I am on the search for man's best friend . . . or in this case, woman's best friend. I have wanted a puppy for a bit, and know I need to do my research on what kind of breed I should get before I make my decision. As I started this research, I thought what better place to share my new knowledge than on Whyville!
A lot of people say you're either a "dog person" or a "cat person". I consider myself both! I have a cat named Godiva, and absolutely adore her. She is the sweetest thing and is always there to cuddle with me and make me happy. But recently I have been missing having a dog. I grew up with a yellow lab named Amber. She was a great dog and I really miss having a fun puppy around. There is something about that tail wagging and tongue licking that you just can't resist. Whatever dog I get, I'll have to make sure it gets along with my sweet Godiva.
For the past couple of weeks I have been researching different breeds to find just the right one for me. The first breed I researched and would like to share with you is the Bichon Frise. I have also been watching a lot of Dogs 101 on Animal Planet (a source for where I gathered my information).
The bichon frise is a small, white, curly-haired dog. In the past, they were used as circus dogs because they love to put on a show! I would definitely tune in to that. They are known for their lively, charming, entertaining and energetic personalities. You can't help but smile while watching these adorable puppies play.
The breed is a cross between a Barbet and a Poodle. Surprisingly, they were originally hunting dogs. I can't even imagine that! They look like little white marshmallows. While it is considered a lap dog, it still has a sturdy build, averaging around 10.5 pounds. And people with allergies rejoice -- its hyper-allergenic coat does not shed, so you won't be sneezing every time you snuggle with your best bud. However, this does mean that you will have to take them to the groomers to get a trim every 6-8 weeks. That's not going to be cheap, but if it means not having dog hair all over my house, it is definitely worth it.
Another great thing about the bichon frise is they are a very healthy breed. Their average life span is 15-20 years! They are very adaptable to any environment and are great with kids (which is not an issue for me now, but I hope it will be within 15-20 years!)
Finally, they are really easy to train. Due to their intense desire to please their owners, you can get them to do pretty much anything. That's great for me because I had a hard time getting my lab to listen to me. But that might have been because I was a little kid and was about the same size as her! Knowing that I can train a bichon frise fairly easily is a huge plus.
Wow, this breed seems great! I did a bit of research on price, and they are not very cheap. That might become an issue. Maybe I'll get lucky and someone will have one they need to give away. I'll keep my eyes open for any local ads for this adorable breed.
But, I'm not going to make my mind up too quickly. There are tons of great dogs out there and I want to make sure I find just the right one. I'm just getting started! So tune in next week as I continue my search to find the perfect dog for me!
Author's Note: Sources: http://animal.discovery.com/videos/dogs-101-bichon-frise.html
http://www.gibdogpetsuppliesblog.com/category/dog-news/bichon-frise/
