Hi all

My friend is thinking about getting a BF as her first dog but they like to walk for 40 minutes to an hour a day, would an adult BF like that much exercise? As the info she has read says they require 20 minutes walk a day and should not be over-exercised?

Thanks!

Alex

A puppy couldn't of course do anything like that long, but once adult, if fit and healthy I can't see that 40 minutes would be too much. I'm no expert on bichons, but my Cavaliers once adult and healthy are equally happy with a short walk with me before work during the week, and a 2 or 3 hour walk with my husband at the weekend.

Not sure I'd be buying a dog that couldn't even cope with a half hours walk! (When adult of course.) But i have never heard this and would assume given their size and construction that they would happily take an hour a day.  The only website I found stating 20 minutes exercise I have to say looked as if it was written by a pet shop, personally I wouldn't be taking advice from that site.  Every other site starts the discription off by saying 'an active little dog'.  Best thing they can do is ring a breeder and discus what the breed is really like to live with.

I would be shocked if this breed could only be walked for that length of time they seem quite a sturdy little dog.  Pomeranians can definitely walk quite a way once they get to a certain age, only problem with small dogs is that you don't get to walk that far as people are always stopping to stroke and talk about them!

Thanks for your replies, sounds good, I didn't think a BF would be that limited walkswise.

How far can a Pom walk? Will it do an hour? I have always wanted a Pom or Papillon or even chihuahua but would like a dog that can walk a reasonable way. Just dreaming anyway as at the mo I am happy owner of a CKCS and a cocker x. The Cav was a great walker and swimmer in his younger days despite being a toy breed :)

Cheers
Alex

I had a Bichon when I was younger, we also had 2 Afghans, he would keep  up on a 2 hour walk with them and still be ready for more when we got home.

A friend of mine her mother has 2 and she does help out with the rescue of them at times. She defo walks them for about 1hr around the park.

Yeah a Pom could definitely walk for that length of time

My mother had Bichons and when adult were able to run with the GSDs with no problem. It was hilarious to see the male in particular with his little legs going 19 to the dozen and his ears flying in an effort to try and keep up - he was determined wasn't going to be left out of the fun, looked almost like he was going to "take off".  They can take a good amount of exercise when ADULT.  The other 1 was a bitch which was a rescue and didn't want to get involved in the chase but was still happy to do the walks.

Think with the smaller breeds it is the speed of a walk rather than the amount, BF are a Medium small breed but Poms are small with short legs so walking at speed for an hour may be hard work but taken at a steady pace should be no problem. Think the main problem with walking BF would be the coat sorting at the end.

I have always wanted a Pom or Papillon or even chihuahua but would like a dog that can walk a reasonable way.

Papillons are extremely energetic and very speedy dogs, that's why I like them so much. I usually say both my breeds are exactly the same in behaviour, they just look different. Now as the other breed is Malinois that should tell you something. :) I bet if you had a giant Papillon they would make police dogs as well. :) On the other hand, if you feel tired and it's raining a Papillon will be happy to not go for a  walk that day, a Malinois will never stop.

Pomeranians are quite popular as agility dogs and all those that I have met via agility are very fast and keen but not manic - ideal really :-)

Thanks for all the replies, really useful stuff. BFs were second on our list when we gout our first dog, a CKCS, sounds like a BF would have been a good choice (but we love our Cav :) )

MarianneB thanks for the info on Papillons, they sound great. I saw one on TV the other day training to be a hearing dog and he was really clever and cute. I can't imagine how sweet it must look having the malinois and paps running around together, also Freja's Mum's BFs with GSDs and ClaireyS's BFs with Afghans :)

ETA Harley I have seen poms do agility too and also feel in love with one at puppy class for Louis years ago :)

Cheers
Alex

As a spitz person I have a very soft spot for Papillons, would love one myself.

My pomx chi goes out with my gsd and others and is often out for a couple of hours and is still ready to when she gets home. Its the shepherd that sleeps when he gets home while she is running about the house.
Both are still young 2 and 3 years old

Until recently I had 2 papillons, one of which needed at least 30-40 minutes "walk" a day, most of the time chasing rabbits.  I know now that he was really a collie in the body of a papillon. LOL  (The other pap would rather play ball all day).  I´ve also seen bichons in agility and you don´t get on in that unless you spend a good bit of time training.  All in all I would imagine they are well up to a 45 minute walk once adults.

>  I know now that he was really a collie in the body of a papillon. LOL

Thats exactly how I would describe my pap-as an 8 1/2 inch collie.She goes out with my other dogs for 2 hours at a time with no problems.