How much exercise does a Bichon Frise need a day?

The Bichon Frisé is a small white dog with an intensely curly coat. With a history as a sailors’ dog, this family-loving playful teddy bear of a dog may have even stowed away on pirate ships!

In the past, some Bichon Frises worked as boisterous circus dogs, and some even herded cattle and livestock or worked as seeing dogs.

But considering their diminutive size, how much exercise does a Bichon Frise need a day? What kind of games do they like to play? And should you take them on long walks?

How many minutes of exercise does the Bichon Frise need a day?

With their history as mainly a pet dog, the small Bichon Frise needs to be careful about how much exercise they get every day. At the very least, your Bichon will need 30 minutes of activity daily.

However, this doesn’t mean you just have to take your Bichon Frise for a boring lengthy walk every day. You can also play games with them and participate in some sports together! Many Bichon Frises will play fetch until they drop, for example.

What types of exercise does the Bichon Frise enjoy?

With any dog breed, there are games a dog may prefer over others, as well as physical limitations against and personal aptitudes for particular games. The Bichon Frise isn’t any different!

The Bichon Frise needs to do various different exercises and games for their own health, to use their body to its full potential. Fortunately, the Bichon Frise also enjoys a range of different exercises.

One of these activity types is Fetch. Requiring just a little work from you, you can fire a ball for your Bichon Frise to chase quite a distance!

Want a fun way to feed your Bichon Frise? Let your Bichon get their daily food by scattering kibble around in your house or yard.

Hide food under objects, or in cupboards, your Bichon Frise is able to open. Even just covering your Bichon Frise’s food with their bowl goes a long way in helping your fluffball get more activity and stimulation every day – now they have to physically move their bowl around the floor and use their brain to figure out how to turn it over.

Then, when your Bichon Frise is physically exhausted from all this, why not try some mental exercise – let them use their nose for a while! Hide one of your Bichon’s favorite treats or a piece of their kibble under one of three cups.

Then, switch the cups around ten or so times, as fast as you can. After this, allow your Bichon to sniff the food out!

This scent game not only gives your Bichon Frise the chance to use their intelligent nose and smart brain. This game also tests your Bichon’s obedience in the face of a tantalizing treat – how long can they bear to sit still for? Playing scent games like this every day will boost your Bichon Frise’s obedience.

How much do I need to walk my Bichon Frise every day?

Okay, so the Bichon Frise needs at least 30 minutes of activity every day. However, not all of this activity needs to be in the form of a game, though games do help your Bichon get those essential different types of movement.

Walks are essential for your Bichon Frise. Even a short walk will provide plenty of stimulation for your Springer in the form of smells, sights, and sound.

So, walk your Bichon Frise for even just 10 minutes every day. Walking your Bichon Frise for these precious 10 minutes every day gives your pooch plenty of opportunities to keep up with the smells of the other neighborhood dogs and animals.

If you do take your Bichon for a longer walk, they likely won’t object to this, though smaller Bichons may be thoroughly exhausted afterward. As we touched upon earlier, why not jazz up your walks by practising some agility and obedience?

Ask your Bichon Frise to weave between bollards or lampposts on a short leash, or command your Bichon to jump up on benches.

You can also get your Bichon Frise to perform obedience commands any time you stand still during your walks. Ask your Bichon to spin on the spot if you’re standing at a traffic light, for example, or sit or lie down as you lift their poop.

Some Bichon Frises love to run, too. If your Bichon Frise is one of them, why not suit up with a waist leash and let your Bichon set the pace? For both of your joint health, stick to softer surfaces like grass.

What other games does a Bichon Frise like?

Another game that gets your Bichon Frise to use their smart nose is the ‘pick a hand’ game. Hold a piece of your Springer Spaniel’s favorite food in one of your closed fists.

Then, hold both of your closed hands out for your Bichon to sniff out the treat. This is another way to help your Bichon Frise learn how to follow a scent. You can use this game to reward your pooch, as well as practice obedience.

If you find that your Bichon enjoys these scent games, why not invest in some dedicated food puzzle toys? Your Bichon Frise will love learning how these puzzle toys work, and moving them around the yard or kitchen will keep them occupied all day long – perfect for when you are at work and school.

Toys for your Bichon Frise

• Nina Ottosson by Outward Hound – Interactive Puzzle Game Dog Toy
• The Nosey Nose: Nosework Training Program

Maybe you’re looking for a more active way to practice obedience skills with your Bichon Frise? Why not go to agility together?

In agility, you command your Bichon Frise to sprint through tunnels and meet you at the other side, jump up on wobbly and stable platforms, and weave in and out of obstacles like slalom poles – a perfect sport for moving in different ways.

Not only does agility help your Bichon to get the exercise they need and move their body in different ways, but it also helps you bond together.

Though the jumps may pose a challenge, you could bring your Bichon Frise to agility classes, where they can make lots of new furry friends as they pick up new skills. You can practice agility at home and in the park, too.