Kokoni Dog Breed - Facts and Information

Appearance
The Kokoni is a small and cute dog with relatively long body. The average height is around 28 cm, which is 11 inch and weight should be between 4-8 kg, which is 8-17 pounds. There are no big size differences between males and females.

The coat of Kokoni is double layered, silky and quite dense. You can find this breed in many colors and color combinations, some of the most common are black and tan, white with blonde, rust or black and tricolor.

The tail is pretty long and curved, muzzle is relatively short and the ears are dropped. The medium sized eyes are in dark brown color and in almond shape. This breed has pretty wide and deep chest, at least for its size.
Temperament
For several centuries, these little dogs were used as companion dogs, which formed their personality. As a companion dog, the Kokoni is very friendly, lively, affectionate and they tend to create a very strong bond with its owner and family.

Because of their happy, lively, cheerful and playful character, these dogs are great partners for older kids. But of course, you should always monitor the situation, between any dog breed and a young child.

In the past, these dogs were not only companion dogs, but they were also used for pest control and hunting. And some of them still have higher prey drive and chasing instinct and they might try to hunt some small household pets, but this can be vastly influenced by early socialization.

The Kokoni is also pretty fearless and brave. This dog loves its family, but it is said, that they are pretty alert and suspicious towards strangers. Some of them even might be territorial, but they should never be agressive. It can take some time, before the Kokoni will start to trust a complete stranger.

Great fact is, that the Kokoni is bright and intelligent breed who is great at training. With a patience and consistency, these dogs are capable of learning a lot of different tricks pretty quickly.
Interesting fact
Kokonis name is very descriptive, because the word kokoni can be translated to English as a small dog. And they are also known by other descriptive name, which is Small Greek Domestic Dog.
History
This dog breed has an ancient origin and it can be found on ancient artifacts such as vases, statues, figurines and coins. The breed originated on Malta and was developed by Greek people, alongside with another Greek dog, the Alopekis.

Because their history is so old, it is impossible to say, what are the ancestors or what is the exact date of origin of this dog. It is belived, that they were used for many different purposes, for example for hunting small game, companionship and maybe even herding and as watchdogs.

There were never any strict breeding restrictions for Kokoni breeds, which is why they can differ a little bit in their apperance one from the another. But today, they are already officially recognized by the Greek Kennel club and they have their own breed standard.

The Kokoni is very adaptable breed and they can survive even on the streets. And sadly, there is quite a lot of stray Kokoni dogs and Kokoni mixes. There are some organizations from Balkan, who is adopting those great dogs to other parts of Europe, so if you are deciding what your next dog will be, look at Kokoni! If you are looking for a small and lively companion, this might be a great choice for you!
Health and grooming
Kokoni is usually a very healthy dog breed and they are known for their longetivity. Its not uncommon for them to live into their late teens. There is not enought scientific studies about the breeds health, but it does not seem, there are no serious health related issues with Kokoni

You should regularly brush the Kokoni coat to keep it tangle free and in good condition. Brushing will also remove the dead hair and minimize the shedding. Just like with all dogs, you should regularly check the dogs ears, eyes, nails and teeth and clean them or clip them if needed.