Kyi Leo Dog Breed - Facts and Information

Appearance
The Kyi Leo is looking similarly like Lhasa Apso and Shih Tzu, which is logical, since this is Maltese – Lhasa Apso mix breed. It is a small, but muscular and sturdy dog breed. They are longer than tall, their head is pretty small with medium length muzzle and gentle black eyes.

This is a small dog with average height between 8-12 inches which is 20-30 cm and weight between 9-14 lbs, which is 4-6 kgs.

The coat of the Kyi Leo is long and silky, most commonly in white color with black patches and markings. You can also find them in brown, apricot or tri color.

Temperament

The best description of the Kyi Leo would probably be super friendly and extra active. This is very social animal, who loves their people and is totally devoted to them. The Kyi Leo makes great family companion, they normally good with other dogs or kids in the house.

On the other hand, they do have the Lhasa Apso heritage, and as you might know, Lhasa Apso is pretty suspicious and alert dog towards strangers. That is why, some of the Kyi Leos can actually make good watchdogs.

This is an amazing choice for novice or first time dog owners, especially because of their easy going temperament. Of course, training and early socialization is a must, just like with every other dog breed.

The Kyi Leo is very intelligent, so dont be fooled by their small size and cuddly personality, they need their mind to be stimulated. You can always try to teach them some new tricks, they are amazing at it, or you can buy them some puzzle toys for smart dogs.


Interesting Fact
Do you know what the breed name Kyi Leo actually means? The word Leo means lion in Latin and the word Kyi means dog in tibetan. So it is a Dog Lion.


History
Today, the Kyi Leo is sometimes recognized as separate breed, but it is still a young breed. They were developed in 1950s by accident. When the Maltese and Lhasa Apso matted together, the breeder realized, that this dog has such a wonderful temperament, that he decided to continue with breeding them.

The name of the breeder is Harriet Linn and thanks to a great and selective breeding job, we have another adorable, friendly and devoted companion dog in this world.

Health and Grooming

The Kyi Leo is considered to be pretty healthy dog breed with average lifespan between 13-15 years. But just like all dogs, even they are suffering from some health issues, most commonly from back issues, pancreatitis or patellar luxation.

They have pretty soft and delicate legs which might be injured quit easily, for example by dropping the dog. It is important to be very careful about their legs.

The maintenance of this breed is not the easiest, just look at their long silky coat. They need a great deal of grooming to keep the coat in good condition and tangle free. Daily brushing is recommended and ocassional trimming is also needed.

If you want to have healthy and happy dog in your home, regular exercise are must. This is pretty lively and active dog, so daily walks are recommended, but thanks to their small size, they do not need tons of exercise. They are very playful, so daily play sessions are also amazing thing to do with your dog. Both, you and your dog will be happy.