Kyi-Leo
Breed Rating
| Intelligence: | |
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| family friendly: | |
| Dog friendly: | |
| Watch/guard dog: |
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| Energy: | |
| Playfulness: | |
| Exercise needed: | |
| Space needed: |
| Aggressiveness: |
| Tendency to bark: |
| Grooming Requirements: |
| Aggressiveness: | |
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| Tendency to bark: | |
| Grooming Requirements: |
Breed Attributes
General
Breed group: Toy Type: Pure Breed Talent: Tricks, Watchdog
Physical
Size: Small Weight: 9-14 lbs Fur length: Long Ears: Flappy Fur type: Straight Fur Color: Black, Black & White, Brown & White, Gray / Salt & Pepper, White / Cream
ATTRIBUTES
Life Expectancy: 12-14 years Rarity: Uncommon Availability: Hard to find Climate: Not good for warm climate.
Breed Details
General
The Kyi-Leo� is a small and sturdy rare dog that was developed from accidental crossing between the Maltese and Lhasa Apso dogs in 1950s in San Francisco Bay area, USA. The resulting puppies of this crossing caught attention of several dog lovers and one Mrs. Harriet Linn acquired some dogs in 1965 and several again in 1969. She then started seriously breeding them. In 1972, the breed was formally recognized as separate breed and was given the name "Kyi-Leo" to honour the parent breeds. "Kyi" is the Tibetan word for Dog while "Leo" is Latin word for loin and acknowledges the Maltese which is also known as Maltese Lion Dog. The registered trade mark sign affixed to its name indicates that this is a copy righted breed.
This small but strongly boned dog stands between 8-12 inches and weighs about 9-14 lbs. It has moderate head with medium length muzzle. The head is covered with hair which falls to hide large but not protruding dark to brown eyes which hold expression of intelligence and alertness. Nose is black. Drop ears are covered with hair. The body is slightly longer than tall. The dog comes with cat like agility and good front feet grip which allows it to easily grasp objects with its front paws. It has long and silky or slightly wavy coat that almost reach the ground. Black and white colouring is most preferred however the dog also comes in striking gold and white combination.
This breed is NOT recognized by AKC or any other major kennel club however it is recognized by American Rare Breed Association.
Color
Coat
This breed has a thick, long, silky, straight or slightly wavy coat that almost reaches ground. The hair cover the whole body from head to toe. The coat takes 3-4 years to fully develop. Hair tend to form a natural part along the spine.
Personality
Care
Long, thick and silky coat of this breed will need to be brushed regularly to avoid tangles and matting. Regular brushing will also help in removing dead hair from coat of this average shedder as well as distribute skin oil evenly to the whole coat. Brushing the teeth every day is important as this breed has bad breath. Ears should be cleaned once per week. The dog is suitable for colder climates due to its thick coat but needs plenty of water and shade to cool itself in hot season. Cutting the hair short will also help the dog remain cool during summer.
