The Lowchen

Appearance

The Löwchen, also called the Little Lion, has a short head with a broad skull, a black nose, and round, dark, intelligent eyes. It has pendent, feathered ears. Its body is short and well proportioned, with a medium-length tail. The hair is long and wavy, but not curly. The most sought-after colors are white, black and lemon, but speckled dogs are also acceptable. The body of the Löwchen should be clipped in the hindquarters, the section of the tail closest to the body, and part of the front legs should be close-clipped to give it the look of a lion.

History

Lowchen (pronounced lerv-chun) means "little lion dog," and in France the breed is know as le petit chien lion. The lowchen shares common roots with other members of the bichon family, which includes the bichon frise and Havanese, among others. Germany, Russia and France have all laid claim to the breed. The exact time and place of its origin is obscure, but dogs resembling the lowchen, sporting the distinctive lion trim, can be found in 16th-century German art. In the traditional lion trim, the coat is clipped short from the last rib to, and including, the hindquarters down to the hock joint. The front legs are clipped from elbow to just above the pastern. The feet are clipped, and about half the tail is clipped, leaving a plume at the tip. Any long hair is to be left unshaped. In the 1960s, the breed's numbers had dwindled to perilous numbers; through the efforts of two breeders, several related dogs from Germany were brought to Britain. Because of their small numbers, these dogs were interbred extensively and formed the basis of the breed in Britain as well as America. The lowchen entered the AKC miscellaneous class in 1996 and was admitted as a member of the nonsporting group as of the first day of 1999.

Temperament

This is a lively, inquisitive, affectionate dog. It is a mixture of playful spirit and calm soul mate, a good companion for a quiet family. It is willing to please and responsive to commands, and it is devoted to its family. Some may bark or dig a lot.

Care / Grooming

To prevent tangles from forming, the coat should be combed and brushed regularly. The Löwchen is usually clipped in the hindquarters, the section of the tail closest to the body, and front leg areas are close-clipped, regardless of whether they are shown or not, giving them the name "Little Lion Dog," although some owners prefer to give it a puppy clip. This breed sheds little to no hair. Dead hair should be brushed out. This breed is good for allergy sufferers.

Health

This is a generally healthy breed, although some lines are prone to patellar luxation.

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