From: rob@xyzoom.info.com (Rob Lingelbach)
Subject: Re: INFO ON BICHON FRISE
Reply-To: rob@xyzoom.info.com (Rob Lingelbach)
Organization: Altruistic Intentions, Hollywood CA
Date: Sun, 8 Nov 1992 07:27:25 GMT

In article <1992Nov6.162121.16383@b30.ingr.com> xclass@nw3669.b30.ingr.com (Nancy Wiggins) writes:
>I live in an apartment and I'm thinking of getting a puppy.  Until yesterday
>I was pretty-much determined to get another poodle.  (I had a mini poodle
>for 17 years.  He died seven years ago and I still miss him.)  However,
>yesterday I was introduced to an eight-week old bichon frise. 

Let's see, where do I start?  

I have three Bichons, two of which are rescues.  I can compare them to
poodles because several years ago I bred and raised miniature Poodles.
Well-bred Bichons are extremely cheerful, loving dogs.  I can't
overstate this cheerfulness and positivism--I see it in almost every
Bichon I meet.  They were bred through the years as companion animals,
so seem to live for their owners.  

Bichons act a bit more like bigger dogs; they are mellower than you
expect a small dog to be.  In fact this is the big difference between
them and Poodles: Bichons are not as nervous or "hyper" as miniature
poodles.  A Bichon acts more like a Standard Poodle....however, I have
to say that my experience is that there are few dogs smarter than
Poodles--and Bichons, though smart, are not as smart as Poodles (big
generalization).  

Like Poodles, Bichons don't shed.  They seem to be hypo-allergenic;
friends of mine with allergic reactions to dogs don't react to my
Bichons.  Since they don't shed, they have to be brushed to remove
dead hair.  Before I found my current groomer, I brushed them once a
day; now that this groomer is using a cream rinse, I can brush them
just once a week.  My dogs are groomed professionally every three
weeks.  Though you could shampoo them at home, they really need to be
blow-dried and brushed before and after the bath, which is a lot of
work.  It costs me between 20 and 35 dollars per dog for the grooming,
depending on whether or not they are trimmed.  In a dirtier
environment, or where they'll get wet, they might need more frequent
grooming.

Bichons have a reputation of being difficult to housebreak, and I have
had that experience. 

I've been told fair-haired dogs are more likely to have skin problems.
I know my dogs are all very allergic to fleas or flea saliva, and
react badly when bitten, so flea control is very important (and
difficult in Southern California, where they live and breed all year).
Additionally, one of my Bichons has Systemic Lupus Erythematosis,
which is an autoimmune disease, and may (?) have been brought on by
exposure to the sun --Cammie used to take sun baths all the time.  I
will not let the dogs get prolonged exposure to the sun any more.

The above caveats are not meant to dissuade you: I have had fantastic
relationships with my dogs and recommend Bichons highly.  There is
something extremely winsome about them...they never seem to get
jealous or cranky.  They don't need a lot of exercise, so are an ideal
city dog (with attention to keeping city dirt from their coats).

>I was told
>that they are a little smaller than mini poodles

Two of my Bichons are about 13-14 pounds, and the third is 18
pounds--due to a very strong appetite, which is a side effect of the
prednisolone she has to take for the Lupus.

I love the breed, and will probably always have at least one or two of
them.

Hope this helps...
...Rob

-- 
Rob Lingelbach KB6CUN | 2660 Hollyridge Dr LA CA 90068 213 464 6266 (voice) 
rob@xyzoom.info.com   | "I care not much for a man's religion whose dog or 
robl@netcom.com       |  cat are not the better for it."  --Abraham Lincoln