Lyon Bichon: advantages and disadvantages, temperament, care

Today there are many breeds of dwarf dogs, but the lion's dog Bichon is especially popular with breeders. After a special haircut, this decorative pet really bears a resemblance to the king of animals, and its charming appearance does not leave anyone indifferent. In addition, Lyon Bichon is distinguished by its friendliness, cheerfulness, always loyal to the owner and not picky about care.

The Little Lion Dog has regal majesty, charm and many advantages. It appeared thanks to French selection at the beginning of the XIV century. The distant "relatives" of the breed are considered the water poodle and the barbette, the close ones are the Papillon butterfly, French lapdog, Maltese, pygmy spaniel and Phalene. Such pets were very popular not only among the aristocrats of France and Belgium, but also in many European countries. The fact that this breed at that time with its attractiveness conquered literally the whole world, there is a lot of documentary evidence:

• XIV century - in the city of Amiens (France), in the cathedral, an original sculptural composition of two Lyons Bichons was installed;
• XV century - images of "little lions" began to appear on the tapestries of many buildings;
• XVI century - in this century, portraits with noble nobles and ladies who held a bichon in their arms came into fashion;
• early 17th century - the famous French biologist-naturalist Georges-Louis Leclerc in his works beautifully describes the dogs of this breed, emphasizing their sophistication and rarity.

Since the first half of the 20th century, due to the rapid extinction, few representatives of this breed have remained.Louchen was even listed in the Guinness Book of Records: the first time - as the rarest dog in the world, the second - as the world's most expensive pet.

There are also interesting facts related to the Levhen breed (small lion dog). For example, Napoleon's beloved Marie Joseph Rose and the Spanish aristocrat Antoinette Poisson preferred to go out only with a lion bichon in their arms.

Over time, the windy and changeable fashion for a lion dog cooled, they practically became invisible at the receptions of aristocrats and in secular salons. The breed began to face death and complete extinction. According to the statistical data of the world cynological reference books, about 40 mini-dogs remained on the planet at the beginning of the 20th century. As for the 21st century, the situation has stabilized. Every year in France, more than 100 Lyon Bichon puppies are born, dogs began to appear on TV screens as the main characters and became again popular and in demand in the secular world.

The Lion Bichon breed has its own characteristics and standard that determines purebred. Its representatives correspond to the following descriptions:

• Body type... Lion dogs are distinguished by athletic muscles, not bulky, but strong bones. All parts of the body are proportional: the length from the chest to the buttocks to the height at the withers is the ratio of 11: 10. The belly of the dogs is tucked up, the tail is slightly flattened and curved. The weight of an adult varies from 5 to 8 kg.

• Color... Lion Bichon can have a different color, according to the judicial documents, there are no restrictions in the color scheme. The most popular dog colors are such shades of silver, blue, chocolate and lemon. Spotted dogs look interesting. Dog breeders especially appreciate the yellow-sand color, which is tinted in a dark shade in the area of ​​the paws, tail and mask.

• Wool. Lyon Bichon is characterized by a moderately wavy soft coat. If not cut, it becomes long and thick. In non-purebred representatives of the breed, the coat is straight, curly or matted. For dogs of this breed, only a haircut is allowed, giving them the appearance of a lion's mane. On the lower part of the body (back of the ribs and torso), the coat is trimmed so that it remains at least 1/8 inch in length.

• As for hind limbs, then the wool on them is trimmed to the very "socks". The forelegs are cut from the elbow to the knee joint, as well as from the bottom to the upper tips of the “toes”. Due to this, a kind of "bracelet" is formed on the forelimbs.

• On the tail the coat is trimmed to the middle, leaving a tail plume. All areas that have not been trimmed should look natural; for this, they are additionally brushed with a brush or comb.

Like any other breed of dog, the Lion Bichon has its own advantages and disadvantages. The pluses include the following characteristics.

• Unusual beauty and charming appearance. Such dogs perfectly complement the image of the owner.
• Energetic and cheerful character. A pet can cheer up both adults and children.
• Politeness and tact. Little beauties never impose themselves on the owner, do not get underfoot and do not require attention. They are able to feel the mood of others and adapt to their emotional background.
• Savvy and sharp mind. Lion Bichon lends itself well to education and training.
• Lack of aggression. These charms are distinguished by their unusual peacefulness and friendliness.They will never use their sharp teeth.
• Ease of content. Both large and small apartments are well suited for dogs of this breed. Pets of this breed do not require long and long walks.

As for the cons, they are also present.

• Despite the fact that Lyon Bichon does not impose himself on the owner, he still needs love and care. Pets cannot stand loneliness, and if they are left alone in the apartment, then the animals quickly fall into a state of depression, after which they begin to get sick.
• Such dogs emit groundless loud and jellied barking, which can drive you crazy.
• Lyon Bichon never forgives and does not forget offenses. If the pet is "insulted", then he will begin to take revenge on his master. In addition to whims, gnawed slippers will appear in the house.
• In order for representatives of this breed to meet general standards, they need to be provided with constant grooming of the coat. In this case, special attention should be paid not only to the beautiful doggie coat, but also to the skin. If this is not done, the manifestation of allergic reactions and skin inflammation is possible. In addition, dogs need to be regularly bathed, combed, brushed and clipped. Carrying out a monthly hygienic haircut is also considered difficult to care for, which involves not only cutting the bulk of the wool, but also processing the intimate areas and pads of the pet.
• Dogs that constantly participate in exhibitions require more careful grooming and expensive procedures in professional beauty salons. Accordingly, this will require spending a lot of money. Therefore, before you buy a lion bichon, you need to be prepared for the fact that to maintain its appearance, you will have to spend large sums every month. This is not a "budget" breed.

The little lion dog, like most other decorative breeds, has a docile nature. She is cheerful, playful and friendly towards other animals and people. Pets are full of strength and energy, they do not like to lie on soft pillows for days.

Lyon Bichon chooses himself as a master once and for all his life, elevating him to the status of his master. Since dogs become psychologically attached to their owner, long-term separation from him causes melancholy, which can turn into depression. This breed is distinguished by high intelligence and innate intelligence - this is one of its main advantages.

Lyon Bichon is great for any conditions of detention. Due to the fact that the dogs of this breed are small in size, their housing can be equipped even in a small apartment. Since pets require moderate physical activity, it is enough to walk them outside for no more than 30 minutes daily.

In winter, walking in the fresh air is recommended to be reduced to a minimum, giving preference to games in the house.... This is only possible if the dog is toilet trained on a diaper. If the weather is cold, the little handsome man should be insulated with special clothes. During summer walks, the pet must be protected from direct sunlight on the haircut areas. For this, sunscreen is used.

The big advantage of levchens is the fact that they practically do not shed. Therefore, a place for rest and sleep for dogs can be arranged anywhere in the apartment. The most important thing is that this place is quiet and protected from drafts.It is best to equip the dog's personal space in the form of a lounger with several toys. Additionally, the pet needs to allocate a place in the house for eating, having previously bought bowls for water and food.

The main thing in caring for little lion dogs is to ensure proper nutrition. Dogs of this type must eat special food, they should not be given food from the table (fatty meat, sausage, sweets and even bones). As for cottage cheese, cereals and black bread, the dog will like them.

When buying dry food, you need to pay attention to their quality and take into account the recommendations of the veterinarian. To date, dry food intended for Lyon Bichon is presented on the market in a wide range, so there will be no problems with their choice.

Lion Bichon is considered a very beautiful dog, but in order for his coat to always be in perfect condition, it should be washed several times a week with a special shampoo with conditioner and combed. In addition, the pet needs to trim its claws and from time to time brush its teeth and ears. Eyes should be wiped daily with a swab soaked in boiled water; they should always remain clean and dry.

The main hygiene procedures include haircuts. It is recommended to trim the coat every 2 months.

The standard lifespan of this breed is 12-14 years. In order for the dog to live a long and fulfilling life, the owner must constantly monitor his health. The cleanliness of the place, which is reserved for keeping the dog, also plays a huge role.

The little lion dog belongs to the decorative breed, so it does not require any special training. It is enough for the owner to learn the basic commands for life with the pet, for example, “sit”, “place”, “come to me”. If desired, together with the teams, the owner can teach the dog and simple circus tricks.

For the characteristics of the breed, see the following video.