My mother is thinking about buying a puppy, but she has been told by her friend who has one that they are impossible to house train, her friends dog even though it is let in the garden before she goes out, there is always something waiting for her when she gets back, even if she has only been gone for an hour.
My feelings are, well maybe it wasnt house trained properly when she first got it, but i have never owned a Bichon so i dont now.
My mother was told to read this www.nuagebichon.com and see ''get the facts'' so we were wondering is this true.

Can anyone help please.

I have been told this too.

I've heard that Bichon like a lot of toys are harder to house train - not impossible, just harder. My neighbor has one it she said it took some doing but she's clean now.

I have a 2 year old Bichon Frise male and he was about 8 months before I could fully house train him but he is fine now and always asks to go out if we are in.  He does however sometimes have a wee and poo in the kitchen when he is left if he hasn't been in the garden before I leave him.  I try to get him in the garden but because he knows I am leaving him the little sod won't always go out and have a wee. He doesn't do this very often though but I think he does it more through anxiety at being left on his own than not knowing where he has to go because he never wees or poos in the house when we are in. I always leave him in the kitchen if nobody is in the house but with the kitchen door open and a dog gate between the living room and kitchen.

Hi Tri - my hairdresser has two entire adult males and has just had to replace her kitchen as they kept cocking their legs on the units.  She now crates them when none of the family are at home.  She has had other dogs before (Cavs I think) but never had this problem so persistently.

On the other hand, a friend of mine has 5 bichons and has no problems with the house training.

It is a matter of persistance and routine and yes, like any small dog they do take slightly longer to house train but it can be done.

We were also told when we got our German Spitz that they were impossible to house train, but he turned out to be easier than the other dogs.

I think all dogs can be house trained, but some dogs find it easier to train their owners!

I have a Toy breed as well and I have to say that he was the easiest dog to house train. He was 3 months old when I got him and completely clean already. My breeder was the best and she was teaching all the pups before going to new homes. He's 14 months old now and has never ever had an accident (which i can't say about my previous Staffordshire Bullterrier cross).

I had a bichon and he was never properly housetrained in all his 17 years :rolleyes:

I've got two and both are fine.