Do you own a Bichon?
 

I am in the process of finding another dog and have thought about getting a bichon or bichon mix- whatever I can find on petfinder that works with my family.:D

Anyways- does anyone own a bichon and want to tell me about them?

I can read all day online, but I'd rather hear from those that own one.

Thanks!

A family friend has a Bolognese Bichon and its one of the smartest dogs I have met.

Hopefully someone else has personal experience.

Good luck on your search :)

Thanks :)

I have found a few bichons and bichon mixes that look super great, but just need to make sure they fit my family.

I'm not sure how much help I'll be but here's our story.
I got a call a few years back from our rescue volunteer coordinator asking us to go down to the shelter right away. So,off we go,get there and she takes us back to the kennels to show us a "poodle mix" that was turned in for -get this-
his coat color not matching the new black microfiber furniture! She knew that he wasn't a mix (intake made their best guess). Anyway,"Baby Boy" came home with us that day-had his name changed to Cotton), he lives for my hubby (and vice versa!), loves anything that will get him dirty (changing oil in cars,working on lawn mower)! He has a totally offbeat sense of humor and has never met another dog that he won't try to be friends with. These dogs are just as much work coatwise as a full coat Yorkie.They don't shed hair all over but MUST be brushed out several times a week to get the loose hair out. They are super intelligent (a lot of old circus photo's show Bichons performing), Cotton has twice come to me and demanded that I go with him,once hubby had fallen (he's had multiple strokes) and the other time his sugar had gotten WAY to low. Both times Cotton came to get me on his own-hubby didn't send him! I know this sounds like a bad Lassie remake:p but from talking to other Bichon owners it's completely normal behavior.
Another thing that he does all on his own is to "sit" with our other pets when they don't feel well,I have a Chihuahua who doesn't handle her yearly vaccines well at all. When Peanut get's her shots Cotton curls up beside her until her Benedryl wears off. He seems to think that he's the resident nurse! I could type for hours about him but hopefully you get the idea-LOL
Here's a pic of Cotton and our daughter,she takes him to work with her about once a month for his grooming(we take care of his normal bathing & brushing)
http://images.photos1.walmart.com/23...%3A36768nu0mrj

Here he is when we got him:
http://images.photos1.walmart.com/23...3B548324nu0mrj

http://images.photos1.walmart.com/23...%3B99324nu0mrj

http://images.photos1.walmart.com/23...54%3B324nu0mrj

Here's how we keep him:
http://images.photos1.walmart.com/23...B%3A5324nu0mrj

http://images.photos1.walmart.com/23...B%3A6324nu0mrj

http://images.photos1.walmart.com/23...3B573324nu0mrj

Not bad for a 2 yr old boy who was to be euthanized because he didn't match the furniture!

I have 2 bichon's..they are very smart and they are very very sweet, they make wonderful lapdogs.they are high maintenance in terms of grooming though but if you have a groomer then yu have nothing to worry about,I also have a litter of yorkiechon pups, Ill include pics of both so you can see what they look like.

Thank you all for the responses. I just gotta find one now :)

That is a great story IWAY, those stories warm my heart.

LOL- best of luck in your search! When you find that perfect little fluff-you'll be in for a wild ride!! They're a trip!:D

I used to think Bichons are little ugly dogs. No offense, please :) I changed my mind when I met my neighbour's. He's such a sweetheart... I just want to hug him everytime I see him now.

I had to come back and say that I'd love to see your new family member when you find him/her:)
Also,our daughter threw a fit when she saw the pics of Cotton that I'd put up-LOL-so here's a disclaimer:
Cottons groomer (our daughter) DOES know what a traditional Bichon groom is but her Dad wanted Cotton's look modified since they go fishing and do "guy" stuff together!:rolleyes:

I will for sure give a link or when I do get her (I have a house full of boys, I want a girl) you'll be all over my blog and facebook page.

I had the honor of being owned by a Bichon for almost 15 years :)
They are a wonderful, devoted, very sweet natured, silly and loving little breed

I welcomed four more furries into our home after Bailey, and he got along with each one, was like a furry big brother.

The coat maintenance can be a struggle, they have a double coat, and mat very easily if you don't keep up with it daily. I kept him in full coat for about two years, but opted to just keep him clipped short with the head left in a Bichon style most the remainder of his life.
They are more prone to obesity problems. My Bailey was diabetic and on insulin for the last three years of his life. It is really important that they get regular exercise.
Good luck in your search! :):)