Bichon Frise Advice

redsurfer

Evening all.

My and my gf got a Bichon Frise and would like some advice please. Thing is I never had a pup like this before (had farm dogs). He is 7 weeks old and all he seems to want to do is sleep. When I bring him outside he has no interest in walks, just wants to do back to the apartment. Good side is the house training is starting to work.

are you serious

Everyone will back me here by first off saying 7 weeks is far too young to have any pup away from its mother, how come you have the pup so early?

Walking is also another no go area at this age.

Your pup will only be awake half the time you are expecting in comparison to a farm dog(growing is hard work)hence your pup will sleep an awful lot!!

Your pup should be fully vaccinated before any walks, which wont be complete until 10weeks at least very earliest!!

redsurfer

garkane wrote: »

Everyone will back me here by first off saying 7 weeks is far too young to have any pup away from its mother, how come you have the pup so early?

Walking is also another no go area at this age.

Your pup will only be awake half the time you are expecting in comparison to a farm dog(growing is hard work)hence your pup will sleep an awful lot!!

Your pup should be fully vaccinated before any walks, which wont be complete until 10weeks at least very earliest!!

Thanks for getting back

I check with herself. Got the Pup two days ago. He is ten weeks old and has two shots already and is getting the last vic next week. I was just worrying a bit as he not running around is all. Thanks for putting me straight. If anyone has any training advice it would be much apprecaited.

ISDW

Please don't be walking him around until after he has had all of his shots.

He's a baby, and its winter, maybe its too cold outside for him at the moment?

Does he play in the apartment?

are you serious

redsurfer wrote: »

Thanks for getting back

I check with herself. Got the Pup two days ago. He is ten weeks old and has two shots already and is getting the last vic next week. I was just worrying a bit as he not running around is all. Thanks for putting me straight. If anyone has any training advice it would be much apprecaited.

No worries, here you'l get a load of help and more!

10 weeks is grand I was thinking 7 was far too young :eek:

Unfortunately you are going to have to restrict all outdoor activity until next week especially with such a small dog. If he is playful in the house between sleeps don't worry she is just doing exactly what puppies do!

When it does come to walk time, the lead/collar are going to be big hurles for a dog pup to get used to. House dogs/normal dogs (not farm dogs) are born with a completely different mental mind set. what you should do is use the lead/collar in the house now and then maybe for 2 or 3 minutes at a time to get the pup used to it, then when he finally is allowed outside he wont pull back or shy away from walking with this new thing around his neck!!(thats what he will be thinking)

redsurfer

I just stand outside the front door. Don't walk anywhere. Hes not really playful in the apartment. Girlfriend is afraid he does not like us. He either sits in his bed or on our lap. Again thanks for the advice

fitz265

bichon frise a lovely dog cant help you just comenting on a realy good choice off bread i used to bread springer spaniels but after the 7th litter i decided the fairest thing on my springer bitch was to nuter her but i guess all im saying is raising a pup and training it to your own lifestyle is a very rewarding experience best of luck

Zapperzy

redsurfer wrote: »

I just stand outside the front door. Don't walk anywhere. Hes not really playful in the apartment. Girlfriend is afraid he does not like us. He either sits in his bed or on our lap. Again thanks for the advice

Where did you get this pup, what sort of a breeder was it? Where was he raised, shed or house? It sounds like the poor thing was raised in a shed or outhouse and had very little interaction with everyday life and different people and is now just shellshocked by everything. If this is the case that he is severely undersocialised I would advise start looking for a reputable behaviourist now as you will need one in the future if he's not socialised properly.
Puppies learn a lot when they are young just by being around different objects, sounds and people, simple things like a washing machine or the doorbell ringing can completely terrify a pup that has been raised in a shed and never encountered them before.

Cherry Blossom

redsurfer wrote: »

He either sits in his bed or on our lap. Again thanks for the advice

Tbh, I don't know if this is normal for a 7 week old Bichon, but it certainly is not for a 10 week old. Where did you get this pup from? By 10 weeks old they should be running around wrecking the place and it sounds to me like the pup was either cooped up in a pen somewhere before you got it or is very lethargic - both are these are extreme cause for concern. Have you had the pup checked over by your own vet yet?

toadfly

OP that doesn't sound right for a pup. I had an 11 week old pup here for 3 days last week and she never stopped running, playing and messing with my dogs. I think the vet might need to look at the pup.

Maybe they had a reaction to the vaccinations and isn't feeling the best? Or it'd just an unsocilised pup from a puppy farm.

redsurfer

He is not from a pup farm. I have breeders cards and he has being around people and indoors before we got him. I take him to the vet on Monday. Nothing seems to scare him. Washing machine etc. and he no hassle with other people. First night he ran around. That was two days ago. If he not buck up over the weekend I say it to the vet on Monday

Bullseye1

fitz265 wrote: »

bichon frise a lovely dog cant help you just comenting on a realy good choice off bread i used to bread springer spaniels but after the 7th litter i decided the fairest thing on my springer bitch was to nuter her but i guess all im saying is raising a pup and training it to your own lifestyle is a very rewarding experience best of luck

Sorry to go off topic but Seven litters! Is this not way too much?

mattjack

redsurfer wrote: »

He is not from a pup farm. I have breeders cards and he has being around people and indoors before we got him. I take him to the vet on Monday. Nothing seems to scare him. Washing machine etc. and he no hassle with other people. First night he ran around. That was two days ago. If he not buck up over the weekend I say it to the vet on Monday

A trip to the vet might not be a bad idea.I've a friend with a bichon and from the day he got him as a pub , he's been an energetic playful little dog.
In fact he's always barking.Nice dog's though.
Good luck with him.

SpyderCats

Hi OP
AFAIK it can be quite common for a pup to be quiet and bit shy when you bring them home for the first few days. They miss their Mum and their brother's and sister's. Having said that, I think it would be a very good idea to bring it to the vet to get checked out, if there is something wrong its best to catch it early and if the pup is in good health it will set your mind at ease.

ISDW

Even if you're just standing outside the front door its not good, he shouldn't be on the ground outside where other dogs have been. Is it a ground floor apartment, do you have an enclosed garden at all? He could have picked something up from outside, very easily done in an unvaccinated, young pup.

Is he eating and drinking okay? Usual dog owner question are his poos solid?

redsurfer

It is ground floor with a run out back. He is getting his last vic shot on Monday. As he see vet then for a check up. Poo is brown and runny. I thinking it nervous as he was from a litter and is a bit scared and confused. I with him now the who time till Tuesday so I see what happens. Again thanks everyone for the help.

Millem

TillyGirl wrote: »

OP that doesn't sound right for a pup. I had an 11 week old pup here for 3 days last week and she never stopped running, playing and messing with my dogs. I think the vet might need to look at the pup.

Maybe they had a reaction to the vaccinations and isn't feeling the best? Or it'd just an unsocilised pup from a puppy farm.

Agree with TillyGirl, when I hear 11 week old pup a tornado springs to mind!! Has pup been wormed? If poo is runny my vet always recommends to feed chicken and brown rice, and it should be more solid however maybe there could be something else wrong!

byte

When we first got our Bichon (9 weeks old) he was very sleepy for about the first week. He'd have active blitzes then spend much time asleep.

However, after a week or so, he came out of his shell, so to speak, and has become a LOT more active!

When he does get out of his shell for you, you'll probably wish he stayed calm and sleepy In fairness, they're not bad dogs, just be prepared for much grooming!

no1girliegirl

Puppies sleep alot, they get energy spurts. The runny poo could be from a change in food. The vet will sort you out im sure. You should use the sleepy times to groom him, bichons need so much grooming, good luck

redsurfer

update

I was at the vet today with monty. he seems to have a virus and low temp. he is on fluids and on a heat pad now. '' prognosis is guarded'' said the vet. he seem better this evening do :):):):)

Wizard01

Hope he is going to be ok.

Puppies are so much like babies, they get ill quite quickly but your vet will sort him out and he'll be back to himself in no time

redsurfer

hi all

good news, monty is doing a lot better, he is starting to act like a pup:D:D:D:D:D:D::D:D:D:D

he eating and drinking by him self. following us around the apartment and he even barked today:):):)

Big thaanks to the Vets Carey & Keane in Kilmainham