Many small dogs like the Bichon Frise have difficulty with swimming. Some small dogs are unusual shapes, and have issues with buoyancy, while other small dogs are simply extremely small, and do not have the stamina to swim very far.
Is the Bichon Frise much like these dogs? Does the Bichon Frise have the capacity to enjoy splashing about in the water?
And can Bichon Frise dogs swim? In this post, you’ll find the answers to all of these questions and more. So, if you want to know what to do when it comes to your Bichon Frise and water, read on!
What kind of dog is a Bichon Frise?
Plenty of people mistake the Bichon Frise for a Poodle the first time they see one. This is not surprising – the Bichon Frise has practically the same coat as the waterdog, the Poodle.
Indeed, the Bichon Frise breed was likely first derived from waterdogs like the Poodle. Many people still regard the Bichon Frise breed as being a waterdog.
Safety is important so read my other post – Best Life Vests For a Small Dog
Does the Bichon Frise like the water?
Though many people see the Bichon Frise as being a waterdog, the modern Bichon Frise is a much smaller pooch than the first Bichons were.
Because of this, many modern Bichon Frises are apprehensive at first about entering deeper bodies of water, especially the unruly, chaotic ocean.
That being said, most Bichon Frises do at least eventually come to enjoy cooling down amid the waves and their favorite people. However, do be aware that this small dog breed has limited swimming ability.
But isn’t the Bichon Frise brachycephalic?
Did you know that the Bichon Frise is one of the more flat-faced, brachycephalic breeds of dogs? Brachycephalic dogs often have a little difficulty with breathing or eating and find it hard to cool down after running around.
Since the Bichon Frise is a brachycephalic dog, a Bichon Frise often finds it difficult to hold their head above water for a long time when swimming. This can lead to a Bichon Frise quickly getting into extreme difficulty in the water when unsupervised.
Being brachycephalic does not mean that a Bichon Frise can’t swim. You will need to be careful any time your Bichon Frise enters the water, though.
You may like to use a canine life jacket with your Bichon Frise when you take them to the water. Go for a model with inflatable cushion support under your Bichon Frise’s chin to provide the best protection for this flat-faced breed.
Does the Bichon Frise have stamina?
Due to the modern Bichon Frise’s short legs, a Bichon Frise may struggle to keep swimming safely for a long period. However, with the thick, double coat a Bichon Frise has, they typically love to splash about to cool down.
Is swimming good for a Bichon Frise?
Don’t let your Bichon Frise’s protests fool you, swimming is a perfect activity for a Bichon Frise. Swimming is a gentle, low-impact form of physical activity, that your Bichon Frise should find easy.
Plus, it’s tiring; did you know that 1 minute of swimming is equivalent to 4 minutes of running? Most Bichon Frises hate to run far, but love to swim.
As well as this, if your Bichon Frise suffers from separation anxiety, taking your pooch swimming can help to keep them calm and relieve their stress and boredom.
How can I keep my Bichon Frise safe when swimming?
As a small dog, the Bichon Frise can easily get tired while swimming. Because of this, it’s a good idea to use a dog life jacket with your Bichon Frise, as we mentioned earlier.
But your Bichon Frise might also surprise you in the water and may swim off into the sunset. In case this happens, you might also like to keep your Bichon Frise on a long leash, to limit how far away they can swim.
The Bichon Frise is also known to frequently become thirsty, and so, to avoid them drinking unclean water or saltwater, one other essential safety item for a Bichon is a portable water bowl, placed in an easily-accessible area, for your Bichon Frise to drink out of as often as they like.
Here is a dog travel water bowl you can order online.
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What are some water games I can play with my Bichon Frise?
Your Bichon Frise is much more likely to come to love the water if they associate it with having fun and spending time with their favorite people. So, what are some of the fun games you can play with your Bichon Frise in the water?
Hare are some some water games you can order online
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Well, you could start off by standing in a shallow part of the water and calling your Bichon Frise to you. This will help your Bichon Frise to start to get the hang of swimming, without swimming too far and getting exhausted.
After the first session, you can start to gradually go farther and farther away from your Bichon Frise, to get them comfortable in deeper and deeper water.
Another great game that most Bichon Frises love to play is, fetch. You can usually play fetch in the water with standard squeaky balls, or anything else that floats.
But if you want to keep your other dog toys in good condition, it’s worth considering investing in a good set of bumpers;
Bumpers are buoyant dog toys, designed especially for use in the water. They are usually brightly decorated, and so, are easy for your Bichon Frise to spot, even from quite a distance.
So, if you find that your Bichon Frise really enjoys playing fetch at the beach or lake, think about purchasing a good set of bumpers.
How else can I help my Bichon Frise like the water?
As we touched upon earlier, it’s important to introduce your Bichon Frise to the water slowly at first and to never force them in. There are some other things that you can do to help your Bichon Frise to get used to the water too, however.
If you are going to be using accessories or toys in the water with your Bichon Frise, it is a good idea to let your Bichon Frise get used to them on dry land first.
If you will be using a doggy life jacket with your Bichon Frise, for example, try letting your Bichon Frise wear their life jacket around your home a few times first, to see how they react to it, and how well they move with it on.
Allowing your Bichon Frise to practice wearing their life jacket long before they ever enter the water also gives you a good chance to spot fit issues well ahead of time. This is a much safer approach.
You could also try playing with the toys you intend to play with, in the water before you go to the beach, lake, or pool. Then, when your Bichon Frise is familiar with them, they should have no problem with flying straight after the toys into the water!
At what age do dogs swim?
So, can Bichon Frise dogs swim?
In conclusion, yes – Bichon Frise dogs can definitely swim, even if they seem apprehensive about the waves at first. Just be patient and watch your Bichon Frise start to have a whale of a time splashing around in the water for hours!
