La-Chon Hybrid Dogs

 A La-Chon is not a purebred dog but rather is one of the new designer or hybrid breeds. It is a cross between a Lhaso Apso and a Bichon Frise. They are a smaller sized dog that is sturdy and athletic without being delicate or fragile in either appearance or temperament. The La-Chon can be a variety of colors from solid whites through to parti-colors, typically of fawns, browns and blacks with white.

The coat of the La-Chon is moderately long and relatively tousled in appearance, slightly wavy to very straight. Often the hindquarters, front legs, tail, chest and ruff are well fringed and the hair is longer in these areas. The tail is carried in a tight or more relaxed curl over the back. This canine hybrid has a well proportioned and sturdy looking body, moderately short legs and a body that is longer than it is tall. They range in weight from 8 to 15 pounds and typically measure about 10-12 inches at the shoulder.

The head of the La-Chon is rounded in shape and softened by the longer hair on the face. Some have a longer beard and noticeable eyebrows while in others these features are less prominent. The eyes are dark and round, not protruding but very noticeable. There is a definite stop to the muzzle that is moderately long and ends in a dark nose. The ears are turned over and reach approximately half way down the cheeks, framing the upper part of the head.

Both the Lhasa Apso and the Bichon Frise can have very different temperaments so ensuring that both parent dogs have the best possible temperament is important. When properly trained and socialized the La-Chon hybrid dog is an excellent companion pet and gets along with children, other pets and other people. If unsocialized and not properly trained they can be aggressive, prone to chasing and snapping and may become problem barkers. This is not unusual for any type of dog and is really a reflection on the lack of training, not on the dog types themselves.

The well trained La-Chon is a curious and playful pet that will be a good watch dog and barks to alert the owners of strangers in the area. They are highly intelligent dogs that love to please and will quickly catch on to new tricks and commands. Most respond very well to both praise and small food treats in training. Puppy obedience classes are recommended as are ongoing training opportunities. Some may have a tendency to be somewhat independent and stubborn in training but again this can be corrected with consistent, positive training and routines.

The coat of the La-Chon needs grooming every two to three days with a pin brush or bristle brush. They should be bathed only when necessary to prevent drying the coat and skin. The ears need to be plucked of all long hairs inside the outer ear to prevent infections from developing. After bathing the ears need to be completely dried and it is a good idea to check routinely for any odors or waxy build up that may indicate ear problems developing.

The La-Chon is a moderately to high activity level dog that needs a good, brisk walk at least once a day to stay happy. They enjoy being outdoors but do need to be in a fenced yard as they will chase and roam.

• ACHC
• DRA
• ICA
• UABR
• APRI
• CKC

by Julie-Ann Amos, professional writer, and owner of international writing agency www.ExquisiteWriting.com

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