There is no breed of dog that cannot be trained. Some breeds of dog appear more difficult to train than others but in most cases, this has more to do with his trainer and his training methods.

With a proper disciplined approach, any dog can be trained to be a good canine citizen. Many dog owners do not understand how a dog learns nor do they realise that they can be breed specific in their training.

Young puppies have an amazing capacity to learn but they have to be constantly reminded of what they have learned by continual reinforcement.

When young puppies become less dependent on their mother, they look for 2 things

            A pack leader

            A set of rules set down by the pack leader

The mere fact that Bichons are cute and cuddly means that most owners fail miserably in these basic canine needs. Instead, the owner begins to respond to the demands of the puppy. If you let a puppy into the house every time he whines or barks, he will quickly learn that he is being allowed into the house because he is barking.

If the puppy cannot find his pack leader then he assumes the role of pack leader. If no rules are imposed, then the puppy learns to make his own rules and the negligent owner continually reinforces the puppy's decisions by allowing him to rule the household. How many times you can see this in a dogs behaviour.

The key to successful training is to establish the correct relationship between a dog and its owner. The owner or the owner family MUST be the pack leader and the pack leader must provide rules by which the dog must follow.

Once this has been established, the ease of training depends a great deal upon how much a dog relies on the pack leader approval.

The dog who lives to please his master will do everything possible to evoke the approval response from the person he is devoted to. However, a dog who is not remotely concerned about what his master thinks, will not be looking to evoke a positive response from his master.

Some breeds of dogs can be more difficult to train but with patience and planning, Bichons can be trained to be obedient pets.

House breaking

By far the best way to housetrain your puppy is using a crate, cage or pen. The crate training method of housebreaking is a highly successful method of preventing bad habits from ever beginning. After an initial worry that this method looks cruel, owners are surprised that the puppy comes to think of his crate as his special retreat - a den where he can find rest and privacy.

The success of the crate method is based on the fact that puppies will not soil the area where they sleep and keeps housebreaking training to an absolute minimum.

Put a rug or blanket into the crate so he can feel more at home

Begin feeding your puppy in the crate - keep door closed while he is eating.

When the meal is finished, open the crate and carry him outside to your chosen toilet spot.

If you do not have an easy outdoor access, begin by using papers (or puppy pads) in an out of the way corner that will be easily accessible to your puppy.

If you constantly take your puppy to the same spot, it will reinforce the habit of going there for that purpose.

They will be ready to relieve themselves when they first wake up, after playing and after eating and drinking, so keep alert and you will soon know when this is about to happen. Do not give your puppy an opportunity to learn that he can relieve himself in the house

If you do have to leave your puppy for short periods, he should be in his crate with the door latched. Every time he goes into the crate, give him a small treat. Place a treat in the back of the crate and encourage him to walk in on his own. When he does this, praise him and give hi another treat.

Do not give in to complaints while he is in the crate. He must learn to stay there and not to complain. A stern No command and a tap on the crate will usually get the puppy to understand that complaining does not get liberation. Remember, you are the pack leader.

Also remember that 8-12 week old puppies will not be able to contain themselves for long periods of time. Puppies will have to relieve themselves every few hours except at night. Make sure your puppy has fully relieved himself last thing at night and first thing in the morning.

If you find it necessary to be away from home for longer periods then do not leave your puppy in the crate. However, do not allow him to roam all over the house but keep him in a small room or partitioned area and cover the floor with papers. Make the area large enough so that he will not have to relieve himself close to his bed, food or water.

If you follow above you should find housetraining very quick and easy.

Basic Training

The best requirements for initial training are

            Find a quiet place where both you and the dog can concentrate

            Be in a positive frame of mind with no other distractions