Guide to raising Bichons
Bichons and Corgis may be known as royal dogs, loved by aristocrats, but that is not why we welcomed them to our farm—though we won’t deny their natural noble charm. We love them first for their happy, joyful personalities, often considered some of the best in the dog world. And despite their delicate look, these little dogs are strong and healthy, making them a perfect fit for our happy farm life. So while they may have a royal reputation, to us they are down-to-earth, loving members of our growing family, bringing beauty, cuteness, and joy to our small hobby farm every day.
Helping your puppy feel safe
Every dog needs a place where they feel completely safe. Start by setting up a cozy bed or crate in a quiet, comfortable corner of your home. This should be your puppy’s personal space—a place to rest, relax, and feel protected.
No one should disturb your dog there, ever. When your puppy goes to their place, it means: “I am safe.” This sense of security helps them stay calm while waiting for you.
Give your puppy a personal item that belongs to you—something with your scent. It can be anything. Treat this item as something special: guide your dog to it often, touch it yourself, show happiness, and let your dog see that it is important to you.
When you leave the house, place this item on your dog’s bed and gently send your puppy there. No long goodbyes are needed. This item becomes your symbol—a quiet promise that you will return.
Teach your puppy that being alone is safe by practicing short departures. Leave for just a few seconds, then come back and praise your dog for staying calm. Slowly increase the time you are away. Sometimes return earlier than expected. This builds trust: the owner is always near and always comes back.
If your puppy cries, wait for a moment of silence before entering. Calm behavior brings you back—noise does not. Over time, your puppy learns that quiet waiting is rewarded.
Before leaving, speak to your dog. Tell them you love them, that you must go, and that you will return. Say it sincerely. Dogs feel our emotions deeply and understand far more than we think.
With patience, consistency, and love, your puppy will learn to wait for you calmly and confidently.
What to Avoid
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Don’t confine your puppy to dark rooms or limit movement — puppies need space to grow strong and confident.
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Never tie up a puppy. This can harm both body and mind.
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Be gentle with the head and ears; excessive handling can affect ear development.
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Don’t pull toys or objects out of your puppy’s mouth — this can damage teeth and bite. Gently open the mouth instead.
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Let children play calmly, but don’t allow constant carrying. Puppies need time to move and rest.
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Always lift your puppy with support under the chest and bottom — never by the paws or skin.
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A puppy’s “place” is a safe zone. No punishment or disturbance there.
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Let sleeping puppies sleep — rest is essential for healthy growth.
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Set rules early. If something won’t be allowed later, don’t allow it now.
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Avoid letting young puppies jump on furniture — their joints are still developing.
Feeding
Feeding with natural Foods
Bichons thrive on clean, gentle, and balanced nutrition. If you choose natural feeding, meals should be simple, fresh, and easy to digest. Always introduce new foods gradually.
Basic Natural Meal (Option 1):
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Lightly cooked beef or turkey
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Steamed zucchini or pumpkin
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A small amount of boiled rice or buckwheat
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A few drops of salmon oil
Gentle Digestive Meal (Option 2):
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Cooked turkey
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Steamed carrots
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Low-fat kefir (1%) or a spoon of cottage cheese
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Added vitamin–mineral supplement (as recommended by your veterinarian)
When feeding naturally, additional vitamins and minerals are essential for healthy growth and development.
Feeding with dry Foods
If you prefer dry food, choose high-quality formulas created for small breeds and sensitive digestion.
We recommend Superior Care dry food, available at SuperiorCare.pet.
Superior Care is specially designed for white dogs, helping support coat brightness and reduce tear staining through carefully selected ingredients and balanced nutrition.
Always follow feeding guidelines and avoid overfeeding. Fresh, clean water should be available at all times.
Nature's Protection Puppy Food Small Breed - High Protein, Grain-Free, Tear Stain Formula Dry Dog Kibble for White & Light Fur Dogs
Nature's Protection Dry Dog Food for Small Breed - High Protein, Grain-Free, Anti-Tear Stain Diet for White & Light Fur Adult Dogs, Small Bites Kibble
Feeding Mistakes to Avoid (Simply Said)
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Change food gradually, never suddenly.
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Don’t overfeed — more food doesn’t mean more love.
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Choose one diet: either natural food or dry food — don’t mix.
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Don’t switch foods just because something looks “better” or more expensive.
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Always provide fresh water, especially with dry food.
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If appetite suddenly disappears, consult a vet — don’t experiment.
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Puppies, adults, and seniors have different nutritional needs. Feed according to age.
Grooming Tips
Dental Care
Healthy teeth begin with daily home care. Brush your Bichon’s teeth regularly using dog-specific toothpaste to help prevent plaque and tartar buildup. Consistent preventive care reduces the need for stressful veterinary procedures later in life.
Natural chews, such as dried beef ears or beef tendons, support dental health and satisfy the natural need to chew. Always supervise chewing and remove small leftover pieces to prevent choking. Avoid industrial treats whenever possible.
Eye, Ear & Nail Care
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Gently clean eye corners daily with a soft cotton pad
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Keep hair around the eyes trimmed and clean
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Clean and dry ears thoroughly after bathing
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Trim nails regularly to support healthy posture and movement
Bathing & Coat Care
Bathe your Bichon every 10–14 days using high-quality dog shampoo and conditioner. Dry the coat completely with a warm (not hot) hair dryer while gently brushing.
Daily brushing for 5–10 minutes helps prevent tangles and teaches your puppy to enjoy grooming. Never leave the coat damp, as moisture may cause skin irritation.
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This is one of the basic tools used in everyday care bison. Slicker brush manufacturers recommend “Doggy men”, because it is extremely soft, and will not sting your pet, it is very important, especially in the beginning when your dog is still getting used to the grooming. These brushes are available in two or three sizes, and you will choose, depends only on yourself, because each can do the job just as well, just a matter of patience and precision. There are also slicker brushes “triangular” shape, for harder reachable areas.
This comb is one of the main tools, which are also used on a daily basis. This is important because it is precisely the tool that will allow your dog to don’t have nodes. Good combing the grounds care bison. In my experience, this comb will not necessarily be branded as even some pretty affordable combs, may be the perfect choice. It is important that the length of the teeth is adequate, and I personally prefer, there are also heavier and less common Tines, because with such a comb to achieve the best effect.
To polish your pet always kept neat and tidy, you have to have a special “guillotine” for nails or special pliers that also serve the same purpose, however, I strongly recommend that your choice is a guillotine, because with it, in my opinion, the easiest way to cut nails, since this is a business that is very delicate and requires a specific approach, and the difference in price between these two tools is minimal possible.
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This is a special forceps used for pulling the hair out of the ears of your pet. It is extremely important that your pet hairs are always impeccably removed from the ears, to avoid creating the basis for the development of various parasites in the ear canals. Not all Bichons are equally strong and thick hairs in the ears, and in some bichons are very easy to remove, even with quite ordinary tweezers.
If you decide to learn grooming shears will be absolutely indispensable tool. One of the biggest misconceptions is that beginners can properly trim a dog with amateur or even “any” scissors. Scissors must be professional. Specially made for the purpose of cutting the dog. There are several dimensions (length) scissors. For full effect, using the straight shears, curved shears and scissors with blunt tip, specifically designed for the eye area dog. Even if you decide to entrust a professional dog clipper, as the owner of Bison, it is desirable to have at least one house, flat, scissors.
It is very important that your pet is comfortable while combing it. This table is specially designed for that purpose. There are models with wheels (as shown), which are suitable for exhibitions, as folding and wheels make transport. This is one of the major expenses that many owners may seem unnecessary, but only if you put a dog on the table, and took care of a dog on it, you would realize how much it would be easier and your pet and you. Certainly, with this table, you can achieve good effect associated with getting used to your dog’s regular care. Essentially, in the beginning, this table can improvise, and its role can have any of your existing table, but it is important that this table has an optimal height, sufficient surface area, and to be absolutely stable, so that your pet feel safe while standing
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Removes unsightly reddish or brown tear stains, keeping the eye area clean, bright, and healthy.
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Natural formula with chamomile, rosemary, and thyme extracts that soothe and purify the skin.
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Gentle and safe for sensitive eyes and mucous areas; ideal for daily or frequent use.
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Helps maintain balanced skin conditions, preventing new stains and eye area discoloration.
Herbal Detox Shampoo
Cleansing, Hydrating, Moisturizing, Strengthening, pH Balanced
Step 2
Magic Plex Shampoo
Cleansing, Moisturizing, Purifying, Shine Enhancing, Strengthening
Magic Plex Conditioner Conditioning, Moisturizing, Shine Enhancing, Softening, Strengthening
Deworming
Current research says you should only deworm when they need it. How do you know when they need it? You should do "poop patrol" regularly and check for signs of parasites. You may also pull down your doggy's lower eyelid and see what color it is. Dark pink means that your dog is not anaemic and most likely does not have any blood-sucking worms. If you notice your dog is very skinny, the coat is pale and dull, coughing, vomiting, diarrhea, low energy, a change in appetite, itching, and signs of skin irritations, it might be time for deworming. However, we should be aware of Dewormer Resistance.
Dewormer resistance by Deborah Niemann: "You have probably heard of antibiotic-resistant superbugs, which resulted from the overuse of antibiotics. A similar phenomenon has occurred with chemical dewormers and internal parasites. Veterinary professionals thought parasites could be eliminated and began recommending the routine use of chemical dewormers in healthy animals. Although this worked in the short term, the long-term result has been dewormer-resistant parasites. Using a dewormer when it isn’t needed means you have just taken one more step towards dewormer resistance and the day when a dewormer will be needed and it no longer works."
Please continue to read an article from an excerpt by Deborah Niemann: Dewormer Resistance
Nemex 2 is the best dewormer for pups and grown dogs, eliminating roundworms and hookworms. It can be given directly or mixed with food. Puppies should be wormed every two weeks until twelve weeks of age, then monthly until six months of age. After six to 12 months every three months
Vaccination
I give my pups 3 shots: 5-way Solo-Jec 5, starting at 7 weeks of age, and repeat with a 3-week interval.
Rabies should be done when the puppy reaches 4 months old. For regular shots and Rabies, I recommend
mobile vet clinics. They are very convenient for preventive care. Services include: Vaccinations (including Rabies), Microchipping, Fecal Test, and Nail Trim. Clinics are held at Tractor Supply stores, usually once a week; no appointment is necessary. Prices are great too!
Spay / Neuter
Early spaying/neutering of your dog (before 1 year old) can result in health problems such as Hip Dysplasia, Cruciate Ligament Tears, Osteosarcoma (Bone Cancer), and behavioral disorders. "When a dog's reproductive organs are surgically removed, the sex hormones they produce also disappear. The sex hormones are responsible for more than just sexual behaviors, and one of their responsibilities is regulating growth. Breeders can readily spot the difference between an intact dog and a neutered dog: neutered dogs have longer limbs, narrower heads and bodies, and they are lighter in bone. When the sex hormones are removed, the growth hormones are missing important regulatory input, and the bones continue to grow longer than they ought to. Studies have proven this to be true (Salmeri et al, JAVMA 1991). Please continue to read articles from Dogs Naturally Magazine:
NAME TAG AND MICROCHIPPING
One of the first things you should do is order a name tag with your telephone number on it. The best color for your pup is a nice leather color with a name tag on it! I would also recommend microchipping. Better do it before you register your pup in AKC. This way, you will have a microchip number on his pedigree. Register your dog in
AKC Reunite Lost Pet Recovery website in case your pet go missing
Just a friendly disclaimer: the information I shared here is based on my own experience, supported by reputable articles and research I have conducted over the years, and should not be taken as professional advice, but rather my personal insights and suggestions.
Green Days' happy customers. Thank you for choosing us!
Sincerely, Olga Kaminker