QuestionHello, Our family has decided to get a bichon puppy (after a lot of reading and research). The litter that I'm looking at has one girl left, which we would prefer, but her nose is not completely black - it's black and pink. She also has pinkish rings around her eyes. I can't find any information on what this might mean. Do you know? I'm hesitant to get a male, because I've read in a few places and heard one person say that males can be harder to housetrain than females. Is that true? Any answer you can give me is greatly appreciated!
AnswerPlease read the below information before you buy.
The Bichon Frise is not a small dog but rather a medium size dog -- about
> fifteen pounds on the average -- when full grown. You may see many ads
> that advertise it as a toy breed or because they are breed only smaller
> Bichons. Please read the section on acquiring dogs using such ads and
> remember: these ads are not from reputable breeders.
>
> Similar type dogs that are small are: Havanese, Shih Tzu, Papillon,
> Pomeranian, Toy Poodle, Pug, Chinese Crested, Yorkshire Terrier. Contac
> the AKC breeder referral for the name of a reputable breeder at this site:
> <http://www.akc.org> The National Breed Club of each breed is your best
> source for a reputable breeder.
>
> Why The Bichon Frise Is a Very High- Maintenance Dog.
>
> 1) They are very difficult to housebreak / potty train.
> Bichons are a slow maturing breed and, as such, take longer and are more
> difficult to potty train than many other breeds. We have found that
> Bichon puppies do not potty train well before the age of 9 months. And
> sometimes they never are 100% housebroken. It takes patience, time and a
> great deal of determination to potty train a Bichon puppy.
>
> "Crate" training is an absolute for this breed. This does not mean,
> though, than you just put your puppy in a crate and there is very little
> work on your part! You are going to have to take your Bichon puppy out
> when he/she first wakes up, right after they eat and every few hours in
> between; then, before you go to bed, you'll need to take them out again.
> While the dog is still a puppy, you need to set your alarm and get up once
> or twice during the
> night to take him out. Even after all this, there are going to be
> "accidents".
>
> If a dog having a "accident " in your home is going to bother you, then
> the Bichon is
> not the breed for you. They have lots of accidents. If someone is not
> home during the
> day, this is not the breed for you. They really need to get out every
> two hours.
>
> 2) Children
> Although a Bichon obtained from good source (see below about acquiring
> dogs) has a great temperament and would not harm a child, this breed does
> not bond with young children. They want the adult's attention. So, when
> the time comes that your child wants your attention, so does the Bichon.
> They know who is in charge and that is the person whose attention they
> seek.
>
> I do not recommend the Bichon for children under 8 yrs old. Having older
> children could also present some problems The Bichon is an "in your face"
> dog, demanding a lot of human interaction and attention. With older
> children, as they become involved with various extra- curricular
> activities, they may have very limited time to give to a dog.
>
> 3) Hypoallergenic Myth:
> The Bichon is not hypoallergenic. All dogs have dander, so no dog is
> hypoallergenic.
> If you do have allergies, you can definitely be allergic to the Bichon.
> Also some people
> are allergic to dog saliva. Well, as I said above, this is an "in your
> face" breed, so you're going to get exposed to their saliva.
>
> 4) The Bichon coat is High Maintenance.
> The coat requires daily brushing and professional grooming.
> Unfortunately, It is very difficult to groom a Bichon yourself. They are
> white and get dirty quickly, so washing every two weeks and trimming every
> four to six weeks is a must. It can cost on an average of over $1,500 a
> year just in grooming expenses.
>
> They also require annual teeth cleaning, which runs about $200 a year.
> All of these grooming expenses are above the normal upkeep of the dog,
> remember. Hopefully, if you're still interested in a Bichon, you get one
> from a reputable breeder and can having to deal with the big genetic
> problems that frequently show up in this breed. Handing those can cost
> you thousands of dollars.
>
> 5) The Bichon is a very dependent breed.
> They are always in your face, on your lap, and under your feet. They
> require a great deal of affection and can make owners feel guilty when
> they are not able to give them this type of attention. If the adults in
> the house work outside the home, there will be problems as the Bichon does
> not do well stuck at home, alone, all day. Besides that, you will never
> house-break your Bichon is you're gone all day.
>
> I am telling you all of this because, besides showing and breeding
> Bichons for the last fifteen years, I also am very involved in Bichon
> Rescue through The Bichon Frise Club of America Rescue Effort. Everything
> I have warned you about has turned out to be the reason(s) people have
> abandoned their Bichons. The rescued dogs we deal with all came originally
> from inferior sources, i.e. pet stores, backyard breeders, or brokers.
> They aren't the kind of people who will tell you everything, both good and
> bad, that I have. Their only purpose is to get the puppies sold so they
> can breed more. They aren't conscientious about protecting the breed as
> good breeders and owners are. They're just after the money.
>
> Why Bichons Are Worth the Trouble... for the Right Owner
>
>
> After seeing how much maintenance Bichons require, you're probably asking
> yourself why some people are still so fond of this breed. What is so good
> about them, you wonder? Well, Bichons can make great pets. I have been
> showing and breeding them for fifteen years and have placed many wonderful
> dogs in loving homes. However, in these cases, the new owners were home
> during the day , their children were older than eight, and they were
> willing to take - or make -- the time to give a lot of love and attention
> to their Bichon, thus producing to a very affectionate and loving pet.
> They have also been willing to follow my instructions on the dog's diet,
> proper housebreaking techniques, keeping vaccinations up to date, and
> providing obedience training. As a result, the new owners have been very
> successful in making their Bichon a beloved and well-cared-for member of
> the family.
>
>
> How to Find A Properly Bred Bichon Frise
>
> After all this, if your still want a Bichon, the only place to get one is
> from a reputable breeder.
> I can refer you to a good, dependable Bichon breeder anywhere in the
> world. Unfortunately, there are far too many inferior, even disreputable
> places to get a Bichon. You'll find them advertising in the newspapers,
> pet publications, and even on the Internet.
>
> First, let me tell you where NOT to look for a puppy to buy.
>
> All dogs sold in pet shops are from puppy mills, farms that supplement
> their incomes by mass producing dogs. These unfortunate dogs are often
> dysfunctional because they are taken from their mothers far too early and
> often shipped across country. There are lots of genetic problems which
> these dogs inherit because no one is supervising the quality of the
> breeding taking place, just the quantity. These Bichons have been
> over-bred, resulting in a weakening of the breed line and many dogs with
> serious medical problems.
>
> This is a good time for me to ask for your help in stopping puppy mills.
> It's very simple: never buy anything at any place where they also sell
> dogs...Nothing! Make sure you tell the people who own or run these
> places that you will not support their business as long as they sell dogs.
> They will try and tell you the dogs are not from puppy mills, .but I'm
> telling you, from my long experience breeding Bichons and also working
> with the Bichon Rescue teams that what they're saying is a lie.
>
> Likewise, never buy a dog from the newspapers, an ad in a general dog or
> pet magazine such as Dog News or Dog Fancy. These carry ads placed by, at
> best, backyard breeders. Believe me, reputable breeders do not advertise
> in such publication.
>
> Another bad source of puppies is brokers who buy dogs from the puppy mills
> and then advertise them for sale out of their homes. They advertise
> heavily in newspapers. Avoid these people like the plague.
>
> As for AKC Registration, that is not necessarily an indication of quality;
> it's only a "registry;" it's meaningless. Reputable breeders breed only
> champions that are multi-generation animals that are free from the breed's
> biggest genetic problems. (These will be discussed below.)
>
> Backyard breeders are usually poor quality breeders who advertise in
> newspapers, in pet magazines and on the Internet, which is full of them
> now. As I've said before, these are very poor sources for a puppy. Web
> sites like PetsForYOU.com, ANYPet .com, as well as the many individual
> websites posted by backyard breeders are everywhere on the Internet. They
> advertise AKC puppies, champion lines, and kitchen-raised dogs. They will
> ship your puppy anywhere, insist on deposits, and often take credit cards.
> They live in remote areas so they can mass produce the dogs without
> running into zoning laws. Most backyard breeders deal with several
> breeds. Please do not support these people. Because of them, the breed
> has really gone downhill, especially regarding the dogs' health problems,
> in recent years. Some of these eagerness to own a Bichon is due to its
> unusual popularity, encouraged by a Bichon winning Best in Show at the
> Westminster Dog Show last year (2001). A double-edged sword, such an
> accomplishment often produces a very unfortunate demand for the winning
> breed with little or no consideration of how the dog is produced.
>
> You can even see websites and advertisement from these backyard breeders
> saying they are offering show and pet puppies. They have never bred a
> champion, but they claim to sell show puppies. Well, don't be fooled.
> Ask the breeder how many litters they have bred and how many champions
> came out of them. This is a good indication of the breeder's intent.
> However, my experience is that you cannot believe most things these people
> tell you, unfortunately.
>
> How to Find a Reputable Breeder
>
> First and foremost, don't be in a hurry." It takes six months to a year to
> get a Bichon puppy from a reputable source.
>
> Secondly, these reliable breeders belong to their breed's national breed
> club, i.e. The Bichon Frise Club of America. Their website address is:
> <http://www.bichon.org>. They are active in showing their dogs and for
> the most part only breed champions, both sire and dam. Reputable breeders
> attend the national specialty convention annually, where they talk with
> other breeders, attend seminars, and learn about new developments in the
> breed.
>
> However, you must be careful identifying a dependable, trustworthy breeder
> because many backyard breeds love to claim that there are some champions
> in their puppies' pedigree. If even true, these champions are so far back
> in the pedigree line they're breeding that their claims are absolutely
> meaningless.
>
> The age at which a breeder will place his puppies can be another good
> indicator of their quality. A reputable breeder would never allow a puppy
> to be placed before the age of twelve weeks.
>
> Are Heath Checks on the Sire and Dam of Your Puppy Reliable? Or
> Important?
>
> Most backyard breeders and pet stores will tell you they have health
> certifications and guarantees on their dogs. Excuse me? This is fiction!
> A health certification on a puppy whose mother has cataracts and hip
> dysphasia will do you little good. By the time your puppy develops these
> inherited genetic defects, your health guarantee has expired. When that
> happens, don't look for any help with your puppy from these people.
> Another thing: Do not accept any excuses from a breeder as to why they do
> not follow correct practices regarding health checks on the sire and dam
> of the puppy they're trying to sell you.
>
> What is CERF Certification? Why is it important?
>
> Reputable breeders breed multi-generation CERF clear dogs. For example,
> the Bichon is the top breed for juvenile cataracts. The onset of
> cataracts are more likely to occur when the dogs reach four to seven years
> of age. Backyard breeders will tell you they have never had this problem
> with their dogs so they do not have the certifications. (These are the
> very people who are still breeding dogs with cataracts.)
>
> A genuine CERF certification is given by a veterinarian ophthalmologist.
> The CERF exam
> must be done annually until the dogs are eight years old to be considered
> clear. Just having the exam done once at 2 years old is meaningless.
> Now, understandably, it is costly to
> have your dogs CERF certified annually. However, reputable breeders who
> only breed to improve the quality of the breed, are willing to pay the
> price.
>
> What is an OFA Certification of a dog's hips?
>
> Both the Sire and Dam should already have had their hips X rayed and the X
> rays examined to determine if the hips are free from hip dysphasia. A
> breeder's veterinarian performs the examination, interprets the X rays,
> and then the X rays are sent into OFA for evaluation by three independent
> veterinarians.
>
> A reputable breeder will breed only from dogs who have been certified to
> have "Good" or "Excellent" hips. Such a breeder should be able to produce
> an OFA certifications indicating
> that both Bichons passed such hip exams. Do not accept a breeder's
> excuse that none of his Bichons have ever had a hip problem and that is
> why they don't get the OFA exams.
> Again, it goes back to money. Reputable breeders, who want to improve the
> breed, will do all the necessary testing to ensure that this happens, and
> not the reverse. Backyard breeders are only looking to make a profit.
>
> What is an OFA Certification of a dog's patella?
>
> Both the sire and dam should have had their patellae (rear knee caps)
> examined to determine that there is not any lunation (looseness or bad fit
> in the knee cap). Complete information about this exam and how the
> breeder's veterinarian performs them is available on the Internet at this
> address: <http://www.bichon.org/patella.html>.
>
> Why are these OFA Certifications important?
>
> If your Bichon develops cataracts, hip dysphasia, or patella problems,
> you are looking at $1,000 in surgery as well as a lot of suffering for
> your dog.
>
> Are there any other medical problems poorly bred Bichons may develop?
>
> We are seeing various medical problems show up in these unfortunate
> animals: allergy problems, Sudden Rage Syndrome, and bladder stones are
> some examples.
>
> What about Bichon puppies that are shipped to the buyer?
>
> Never, never get a puppy by just having it shipped to you. It is
> important to see where the puppy was raised and to have a look at its
> parents, if possible.
>
> Do you have any advice about getting a Bichon puppy as a holiday present?
>
> Reputable breeders NEVER place puppies during the holidays. They know
> that the holidays are too stressful a time to introduce a puppy into a new
> home. Generally speaking, living creatures should never be given as
> gifts. What you think of as the ideal and unique present may well end up
> in the pound a few weeks later when the new owner finds out that they
> cannot housetrain a puppy while working a 40-hour week! Just remember
> this: a reputable breeder never sells puppies as gifts.
>
> What if you do need to give the dog back?
>
> Good breeders will co-own the dog with you for life because they want to
> be assured that the dog is well taken care of for its entire life.
>
> How do I find a reputable breeder?
>
> I only recommend members of The Bichon Frise Club of America. Their
> website and breeder referral information can be found at
> <http://www.bichon.org>.
>
> Now, let me ask you: Why not rely on a breeder whose aim is to produce
> beautiful Bichons
> through intelligently planned and researched breeding, thus guarding the
> wonderful Bichon temperament? Why not buy from a breeder whose dogs'
> medical background has been
> certified to be clear of inherited genetic problems? I think the answer
> is obvious.
>
> bill_dreker@hotmail.com
