Dog
Group:
Non-sporting 
Lowchen Champions
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Breed Description:
The Lowchen breed of dog, 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 Lowchen breed of dog 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.
Temperament:
The Lowchen breed of dog is a cheerful, lively, affectionate dog. Sociable and intelligent, it is eager to learn. These dogs are fearless, but gentle and sensitive. Lowchen usually learn quickly and present little difficulty in their training. Playful, they are good with children and usually will do okay with other dogs as well as non-canine pets. Its lion-cut coat makes it look fragile and rather undignified, although this is definitely not the case. The Lowchen breed of dog is a robust tough dog that can be strong-willed and arrogant if the owner does not display proper leadership towards the dog. Without this leadership, males, in particular, are quite willing to challenge other large household dogs for leadership. A lot of times they will usually be "top dog" even though they are not the biggest dog in the house. If necessary, the Lowchen will defend its house with intense barking. They are not hyperactive, but some may bark or dig a lot. Make sure you are this dog's firm, confident, consistent pack leader to avoid Small Dog Syndrome, human induced behavior problems. Always remember, dogs are canines, not humans. Be sure to meet their natural instincts as animals.
Height:
8 to 14 inches
Weight:
4.5 to 13 pounds
Health Problems:
The Lowchen breed of dog is a generally healthy breed, although some lines are prone to patellar luxation.
Living Conditions:
The Lowchen breed of dog is good for apartment life. They are very active indoors and will do okay without a yard.
Exercise:
The Lowchen breed of dog needs a daily walk. Play will take care of a lot of their exercise needs, however, as with all breeds, play will not fulfill their primal instinct to walk. Dogs who do not get to go on daily walks are more likely to display behavior problems. The Lowchen will also enjoy a good romp in a safe open area off lead, such as a large fenced in yard.
Life Expectancy:
12 to 14 years
Grooming:
To prevent tangles from forming, the coat of the Lowchen breed of dog should be combed and brushed regularly. The Lowchen 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. The Lowchen breed of dog sheds little to no hair. Dead hair should be brushed out. This breed is good for allergy sufferers.
Origin:
French in origin, this spunky breed is a true European, with progenitors throughout the countries of southern Europe. The Lowchen breed of dog was popular in Italy, Spain, France and Germany as early as the 1500's. Its popularity continued through the 1800's. Goya is one of many artists to have featured the Lowchen on canvas. With the coming of the 20th century and the two World Wars, the popularity of the Lowchen waned. By 1960, they were granted the title "rarest breed" by the Guinness Book of World records. No longer, however, do they hold this dubious claim to fame. Comments
The standards for all the breeds accepted to the AKC are used here for breed information, and those not part of the AKC are resourced from FCI standard information, where it is written and coded into the club rules for those breeds.
