We've had Archie now for just seven weeks, but I thought it was time for a review of our time so far. It seems really odd reviewing a living thing, and it's really hard to speak of him the same way I do a deep fat fryer! As he grows I'll maybe add to the review and share his magic moments!

By the way you can see Archie in my profile picture!

Never a natural dog lover, I came under pressure from her indoors to get a family pet. Not so keen, I put her off by saying I would take a nosey online and see what I liked. Bichon Frise's are easily the cutest things ever to walk, and it didn't take long before my heart was set on a Bichon. Nothing else would do.

We searched the local papers and found a breeder around three hours drive away, and agreed to go and pick one for £400. This included the usual services like Kennel Club registration and starter vaccinations and worming etc.
On arrival, one immediately came to nosey to see who was at the door, and we both said "we'll have that one" at the same time. The deal was done and off we went on out three hour journey home. The little fella slept the whole way, waking only periodically. He was a very good traveller.

Archie had a bad first night with us and clearly missed his own family. No one in our house slept that night due to his crying. On the second night, I couldn't sleep because he never made a peep, and I kept thinking he had died he was so quiet. He settled in very quickly.

We both took a week off to begin training him, and it was all going well. He caught on very quick, and was going to the door to do his business after only a week. However it became harder when we went back to work, and there were a few periods when he was left alone, or I was sleeping due to nightshifts. Archie is still trying to adjust to this, and although he is very rarely left alone, it is hard for him not knowing if someone will come and let him out the door!

As a pet, I would have no other. He loves seeing visitors come, and will lick and kiss anyone that comes to the door. A Bichon will never make a guard dog I guess. He is growing really fast, and although we are really strict on him he begs for food between meal times and it's hard to say no to such a cute little man.

He's just after completing his injection course and has been out walking this last week. It's like a whole new world for him to explore and he doesn't yet want to walk very far. I've been told that once he is fully grown, in about eight months, a mile and a half a night will be his norm, and this will certainly help with my fitness drive.
His temperament is great and he want to play all day. He'll not get angry too much, other than when he can't get the sock off my foot. Chews everything of course, and it is really hard to train him not to nip and bite, but I'm told he will grow out of this.

I'm sorry if this is one of the most one sided reviews you've ever read on here, but Archie really is a gem! For someone looking a toy dog id certainly recommend a Bichon! I'll follow up and update as Archie grows, but I certainly don't expect to be adding any bad points.