The Kyi-Leo (pronounced "ki" as in "kite") is a small yet sturdy rare dog breed. It was first introduced in the 1950s in the San Francisco Bay area by the accidental crossing of a Maltese and a Lhasa Apso. This produced an attractive yet distinct type of dog that quickly caught the attention of a few individuals. The most notable of these individuals was Mrs. Harriet Linn who acquired several of these dogs in 1965 and later acquired several more from the San Jose kennel in 1969; from then on she began to seriously breed them. In 1972 there was enough interest among owners and breeders to come together and formally recognize this breed. It was at this meeting that they formally decided on calling it a Kyi-Leo. The name comes from the Tibetan and Latin languages. "Kyi" is the Tibetan word for dog; this acknowledges the Lhasa Apso breed which first came from Tibet. "Leo" is the Latin word for Lion; this acknowledges the Maltese which is also known as the "Maltese Lion dog". Since then the Kyi-Leo breed has slowly spread throughout the United States, especially on the western seaboard, and has recently become accepted by the American Rare Breed Association as a legitimate breed. 

Appearance and Size

As a newborn, the Kyi-Leo fits within the palm of a human hand. Fully grown, it reaches 8-12 inches in height and 9-14 lb in weight. The Kyi-Leo has a long silky coat, most commonly black and white but sometimes gold and white, which tends to grow to long yet attractive lengths (never quite reaching past the floor) if tended properly. Its hair also grows on its short-snout face and short tail, which will curl up over its back when excited. It has small yet delicate legs that are prone to damage if dropped; but the Kyi-Leo can be very agile and quick, able to stand on its hind feet and make fast and passionate sprints. It is also naturally capable of swimming short distances, though it is not particularly fond of water. The Kyi-Leo does not have much jumping spring in its legs, and tends to only clear two to three feet high jumps. Like most dogs, it has a strong sense of smell and an acute sense of hearing. The Kyi-Leo also has notable similarities, in body size, shape, and hair, to the Shih Tzu dog breed. 

Wikipedia and GNU

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