Bichon Frise/Shih tzu puppies

jadedson

I've had both dogs and fish and goldfish die too frequently. Actually had hamsters too, and deliberately got two who were supposed to be 'social' but erm, one of them ate the other of them. Try explaining that to two small kids! Then we got gerbils, one lasted 6 months the other died soon after, probably of a broken heart. A dog is with you for 10 to 15 years, will be absolutely loyal and your best friend. I definitely view my two dogs as an asset to my life, although it helps that I'm an active person anyway. If I had to be forced into walking the dogs every day I would be seething with resentment but the truth is I enjoy it. If you are an active person, who knows what you're getting yourself into, then I hope you find the right dog for you and enjoy.

LilMissEmmylou

Im another vote for adopting a dog. We recently (well about 6 months ago now) got an 8 month old puppy from a sanctuary. I had mentally set my heart on a smaller dog for the easy aspect of space and picking it up and errr cleaning the poop etc. We however picked a boarder collie cross on the basis of how friendly she is! Honestly our 5 year old could put her head in her mouth and she wouldn't harm a hair on her head.

Also having never owned a dog before (although I had been around a lot so knew i liked them) I can say it REALLY is a lot more work than I expected. Even moving from the livingroom to kitchen takes me double the length of time care of the dog wanting to come to lol. So if you haven't had one before please take into account how much time you need to put into it.

bettybelle

I have to say, adopting a rescue dog is very admirable but I must admit I have a soft spot for shih-tzus, having one currently and one in the past!

Shih-tzus are fab little dogs, full of personality and very loving - they love to sit on your knee for cuddles However they can be extremely demanding and like a LOT of attention - my OH and I work full time and our Oscar goes to his 'nanny' (OH's mum!) every day for day care as he doesn't like to be left alone. I'm not sure what they'd be like with kids, they seem quite tolerant but I'm sure you'd keep an eye on them anyway.

For a puppy you are probably looking in the region of £350-£450. Do not be swayed by kennel club certificates - I would be looking for a dog that comes with vaccination certificates - most good breeders will have got their pups the first inoculations. Also, make sure you see the mum&dad and be sure not to buy from a puppy farm. I would not let someone deliver the pups to me - when we got Oscar, we were able to see him in the breeder's living room with his siblings, mum and dad.

Also bear in mind the shih-tzus need a haircut every few months to keep them tidy, about £20 a time.

If I was getting one again, I would be tempted to go for the slightly older dog as hopefully it would be toilet trained etc..shih tzus can be quite stubborn when it comes to training but they do get there eventually.

As long as, like you say, you and your wife are happy to take care of the dog because it will become like another family member - if you're not sure of the commitment why not try a guinea pig or house rabbit?

Good luck whatever you decide!

kidshorsesdogs

Actually, the most important requirement for any pure breed dog is to come from health tested parents, dedicated breeders who have been in the breed for years, and contribute to the future health of the breed. So avoid gumtree, ads for free, facebook, epupz, ads in your local paper. Contact the breed club, and ask for reputable breeders in NI and there are some.

The vast majority of the popular breeds are puppy farmed, and from back yard breeders. Take your time, do your research and save yourself heartache and money in the long run. All puppies are adorable and generally will look healthy, even if sold as health checked that does not mean parents have been health tested there is a difference.

Most byb and puppy farmers have caught on the buzz words that the public demand, heath checked (tested is what you need), de-fleaed (no puppies should have fleas), wormed (that's correct but really you will have no proof) vaccinated (byb & puppy farmers do falsify these), own both parents (beware, a decent breeder will use the best stud dog, often 100's of miles away), home reared (yeh right!), offering £100 cheaper if not KC registered, registration is only £12 per pup, they discourage buyers from wanting KC as often the mother was too young to breed from so can'tregister puppies, or had 2 litters in under a year. No KC registration is a smoke screen to prevent you from seeing the misery of why they are not eligible for registration.

Personally I would prefer a assured KC breeder, offering pups from health tested parents, 4 weeks free insurance, KC registered, at least 8 weeks old, full lifetime support and most of all a pup costing upwards of £500 anything less is false economy. Rescue centers are full of puppy farmed dogs, health is very dubious so if this is important to you make sure dog is insured the minute you take it from rescue center.

A dog is for life, but so are health issues so in buying your pup you must make a very educated decision in buying properly first off. A cheap pup may cost you a fortune in health issues, and most of all heartache.

Good luck in your research, don't rush in and enjoy the newest member of your family for a very long time.

Oh by the way, a good groomer will be charging close to £30 every 6 to 8 weeks.

jennifer12

Hi,
I have three bichon friese.
I would recommend Belfast gumtree as I got two of mine from this site. Not all horror stories by far!
I got my four year old full pedigree Bichon free, as I was a good home & my pup last year for £150. Does involve some waiting but I have been fortunate.
Beautiful, playful dogs and would be lost without them!
They do like company and make lovely best friends for children.
You need to groom them but they don't shed hair.
If you want unconditional love,:A to your family a dog gives that

CFC

Bichons are lovely but don't get a pup if you both work - a small pup can't be left alone all day, even a 'short' day just while child is at school. If it will have to be left alone during the day, look for a dog about a year and upwards.

nonnatus

Kidshorsesdogs, that's a silly thing to say! Good Breeders and bad Breeders will advertise anywhere, no point saying to avoid the popular online marketplaces - they are often an exellent source of information. It's the BUYER who must remain alert, and follow a simple set of rules, WHOEVER you're buying from:

ALWAYS visit the puppies at home, NEVER, EVER accept one delivered to your door!!!!!! When you go and see the pups, make sure they are in a busy room in the house not in a shed or barn, so they will be well used to noise, clutter and smells.

Ask to see the parents. Sometimes Daddy will have been a stud so not available but check Mum over - is she the right one? (check for dangly boobs) how is she around the pups? How does she interact with the Breeder? Is she clean and well cared for?

Have a set of questions WRITTEN down to ask, such as pups birthday, how often have they been wormed, are they flea'd are they paper-trained, when will you be re-homing them, will they be vet-checked, do thet have pedigree papers? All the time WATCH the pups interact. I would expect them to be playing around etc with the excitement of a new human in the room...

FINALLY, pick up a random pup (or ask breeder to hand you one!!) and check for bright eyes, clean nose and ears, all in proportion (not huge swollen tummy that might indicate worms). Also, if you can face it!, with a long haired puppy, I would check its bottom because the fur around it's bum tends to get caked in poopoo and matts easily. A good breeder will know this and keep it trimmed and tidy...

It's a good idea then, to go for a wander and think objectively. A good breeder will allow you to go away without pressuring you for a deposit, so you can be sure you are making the right decision.

I sold all my babies on Freeads and Preloved and followed these rules. I have LOTS of happy new owners who stay in contact with me and send photo updates.

redped

nonnatus wrote: »

Ask to see the parents. Sometimes Daddy will have been a stud so not available but check Mum over - is she the right one? (check for dangly boobs)

Some would say this advice applies to humans as well as dogs ...

kidshorsesdogs

nonnatus wrote: »

Kidshorsesdogs, that's a silly thing to say! Good Breeders and bad Breeders will advertise anywhere, no point saying to avoid the popular online marketplaces - they are often an exellent source of information.

The vast majority of quality breeders will NOT advertise on these sites and are opposed to the selling of puppies online like this, it has helped create the demand for disposable puppies, people buy on impulse, and when the pups reach the difficult teenage years they're put back on for sale again (have a look at how many 9-18 mth old dogs are for sale). Rescues are at bursting point.

The few that do sell on these sites, feel that by showing their presence it will show the public how correct breeders do it, but these are few and far between. The majority of these two breeds sold on Gumtree are from puppy farmers.

Good breeders are health testing, and those that aren't shouldn't be breeding. If breeders don't care enough about their breed to secure it's future, to ensure the babies they are breeding will be healthy and free from inherited diseases then shame on them, and they should not be breeding. Good breeders will have a waiting list for their puppies and will grill and question you the buyer as if you were adopting their child. Breeders want to be happy with where their precious puppies are going, not just making a sale, and will keep in touch with you.

I am sure there are some pups/dogs on Gumtree that are genuine you just need to be very very careful as PFs are getting very canny now and are selling pups through other individuals at their homes and even passing off ex-breeding stock as 'new home needed have new job'.

You just cannot be careful enough.

RooBee

If you're going to buy a new TV, then it's reasonable to look for a bargain.

When you're talking about a living, breathing, sentient animal to live as part of your family for the next 12+ years, then it's not the time to try to save a few quid.

You've already had good advice from kidshorsesdogs about what to look for in a breeder. Both breeds that you are considering are much favoured by puppy farmers so please do ensure that you do your checks to ensure any puppy you choose has been ethically and responsibly bred and don't be swayed by price.