Slovak Cuvac vs Lhasapoo - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

Such a cute, cuddly teddy bear of a dog is popular with everyone who just wants a wonderful canine companion.

Both the Lhasa Apso and the Poodle are ancient dog breeds and they are the two breeds that have been used to bring about the Lhasapoo. The Poo has been bred to essentially be an indoor dog.

It would appear as though the Lhasapoo was developed in the United States of America, as in 1933, a pair was given to an American traveler who developed a kennel.

Looking quite a bit like the Pyrenean Mountain Dog, the Slovak Cuvac is a large dog that has served as a guard dog. The Slovensky Cuvac is still used on sheep farms as he isn’t afraid of wolves and bears and will take them on if needs be.

Records of this dog have been kept since the 17th century already, and when the breed started dying out, a certain Dr Antonin Hruza put in efforts to revive the dog.

The registered breeding of the Slovensky Cuvac was established in Czechoslovakia and a club for the dog was established in 1933. A written standard was established in 1964. The dog is not recognized by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale.

The Lhasapoo is a mix of Poodle and Lhasa Apso. He is a small dog standing between 25–28 cm in height and weighing 4 – 6kg.

Known as a designer breed, his small size allows him to adapt to life in the city or to the countryside. He is such a cute little dog with his alert face, his bright brown eyes, short legs and floppy ears.

His coat is thick and dense and can be curly or fairly straight. It comes in a number of solid colors – apricot, tan, cream, brown, white and black or he can be bi-color – any of these colors mixed with white. In fact, as a crossbreed he can inherit the looks of either dogs – the Poodle or Lhasa Poo. Because he has poodle in him, these dogs are sometimes spoken about as being hypoallergenic.

Temperament:

Small and gentle in nature, the Lhasapoo makes a splendid pet and companion for everyone. He is such an amicable small dog, getting on well with both children and other pets in the home.

You can’t really tell what kind of a dog he’ll turn out to be in terms of his character, because he can be quite aloof if the Lhasa side of him is stronger or he could be playful and friendly if the Poodle side of him is stronger.

This is a large dog standing at between 59 and 70cm in height and weighing between 31 and 44kg.

The neck is broad and has quite a bit of fur around it. The head is large, the eyes dark brown, the double coat is white and thick and medium length. The eyes are brown, the ears medium length and floppy and the tail long and furry.

He has well-muscled limbs and is fairly agile for such a large dog.

Temperament:

This is a robust dog, used to spending time outdoors keeping watch over livestock. When he is invited into the home, he is gentle and well behaved, more so when he has been trained and socialized.

He is loving and loyal towards his human family and will get on well with children in the home. He isn’t the brightest dog but you can still have him trained.

The Lhasapoo is a crossbreed, so you never know what you’re actually going to get – a little bit of Lhasa or a little bit of Poodle.

One thing is for sure though – you’re going to get the cutest little pet ever. He is a friendly, affectionate dog, but the Lhasa side of him makes him wary of strangers, making him an excellent watchdog.

They have a moderate activity levels and will adapt easily to life in the city or in the countryside, but they will need a walk every day to ensure he doesn’t become unfit and obese.

Lhasapoo puppies are adorable but every cute puppy grows into an adult. Then it’s time to show you’re a responsible dog owner by continuing to love and care for your adult Lhasapoo so that he becomes the wonderful companion he is designed to be.

Your playful Slovak Cuvac is an affectionate dog, wanting nothing more than to be totally involved in his family’s life.

He is social and loving and also makes an excellent watchdog. He’s a big dog so think carefully before you bring him into your home. Many dog owners like the look of a big dog and forget that it costs a lot of money to feed a big dog and to pay for vet fees.

This big dog is wanting to be part of your family and not just to be discarded when you find that he is costing you too much.

All dogs have the potential to become ill but when you give your dog the best chance to eat well and he is loved and cherished, he can live a long life.

The Lhasapoo can live to be 15 years of age if you treat him well and ensure that he has a healthy diet. Of course as a crossbreed, his chances of developing inherited diseases is limited.

Bloat or Gastric Torsion:

Watch out for Bloat, particularly if your pet gobbles up a large bowl of food. It is better to feed him 2 smaller meals a day. There are some time-releasing food bowls available for pets to encourage slower eating.

With Bloat, you’ll notice your pet’s stomach is swollen up. Complications set in when the stomach turns or twists as fluid and air can’t escape. Your dog will also be restless, drooling and trying to vomit. Bloat is a life-threatening illness.

Kidney Disease:

This can be a complication from disease or medications even. It is important to keep your pet’s teeth healthy as chronic kidney disease can be caused by dental disease too. Bacteria from the diseased teeth and gums enters bloodstream and damages vital organs like the kidneys.

This is a healthy dog breed, but as with many large dogs, hip dysplasia is a threat. Hip dysplasia is always reason for concern as the condition can reduce a dog’s quality of life.

It is distressing seeing your once active pet becoming reluctant to play and move around.

Canine hip dysplasia is a common skeletal condition. It can strike any size dog but is more prevalent with large dogs. The ball and socket of the hip doesn’t fit properly and deterioration sets in resulting in loss of function of the joint.

You will need to get your dog to the vet who will perform a physical exam and discuss treatments to alleviate the pain your dog can experience.

Exercise:

The Lhasapoo is a dog breed that likes to spend time indoors. Because of his looks, his human family members will no doubt be vying for his attention and playing indoor games with him. It will do him good to get out for a walk every day as this gives him the chance to sniff around and smell different things and experience life outside his home.

Diet:

The Lhasapoo isn’t a big eater and he will require top quality food for small breeds. He isn’t a big meat eater so a tiny bit of cooked chicken, rice and vegetables chopped up nicely and added to his kibble from time to time will keep him healthy and happy.

Grooming:

Being the crossbreed that he is, you can’t be too sure about the type of coat your Lhasapoo will have. It can be curly, wavy or straight. Most inherit curls.

A Lhasapoo coat looks wonderful when it has been professionally groomed, and then in between grooming, his coat will need to be brushed to prevent tangling. While you’re brushing him, check his eyes too. Sometimes he can develop tear stains beneath the eyes and you can wipe gently around his eyes.

Other grooming for your cute little dog includes having his nails clipped as well as checking inside the ears for infection. Excess wax and dirt can result in an ear infection. You’ll notice your pet shaking his head, the insides of his ears might be red and he wants to scratch his ears. Get him to the vet who will show you how to keep his ears clean and dry.

Also, brush his teeth with special canine toothbrush and toothpaste. Dental disease won’t only damage his teeth, it can cause problems with other parts of the body too.

◆The thick white hair will require regular grooming to keep it free from burrs and dirt. He sheds so this brushing will help him to look more groomed.

◆The nails should be trimmed regularly and the ears too should be checked for redness and infection. You’ll need to look inside his mouth too as a rotting tooth can cause havoc within his body. A rotten tooth can also cause him tremendous pain and he has no way of telling you this.

◆Have your pet spayed or neutered if you don’t want any puppies. This is better for your dog’s health in the long run too.

◆Your Slovak Cuvac is going to need a lot of exercise as they have always been used to roaming the mountains watching over livestock.

◆This is a big dog so if you buy commercially manufactured food, make sure its for large, energetic dogs. There are good commercially manufactured dog foods on the market – just make sure you buy the best one for your pet to enhance health and longevity.

Try and give him some home made food too. Healthy food which won’t jeopardise his digestion is boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots. These can all be chopped up and small portions mixed into the dry kibble twice a week as a treat.

Try and include some raw meat occasionally. Your dog will thank you for not giving him exotic people foods which can do lots of harm. Ensure there is always a bowl of fresh, cool water within his reach.