Hi all, I have a family member interested in buying a bichon pup. I'm forwarding them the details of KC accredited breeders and the breed club but as a hound person, I have no clue about bichons! Are there any required/recommended health tests which the parents should have done? Any and all info appreciated!

Accordng to Kc website there are not currently any veterinary screening schemes or DNA tests for disease relevant to the breed under the Assured Breeder Scheme but on several sites it does say they can suffer from skin problems :)

Don't know anything about them either, have known a few and they do seem high maintenance and some are a bit on the sharp side.

Make them aware of the very, very high grooming commitment needed - have seen some awful porblems caused by owners who bursh the little darlings thoroughly - so they think,  that is the top 1 inch or so with  a lovely bristle brush, leaving the undercoat a solid matt covering the whole dog - needing clipping off  and rolling down as you go, like shearing a sheep.  Also agree with Nova, lot of them seem less than sweet natured.

Suppose Gwen that if your coat is all felted up you will be uncomfortable and less that the sweet thing you look.

Do agree they are not really for your average pet owner, unless money no object and a groomer near by.

my daughter has a bichon she is 5 1/2 months that lives here with 3 sheps:) now ive bathed her 3times due to playing with 3 adult sheps LOL...the coat goes like cotton but as long as theres no knots before bathing it very easy to do!! my daughter combs her EVERYDAY!! pup has just been to the groomers for the 1st time and the groomer couldnt understand why her coat wasnt curling alittle and then we got a phone call "this is while the groomer has her" :) saying omg your dog as NO knotts at all :) she said shes done so many bichons over the years and none have ever come with coats like that not even at 12weeks old for the 1st cut!! my daughter is 14 and looks after her baby so well ,she sleeps with my daughter from day 1 of getting her she got up though the night with her the bond they have a mazing!
im sold on them now :) their so loving very silly and like to make you laugh they kind of talk to you ,she does bark when the sheps bark but thats about it ,she loves childern and is great with other dogs but she is a pup and weve done whats right from the start they are great dogs ,you just got to make sure they are treated like dogs and not kids going all coo coo and treat them like you would if its a big dog ...start as you mean to go on so to speak!
they are fab family dogs!

I've groomed quite a few over the years, I've never met a really nasty one though they do have a stubborn streak, and of course if the coat is matted they can grumble if you catch a knot. They're more likely to be nervous and worried looking than sharp in my experience. As others have said they are very high maintenance, daily brushing and combing is a must, and the breeder ought to show them how to make sure they are brushing through to the skin and not just catching the top half of the coat. I've given countless demos and explanations, and have only had one lady so far who seems capable of brushing properly, after the first time when the dog was matted, she has always come in spotless condition ever since, so it is possible. But they will need professional grooming every 4 - 6 weeks if the coat is kept in any length at all.

Thanks for all the advice guys! The grooming isn't an issue as her (it's my sister) best friend who lives down the road is a groomer. She wants a pup as she wants to ensure the dog will be ok with her three young children but her and her husband are still at the 'thinking' stage so we'll see :)

I've groomed a few a few years ago and have to say they all had wonderful temperaments.  Was quite shocked to see on here that it doesn't seem so these days.

If they are 'small' children then I would not advise a small dog, but that is my personal opinion and I feel a medium or large dog is best with children. Think other will disagree and I will be interested to hear their comments.

Have had two come to my training club, both happy friendly dogs and very clever. One lives with a young family, and fine with children, the other belonged to a young couple and can't imagine her having any problems with children either. I also interviewed Tamara Dawson at her home for the Kennel Gazette a few years ago and her Bichons were lovely too.

Did not say that they were not OK with small children it is more a case of are small children OK with them.

In my first post I said my knowledge was limited and that of those I did know they were a bit sharp, ie quick to respond as are many toy dogs so IMO not ideal when there are small people present in the home.

Bichon puppies are small and easily hurt. Care must be taken when around small children, having said that I would never leave any puppy alone with a small child for the safety of both.

Care must be taken when around small children

That is true and a child should never be left alone with a dog of any breed but if a youngster falls on a Lab it will probably wag it's tail but the same accident with a small dog could end up with the dog or child being hurt. Hurt dogs react in self defence and the smaller the dog they more likely they are to be hurt.

Children are 11, 6 and 5. A medium or large dog will not be considered, unfortunately.

The younger two are too young to be allowed to play with a toy dog but the 11 year old should be all right if supervised.