New owners of bichon dogs may have concerns regarding their pet when they notice something that may seem strange or unusual to them. In most cases, these concerns are overreactions, which are the result of an owner not knowing the difference between what is considered physically normal, and what is a potential health problem that needs to be checked out.

The following are a few common questions about bichon dogs that many people who are unfamiliar with this breed often have:

My puppy has developed spots or blotches on their belly, is this normal? Absolutely! While some bichon's have white or pinkish colored skin, it is actually quite common, and very normal for them to have blotchy or spotted skin. The spot pattern your pooch may have is determined by the genes that were present at birth, but the coloring doesn't typically occur until late into the frise's first year of life. In fact, spots on this canine's skin, is very similar to the spots on a Dalmatian.

My bichon dogs nose has turned pink, should I be worried? Usually there is nothing to be concerned about. This loss of pigmentation in the nose occurs around the beginning of the year when there is less sun. The more a bichon dog is exposed to the sun, the darker the pigment. Thus, in winter, this pooch's nose will generally lighten, and in the summer will darken. There is nothing to fear about a lighter colored nose.

There are dark reddish-brown stains under my dog's eyes, what's wrong? These stained markings are known as tear stain and they are unfortunately a common occurrence in white colored dogs. Though it may not look pretty, this staining is not actually harmful to bichon dogs. However, if you would like to control it, you will find that by keeping their eyes cleaned on a daily basis, and ensuring nothing is irritating their eyes or rubbing against their eyeballs, will help. That said, if staining is excessive, you should have them checked by a vet to be sure there isn't something more serious going on, such as a primary health problem.

Always remember, although at times you may worry about the appearance of bichon dogs, in most cases your pet is likely in good health. However, should you have any major concerns, or are really worried about your pooch; it never hurts to have him checked out by a professional.