Pet Goddess

Irish Terrier Temperament

The Irish Terrier is a dog that is very loyal and friendly, yet also very determined and territorial. These dogs have spirit, courage, and plenty of energy, making them ideal as watchdogs, companions, and family pets.

This is a dog with great agility, and his boundless energy means that he does need a lot of exercise, which means that he will fare best with more active owners. These dogs thrive on physical stimulation and plenty of attention, and neglect will often lead to boredom and destructive behavior such as chewing.

The one time I ever left my female alone for a whole day when she wasn’t 100% herself, she open the flap of my desk, went through my papers, found the envelope with my rent money, and chewed through it! Luckily, I was able to salvage most of it at the bank with the exception of one twenty pound note. Now there was a dog with expensive tastes!

The Irish Terrier loves to jump, dig, chase, and in many cases bark, so if you are looking for a quiet, calm dog then this is probably not the breed for you. He loves playing games of fetch and tug, since he was breed as a ratter to keep down vermin.

The Irish Terrier is a very territorial dog, and can be very wary with strangers. This does make him an effective watchdog, and he will be protective of and loyal to his family. However, you should not allow him to be too protective. Always make sure they know you are the alpha of the house.

When it comes to other pets, the Irish Terrier can be both dominant and aggressive – any pet that tries to stand up to the Irish Terrier will have the bear the wrath of this breed. Fortunately, most of the time, it is so self-assured, it knows it is king of the pack and does not react, it just herds the others.

Strange animals will usually be challenged by the Irish Terrier, and owners should be warned that smaller animals such as rodents and rabbits may not live to see another day if they get in the way of these dogs, since they are bred to keep down vermin.

On the other hand, the Irish Terrier tends to get along well with children providing they are gentle and considerate. They can be very protective of babies in the house, even defending them against their own fathers. They will often be seen sitting by the crib.

Facts:

*  AKA: Tenerife Dog, Bichon Tenerife, Bichon a poil Frise
* Size: Small
* Easy to train: Medium
* Grooming: High, both for appearance, and cleanliness of the white coat
* Shedding: Low, has hair rather than fur, so tends to be a hypoallergenic dog for people who suffer with allergies
* Exercise needed: Occasional walk
* Energy level: Medium
* Protection: Will bark and yap
* Good with children: Yes, with older and more considerate children, but he is NOT a toy!
* Health clearances : OFA, CERF

Bichon Frise Health Problems and Life Expectancy

The Bichon Frise has a life expectancy of around 14 years, but some have been known to live as long as 20.

Ours lived to 17 1/2 and we eventually had to out him down not because he was physically ill,  but because he was mentally suffering due to having gone blind from cataracts and did nothing but whimper, howl, cry, and never sleep.

Even sedating him did not help, so we had to sadly part from our little friend we had found wandering on the street when he was 10 (he had been thrown out because of a urinary leakage problem–when we found him, all 4 legs and his whole belly were stained and even burned with urine).

A number of health problems and disorders are associated with this breed, and this includes luxating patella, epilepsy, cataracts, bleeding disorders, allergies, and bladder stones. The parents of your Bichon Frise puppy should have OFA and CERF certificates.

You should NEVER give all his vaccinations on the same day; this breed is know for dying from this due to extreme allergic reaction.

They tend to have allergies, especially to grass, sensitive skin, and delicate paws and nails, so always examine your dog after walks. They can often get skin hot spots as well, irritations which they then make worse by licking and scratching.

Bichon Frise History

The Bichon Frise originated from Tenerife and France, and although the exact details of its origins are unknown it is thought to have a very long history in terms of its ancestry. The breed’s name means ‘curly lap dog’ and was given to it because of its appearance. The breed was registered with the AKC in 1972.

Bichon Frise Appearance

The Bichon Frise is a small, sturdy little dog with long hair that curls loosely. The coat of the Bichon Frise is white, and can have markings of cream, apricot, or buff. Some of the show dogs are said to resemble powder puffs.

The Bichon Frise has an alert and keen expression, and beautiful drooping white ears, though you don’t see them that often if they are incorporated into the powder puff.

The weight of the Bichon Frise is around 12-18 pounds, and the height is around 9-12 inches. His black nose and dark eyes stand out in stark contrast to his gleaming white coat, giving him a striking and attractive appearance. He is a sturdy, perky little companion animal full of pride and attitude.

Bichon Frise Grooming

Although the Bichon Frise does not tend to shed much, he is pretty high maintenance when it comes to grooming. You will need to brush the coat of these dogs on a daily basis in order to keep them looking good, or else they will mat, especially around the ears.  Every couple of weeks or so some clipping and trimming is recommended in order to reduce the time required to groom the Bichon Frise’s whole body. You should also ensure that you check the ears regularly to reduce the chance of infection, and that you trim the hair around the bottom for hygiene reasons.

They tend to get brown patches where they have been licking, and also get brown around the eyes. You can partly avoid that by wiping their eyes all the time, and making sure they always have plenty of fresh water to drink.
You should bathe them no more than once a month to help avoid drying out the coat and fur, using a gentle shampoo, and one especially for white dogs will work great.  Use a cream rinse to stop tangling.

You CAN take them to a groomer for a professional job, especially if you intend to show him, but otherwise, save a lot of money and bond with your pet by learning how to groom him yourself.  They really love the attention.

Temperament

The Bichon Frise is a breed that is sweet-tempered, merry, and eager, always wanting to please his owners and family. These dogs are very engaging and entertaining and make for great companions. They have a very gentle nature and are sensitive and affectionate. They can sometimes be a bit too sensitive.

This is a little dog that loves to play, and is very sociable with plenty of personality and a fun loving disposition. The Bichon Frise is a dog that loves to spend time with his family and loves interaction with humans and other animals. They do need plenty of attention and devotion, and love to perform tricks and show off.

They are very adaptable, and will be happy in various living environments. However, although they do love to play and frolic outside as well as go for walks, this is not a dog for someone that likes to spend too much time outdoors.  they often have allergies, especially to grass, manifested as a lot of foot licking, and brown around the mouth and feet from their saliva.

The Bichon Frise is good for novice dog owners as well as more experienced ones, and will fare well around considerate children. He will also get on well with other pets and is amiable around strangers.

These dogs tend to not be too bossy or dominant, but they can be very independent. The males can sometimes be a bit alpha and bossy, however, if not disciplined. They have been described by some as “The iron paw in the velvet glove,” and our male was totally like that.

They can be chewers and nippers, and can get a bit plump if not disciplined. They will definitely suffer from separation anxiety and become destructive and naughty generally if they are left alone for too many hours.

Housebreaking the Bichon Frise can be a difficult task, especially males, and some can be quite noise with their high pitched barks.

All in all, the Bichon Frise is a wonderful little dog with a cheerful outlook, bags of enthusiasm, a sociable personality, and is perfect as a family pet or companion dog if you are willing to put the work into him.

Rescuing a pet from a shelter

A Pet is for life, not just for Christmas

If you do go for a puppy or kitten, go into it with the mentality of keeping it for the remainder of the pet’s life. If you rescue a dog from a shelter, just think of the trauma it has already been through, and don’t add to it, especially if it is an elderly animal.

You don’t want to be dumped in a home or neglected when you are elderly, so certainly don’t treat an innocent living creature like that.

If you do not know if you can commit to a pet for its entire life, to death do you part, do not get a pet. Yes, there is expense, and the unexpected, but I would rather not eat myself than see my animals go hungry.

Many shelters even offer pet insurance policies to help cover the costs, and it is a good idea to take it out just for peace of mind, and due to the climbing price of pet care and medicines.

So please, do your homework. Before you adopt a cute little puppy or kitten, think long and hard… Are you ready for the responsibility?

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So who is to blame? Breeders or owners?

Owners who adopt a cute little puppy or kitten without researching how a dog thinks, the type of pet they are getting, the care, time and responsibility it will need, are to blame.

When they “Get Rid” of the pet after it has outgrown that cute puppy or kitten stage, using one of the many common excuses for not keeping a pet, or don’t spay or neuter their pet, it is they who are causing the world’s pet overpopulation and leaving their mess for everyone else to clean up.

There are millions of excellent dogs and cats in pounds and rescues. These animals are not “reject” animals, but animals who were unfortunate enough to fall into the hands of people who decided they didn’t want the responsibility, those who did not research the type of pet they were getting and those who didn’t treat the dog like a dog, but rather a human, which always causes behavior problems, sometimes major ones.

Each and every day these animals are killed, simply because there are not enough homes, not enough rescues, not enough man power, to keep them all alive, because each day more pets are brought in.

Each and every one of us who want to adopt a pet should look into rescue first, not buying from a breeder. Don’t necessarily choose a puppy, but an older dog whose habits are known.

If you really must get a puppy, research it thoroughly, and if you really must get a puppy from a breeder and pay money for it, always use a reputable breeder and make sure you meet BOTH puppy parents. Otherwise it is probably a puppy mill puppy.

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What you need to know NOW about the food your dog eats

Complete Cat Training.
Home Study course, deals with cat aggression, destructive behavior, and more!

If you would like to try owning a dog or cat, but are not sure if you are a dog/cat person, why not start with a full grown homeless dog or cat rather than adopting a puppy or kitten.

Grown cats and dogs are easier to care for than kittens and puppies and you will not be contributing to the overpopulation problem should you decide it was not something you should have taken on. There are millions of wonderful dogs and cats that need homes right now.

Even better, often the rescue groups or shelters will have evaluated the animal in different situations, such as with cats, children, strangers, and whether or not they have any special health needs. You will be able to get valuable information right on line as to whether or not they would be the kind of pet that would fit into your own family situation and circumstances.

Do not get a terrier if you have young children. Do not get any dog if you are single and work ten hours a day, unless you are going to pad train your pet, get one small enough to take everywhere with you, or are prepared to have a dog walker come in to your house to get it a couple of times a day. You can’t hold your pee for 10 hours, so why would anyone think a dog could? Or even expect them to? And be angry if they didn’t?

Again, there needs to be a realistic expectation about pet ownership, and your own personality and abilities in the process.

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Dog Food Secrets.
What you need to know NOW about the food your dog eats

Complete Cat Training.
Home Study course, deals with cat aggression, destructive behavior, and more!

So no matter how tempted you are by a puppy, sometimes you need to be honest: there IS NO type of dog that will fit into your lifestyle..

So if you want a pet, its time to consider something else, something less demanding. This research should be done before you adopt a pet. It should not be a trial and error experience.

There are cases of women handing back children after they adopted because the could not cope with the reality of what they ended up with, but it is rare.

Therefore, you should view yourself as the pet’s parent, and best friend who will have to make the best possible decisions for it throughout its life. You need to put its welfare even ahead of your own, because it has NO choice compared with you.

With the internet so readily available, there is no excuse for not researching BEFORE adopting a pet.

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SitStayFetch Is The No. 1 Dog Training And Behavior Product On The Net. See What it Can do for you and your pet now: Sit Stay Fetch Training Program

Dog Food Secrets.
What you need to know NOW about the food your dog eats

Complete Cat Training.
Home Study course, deals with cat aggression, destructive behavior, and more!

Buying from breeders versus Rescuing A Pet Part 11

In the same way, you should deal with your dog in the same way, training it to be a well socialized and adjusting living being which needs to go out into the world and meet all sorts of people and situations.

Dogs and cats are not disposable and they are not all the same. We all have our own personal preferences and lifestyles, and that is fine, but again, don’t have a child if you are not prepared for the responsibility and consequences.

Choose the right kind of pet for you. If you live in a place with harsh winters, for example, or scorching temperatures, it would be understandable that you might not be able to walk a dog, in which case, a cat is fine.

The type of dog that will fit into your lifestyle will not be the type of dog that will fit into your neighbor’s lifestyle. It is all a question of personality.

Also think about what you would do if your pet got sick. Labradors are great dogs, but how would you lift it, or go up and down the stairs with it if it got sick?

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SitStayFetch Is The No. 1 Dog Training And Behavior Product On The Net. See What it Can do for you and your pet now: Sit Stay Fetch Training Program

Dog Food Secrets.
What you need to know NOW about the food your dog eats

Complete Cat Training.
Home Study course, deals with cat aggression, destructive behavior, and more!