Meet "Michael Jackson," a loveable, black button-eyed, rambunctious bichon frise puppy that I got in the back country of North Carolina on that fateful day (a few months ago) that MJ died.
I'm beginning to call him H.M. (High Maintenance) Jackson, because he requires so much time and attention.
Is he worth it?
Yes!
Here's what I learned about Jackson after reading an article by Stephanie Horan in the November 2008 edition of "Dog World" magazine.
1. He's the "standard of the lapdog."
2. He is sweet and playful and personable and has a cheerful disposition.
3. He can easily learn tricks. This breed has been used as a circus dog to perform tricks.
4. Regular bathing, brushing and trimming are essential for Jackson.
5. He does best in an adult household or with older children.
6. He welcomes the chance to run and play and be wild in the yard or whereever.
7. He can be manipulative and quite stubborn.
8. Food rewards win his attention much more successfully than force.
9. He is not hyperactive or excitable.
10. He's always ready for playtime or a walk.
11. He loves to dig in the yard or in the dirt.
12. He has a high-pitched bark that can put you on edge.
13. He is NOT easy to housetrain and can be quite stubborn in this respect. Can take him up to 3 yrs. to be reliably housebroken.
14. Regular grooming of his fur/hair is essential to prevent matting which can lead to nasty sores and other skin problems.
15. Does his coat shed? Yes! But instead of falling on the ground or on the furniture, the hairs remains in the coat until it's removed by brushing and combing. Any shed hair left in the coat can form mats, and we don't want that!
16. Should be thoroughly brushed at least once a week, but more often is better. When we brush him, we should try not to miss mats and snarls.
17. Brushing and combing must be done prior to bathing him.
18. He's prone to tear staining, and this can cause allergies or infections. Tear-stain remover can be found in pet stores (but we've been using a warm wash cloth and that seems to work ok!)
19. He's prone to skin allergies that cause itching and scratching. Grooming/brushing helps avoid this.
20. He makes an outstanding therapy dog.
21. His best friend is the next person he meets.
22. He's high maintenance but lovable and worth it!
2 comments:
He's pretty cute ... I wonder whether he is as badly behaved as our little furbaby ...
As I read this blog, she sits in her crate, something I haven't used since she was a baby. She thinks she owns this place. She is JUST A DOG I try to tell her.
You need to check out Dog Whisperer, our favorite tv show.
- DTY
I will check out that show. Have just seen glimpses of it. Seems intriguing, for sure.
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