Nowadays many people want to raise a Bichon Frise because the breed's dense, curly white coat makes it look like a small snowball from a distance. But Bichons are also full of energy and may seem able to jump around from morning until night without getting tired. If a Bichon is too naughty, the owner must not indulge it, but should stop and correct the behavior in time, or bad habits are very likely to form.
You Need to Guide and Train the Bichon Frise
The best way to educate a Bichon Frise is through training. There is no need to be afraid, because the Bichon has a good level of intelligence and is not especially difficult to train. As long as you choose suitable training moments and keep working patiently, you can definitely raise a polite, rule-following, obedient dog. The first thing to solve is the toilet issue. The dog needs to know where it is allowed to eliminate, or you may later come home to a complete mess of urine and feces all over the floor. In other words, once a Bichon lives in the home, the way its toilet habits are handled directly determines the future hygiene of the household.
Training the Bichon to Eliminate in a Fixed Spot
At the beginning, the Bichon will often choose one location in the house to use as a toilet. You can place an old newspaper there with a little of the dog's urine on it. The Bichon usually prefers to eliminate repeatedly in a place it has chosen itself and that carries its own scent. Then the newspaper can be moved gradually, just a small amount each time, so that the dog forms the habit of looking for the paper when it needs to eliminate. Eventually, the newspaper can be moved all the way to the toilet location you have selected.
Experienced owners often understand their dog's signals, while new owners need time to observe and interpret them. For example, when a Bichon suddenly lowers its head, sniffs the floor, and circles nervously, that usually means it is about to eliminate. After waking up, after eating, and after play, the dog often needs to go. At those moments, take it to the chosen place where it can relax and eliminate. If the Bichon uses the correct place, reward it. If you catch it eliminating in the wrong place, correct it immediately with a loud, firm voice. Punishment after the fact is useless.
Toilet training a young Bichon is a process that demands patience. Without enough patience, all earlier effort can easily be wasted. Rough treatment only makes the puppy afraid and confused, ruining the training effect. If the Bichon eliminates outdoors, the owner should also clean the area quickly and thoroughly.