to go to different parks to provide some variety, or take a different route to the park each day. This will keep your pooch active and stimulated.
However, parks have a few drawbacks, too. They may not be ideal for dogs that tend to be fearful or anxious around others. There may also be other dogs that could threaten your little one, so it’s best to avoid parks in this case.
2. Beach/Forest
It depends on your area if it’s possible to go to the woods or to the beach. Running on the sand, perhaps barking at the waves and sniffing the salty air will provide plenty of stimulation for your furry friend. Unfortunately, this perhaps means that your pooch will be full of sand – make sure you clean them thoroughly to avoid matting, tangles, and sand all over your vehicle or home.
If possible, taking your pooch for a walk in the forest is another excellent way to keep them mentally stimulated. There will be lots of fun things to chase, smell, and discover. However, unlike a dog park or a confined area, your pooch may simply run away while chasing a bird or a squirrel – make sure you keep them on a leash. Also, it’s best to avoid the forest if there’s a high chance of encountering wild animals that may threaten you or your dog.
3. Visiting the City
If you don’t have a beach, park, or forest nearby, simply explore the city.
You perhaps get to know your neighborhood quite well after a while, so you can spice things up by visiting different neighborhoods or districts. This will allow your pup to explore new things, but make sure you keep them safe from any dangerous situations, such as aggressive dogs or running in front of vehicles.
Your pup should always be on a leash and supervised.
6 Things You Will Need to Take Your Bichon Frise on a Walk
If you are a new proud bichon owner, you may wonder what items are necessary when going on a walk. The list below should also be customized according to your personal circumstances – such as the weather or the season and the place you’re going to for a walk:
- Leash: It’s not likely to leave without your main leash, but you should get a spare one just in case. Your current leash may break unexpectedly, so having a backup plan can make your life a lot easier.
- Waste bags and antibacterial wet wipes: Of course, one of the main reasons to go for a walk is to go potty, too. Make sure you pack your waste bags, while the antibacterial wet wipes are a must to clean yourself after doing the dirty work.
- Training items if applicable: Some examples include a clicker (to make training more efficient) and dog treats (already broken down into small pieces).
- Water bowl and water: There are lots of collapsible water bowls on the market; if you treat your pup, you may also need to give them water. This may be important if you go on longer walks or trips, but it’s never a bad idea to have them nearby.
- Citronella spray: You can use it to prevent a dog fight and keep your pup safe – and it doesn’t hurt the other animal, it’s just an unpleasant lemony smell.
- Appropriate dog clothing if necessary: To protect against rain, wind, cold, sun, according to your local weather forecast.
Summary
Walking is a huge part of keeping your bichon happy and healthy. However, overdoing it is as harmful as not doing it at all.
Make sure you provide sufficient physical exercise for your bichon frise and factor in their age and needs.
Whether you are looking for food for your dog or other pet supplies, Chewy.com has them all. Right now, they are even running a promotion where you get 40% OFF your first Instinct Raw Frozen autoship order.