Bichon Frise puppies

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a Bichon Frise puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A small breed puppy at eight weeks is light enough to carry everywhere, which is exactly how you get it socialised before the vaccination course finishes. It will still need four meals a day. This is a high energy breed. At eight weeks that shows up as intensity rather than stamina, and it will need a job to do long before it needs long walks. Grooming needs are high. Start daily brushing and short, positive handling sessions at eight weeks, well before the adult coat arrives, or the first professional groom will be traumatic. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything it meets calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of its life.

Health worth knowing about

Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.

• Early tooth loss and gum infection where dental care is not a priority
• Allergies, including skin reactions and flea allergy
• Patellar luxation, a weakness in the knee joints
• Genetic cataracts and other eye disease

From Bichon Frise breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/bichon-frise/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

Your Bichon Frise puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Small for a Bichon Frise.
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 5.4 to 8.2 kg adult range.
• Puppy names and the first week checklist.

Other small breeds

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