All about the falen breed

Today, as pets, a person contains many different animals. However, dogs are rightfully considered the most sought after four-legged comrades. Among the numerous breeds of these animals, it is worth highlighting phalens, notable for their exterior and centuries-old friendship with humans.

The time of the appearance of the breed can be judged on the basis of documentary and artistic evidence. As for the falen, the earliest mention of such dogs was found 800 years ago. At that time, breeds were not registered, therefore, information about the variety of the continental toy spaniel was noted from the images on the canvases of artists of those times. Now there are several opinions regarding the homeland of the Falens. According to one version, dogs were bred in Mexico, the second option should be considered China. However, the breed reached its peak in Belgium and France. Falen in translation means "moth", a similar name is due to the external features of the structure and wool of the ears. Initially, at the time of the origin and formation of the breed, animals were born with long hanging ears. In the litter, dogs with erect ears were extremely rare.

In the 19th century, France divided the breed into falens - dogs with hanging ears and papillons - animals with erect ears. The first species was especially popular among the crowned persons at court, however, during the revolution, the phaelen were almost exterminated. They managed to save the breed thanks to immigrants who saved their pets by leaving the country. So the "moths" appeared in America.The fashion for such decorative pets returned at the end of the last century.

Modern standards set for dogs of this breed are somewhat different from the exterior of animals in the era of their appearance. Now dogs at the withers reach 28-30 centimeters. Two types of falens are distinguished based on the weight of the animals:

• pets weighing up to 2.5 kilograms;
• dogs, the mass of which for males can vary between 2.5-4.5 kilograms, for a bitch - 2.5-5 kilograms.

And also among the representatives of the breed you can meet small pets whose mass does not exceed 1.5 kilograms.

There are also characteristics related to the exterior of continental toy spaniels.

• The animal should have a rounded skull, pronounced stop on the muzzle. And also on the bridge of the nose the furrow is visualized. The dog has a slightly pointed muzzle, the size of which will be smaller compared to the skull. The nose is narrow, at the end there is a lobe painted in dark color. An upturned nose is considered a deviation from standards.
• The eyes are large, set wide, close in shape to the amygdala. The iris is dark, eyelids have pigmented black edges.
• The teeth are white, the jaws are well developed, the bite in animals is scissor-like, while the incisors should be hidden under the lips.
• Ears will be large, triangular in shape with a rounded edge, decorated with long hair. They are located almost on the occipital part of the skull, due to which the forehead acquires a rounded shape.
• The neck is medium in length, well developed, without folds, a slight bend is acceptable.
• The physique of the falen is strong, the body is square, slightly elongated. The back without deflection, the lower back is wide. The chest is muscled, set deep, the ribs are convex.
• The paws of dogs of this breed are even, medium in size, arranged in parallel. The fingers are closed, wool may be present inside, the color of the claws will vary depending on the color of the pet's coat.
• Falens have a long, high set tail; its dimensions allow the tip to lie on its back. As a rule, its length does not exceed 15 centimeters, there is a long coat on it.
• The coat of animals may have a wave, however curls or curls are a deviation from the breed standards. Throughout the body there is an undercoat. The coat is moderately soft, shiny. The length will vary depending on the location. So, the shorter dog is concentrated on the head and the outer part of the paws. The body and chest itself are usually covered with long hair. On the back of the limbs there are tows.
• Color falenov in most cases will be white with colorful spots. Spots can focus around the eyes, on the neck, on the back.

The breed has a friendly and flexible disposition, which is why such animals are recommended for keeping in families with children. The dog can also become a faithful companion for the elderly. A pet at a young age and already an adult stands out for its courage, affection, and contact. Will be willing to take part in children's games and active games. However, in relation to strangers, falens show caution.

The animal requires regular physical activity, so you need to walk the falen daily. Well-developed intelligence is inherent in dogs, so they are highly amenable to training. If there are other pets in the house, there may be conflicts between animals in light of the selection of a leader.

But it should also be noted that the continental toy spaniel has a rather loud “voice”, so it will be an excellent “bell” when keeping a dog in a private house.The animal is very attached to its breeder, with a long separation, the dog may begin to depression.

The breed is characterized by strengths and weaknesses. So, the advantages of decorative dogs include the following characteristics:

• attractive pet exterior and small size, which facilitates maintenance at home;
• animals have a complaisant and kind disposition;
• falens are very loyal to their owner;
• animals have a well-developed intelligence;
• dogs of this breed are very easy to care for.

Among the weaknesses of toy spaniels, it should be noted:

• piercing barking;
• underdeveloped musculoskeletal corset.

The pet of this breed is perfect for inexperienced breeders, because the animal feels good in a private home. However, the dog will require a lot of attention in terms of regular grooming. First of all, this concerns the coat, since it is long in the dog - in order to avoid the formation of tangle, the animal must be often combed. Comb the animal with a brush with metal teeth with a rounded end. During molting, it is recommended to comb the dog 2 times a day, paying attention to the ears, armpits and the area in the tail area.

Some breeders do a haircut for their pets. Such manipulations are not necessary for the breed, however, it will significantly increase its decorative appeal. In the winter months, it is recommended to temporarily refuse to cut the dog, as the breed does not have a warm undercoat.

And also care will be required for the ears and claws of the dog. If the pet will spend most of the time at home, then he will need to periodically cut the claws so that they do not wrap and grow into limbs. Auricles need to be cleaned of sulfur and dirt, using moist cotton pads for this.

There is often no need to bathe a dog, as these pets have virtually no dog smell. However, when carrying out such hygienic procedures, it will be necessary to use special shampoos for long-haired dogs. They will help the wool to become less tangled and look shiny and well-groomed. For falen you can also use conditioners and balms.

The attention of the breeder will require the dog’s teeth and eyes. Eyes are rubbed with moist cotton pads. For toothbrushing, you can use special toothbrushes and toothpastes for dogs.

The exterior of the dog will largely depend on its diet. For full development, the animal will need to enter products enriched with vitamins and minerals in the menu. Otherwise, the hairs may fall out of the falen. The following products must be present on the dog's menu:

• meat and offal;
• cereals;
• vegetables;
• dairy products;
• fruits.

A natural menu might look like this:

• meat products and fish in a ratio of 1: 3;
• dairy products and eggs - 1: 3;
• fruits and vegetables - 1: 3.

To replenish the supply of carbohydrates, falen need to regularly enter rice and oatmeal porridge in the menu.

The dog needs compulsory training. However, excessive aggression should be avoided during pet rearing. Animals are well trained not only for prohibiting and allowing teams, but also for various tricks. Training must be done from a very young age. The primary task will be accustoming to a nickname and walking as needed.

Since the decorative pet loves to bask in the master's bed, the dog should immediately begin to accustom to his bedroom place. For an animal, you can buy a couch and place it near the breeder’s bed.

Animals will need to buy several toys so that the pet has the opportunity to entertain themselves.For these purposes, different balls, dice, cords are suitable. However, when choosing such products, you should make sure that it does not have small parts, as well as the safety of the material from which the goods are made.

Falenov can be taught to go to the toilet at home on a tray or absorbent diapers, but walks with a pet should still be daily.

There are several ways to breed dogs of this breed. The only restriction is crossbreeding with individuals with erect ears, since the offspring will have mixed genes. However, a similar method is very often used to increase the number of dogs of this breed.

Both variants are actively used by breeders, however, choosing the first method, it is necessary to further interbreed animals from this litter with purebred phalaenas to avoid mixing genes in other dogs.

Falens belong to centenarians among the available varieties of decorative dogs. As a rule, with good care, the pet can live with a person about 10-15 years. Among the toy spaniels there were also dogs that lived to be 15-17 years old. Pets very rarely suffer from gastrointestinal ailments, in addition, they have a stable immunity to many common diseases that are found among small dogs.

However, animals can suffer from genetic diseases. Among them are more common:

• glaucoma and cataracts;
• retinal atrophy.

In addition to the eyes, in animals the weak point is the musculoskeletal system. Therefore, decorative pets can suffer from dislocation of the patella. Adult dogs may have hearing pathologies, diabetes. Prevention of the development of many diseases will be mandatory timely vaccination, regular examination by a veterinarian, and a balanced diet.

On the features of continental toy spaniels see below.