|
1) Origin
The Shichon was developed by crossing Shih Tzu and Bichon Frise. Of course, unintentional mixes between those two breed could have been there for centuries, but it was not until 1990s, when these two dogs were crossed intentionally with the intention of creating a new dog breed. It is believed, that they were first crossed in the USA with the intention of creating a teddy bear looking, sweet and gentle dog, which will make excellent family companion. 2) Companions Most of the dog breeds were, or still are used for some purpose. Some are hunters, some are protectors, some are sled dogs and some are for example search and rescue dogs. The Zuchon is not use for any of those purposes and it is just a sweet companion dog. The only job they sometimes do is therapy work. The Zuchon makes excellent family companion, because they are absolutely affectionate, loving and playful dog. They should be friendly to everyone, even with strangers. The Zuchon is a good partner for kids as well, but of course, the kid should be old enough to know how to treat dogs gently and with proper early socialization, Zuchons can live in a household with other dogs, cats and other pets. 3) Coat Just like with all crossbreeds, even the appearance of Shichon is quite hard to predict. The Shichons coat can be pretty long and flowy, but also shorter and very curly. It depends, whether they inherit the coat from the Shih Tzu or Bichon. These dogs come in variety of colors and color combinations, commonly in white, gray, silver, cream, apricot, tan, black and chocolatte and in combinations of those colors. 4) Size What we can predict is the size of Zuchon, because both of its parent breeds are quite small dogs. The average height of Zuchon is typically between 9-12 inches, which is 22-31 cm and weight is usually between 7-15 pounds, which is 3-7 kg. There are no extreme size differences between males and females. 5) Dog for novices If you do not have much experiences with dogs, than the Zuchon might be a good choice for you, as your first dog. Because of their eager to please personality and friendly nature, even with only little bit of training, they will still behave quite okay. Of course, if you want to have an obedient dog, which should always be the case, patient, regular and consistent training is needed. The small size, which somes in hand with small strenght and adaptability makes this dog also very good for novices, because you can always manage the dog without any problems. 6) Hypoallergenic Well, there is no such thing as a completely 100% hypoallergenic dog, because they all produce some dander or salive, but the Shichon is very close to be one. If you suffer from allergies, when you are around dogs, than there is a big chance, that Zuchon will not trigger the allergies. These dogs are practically non shedding dogs, which is why, they are so good for allergy sufferers. 7) Designer dog breed The Shichon is sometimes reffered to as a designer dog breed. This term sounds fancy, but it is just another word for a crossbreed. The designer dog breed is a cross between two purebred dog breeds, in this case a Shih Tzu and Bichon Frise. The difference between crossbreed and mutt is, that mutt is a dog of uncertain origin, but designer dog breed was always developed from two different purebred breeds. 8) Exercise Even though these dogs are small and cuddly, they are still dogs and they need regular daily outdoor exercise and walks to stay healthy and happy. These are not hyperactive dogs and their exercise needs are not the biggest, but you still have to walk them few times a day, just like any other breed. This is also very playful breed, so you can try different games with the Zuchon. Regular fun training sessions are also great way how to exercise this dog physically but also mentally. If you will not exercise your dog or if you will not give them enough attention, they can develop some unwanted behaviour, such as excessive barking. 9) Lifespan In general, crossbreeds have long lifespan and small dogs also have very long lifespan, so it should not be surprising, that even the Zuchon have long lifespan. The typical lifespan is around 15 years, but it is not uncommon for this breed to live well into their late teens. If you will buy or adopt a Zuchon, he will be part of your daily life for a very long time! 10) Health Even though this is usually quite healthy dog breed with long life expectancy, they still do suffer from some health issues, just like all dogs do. The health concerns associated with this breed include patellar luxation, hypothyroidism, some respiratory problems, cataracts and hip dysplasia.
0 Comments
1) Origin
Laika dogs accompanied people in Russia for centuries and they were especially valued for their great hunting insctincts or sledding abilities. The West Siberian Laika we know today was most likely developed in from Mansijskaja Laika and Chantejskaja Laika, both very old and ancient breeds. The West Siberian Laika was officially recognized as a purebred dog after the second world war. 2) Other Laikas In the 19th century, Russian experts find out, that there are dozens of Laika breeds, each one associated with different ethnic group and different region of Siberia. After the second world war, four Laikas were established as purebred dogs. One of them is the West Siberian Laika, others are East Siberian Laika, Russian European Laika and Karelo Finnish Laika. There are also some other, not officially recognized Laika breeds, such as Yakutian Laika, Northeastern Hauling Laika, Amur Laika, Korel Laika and many others. BTW, the word laika can be literally translated to english as „barker“ 3) Hunter The West Siberian Laika always was and still is used for hunting and they are one of the most prevalent hunting breed in Russia. They are especially popular in West Siberia, but they can be found huntin all across the wooden areas of Russia from Karelia to Kamchatka and also in some neighboring countries such as Finland. When these dogs are hunting, they have high prey drive, well developed scent, sight and hearing, fast and endurant legs and they have great sense of orientation, so they can hunt on large distances from the hunter and they dont get lost. When they find the game, they start their loud barking to alert the hunter. This breed is a versatile hunter that can hunt all kinds of game, such as wild boar, waterflow, squirrel, badger or birds. Overall this is just amazing hunting breed. 4) Companion When the West Siberian Laika is not on the hunt, they actually make good loyal companion dogs. These dogs are also known to be quite affectionate towards its owner and family. They can also live without any problems with other dogs and they are typically okay with kids in the family as well. Of course, you should never leave any dog breed with a very young child unsupervised. On the other hand, West Siberian Laikas are known to be alert and suspicious towards strangers, but they should never be agressive without a reason. Just like with all dogs, the temperament is vastly influenced by early training and socialization. 5) Coat The Siberia is a place with very low temperatures and the temperatures can be as low as -40 degrees Celsius. So it should not be surprising, that the West Siberian Laika has a very very dense doublecoat with even longer and stiffer hair around the head, on the neck and shoulders. This dense coat protects the dog from the extremely cold weather. You can find this breed wolf gray, pale red and white color. 6) Size The West Siberian Laika is a very strong and athletic, medium to large sized breed with average height between 20-24 inch, which is 50-61 cm and weight is typically between 40-55 pounds, which is 18-25 kg. The females are typically little bit smaller than males. 7) Appearance The West Siberian Laika belong to the group of northern primitive breeds, which remains the similar appearance to their main ancestor – the wolf. Typically, these dogs have very thick fur, pointed muzzle, oval eyes in dark color and triangular erect ears that are set high on the head. The tail is typically carried high curving over the back. 8) Exercise This is very energetic, lively and endurant dog breed that needs daily longer outdoor walks, hikes or jogs and ideally off leash runs. But because they have high prey drive, you should only let them off leash in fenced or well known areas. Without enough exercise, the Laika will most likely develop another ways how to deal with their energy, but often times, it will be things you will not like, such as excessive barking, digging or destruction. The Laika is not a dog for everyone, they definitely need an active owner. 9) Maintenance Great fact is, that it is quite easy to groom the West Siberian Laika. Even without any grooming, they will keep the coat in good condition. As you can probably imagine, these dogs do shed quite a lot and if you want to minimize the shedding, remove the dead hair and dirt from the coat, regular, even daily brushing is recomended. You should never shave the dog, even in summer, it will not help the dog in any way. Just like with all dogs, you should regularly check their eyes, ears, nails and teeth and clip them or clean them if needed. 10) Health The West Siberian Laika is normally very healthy and hardy dog breed, with average lifespan around 14 years. There are no specific health issues associated with this breed, but they can ocassionally have some health problems, such as hip and elbow dysplasia, eye problems and epilepsy, but none of those is extremely common. The Sarail Hound is a legendary dog of Bangladesh, which is extremely rare these days. It is an unique sighthound with great hunting instincts. Just like all the sighthounds, their main skills when they are on the hunt are the extraordinary sight, big strength and very big speed. They are very precise, and it is said, that they can kill a rabbit in mid-air. They can also hunt larger animals without problems. The Sarail Hound is a very endurant and eneregtic dog with very high prey drive.
These dogs are not only great hunters, because they also create very loyal companions. They are not overly affectionate just like some other breeds, but they truly love their family and tend to be pretty protective over it. Sarail Hound is also pretty active and energetic dog, which will love to go on any outdoor adventure with you. They are also known to be tolerant and gentle towards kids, but of course, you should never leave any dog breed, with a very young child unsupervised. The Sarail Hound is typically pretty alert and suspicious towards strangers. Thanks to that, they are naturally good watchdogs and can be trained to be good property guards and protectors. These dogs tend to be quite territorial and it can take a while before a complete stranger will gain a trust of this dog. This is a dog breed for experienced dog owners who have enough time to train, socialize and exercise the dog breed. Because of their high energy, strenght and high prey drive, i would not recommend this dog for a novice. These dogs need experienced, patient and consistent trainer. The Sarail Hound was favourite dog breed of many important and high ranking people in Bangladesh and Bengal. One of those people was Bongobir General Osmani, who once said about this breed this: There are not many breeds matching the speed and strength of the Sarail Hound The body structure of Sarail Hound is compact, muscular and tough. Just like other sighthound, the Sarail Hound has relatively thin and long legs, which enables them to move very fast. On the first sight, this is very athletic, but also muscular dog breed. These dogs have deep chest, long tail, folded ears and pointed mouth and muzzle. The Sarail dogs are typicaly found in combination of two colors, commonly black and white, brindle and white or brown and white. The coat is short, but pretty dense. This is pretty big dog and their hight is normally between 23-28 inches, which is 58-72 cm and weight is typically between 20-35 kg, which is 44-77 pounds. Females are naturally little bit smaller than males. There is only very limited information about history and origin of this breed, but it is very likely that they are descendants of arabic sighthounds, like Saluki or Azawakh, that were brought to the area of todays Bangladesh by Middle Eastern traders. These arabic sighthounds would crossbred with local wild dogs, It is also very likely that other breeds played some role in the breeds development and those would include breeds like English Greyhound or Indian Rampur Greyhound. Great fact about this breed is, that it is very easy to groom. Actually, even without any grooming, their coat will stay in great condition. Just like with all dogs, you should regularly check their eyes, ears, teeth and nails and clip them or clean them if needed. Sadly, even though these dogs were quite popular back in the past, they are on the verge of extinction these days. It is believed that there is only few hundreads of real purebred Sarail Hounds. But there are some enthusiastic breeders, like brothers Rabidas, who are trying to save and revive the breed. Lets hope they will be succesfull and that the numbers of this legendary breed will grow once more. 1) Origin
The Carpathian Shepherd is a native Romanian breed and it has been helping Romanian farmers and shepherds for centuries. The ancestry or exact date of origin is rather unknown, since there is not many historical documentation about this breed. It is generally believed, that the Carpathian Shepherd was developed from endemic Romanian breeds in the Carpathian – Danubian area and that it was further developed by adapting to local environment. 2) Utilization For centuries and even today, the Carpathian Shepherd has one main utilization, which is protecting the livestock and property. Romanian mountains are home to some very strong and dangerous predators, such as wolves and bears and Carpathian Shepherds purpose is to keep the livestock safe from these predators. They have great predisposition for this utilization, because it is a very strong and fast dog with brave, courageous, devoted and alert dog breed. They have very strong, natural guarding instincts. 3) Companion When the Carpathian Shepherd is not working, they make excellent intelligent a extremely devoted companions. They are absolutely loyal to its owner. If the dog is properly socialized, they tend to be quite patient and friendly towards kids in the family, as well, as to other dogs and pets, but of course, this is vastly influenced by early socialization. The Carpathian Shepherd is typically very suspicious and alert towards strangers and it can take a while before a complete stranger will gain a trust of this dog. 4) Training I mentioned that this is intelligent breed, but that does not mean they are total pushovers to train, because they are also quite independent dogs, which is very important trait for being good livestock protectors. They are naturally good protectors, but when you are training them all the classic obedience commands, then you must be absolutely patient and consistent. Due to their protective instinct, independent nature and enormous strength, this is definitely not a dog for unexperienced or novice dog owners. These dogs need an owner who will properly train them from the puppyhood. 5) Size This is a large, heavily built and powerful dog breed with average height between 59-73 cm, which is 23-29 inch and weight is typically between 35-50 kgs, which is 77-110 pounds. Females tend to be slightly smaller than males. 6) Coat To be able to withstand colder temperatures and bad weather, the dog must have a thick and dense doublecoat. And indeed, the Carpathian Shepherd has a very thick and abundant coat, which is quite rough to touch. Their coloration is typically similar to wolves, which is pale fawn overlaid with wolf-grey of different tones. 7) Exercise These dogs will do best in a house with a big yard, where they can exercise naturally. The Carpathian Shepherd is not a hyperactive breed, but neither a coach potatoe. They definitely need daily outdoor exercise to stay healthy and happy. If they are working, if they have some job, than there is no need for additional exercise, but if they are kept just as companions, than several daily walks and some playtime or training sesssions are essential to keep them healthy and happy. Without enough exercise, they can develop some unwanted behaviour, such as destruction. 8) Recognition The Carpathian Shepherd is a very popular breed in their home country – Romania, but in the rest of the world this is quite rare breed. You can definitely find some of them in other countries, especially all over the Balkan, Eastern and Central Europe, but their numbers in these countries are not that high. Many of those dogs are also not purebred dogs, but Carpathian Shepherd mixes. The breed is officially recognized by the FCI and UKC, as well as some local kennel clubs. 9) Maintenance Great fact is, that the grooming needs of this breed are minimal. Even without any grooming, they will keep the coat in good condition. Of course, their dense doublecoat does shed, and if you want to minimize the shedding, regular brushing is needed. Just like with all dogs, you should regularly check their eyes, ears, nails and teeth and clip them or clean them if needed. 10) Health Large and giant dogs typically do not have long lifespan, but that is not true with Carpathian Shepherd. The average lifespan of this breed is 12-14 years, which is just amazing for a dog of this size. Just like all dogs, they can suffer from some health issues and those include hip and elbow dysplasia and other skeletal and joint problems, bloating, and entropion. Appearance
The Bosnian Coarse Haired Hound is a medium sized, rustic looking strong dog breed with average height between 18-22 inch, which is 46-56 cm and weight is typically between 35-60 pounds, which is 16-27 kgs. Females are naturally little bit smaller than males. The Barak Hound is known for its relatively long, shaggy and hard coat. These dogs also have soft and dense undercoat. The coat comes in different shades grey, yellow, blackish or reddish. They also have distinctive mustache and beard on the face. This breed has very muscular legs, deep chest, thick and slightly curved tail, visible eyebrows, oval eyes in dark brown color and ears, that are broad, pretty long and set high. Overall, these dogs have serious expression, but it is very friendly and playful breed. Temperament The Barak Hound is a hunter, to be more specific a scenthound and they are great at this purpose. According to the official FCI breed standard, they are resistant and persistant scenthounds with high sounding voice, which is sometimes pretty deep. When hunting, these dogs mainly use their nose and endurance as their main weapons. These dogs are excellent trackers, who are always absolutely dedicated for the hunt. Of course, these dogs are not only great hunters, they also make good companion dogs. They are generally pretty easygoing and bond closely to its family. They will want to be part of your daily activities and spend as much time with their owners as possible. Bosnian Coarse Haired Hounds typically do not have problems with other dogs in the family, but other smaller household pets might be problematic, because of their higher prey drive. But of course, this is vastly influenced by early training and socialization. Typically, Barak Hounds are also good playful partners for kids, but the kid should be old enough how to treat dogs gently. Even though, the Barak Hound is very intelligent breed, they are also pretty independent and some owners say stubborn, which makes the training little bit more challanging. They are also known to like barking. These dogs definitely need patient and consistent trainer, who will show them the boundaries and teach them all the necessary obedience commands. Another reason, why this is not a dog for everyone is their high energy level. These dogs definitely need daily proper exercise, several outdoor walks, hikes or jogs, vigorous or task oriented playtime or fun training sessions. You just must occupy their mind and body everyday, to keep them healthy and happy. These dogs are best suited for living in a house with a fenced yard. Without enough exercise, they can develop some unwanted behaviour, such as excessive barking. History The Bosnian Coarse Haired hounds history is not very well documented, but its believed that they were developed from some local indigenous scent hounds crossed with Italian gun dogs in the 19th century. Istrian Shorthaired Hound also maybe played a role, in the breeds development. The breed is pretty rare these days, especially outside Bosnia and Herzegovina. One of the reasons is civil war in 1990s, which reduced Barak Hounds numbers a lot, but luckily, the breed survived. First, the breed was officially recognized by the FCI in 1965 under the name Illyrian Hound, but their name was later changed to Bosnian Broken-Haired Hound - called Barak, which is better for describing their place of origin – Bosnia and Herzegovina. Health and Grooming There is not much information and scientific studies about the breeds health, but it should be pretty healthy and hardy dog breed with average lifespan between 12-15 years. Just like all dogs, they can suffer from some health issues, such as hip and elbow dysplasia, patellar luxation or allergies. Great fact is, that despite of their shaggy and relatively long coat, this is pretty easy to maintain dog breed. They do not shed much and ocassional brushing is enough to keep the coat in good condition. They normally keep themselves relatively clean, so bathing is not needed very often. Just like with all dogs, you should regularly check their eyes, ears, teeth and nails and clip them or clean them if needed. |