Mil

She sounds just like our new puppy He eats everything in the garden but is now showing no interest in his food. Apparently bark and leaves are more appetising. We just tried mixing some chicken stock into his eukanuba food to make it softer in case his mouth was sore and he wolfed it down. I don't want a hungry puppy, but I definitely don't want a fussy eater either...

I just read the post. Thank you Roo. Wow it both inspired and terrified me. I've never had a dog before, and it's all very overwhelming. I just don't know where to start with the training, and like it said, I'm really worried that everything we've done in the last few days might be training him in ways that we don't want. Reading about it and doing it are completely different! I so badly want to do a good job...

Thank you so much for your quick replies. I am not a fan of this new game that he has invented We have tried giving him other toys instead, but the toys that he loves inside hold absolutely no interest when he is outside and he just gives me a look of "really? that's what you're offering?". I understand that you say to not chase but he tends to not come when I call if he has something in his mouth, well not until he has already eaten it anyway. I'm worried about all the things that he could be eating if I don't catch him in time. Will he get sick? Ah yes raking the garden. We have only just moved in and we had no idea about all the things hidden under the leaves etc. And he wants to eat everything! Once he just had a clod of dirt! We can't get rid of it all. It's a big daunting task, I think we are going to spend our whole Easter raking. :D

Hi we have had out 10 week old bichon puppy for 4 days and he is gorgeous. Except he is thoroughly frustrating us because we take him outside for a run around and a game and all he does is eat everything in sight. So we spend the whole time digging various nuts, bark etc out of his mouth which he hates obviously (we're not too keen on it either). Today he is actually grabbing something, putting his ears back and running from me and eating it. I'm really worried that it is going to make him sick because for every 5 or so things we get out there's one that he swallows before I can get it. We just want to be able to go outside and have fun and also not watch him every second, and especially for him to be able to go outside by himself sometimes. Do you have any ways of stopping him? Will he get sick? Is it because it is a new garden? Is it just something that he has to grow out of (preferably very quickly)? Sorry that's a lot of questions any advice would be great. Thanks.

We have just brought our 10 week old bichon home today woohoo But we are finding that reading about toilet training and doing it are completely different. Everybody says to wait with the puppy until he goes...but Herwin won't stay there. He just trots off where ever he wants. I've tried just picking him up and putting him back in the spot but he doesn't stay there for a second. Not a success yet... Please help we have no idea...

Hi I'm really excited because after waiting and researching and waiting for so long, we have a gorgeous 10 week old bichon puppy arriving on Saturday. I'm just hoping for some help about when he first arrives. He is flying so we don't know how he will be when we get him and don't want to scare him after such a long flight. Will he be scared of these two new people? or just happy to get out of the crate and go home with us? Also I thought that maybe we should take him straight to a patch of grass to go to the toilet after his flight, but then remembered that he isn't fully vaccinated yet, so we shouldn't put him down. Should we just try and drive him home quickly? Any suggestions? Also I wondered if he might be messy from being in a crate so long. If he is, would it freak him out too much if we gave him a bath on his first day? We really want him to be happy and unfrightened and settle in the best he can. Thank you so much for any help and advice, we desperately want to do the right thing for him on his first day. Mil

Thanks for the ideas. I just bought one for our puppy who's arriving on Saturday, but then I was looking at it and not quite sure how to do it, or what to put in it. I've got one of the one's that are shaped like a snowman, do you fill the whole hole with mushy stuff? or just smear the insides? I'm sorry I'm so clueless I was hoping it might have instructions...

Probably a silly question, but when is their last vaccination usually given? Is it 12 weeks?

I'm not saying that it's right but I have read other toilet training websites and books who suggest that giving scheduled water is the way to go. So I didn't know that it was harmful and illegal. If it is still being suggested, maybe we should try to get the word out.

Hi sorry I have another "buying a puppy question." Nearly all of the information that I've read says that you should only buy a puppy from a breeder that has had the parents screened for inherited diseases. But I keep talking to respected and registered breeders who sound a little surprised when I ask and don't screen their dogs. Mostly because either: a) "Its not really a problem in smaller dogs" (I'm looking for a bichon) or "I've bred generations of these dogs and none of them have had any problems." Are these valid responses? Do I need to worry about genetic screening? Gee this is all so confusing. Thank you very much all choosing a breeder advice gratefully received.

Toohey, thanks heaps for replying and answering my questions so thoroughly. I agree that a lot of these are questions for the breeder, but I don't feel very comfortable asking, so I think that may be another reason to say thanks but we'll wait. I really want a breeder that doesn't mind me plaguing them with questions and getting it all sorted. I appreciatee your opinions about the age of the pup, maybe we will take him a bit younger. I think if we wait a couple more months and find the breeder that is just right for us, it might just all fall into place.

Hi I'm new, I've been reading for a bit, but I'm soaking up knowledge and so don't have any advice to give...hope you don't mind that my first post is a question. Anyhoo...I've been desperately wanting a bichon frise for ages and have finally found a breeder that we like with a little male available. The problem is that now we have found him we are a bit unsure about the timing. I am not well, so I'm home all the time but don't have lots of energy. We thought that maybe if we got an older puppy, he might be a little easier for me to care for, eg toilet training well underway. The breeders that we have found are happy to look after him until he is about 16 weeks, which is great, but how do I know how much training they will give him? and could we end up with a puppy with some bad habits that is older and therefore harder to train, or is 16 weeks still young in the training area? Would it be easier to have an 8-12 week old puppy and start from the beginning ourselves? Sorry one last question...we will be moving sometime soon hopefully, when we find a house, but don't know when it will be, would it be traumatic for a little puppy to settle into his new hme and then a month or two later be moved somewhere new? Thank you so much for all your wisdom, its much appreciated...want to do the right thing.