[Bonanza]

Originally Posted by shcisamax

A little off topic so forgive me. But I will never buy a pure bred again. Not only do they generally have some significant medical issue but there are way too many sitting in the shelters and being euthanized. In fact, I imagine you can contact bichon rescues that have this type of bichon if your heart is set on one.

Sorry, but pure bred dogs have no more "significant medical issues" than mixed breed dogs. I have had both (pure bred and mixed breed) for most of my life and there is no real difference. It's mostly the luck of the draw. While some pure bred dogs have issues inherent to the breed, you don't know what will turn up in a mixed breed because you don't know it's heritage or what makes up their gene pool.

A true breeder will breed for the betterment of the breed and knows the lineage of the dog and bitch and knows their genetic history. If they don't know that, you don't want to buy a dog from them.