Kyi Leo

Characteristics

Health & Longevity

Average Life Span: 12-15 years
The Kyi Leo is a hybrid breed of the Maltese and the Lhasa Apso. It is important to understand what potential health problems may arise in hybrid breeds by looking at the health of the parent breeds. As you look for a Kyi Leo puppy, you need to make sure that you work with a reputable breeder to weed out any health problems that may come from the parents during breeding. The Kyi Leo is considered a healthy and hearty small breed dog, but there are some health concerns that you need to be aware of and keep an eye on. This breed can suffer from obesity, patellar luxation, and joint problems.

Obesity is common in small dogs, especially those who do not get a lot of exercise and your Kyi Leo is no stranger to becoming overweight. While you may think a chubby puppy is cute, it is not healthy for your pup to be obese. In fact, obesity can lead to heart problems and can cause the other organs in your pup’s body to malfunction. If you believe that your pup is obese, talk to your veterinarian right away. It is possible that your dog may have a thyroid condition that is contributing to his obesity as well.

Patellar luxation can occur in your Kyi Leo which is a condition best characterized by knee dislocation. It is painful and your pup will likely have lameness in the affected leg. Most owners are alerted to a problem when their pup holds his or her leg up off the ground. A knee dislocation can be caused for a variety of different reasons, but may be due to the accidental twisting or a misstep on your pup’s leg.

Lastly, your Kyi Leo may have joint problems as they enter into their senior years. Joint problems can include arthritis, hip dysplasia, or elbow dysplasia. It is important to monitor your pup to make sure that he or she is not in too much pain and assist him or her with daily life if necessary. Joint problems can be mild or they can be quite painful.

The Kyi Leo’s life expectancy is 12 to 15 years.

Temperament & Train-ability

The Kyi Leo is considered to be a quiet, even tempered, calm, and loving pup. You will find that your puppy does not aggravate easily, which makes him or her a great choice as a family pet. The Kyi Leo does well with kids and other pets in the home, but should be raised with them from a young age.

You will find that this breed makes a good watch dog and will bark to alert you of any strangers or potential danger. Your pup is likely to be cautious of strangers and will not accept them in the home. If you want to introduce someone new in the home, you should introduce them properly with the pup first.

This breed is known to be energetic and quick on their feet, so they definitely like to play. While you do not have to provide too much stimulation for them, you should have a couple of tennis balls and toys around the house so they can expel built up energy.

You will need to walk your Kyi Leo once a day for at least 30 minutes. You will also find that this breed is easy to train and they will listen to your commands and work hard to please you. While they normally listen and perform, you may run into a stubborn streak now and again, but do not let this deter you or frustrate you.

When you train your pup, make sure that you assert yourself as the dominant one and you use positive reinforcement to reward your Kyi Leo.

Grooming

Your Kyi Leo does not require a lot of attention to grooming, but there are a few things that need to be done. You will find that this breed does shed, but not more or less than the average breed.

You should brush your pup’s coat once per day or two to three times per week at a minimum. Brushing will help keep your puppy’s coat smooth, silky, and free from any tangles or mats.

Bathing can be done on an as-needed basis and when you do bathe your pup, make sure to use a mild shampoo to avoid stripping any essential oils from your Kyi Leo’s skin. You should clean out his or her ears once per week using an ear cleansing solution and a cotton ball.

Lastly, you need to trim your pup’s nails to prevent them from growing out too long, as this can be quite painful for your puppy.

Diet

You can expect your Kyi Leo to eat 1/2 cup to 1 cup of dry food per day. You want to find a quality dry food that does not contain a lot of chemicals or fatty substances.

This breed is prone to obesity, so you should steer clear of wet food, although you can give it to your pup as a treat now and again.
 

Find A Kyi Leo Breeder

Kyi Leo Puppies For Sale

Adopt A Kyi Leo

Cost

A Kyi Leo puppy will cost anywhere between $300 and $800, but you may be a bit hard-pressed to find them. You are unlikely to find a Kyi Leo in a shelter. In addition to the cost of the puppy, make sure you factor in ongoing care costs as well.

Paws ‘N’ Pups Ranking

Paws ‘N’ Pups ranks every breed out of 4 with 1 being easiest to integrate into your life and 4 being the toughest – The lower the ranking the better.

Ranking takes into account a few basic factors including cost, skill level needed, high vs low maintenance and how critical regular training is to success. The Kyi Leo is an energetic and playful little pup that likes to receive cuddles, but more importantly wants to play and provide you with a good time. You will find that this breed is easy to care for and training comes easy. While you may run into a bit of a stubborn attitude now and then from your Kyi Leo, this breed is sure to keep you happy. This breed ranks a 1.5.

 

Lhasa Apso

Maltese

Shichon

Bichon Frise