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I get several phonecalls and e-mails every week from people who are planning to get a bichon frisé. This breed has become very popular in Finland lately as people have noticed their beauty and good nature. Bichons frisés make excellent pets for a family because of their compact size, intelligence and good health.
In my opinion some matters should be thought when planning to get a bichon frisé. The first one is that they often live long, usually way past 10 years. Are you ready to make a commitment for next 10 to 15 years? Are you willing to take your dog for a walk for at least three times a day no matter if it's raining or sunshine? Do you have enough money for vaccinations, worming, coat care equipment etc? This list could continue on and on. If you are not sure about being able to answer "Yes" to all the questions like that, then don't have a bichon. Don't get any dog at all. If you already have thought about these things and are sure that you will be able to offer a dog a good permanent home, then let's think about bichon care. Because of bichons' small size people sometimes seem to think that it takes no effort to maintain them. This is not true. A bichon's coat needs regular brushing, combing and grooming and a pet bichon has to be bathed every two or three weeks (showdogs even more often). After bathing the coat needs to be dried with a hair drier and a slicker brush. I can guarantee, that this is hard work and certainly not a thing that is suitable for children. A breeder who knows his/her responsibility is always willing to teach new owners the way of proper coat care. It is not a difficult thing to learn, but one to be kept in mind when planning to purchase a bichon frisé. If you are not willing to spend some time taking care of your dog's coat, then don't get a bichon. Get a short-haired dog. If you still want a bichon and are willing to take good care of your pet, ask a breeder to give you proper instructions and show you how to take care of the coat. Like I said; it isn't a difficult thing to learn but takes some effort for the rest of the dog's life. This is
what a bichon looks like after a walk on a rainy day You should also be ready to give some obedience training for your puppy. Everybody's life is easier if even the smallest dogs are properly trained. A well-kept bichon is never aggressive, but they are intelligent and they may be very stubborn... One of the most often asked questions I get to answer is this: Is bichon frisé a suitable pet for a person, who is allergic to dogs? The correct answer is no. There is absolutely no evidence that people suffering from allergies would be able to tolerate bichons any better than some other breeds. It is true that a bichon's coat doesn't shed. However, allergic reactions are not caused by dogs' hair, but their proteine which exists for example in their dandruff, saliva and urine. Some people claim that they are able to keep a bichon as a pet without getting an allergic reaction even if they are proved to be allergic for dogs. I think that this is always a risk for the owner's health (not to mention the dog's life if the owners can't keep him any longer after some time) and at least do not recommend ever to try this if the allergic person is a child. If I still haven't been able to scare you off and you still are planning to have a bichon frisé, then do get some information on the breed from books, different breeders and the local breed club. Here you can find some useful links. There are many responsible breeders here in Finland, who are ready to give you all the information and support you will need and luckily only a few who don't seem to do that (unfortunately bichons have become so popular that there are some ignorant people breeding them without any health tests or show results for the breeding stock). I do recommend that you purchase your puppy from a reputable breeder even if he would cost you more and you would have to wait longer to get him. What I have written down here is my personal opinion. Even if you'd disagree, please do at least think about these things before you make any decisions. If you have any questions or just want to discuss, please feel free to contact me via e-mail. |
