Cyprus Poodle vs Bisben - Breed Comparison | MyDogBreeds

Cyprus Poodle is originated from Cyprus but Bisben is originated from India. Cyprus Poodle may grow 46 cm / 18 inches shorter than Bisben. Cyprus Poodle may weigh 49 kg / 108 pounds lesser than Bisben. Both Cyprus Poodle and Bisben has same life span. Cyprus Poodle may have less litter size than Bisben. Cyprus Poodle requires Moderate maintenance. But Bisben requires Low maintenance

History

cyprus poodle - historyUnfortunately the Island of Cyprus may well be beautiful and have a wonderful climate, but when you take a deeper look, the island has a serious problem with feral cats and stray dogs.

The many sanctuaries battle to keep up with the volume of neglected and abandoned animals on the island. One of the dogs found on the Island of Cyprus is the Cyprus Poodle. Some people say that the Cyprus Poodle is a cross between a poodle and a terrier.

Today this small dog is sought after in other countries for his loving personality and attractive looks.

There is a lot of mystery surrounding this large herding dog said to come out of the Himalaya Mountains of Asia. The belief is that sheepdogs were crossed with wolves toward the end of the 18th century, but his origin is basically unknown. They are both herding dogs and guard dogs. Others theorize that rather than a wolf, the breed arose from the Mastif family. Still others claim that the Bisben is not a breed at all but rather a “landrace”. A landrace is an animal group that is only found to exist in the local area or is bred locally for a specific reason, while a breed is developed intentionally and from a select purebred with pedigree. The Bisben may be a landrace since it is very popular in India but hardly known anywhere else. What is known is that the Brisben was in existence at the end of the 1700’s and its job was to protect and herd livestock. There are three main theories about the origin of the Bisben. They are, in no particular order:

1. The Bisben was developed by mixing several different Himalayan and Indian Sheepdogs with wolves. The wolf population in the Himalayas and in India live in very close proximity to dogs and people and this population is quite large. These Tibetan and Indian wolves are known to be smaller, more comfortable with people and less aggressive than wolves from other parts of the world.

2. The Bisben was developed by mixing local sheep herding dogs with the Tibetan Mastiff. This gave the breed its protective nature and its large size according to this theory.

3. The Bisben was developed by mixing local dogs with the ones the British, Portuguese and French imported to the India subcontinent.

There is a fourth theory as well and it combines all three of these, supposing that the Bisben is a product of crossing local dogs with wolves, Tibetan Mastiffs and European dogs.

Regardless of their origins, the Bisben grew into one of the most respected animals in the Southern Himalayas. Their assistance to the shepherds of the area was unquestioned and irreplaceable. They were touch enough to herd flocks of goats or sheep across several treacherous and unstable mountain passes. The environment in which these dogs worked when herding is one of the harshest environments on the face of the earth. Temperatures were dangerously cold, altitudes dangerously high and the terrain just plain dangerous. Many deadly large predators live there as well. This included tigers, Asiatic black bears, golden eagles, Himalayan brown bears, snow leopards, fox, dholes, wolves, and small cats. The Bisben had to be able to fight off all of these predators. In addition to these herding and protecting duties, the Bisben was also known throughout the region as an excellent hunting dog. They are capable to this day of hunting large prey such as antelope or deer. They are equally comfortable hunting alone or in a pack. He has grown into one of the most popular hunting dogs in all of India.

The Himalayas, being so rugged and treacherous, were inaccessible to most of India for many centuries and the Brisben was unknown as well. Through the British imperialist expansion across all of the Indian subcontinent, the lowlands people were connected to the highlands and mountain people for the first time. This also meant that the Brisben was no longer unknown. The entire country began to appreciate the dog for its protection and herding of livestock, as well as a companion animal who would protect its owner and family as well. As India continues to grow the popularity of the Brisben grows as well and its numbers increase regularly. The breed, if it is a breed, remains an Indian secret. They have migrated to the countries around India, but their number are small. It is only in India that they are revered and prosper. They are not present in any great numbers in Europe, North America, Japan, or most of Asia.

Whether or not the Bisben becomes a recognized breed depends upon those who own and fancy them. Most Bisbens are bred to only other Bisbens in an effort to purify the breed. However, few dogs have pedigrees and the practice of breeding the Brisben to other breeds and mixed breed to acquire specific characteristics continues to this day. It is unlikely that the Bisben will ever be a purebred dog. It is quite variable in how it looks depending upon what the breeding line of the individual dog actually is. Does it look like a wolf? Does it look like a larger version of a local or European dog? There will always be these questions around the Bisben. Is it a breed or a landrace?

Basic Information

Group:
Toy dog
Working dog
Origin:
Cyprus
India
Height Male:
20 - 30 cm
7 - 12 inches
50 - 76 cm
19 - 30 inches
Height Female:
20 - 30 cm
7 - 12 inches
48 - 74 cm
18 - 30 inches
Weight Male:
3 - 6 kg
6 - 14 pounds
18 - 55 kg
39 - 122 pounds
Weight Female:
3 - 6 kg
6 - 14 pounds
16 - 52 kg
35 - 115 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 15 Years
12 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
1 - 6
4 - 10
Size:
Small dog
Giant dog
Other Names:
None
Bisben Sheepdog, Bisben Shepherd, Himalayan Bisben, Himalayan Bisben Sheepdog, Himalayan Bisben Shepherd, Himalayan Sheepdog, Himalayan Shepherd, Indian Sheepdog, and Indian Shepherd
Colors Available:
ivory with orangey tips, White
jet black, either solidly or with white markings on the feet and chest. Other commonly seen colors are tan, tricolor, and “wolf-color,” which probably means grey, brown, black, and/or various shades of sable.
Coat:
Dense and curly
long, wiry, coarse, harsh
Shedding:
Minimal
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Sweet
Aggressive, Courageous, Energetic, Independent, Intelligent, Stubborn
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
Low maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
No
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
No

Description

cyprus poodle puppy - descriptionThe Cyprus Poodle is such an attractive little dog with his jaunty personality and his dense, curly hair.

He stands in the region of 20 to 30cm and can weigh roughly 3 to 6kg. His hair is essentially cream or white with orangey tips and some people claim he is a cross between a poodle and a terrier.

He is a small dog. His curly coat is woolly and can be in a number of different colors such as white, ivory or apricot or even other colors.

The curly haired Cyprus Poodle isn’t a huge shedder but regular clipping keeps him looking nice and makes sure the coat doesn’t matt.

He has floppy ears, a long tail and brown eyes. He loves to go for a swim and then to dart around the place so he may require a bath every now and again to keep his beautiful coat clean and free of matting.

Temperament:

The Cyprus Poodle is an even tempered dog and he makes the perfect family pet, forming close bonds with his human family members.

He is playful, social and friendly and gets on well with children in the home as well as any other pets. He may be a small, friendly dog, but he will need training and socialization if you want him to be obedient and relaxed around other people.

As mentioned in the previous section the appearance of the Brisban can vary greatly from one dog to another based on the individual dogs’ ancestry. Breed or landrace, the Brisban breeding line is not very pure. Therefore, appearance can vary greatly from what is described here and there is no standard by which to measure the Brisban. Most are distinctly large animals, being as tall as the European mountain dogs – the Newfoundland or the Bernese Mountain Dog, Swiss Mountain Dog. St. Bernard and Great Pyrenees. Reports are that it is perhaps the largest dog in India. At least it is one of the largest dogs in India. The Bisben is said by some to be a large, bulky, husky dog while others claim it to be tall and athletic, leaner than the Mastiff bred. Again, there is disagreement on the size and shape of the Bisben’s head with some claiming it is massively square like a Mastiff while others say the head is long and like that of a wolf not a Mastiff. The long hair of the Bisben and its confusing heritage may be the cause. They are most often black but might also be found to be tricolor, tan and “wolf-color” or brown, grey, shades of sable and black. No matter how it looks, this is a dog that was designed to work in the harshest conditions known and their physical appearance should make that abundantly clear.

Characteristics

cyprus poodle dog - characteristicsYour Cyprus Poodle is just dying to be a member of a human family because he has a lot of love and friendliness to give.

He wants lots of love and attention in return though. He doesn’t like to be put out in the garden and forgotten about. Make sure that he is a fully involved family member.

He is such a friendly, loving, social little dog and in exchange for your love and care, he is guaranteed to make you a most wonderful and loyal friend.

The Bisben was so important to the people of the Indian subcontinent because of her temperament. He is a loyal, productive and courageous worker who took care of her flocks, her family and her pack. They are devoted to their family and if raised with children will care for them as well. He is suspicious of strangers. They are territorial and great watchdogs. They can take on any large challenger if need be to protect what they consider to be theirs. They can be highly dog aggressive and must be socialized as a puppy. Do not mix them with strange, unknown animals as the Bisben might attempt to kill them. If he sees them as his “pack” he will love and protect them, but not if he does not know them. Take as much time as you need to introduce him to a new animal and do not leave them unsupervised. They are not easy to train as they are stubborn, intelligent, want to be dominant and is a problem solver. If he doesn’t want to learn something forget it – he won’t. You can still train them. It just takes time and patience.

Health Problems

cyprus poodle puppies - health problemsBecause the Cyprus Poodle is a cross-breed, he is a robust, long-life dog and not likely to get ill very easily.

Your Cyprus Poodle can have between 1 to 6 puppies but there are tremendous health benefits waiting for your pet when you ensure that he is rather neutered or spayed in the case of a female. Make sure too that he has all his vaccinations up to date. Make sure he has an excellent diet, a warm, dry place to sleep, he is exercised and that he gets regular check-ups from the vet.

There are some common dog illnesses that you want to look out for. When he is a puppy make sure that he gets the necessary vaccination against life threatening illnesses such as parvovirus, distemper and rabies.

There are some diseases that do affect poodles a little more than with other breeds, and one of these is Cushing’s Disease.

Cushing's Disease:

This is an illness that comes about when the body of your dogs makes too much cortisol. It is difficult for you to see symptoms of this disease in your pet, but if he is displaying unusual behavior, then you want to get him to the vet who can decide on treatment for him.

Because he is not a purebred and is probably a land range, there have not been a lot of health studies done and written up on the Brisban. It is believed that the Bisben is for all practical purposes a healthy working dog. As long as the breeding practices are not compromised it should remain a healthy line. It is bred for temperament and work not for appearance and showmanship. Some problems that plague large dogs have been noted in the Bisben. These conditions include hip and elbow dysplasia; optical issues such as Entropion, Ectropion and cataracts; ear infections; and Demadex and Demodectic mange. Most of these conditions can be tested for either in DNA or early in a pup’s life and should be tested for by the breeder before a puppy is sold

Caring The Pet

Diet:

cyprus poodle dogs - caringA cyprus poodle makes such a good pet and you will want to ensure that you feed your one an excellent diet so that he remains healthy and content.

Some people are overwhelmed at the sheer variety of commercially manufactured dog foods today, but the choice can be made a lot simpler by sticking to the better quality ones where protein is at the top of the ingredients list.

Home made food such as cooked brown rice, vegetables and cooked chicken will be excellent for your Cyprus Poodle as well as including some raw meat in the diet. Make sure he always has access to cool, clean water as this water is essential to his health, making it possible for all his bodily functions.

Grooming:

Brush his hair regularly and brush his teeth 2 or 3 times a week. Make sure to use toothpaste and toothbrush specially designed for dogs.

Exercise:

Your poodle will happily slot into life with you in the city or the country, but even if you have a garden, you can’t expect your dog to always find his own entertainment. Take your poodle for walks and play games with him so that he remains healthy and content.

The Bisben is a large working dog that needs a lot of calories if you are keeping him busy. Do not let him get overweight. The Bisben should not be free fed but rather given two controlled portion meals per day.

Health issues

As previously mentioned, the Bison was developed with the harshest of conditions in mind and long hours of hard work. It is a healthy breed that is however prone to any of the issues that any large dog is prone to including dysplasia and mange and well as optical issues.

Exercise and games

The Bisben needs a lot of exercise as the breed is developed for hard work. Walks are essential but if you have more than one dog, pack walks are even better and pack time at the dog park or in a fenced yard is great. The Bison was bred to hunt in packs as well as alone and they love to play in packs. In any respect they need at least an hour of strong exercise daily. If they don’t get enough exercise, they can become aggressive, destructive and fearful. This could result in destructive activity, barking and excess excitability. They are not very happy in the city and thrive in the countryside.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Newfoundland Dog vs Bisben - Breed Comparison
  2. Leonberger vs Bisben - Breed Comparison
  3. Pyrenean Mastiff vs Bisben - Breed Comparison
  4. Bisben vs Bernese Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  5. Bisben vs Anatolian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  6. Bisben vs Alaunt - Breed Comparison
  7. Bisben vs Alangu Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  8. Moscow Watchdog vs Bisben - Breed Comparison
  9. Spanish Mastiff vs Bisben - Breed Comparison
  10. St. Bernard vs Bisben - Breed Comparison
  11. Kars Dog vs Bisben - Breed Comparison
  12. Moscow Water Dog vs Bisben - Breed Comparison
  13. Ciobanesc de Bucovina vs Bisben - Breed Comparison
  14. Great Dane vs Bisben - Breed Comparison
  15. English Mastiff vs Bisben - Breed Comparison
  16. Neapolitan Mastiff vs Bisben - Breed Comparison
  17. Bully Kutta vs Bisben - Breed Comparison
  18. Irish Wolfhound vs Bisben - Breed Comparison
  19. Francais Blanc et Orange vs Bisben - Breed Comparison
  20. Mountain Burmese vs Bisben - Breed Comparison
  21. Gaddi Kutta vs Bisben - Breed Comparison
  22. Pomeranian vs Cyprus Poodle - Breed Comparison
  23. Maltese vs Cyprus Poodle - Breed Comparison
  24. Pug vs Cyprus Poodle - Breed Comparison
  25. Maltipoo vs Cyprus Poodle - Breed Comparison
  26. Papillon vs Cyprus Poodle - Breed Comparison
  27. Japanese Chin vs Cyprus Poodle - Breed Comparison
  28. Miniature English Bulldog vs Cyprus Poodle - Breed Comparison
  29. Italian Greyhound vs Cyprus Poodle - Breed Comparison
  30. Jug vs Cyprus Poodle - Breed Comparison
  31. Miniature Pinscher vs Cyprus Poodle - Breed Comparison
  32. Dorgi vs Cyprus Poodle - Breed Comparison
  33. Dorkie vs Cyprus Poodle - Breed Comparison
  34. German Spitz (Klein) vs Cyprus Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Doxiepoo vs Cyprus Poodle - Breed Comparison
  36. Damchi vs Cyprus Poodle - Breed Comparison
  37. Lowchen vs Cyprus Poodle - Breed Comparison
  38. Cyprus Poodle vs Cavalier King Charles Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  39. Cyprus Poodle vs Cockapoo - Breed Comparison
  40. Cyprus Poodle vs Cavapoo - Breed Comparison
  41. Cyprus Poodle vs Cavachon - Breed Comparison
  42. Cyprus Poodle vs Bolognese - Breed Comparison
  43. Cyprus Poodle vs Australian Silky Terrier - Breed Comparison
  44. Cyprus Poodle vs Belgian Griffon - Breed Comparison
  45. Cyprus Poodle vs Carlin Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  46. Cyprus Poodle vs Bospin - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds