Lyon Bichon: advantages and disadvantages, temperament, care

Today there are many breeds of dwarf dogs, but the bichon lion dog is especially popular with breeders. This decorative pet after a special haircut really has a resemblance to the king of animals, and its charming appearance does not leave anyone indifferent. In addition, Lyon Bichon is friendly, cheerful, always loyal to the owner and not picky about care.

Small lion dog has royal majesty, charm and has a lot of advantages. It appeared due to French selection at the beginning of the 14th century. The distant "relatives" of the breed are the water poodle and the barbet's boyfriend, and the close ones are the Papillon butterfly, the French lapdog, the Maltese, the miniature spaniel and the falen. Such pets were very popular not only among the aristocrats of France and Belgium, but also in many European countries. There is a lot of documentary evidence that this breed conquered literally the whole world at that time:

• XIV century - in the city of Amiens (France), an original sculptural composition of two Lyons of Bichons was installed in the cathedral;
• XV century - On the tapestries of many buildings, images of “little lions” began to appear;
• XVI century - In this century, portraits with noble grandees and ladies, who kept the Bichon in their hands, became fashionable;
• early seventeenth 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 rapid extinction, there are few representatives of this breed. Louchen was even included in the Guinness Book of Records: for the first time - as the rarest dog in the world, the second - as the most expensive pet in the world.

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

Over time, the windy and changeable fashion for the dog-lion cooled, they almost became not noticeable at the receptions of aristocrats and in social salons. Breed began to face death and extinction. According to the statistics of the world canine directories, about 40 mini-dogs remained on the planet at the beginning of the XX century. As for the XXI century, the situation has stabilized. Every year more than 100 Bichon Lyon puppies are born in France, dogs began to appear on TV screens as main characters and became popular again and are in demand in the secular world.

The Bichon Lyon breed has its own characteristics and standard for determining purebred. Its representatives correspond to the following descriptions:

• Body type. Lion dogs differ in athletic musculature, 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 11: 10. The belly of the dogs is taut, the tail is slightly pressed and bent. The weight of an adult individual varies from 5 to 8 kg.

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

• Wool. Lyon Bichon is characterized by moderately wavy soft hair. If you do not cut it, it becomes long and thick. In the unbreeding representatives of the breed, the wool 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 (the back of the ribs and torso), the hair is trimmed so that its length remains at least 1/8 inch.

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

• On the tail the hair is cut to the middle, leaving a tail plume. All areas that remain uncut, should look natural, for this they are additionally combed with a brush or comb.

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

• Unusual beauty and charming appearance. Such dogs perfectly complement the image of the owner.
• Energetic and cheerful character. The pet is able to cheer up both adults and children.
• Politeness and tact. Little handsome men 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.
• Acumen and sharp mind. Lyon Bichon well gives in to training and training.
• Lack of aggression. These charming girls are distinguished by their unusual peace-loving and friendliness. They will never use their sharp teeth.
• Easy to keep. For dogs of this breed are well suited to both large and small apartments. 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 itself on the owner, he still needs love and care. Pets do not tolerate loneliness, and if they are left alone in an apartment, the animals quickly fall into a state of depression, and then begin to hurt.
• Such dogs emit a baseless loud and filthy barking that can drive you crazy.
• Lyon Bichon never forgives and does not forget insults. If the pet is “insulted”, then it will start revenge on its owner. In addition to the whims, in the house there will be bitten slippers.
• To representatives of this breed meet the general standards, they need to be provided with constant care for the fur. At the same time, special attention should be paid not only to a beautiful dog coat, but also to the skin. If this is not done, allergic reactions and skin inflammation may occur. In addition, dogs need to bathe, comb, brush their teeth and trim their claws regularly. Monthly hygienic haircut is also considered to be difficult to care for, which includes not only trimming the bulk of wool, but also the treatment of pet intimate areas and pads.
• Dogs who constantly participate in exhibitions require more careful care and expensive procedures in professional beauty salons. Accordingly, it will take a lot of money. Therefore, before you buy a Bichon Lyon, you need to be prepared for the fact that in order to maintain its appearance you will have to lay out large sums monthly. This is not a "budget" breed.

The little lion dog, like most other decorative breeds, has a sweet temper. 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 his master once and for all his life, elevating him to the status of his sovereign. As dogs become psychologically attached to the owner, prolonged separation from him causes melancholy, which can turn into depression. This breed is characterized by high acumen and innate intelligence - this is one of its most important advantages.

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

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 the diaper. If the weather is cold, a little handsome should be insulated with special clothes. In summer, when walking a pet, it is necessary to protect it from direct sunlight on the clipping areas. To do this, use sunscreen.

The great advantage of Levkhenov is that they practically do not fade. Therefore, a place to relax and sleep dogs can be made anywhere in the apartment. Most importantly, this place is quiet and protected from drafts. It is best of all to equip the personal space of the dog in the form of a sunbed with several toys. Additionally, the pet must be allocated a place in the house for meals, having previously bought bowls for water and feed.

The main thing in the care of small lion dogs is the provision of proper nutrition. Dogs of this type should 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, they will appeal to the dog.

When buying dry food, you need to pay attention to their quality and consider the recommendations of the veterinarian. To date, dry food intended for Lyon Bichon, presented on the market in a wide range, so their choice will not have problems.

Lyon Bichon is considered a very beautiful dog, but in order to always keep his hair 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 shear claws and from time to time to brush teeth and ears. Eyes should be wiped daily with a swab moistened in boiled water, they should always remain clean and dry.

The main hygienic procedures include haircut. It is recommended to trim the coat every 2 months.

The standard life span of this breed is 12-14 years. In order for the dog to live a long and full life, the owner must constantly monitor the state of his health.The huge role played by the cleanliness of the place, which is reserved for the content of the dog.

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

About the features of the breed, see the next video.