PetzloverHawaiian Poi Dog is originated from Indonesia but Tsvetnaya Bolonka is originated from Russia. Hawaiian Poi Dog may grow 11 cm / 5 inches higher than Tsvetnaya Bolonka. Hawaiian Poi Dog may weigh 11 kg / 25 pounds more than Tsvetnaya Bolonka. Hawaiian Poi Dog may live 8 years less than Tsvetnaya Bolonka. Both Hawaiian Poi Dog and Tsvetnaya Bolonka has almost same litter size. Hawaiian Poi Dog requires Low Maintenance. But Tsvetnaya Bolonka requires Moderate Maintenance
The Hawaiian Poi Dog was a descendent of the dogs brought to the Islands by the Polynesian. These Polynesian dogs were themselves descendants of the kuri dog of New Zealand. These kuri dogs were originally from Indonesia. The Hawaiian Poi dog is now extinct but at one time was considered the spiritual protector of Hawaiian children and also used as food by hungry Native Hawaiians.
The dog was called poi which was the word for a food staple mad from the root of Taro and used to put weight on the dogs before they were eaten. Meat was not fed to the dogs because it was too scarce. There was no large mammals to hunt and so the breed was never given a standard. The Poi dog seen by European explorers were short legged, pot bellied canines that lived with the hogs in the towns. Because of what they ate, the dogs were not highly intelligent but were stubborn and hard to train. Because the dogs were not suited for much beyond food and a spiritual charm, they became extinct when the traditional religion was no longer practiced and eating dogs was no longer acceptable. The breed pretty much disappeared by the early 20th century. Very few images of the dogs remain except for ancient petroglyphs.
There was an attempt by the Honolulu Zoo in the late 1960’s to redevelop the breed using local dogs to determine a standard. Then the local dogs were bred as close to the standard as possible. In the third generation one dog was born with the traits of a Poi dog. There was not much more success with this and then the Polynesian ship travel between Tahiti and Hawaii was recreated and a dog taken along.
Today’s mixed breed dogs in Hawaii are called Poi dogs but also have the stubbornness, unique appearance and ability to eat anything it is given like the original Poi. The dogs are small, and should not be confused with the original Poi dogs.
It is believed that the dog’s ancestors are the Toy Poodle, Pekingnese, Bichon Frise and Shih Tzu. The Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka has also become more well known since the British royal couple, Willam and Kate, have them as pets.
As previously mentioned the Poi dog is somewhat unusual in size and shape due to what they ate. They looked somewhat like the native dogs of Polynesia and New Zealand. They have short legs, long bodies, somewhat obese and a very flat head. He had a short smooth coat, in any color or any pattern. They were however mostly brown and they might or might not have white markings.
The Tsvetnaya Bolonka is a small dog standing at 22 – 27cm in height and weighing between 2 and 4kg. He has been developed to be a companion dog.
The long coat of the dog is wavy or curly and is a grey color, brown, red, white or black. The males have a beard and mustache.
Allergy sufferers appreciate that the dog doesn’t shed but the coat will need to be brushed to prevent matting. The ears are medium length and the tail curls up over the back.
These dogs are sturdy, happy, social, playful little dogs with a loving, loyal temperament. They’re balls of fun and make super playmates of disciplined children who have been taught to be kind and gentle with animals.
They are well balanced, amicable dogs with a streak of independence. They’re intelligent too and will respond well to training and socialization.
He isn’t aggressive and isn’t a yapper either. He is a friendly dog, even with strangers but he can still prove to be a good watchdog. Small and compact, he can do well in the countryside or the city.
The Hawaiian Poi dog was very friendly and good with children
The Poi was considered a good luck charm and a spiritual protector of children
Given what they faced in life, the Poi dog was very adaptable, living anywhere on the islands and eating anything it could find.
Due to their poor diet, the Hawaiian Poi dog was seriously lacking in intelligence and learning ability.
The Tsvetnaya Bolonka is a true companion being even-tempered, intelligent and friendly. He has been specifically developed as a companion dog whether you live in the city or the countryside.
He gets on well with children and with other pets in the home and even towards strangers. Just remember that wherever you choose to live with your sweet little pet, he will still need regular exercise to remain the feisty, happy little dog he is.
Probably due to its diet, the Poi dog had several problems to their health. Their poor diet led to a sluggishness both in movement and intelligence. Its development was hampered by a lack of protein. Malnutrition and serious over inbreeding caused a weakness and poor oral hygiene. Due to this lack of teeth and chewing the bones in the dogs heads became flat. The Poi had breathing issues and overall lethargy.
This breed may get some of the typical small-dog health conditions. These can be things such as dental problems, obesity and Patellar Luxation.
Small dogs often have problems with their knees, and patellar luxation is a common orthopedic condition for small dogs. You’ll see your dog walking on 3 legs.
A luxated kneecap can move out of place, but in some more serious instances, it can dislocate completely. Treatment will require a visit to the vet. Sometimes surgery is required.
Small dogs are more prone to dental disease than large dogs. Tartar and plaque form, there is gum recession, and loss of teeth is common with these little dogs.
Check inside his mouth regularly. Brushing the teeth can be of value to the dog and you get special canine dog and toothpaste. A tooth infection can be serious for your pet and cause him to have toxins circulating in the bloodstream that can make him sick.
With meat being rare in Hawaii, none was available for the dogs. They were fed Poi – from the Taro plant roots. Puppies were fed 2-3 times a day.
The adult dog was fed once or twice a day the same as Poi puppies were fed.
The Hawaiian Poi dog basically has not good health points.
The Poi dog did not need and did not get much exercise, leading to its demise.
These little dogs will need a walk each day. They also love all sorts of games both indoors and outside.
Brush the hair regularly to avoid matting. Many people tie the hair around the face into a ponytail. If the hair becomes dirty, it can be gently shampooed with a mild, natural shampoo and conditioned. The wet hair will require a wide-tooth comb to comb the hair.
Feed your dog the best dry kibble that there is. Check the packaging and make sure the ingredients are the best, full of vitamins and minerals. Try to give him some tasty home-made food such as boiled chicken, brown rice and vegetables. Remember to chop it up very finely. Never give your dog foods such as chocolate, popcorn, peanuts, and spicy food. It can upset his stomach. Make sure he has constant access to fresh, cool water.
Get your little pet to the vet if he shows signs of illness and make sure his vaccines are up to date to avoid deadly canine illnesses.