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 bears a resemblance to the king of animals, and its charming appearance leaves no one indifferent. In addition, Lyon Bichon is friendly, cheerful, always loyal to the owner and not demanding in care.

The small lion dog has regal grandeur, charm and has a lot of advantages. She appeared thanks to French selection at the beginning of the XIV century. The distant "relatives" of the breed are considered to be a water poodle and a friend’s barbet, close ones are the papillon butterfly, French lapdog, maltese, pygmy spaniel and falen. Such pets were very popular not only among the aristocrats of France and Belgium, but also in many countries of Europe. That this breed at that time literally conquered the whole world with its attractiveness, there are many documentary evidence:

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

Since the first half of the XX century, due to the rapid extinction, representatives of this breed are few.They even entered Lawrence into the Guinness Book of Records: the first time - as the rarest little dog in the world, the second - as the most expensive pet in the world.

There are also interesting facts related to the breed of Leuchen (small lion dog). So, for example, the beloved of Napoleon Marie Joseph Rose and the Spanish aristocrat Antoinette Poisson preferred to go out with only the lion bichon in her arms.

Over time, the windy and changeable fashion for the dog-lion cooled, they were practically not noticeable at the receptions of aristocrats and in social salons. The breed began to face death and complete extinction. According to statistics from world dog handbooks, about 40 mini-dogs remained on the planet at the beginning of the 20th century. As for the 21st century, the situation has stabilized. More than 100 Lyon Bichon puppies are born annually in France, dogs began to appear on TV screens as the main characters and became again popular and in demand in the secular world.

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

• Body type. Dogs-lions differ in athletic muscles, not bulky, but strong skeleton. All parts of the body are proportional: the length from the chest to the buttocks to the height at the withers is a ratio of 11: 10. The belly of the dogs is tightened, the tail is slightly pressed and bent. The weight of an adult varies from 5 to 8 kg.

• Color. Lyon Bichon may have a different color, according to the judicial 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 breeders 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 a moderately wavy soft coat. If you do not cut it, then it becomes long and thick. In non-purebred representatives of the breed, the hair is straight, curly or tangled. For dogs of this breed, only a haircut is allowed, giving them the appearance of a lion's mane. In the lower part of the body (the back of the ribs and trunk), 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 very “socks”. The front legs are cut in areas from the elbow to the knee joint, as well as from the bottom to the upper ends of the “socks”. Due to this, a kind of “bracelet” is formed on the forelimbs.

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

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

• Unusual beauty and charming view. Such dogs perfectly complement the image of the owner.
• Energy and cheerful character. A pet is able to cheer up both adults and children.
• Courtesy and tact. Little handsome men never impose themselves on their master, do not get confused and do not require attention. They are able to feel the mood of others and adapt to their emotional background.
• Cleverness and sharp mind. Lyon Bichon lends itself well to training and training.
• Lack of aggression. These charms are distinguished by unusual peace and friendliness. They will never use their sharp teeth.
• Ease of maintenance. For dogs of this breed, both large and small-sized apartments are well suited. 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 his master, 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 hurt.
• Such little dogs publish 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 the vagaries, the house will appear gnawed slippers.
• For representatives of this breed to meet general standards, they must be provided with constant care for the wool. In this case, special attention should be paid not only to a beautiful doggie fur coat, but also to the skin. If this is not done, allergic reactions and skin inflammations may occur. In addition, dogs should be regularly bathed, combed, brush their teeth and trim their claws. A monthly hygienic haircut, which includes not only cutting off the bulk of the coat, but also treating the intimate areas and pet pads, is also considered difficult to care for.
• Dogs that constantly participate in exhibitions require more thorough care and costly procedures in professional beauty salons. Accordingly, this will require spending a lot of money. Therefore, before you get 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 amounts every month. This is not a "budget" breed.

A small lion dog, like most other decorative breeds, has a complaisant character. She is cheerful, playful and friendly to 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, raising him to the status of his sovereign. Since dogs are psychologically attached to the owner, prolonged separation from him causes longing, which can turn into depression. This breed is distinguished by high ingenuity and innate intelligence - this is one of its most important advantages.

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

In winter, it is recommended to reduce outdoor walks to a minimum, giving preference to games in the house. This is only possible if the dog is accustomed to a diaper toilet. If the weather is cold, the little handsome should be insulated with special clothing. In summer, during walks, the pet should be protected from direct sunlight on the haircut. To do this, use sunscreen.

The great advantage of the Leuchenes is that they practically do not fade. Therefore, a place for resting and sleeping doggies can be arranged anywhere in the apartment. Most importantly, this place should be quiet and protected from drafts.It is best to arrange the personal space of the dog in the form of a sunbed with several toys. Additionally, the pet needs to allocate a place in the house for eating, after buying bowls for water and feed.

The main thing in caring for small lion dogs is considered to be proper nutrition. Dogs of this species should be fed with special foods, they should not be given food from the table (fatty meat, sausage, sweets and even bones). As for the cottage cheese, cereals and brown bread, they will please the dog.

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

Lyon Bichon is considered a very beautiful dog, but so that its fur is always 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 cut its claws and from time to time to brush its teeth, ears. Eyes should be wiped daily with a swab dipped in boiled water, they should always remain clean and dry.

The main hygiene procedures include haircuts. Wool is recommended to be trimmed every 2 months.

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

The little lion dog belongs to the decorative breeds, so it does not require 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”. At will, along with the teams, the owner can teach the doggie and simple circus tricks.

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