The Chacy Ranior, originally called Shichon, is a cute small sized dog breed developed in the late 1990s. It is also called Miniature Littlefield Sheepdog or Teddy Bear, due to its soft coat and cute looks. Dawn Littlefield, its creator, intended to obtain a therapy dog, by crossing eight breeds: the Maltese, Bichon Frise, Shih-Tzu, Yorkshire Terrier, Havanese, Poodle, Lhasa Apso and Miniature Schnauzer.
The main goal that Dawn Littlefield had in mind was to develop a breed that would help children with special needs, mostly suffering from autism. The result was a small sized dog breed with a gentle temperament and a soft, dense coat, which comes in a wide variety of colors that beautifully mix together: tan, liver, black, white and even apricot.
These dogs are athletic and very agile, having a well proportioned body: a wide chest, broad shoulders and a head held high.
There are no major differences between males and females regarding height and weight. Their common height should be 9-12 inches (23-31 cm.) and their weight - 15-20 pounds (7-9 kg.).
They usually do not develop specific health problems, except umbilical hernia, which should not present great concern.
Due to their native intelligence, they are easy to train; heavy handed training methods must not be applied under any circumstances. Positive reinforcements are a better motivation for them to be obedient and perform tricks.
The owner must be a consistent authority in order to avoid the Small Dog Syndrome or unwanted behaviors, like barking at strangers or things they find unusual. The owner has to impose himself as the pack leader and learn when to stop from spoiling the pet.
These dogs can live in an apartment too, but living with other animals or under constant supervision is recommended, as they may become destructive if left alone for long periods of time. Exercises should comprise daily walks, because they love to walk, being very curios and active dogs. Otherwise they may develop behavior problems.
They need regular grooming, especially if they have longer hair that gets matted very easy. A puppy cut is recommended for an easier maintenance. They also need regular eye and ear cleaning, to prevent infections.
Another good thing to keep in mind about this breed is that is suitable for people suffering from allergies, given the fact that Raniors usually do not shed - or shed very little.
They are very intuitive dogs, knowing when to settle down from playing and just cuddling in the arms of their owner.
They get along very well with children and love human companionship. They are very devoted to their owners. If you want to adopt a Chachy Ranior, you should take into account that this dog craves for attention and entertainment, so be ready to spend a lot of time together or get an extra dog or cat to keep it company.
The Chacy Ranior dogs make wonderful pets not only for children with special needs - they can be the perfect companions for families that can provide them with lots of care and attention.
