This page has some general information about the health & temperment of both the Bichon Frise breed and the Cocker Spaniel breed. It also has a section explaining and showing examples of the Merle gene. I hope it is useful to you!
Click on the below links to be taken directly to that section of this page:
* About The Bichon Frise Breed
* About The Cocker Spaniel Breed
* About the Merle Color
Here is a little general information on the Bichon Frise breed.
Hopefully it will help you when making your decision on whether or not one of our
puppies will fit your family & needs.
Remember, each dog is different, so when I talk about the breed traits, they are
not "set in stone". Also remember, we breed Bichon X Cocker puppies, so our
puppies tend to get a mix of traits from both breeds. When dogs are a mixed
breed, it is quite often that negative breed-specific issues do not come through,
or come through a lot less than they would on a purebred of either breed.
This information is of course general, and some of it is based on our own experence and opinions. It should in no way be considered a "complete" list of good/bad/health concerns/information. If you have questions, you should always consult your
veterinarian first and never use our input in place of his/her professional opinion!
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About the Bichon Frise Breed:
Bichons are not the typical small dog. They are typically not yappy, hyper
or snippy. This is why I chose to get Bichons. With our small children, I had
to have a dog that was absolutely child-safe!They will bark if something is
going on, but can easily be trained to not be obnoxious about it. They love
all people and are excellent with kids. They are friendly, happy and outgoing
little dogs. They typically grow up to be between approximately 10 and 15 pounds. They are non-shedding (they have hair similar humans, so it
grows continually rather than shedding like other dog breeds who have fur)
and are one of the only truly hypo-allergenic breeds. They do require regular
brushing and grooming. They are a sturdy, healthy, happy, intelligent, outgoing dog that can live on a farm as easily as in a city apartment. They
were prized by the French royalty as companion & lap dogs & for being women's pets.
Some Bichon resources say they are difficult to housebreak. I had no
problem housebreaking my girls, and numerous people who have bought
puppies from me in the past have commented on how easily their puppy housetrained (read through the Past Puppy Sales page to see just a few of
those comments). My girls, and most puppies that I have sold in the past,
have been housebroke by the time they were 3-4 months old! I start my
puppies on going outside with mom, weather permitting, as soon as they're capable of following her around.
This helps them learn by example & really seems to make a lasting
impression on them. And when they're in the house, they're introduced to
paper training.
Early introduction and consistent training is the key to training any puppy,
no matter what breed!
Life Expectancy: 14-20 Years
Size: Approximately 9-12 inches tall & 10-18 pounds.
Here's are lists I've compiled on Bichons' possible Good & Bad Traits as well
as Health Concerns:
Once again, this should not be considered a "complete" list, and you should always consult your veterinarian if you have any questions. Do Not take my word over
his/hers!
Possible Bad:
Can be a "barky" dog if not trained otherwise. With consistent firm
training, they can quite easily be trained not to be that way, though.
My dogs do not bark unless someone comes in the yard & then stop on
command.
A rather independant breed overall. But loveable and devoted. Not as "clingy" as some other breeds though. Each dog's personality is different
though. Our Lacy is a little more independant, where Frilly is very much a lap dog & can be rather clingy.
Needs consistent grooming. Must be brushed regularily. And because
they do not shed, they do need to be clipped as well. If not properly cared
for, they can develop skin problems. And some Bichons are prone to
allergies and hot spots. Neither of our girls have any skin issues at all.
Also, because of their floppy ears, they need their ears properly cleaned regularily.
Like any other dog/puppy, they do need socialization. If not exposed
to things they can be shy, leary or even sometimes nippy about new
situations or people being thrust on them.
Good:
Is a very old breed, so has very few genetic health problems.
Most problems were bred out of the breed & it's very sturdy.
Is a smaller sized dog, but they are very sturdy.
Are good watchdogs but is not typically aggressive about it.
Are good with other pets and with children, especially when raised
with them.
Can be very athletic and agile dogs who can be tought to do many
tricks and stunts.
Is a non-shedding and hypo-allergenic breed. Is one of the best
breeds for people with allergies.
Overall an easily-trained dog who loves to please and responds
well to rewards. Were used in the past as circus dogs because they were
so agile and trainable.
Does not require a lot of exercise. They enjoy getting out, but can
be easily acclimated to an apartment or that type of setting.
Possible Breed-Related/Genetic Health Concerns:
Overall, Bichons are noted for being a healthy, sturdy breed. Their breed is
so old, that many of health issues have been bred out of them over the
years.
There are a few things that they are somewhat prone to:
(Neither of our girls are known to have any of these issues. If they did, we
would not breed them!)
~Skin Problems
~ Allergies (air-borne)
~Dental Disease (preventable with regular veterinary care/cleanings)
~Patellar luxation and cruciate ligament tears.
~Bladder & kidney stones (if these issues arise, they can often be treated
simply with diet. Of course you would need to consult your veterinarian).
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Here is a little general information on the Cocker Spaniel breed.
Hopefully it will help you when making your decision on whether or not one of our
puppies will fit your family & needs.
Remember, each dog is different, so when I talk about the breed traits, they are
not "set in stone". Also remember, we breed Bichon X Cocker puppies, so our
puppies tend to get a mix of traits from both breeds. When dogs are a mixed
breed, it is quite often that negative breed-specific issues do not come through,
or come through a lot less than they would on a purebred of either breed.
This information is of course general, and some of it is based on our own experence and opinions. It should in no way be considered a "complete" list of good/bad/health concerns/information. If you have questions, you should always consult your
veterinarian first and never use our input in place of his/her professional opinion!
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About the Cocker Spaniel Breed:
If you're looking for a happy, outgoing, sturdy dog who's as happy being
your buddy as they are being outdoors, then you may be looking for a Cocker Spaniel! Cocker Spaniels are listed as a "Sporting Breed" and are active,
outgoing dogs. They are highly intelligent dogs who generally excell in training. They love to please and are very devoted! They thrive on being
part of the family and love to play. They tend to not be timid dogs and enjoy
social interaction with people and animals alike. Their outlook on life is
cheerful & joyous. They are typically excellent with children, especially
when raised with them. They're not overly protective, but will tend to bark if something strange is going on. They do have a coat that requires regular
brushing and occasional clipping. Also, because of the hair, and the
floppiness of their ears, they should get their ear canals cleaned & the hair removed from them on a regular basis.
Overall, they're a cheerful, smart dog who loves their people are a joy to be around!
Life Expectancy: 10-15 Years.
Size: Approximately 13-16 inches tall and 15-30 pounds.
Here's are lists I've compiled on Cockers' possible Good & Bad Traits as well
as Health Concerns:
Once again, this should not be considered a "complete" list, and you should always consult your veterinarian if you have any questions. Do Not take my word over
his/hers!
Possible Bad:
Very dedicated (can be both a good & bad trait!) so can become a
one-person dog quite easily. Can be over-dedicated and clingy.
Can be a "barky" dog if the time is not taken to train them otherwise.
Does shed, so a purebred is not suited for someone with dog allergies. But, they cross well with Bichons and Poodles, and the resulting puppies tend to inherit the non-shed, hypoallergenic properties of the Bichon or Poodle.
Need to be groomed (brushed and clipped) regularily. Also have floppy ears, so they need to be properly cleaned regularily.
Do need exercise. But can be acclimated to a small home/apartment
setting if regularily walked.
Good:
Very devoted and loves their people.
Easily trained and intelligent.
Excellent with children and other pets, especially when raised with
them. Tend to be quite tollerant.
Happy, outgoing dog, especially when properly socialized.
Can be kept in a smaller setting. But they do like to get out.
Personality and trainability makes them suited for a first-time owner
as well as an experienced owner.
Possible Breed-Related/Genetic Health Concerns:
(Ranger is not known to have any of these issues. If he did, we would not
breed him!)
~Deafness
~Skin problems
~Allergies
~Cataracts/blindness
~Epilepsy (may be genetic or brought on by an allergic reaction)
~Autoimmune Thyroiditis & Hemolytic Anemia (body's immune system
attacks its own blood cells or hormones). Can typically be treated with
steroids.
~Hypothyroidism (Is the most commonly diagnosed hormone imbalance
found in dogs; not just Cocker-specific. All clinical signs are reversable once treatment is started.)
~Hepatitis/Liver Disease (May be caused viral or bacterial infection or some medications. Not necessarily a "breed" issue, though Cockers seem
to be more sensitive to the factors that cause/result in liver problems)
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About the Merle Coloring:
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Merle is a dilute gene that will take the base color of a dog and "bleach" it out. But it does not change the entire dog and is not uniform. It leaves neat splashes, lines & splotches of the original, dark color over the dog. It will often give the dog blue or partially blue eyes as well.
A breed where you commonly see merle colored dogs is Australian Shepherds. It is also often seen in Dachshunds, Great Danes, Collies, Shetland Sheepdogs, Welsh Corgis and others.
It is quite rare in Cocker Spaniels.
Here is the Wikipedia link that gives a full explination on the merle gene:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merle_%28coat_colour_in_dogs%29
A merle dog should not be bred to another merle dog, though, as this can possibly create a double-merle gene in the resulting puppies, and this can create a multitude of health problems or even be lethal. Unfortunately the AKC does not differentiate between the Merle and the Roan genes in Cocker Spaniels and they require that both be registered as Roan (roan is where white hairs are uniformially mixed with the base color over the entire dog; it does not "bleach" out the base color like merle). The AKC not recognizing the difference between the colors/genes is a problem because of the issue with the double-merle gene. A person could unknowingly breed two Merle dogs together thinking they were Roan because of the color stated on the registration papers. Two roan dogs bred together (or a double-roan gene) does not cause problems.
*Note: A single merle gene, as is seen in our puppies, does not cause any problems, and does not make the dogs weaker or inferior in any way. It just gives them really pretty colors!
Here are a couple of examples of merle coloring in some of our past puppies and some comparisons between them & regular colored puppies. You can see the coloring best when they're young, or when their hair is clipped short. If the hair is longer, it tends to blend the colors together so you can't see the individual colors as well.
This puppy is a "regular" Black & Tan puppy.
Compare her to this puppy: This is a Merle Black & Tan puppy.
Newborn pictures
Same puppies at 2 weeks
Same puppies at 5 weeks old
This is a Black Merle Parti (spotted):
Compare her to a "regular" Black & White Parti:
Both these puppies are Black Merles.
If they did not carry the merle gene, they would have been solid Black.
This puppy is a Chocolate Merle (who later turned out to also be Sable, which has black tips on the hairs). If she did not carry the merle gene, she would have been a solid Dark Chocolate Brown Sable.
Another Chocolate Merle, who, if he wasn't carrying the Merle gene, would have been solid Chocolate colored.
And a Chocolate Sable & Merle Parti. If she didn't carry the merle gene, she'd be dark brown sable and white parti with, without the light/dark variations in her brown coloring.
For additional pictures of puppies, and to also see how some of them turned out looking when they got older, take a look at our
Testimonials & Past Puppies page.