Bichon frise? How to find trustworthy seller...

[Silvershaded]

We are looking to get a Bichon Frise in the spring and are happy to wait for the right puppy. We're looking for a smallish non shedding dog with a friendly temperament and the Bichon seems to fit the bill (I've always had yorkies before and DH labradors so very different personalities!). Has anyone got a Bichon and does this accurately describe them?

I'm really keen to ensure we don't buy a puppy farmed dog. Looking at the KC website there don't seem to be many assured Bichon breeders around and even fewer KC registered litters coming up. Very few in rescues too. How long did you wait for the "right" dog? Any recommendations for breeders would be great too...

Have you had a look at Many Tears Animal Rescue? They've got several Bichons in at the moment and that's not uncommon for them

Speak to the breed club. Definitely the safest way to find a good breeder and they will be able to tell you the negatives of the breed too.

Oh for God's sake adopt and avoid breeders. Many Tears as someone else said or Google, ask around and wait.

This is what I do when looking for a breeder:

I look up KC breeders - this is not a guarantee but it is a good start.

I look up the websites of the ones near me and work to further away. I reject anyone who breeds more than one breed, or too many puppies (one litter a year is enough work) or keeps the puppies outside.

I call up anyone who seems promising and ask them a lot of open ended questions as if I know little about the breed. Ideally the breeder should have done all th health screening available for the breed and have a breeding programme which fits my needs, e.g. a well tempered family dog.

I go to visit the most promising breeder and meet their dogs.

Then it’s a matter of waiting until a puppy is available but it’s best to take your time and wait than end up with the wrong puppy for life.

Thanks all, I've researched the breed guides/KC club guides. I'm surprised at how few authorized breeders are on the KC list compared to the many Bichons being offered via Pets4Homes etc etc. Who knows where they come from. I'm assuming quite a few of the rescue centre Bichons are ex puppy farm breeding dogs though. We are also looking into a few other breeds such as Spanish water dogs to broaden our search - prepared to wait and do our research for the right dog from a reputable breeder!

I have a bichon and they are a lovely breed. Everything that you describe. We got our pup from a breeder who was recommended and we did so much research and saw the litter with mum etc. We are still in touch with her and the other littermates.

We did initially want to rescue but we're turned down as didn't have an older dog and had children. We were limited to hypoallergenic breeds. We looked a long time.

I would try the bichon rescue groups first and many tears etc. But there are good breeders out there.

Bichon need a lot of grooming. I brush mine daily. They also are prone to some breed issues such as separation anxiety and allergies. Puppies also are extreme hard work!! But no regrets here. She completes our family.

Try a Norwich Terrier, fabulous dogs, quite difficult to get hold of but worth it

PinkPupZ I am really glad your pup worked out for you and think I know what you mean when you describe the breed as 'hypoallergenic' but just for the clarity of others reading this... there is no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog breed.

I bought my cockapoo from pets4homes, I think you just have to have your wits about you. The first puppy we went to view just wasn’t quite right, so we decided to wait. The people we decided to buy from were lovely, we could see mum with the puppies and the papers and healthcare notes from dad. They were more than happy for us to ask all the questions and he’s turned into a lovely dog.

We have a bichon. He's lovely. 9 years old now. He's been messed around by our kids and their friends over the years and never once snapped or been in any way aggressive. The only downside is that he is rather needy and hates being left alone.

If we knew then what we know now, I think we'd have had two in the hope that he wouldn't be so needy.

Aah Wicketwoo, I'm so tempted to get 2! I need to work on the rest of the family to get them to agree - currently DH googling Spanish water dogs like crazy as he and my teenage sons would prefer a slightly larger dog. Perhaps we should get one of each!

Two puppies from the same litter is unwise. Google litter mate syndrome for the many behavioral problems they may develop.

If you do want two dogs give yourself at least a year between the puppies. It is the minimum time to get the basics right before a new puppy comes and turns everything on its head.

@Silvershaded

Bichons are lovely and how you describe them. Mine is almost 11 and I love him loads. He does suffer with separation anxiety though if he's left alone for any period of time.

We were expecting our Bichon to be much smaller but he's actually quite big! I've attached a picture below.

There's definitely loads of Bichons in rescue around the country - they tend to be a mix of either very young puppies or older dogs though, and yes Many Tears ones tend to be ex-breeders.

I have a slight-OCD Pinterest board of Bichons in rescue in the UK, not updated when they're rehomed though.
www.pinterest.co.uk/rescuemebunny/dogs-bichon-frise-in-rescue/

If you go for a larger and more unusual breed like the Spanish Water Dog you'll have to go via KC and likely join a waiting list for a puppy, a good thing!! Or their breed club rescue might have youngsters and older dogs available to adopt.

Good lord, Many Tears have 52 Bichons and Bichon crosses listed :( a lot of them may well have come from puppy farms as ex-breeders and need another dog in the home to help them settle in.