<!-- Begin Infobox Dogbreed. The text of the article should go AFTER this section. See: -->

<!-- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:WikiProject_Dog_breeds#Infobox_Dogbreed_template -->

<!-- for full explanation of the syntax used in this template. -->

<!-- End Infobox Dogbreed info. Article Begins Here -->

The Löwchen or Little Lion Dog (German: Löwchen, "little lion"; French: Petit chien lion, "little lion dog") is a breed of small dog. The Löwchen once had the dubious distinction, like the Portuguese Water Dog and the Havanese, of being the rarest dog in the world. In 1973 there were only 65 registered examples of the breed. Even today, the breed generally has fewer than a few hundred new registrations each year worldwide.

Description

thumb|left|Löwchen head

thumbnail|left|Löwchen aka Little Lion Dog

The Löwchen is a compact companion breed with slightly off square proportions and balanced moderate angles in the front and rear. The silhouette of the breed calls for a long mane in the front with a flat topline. The Löwchen tail should be set coming off the topline and be over the back in the shape of a tea cup handle in movement.

The Löwchen's coat is long and flowing and comes in many colours. The coat should not be thin and fluffy like a Bichon Frise, but fairly straight with waves. It is a multi-texture coat with a 50/50 mix of silkier thicker hairs and softer hair. This allows for an easy to maintain coat that is silky to the touch. Löwchen coat should not be harsh, wooly or cottony. The Löwchen does not shed, and this breed has very low allergic effects, and are considered hypoallergenic. However, that there is no such thing as a completely hypoallergenic dog. The saliva and skin or dander, of a dog can still trigger an allergic event in sensitive people.

The head of the Löwchen is one of its most important features, with its relatively wide muzzle, broad skull, lively round eyes, and pendulant ears. They can come in all colours with dark pigmentation around the eye rings and nose. The head, when in proportion to the body, is neither too big nor too small, but helps to emphasize the friendly, regal, and leonine personality of the Löwchen. The litter size is usually between two and five puppies. The Löwchen's life span is around 14 to 18 years.

Lion cut

thumb|Löwchen with golden coat

thumb|Multiple Color Lowchens in Litter

thumb|Lowchen at 2019 American Kennel Club National Championship

thumb|Löwchen in a lion cut

thumb|Löwchen dog

thumb|Brown Parti Color Lowchen

thumb|9 month old Sable and Cream Lowchen

The Löwchen's long and wavy coat can be presented in a lion cut. This means that the rear, back legs (except the hocks), front legs (except 1/2 bracelets around the forearm), and the 1/3–1/2 of the tail closest to the body are shaved, and the rest of the coat is left natural to give the dog the appearance of a male lion. The lion cut is the traditional way of presenting these dogs. It is speculated that the lion clip was to allow the naked areas to provide warmth to their owners while the long coat would collect lice and nits from their owners.

History

The breed is found in many countries as far back as the sixteenth century.

Lowchen were imported into Britain in 1968 and the breed was accorded Kennel Club (UK) recognition in 1971. The Lowchen would finally make an appearance in America in 1971, by way of England. At this time, the Löwchen was still known as the “Little Lion Dog”. Also in 1971, The Löwchen Club of America (LCA) was formed and the breed's name was officially changed to “Löwchen ”. The Lowchen was accepted into the American Kennel Club Miscellaneous class in 1996, and then fully recognized into the non-sporting group in 1999.

;:

The number of Lowchen worldwide continues to fall with the breed being listed as at risk for extinction. An effort to keep the breed from becoming extinct was started along with efforts across other rare breeds.

<gallery widths="150" heights="150" perrow="5">

File:AgnesSorel11.jpeg|Portrait of Agnès Sorel (1422–1450) with a little dog in lion cut.

File:Disput der hl Katharina mit den Philosophen detail Hund.jpg|Dog depicted in lion cut, 1505.

File:Adriaen Isenbrandt - Portrait of a lady, half-length, holding a lapdog.jpg|Portrait of a Lady Holding a Lapdog, c. 1520–30, Adriaen Isenbrandt

File:Magnus Gabriel De la Gardie med makan Maria Eufrosyne, målning av Hendrik Münnichhoven från 1653.jpg|Wedding portrait of Magnus Gabriel De la Gardie and Maria Eufrosyne, 1653. Beside them, a little dog in lion cut.

File:Adriaen van Utrecht 001 - Hund.jpg|Old Dutch painting, of Adriaen van Utrecht, detail of the dog.

File:Adolf Ulrik Wertmüller - 1786, two-year-old Henri Bertholet-Campan with his dog Aline.jpg|Two-year-old Henri Bertholet-Campan with his dog in lion cut, by Ulrik Wertmüller, 1786.

File:Lucas Cranach the Elder - Duchess Katharina von Mecklenburg - Google Art Project.jpg|Duchess Katharina von Mecklenburg, by Lucas Cranach the Elder, painted 1514, showing dog in lion cut.

File:Marie Zéphirine de France par Nattier.jpg|Portrait of Princess Marie Zéphyrine of France (1750–1755) with her dog in lion cut.

File:Johann Zoffany 004.jpg|Archduchess Maria Christina, Duchess of Teschen (1742–1798), with her dog in lion cut.

File:Quinbury fiesta fashion Female Lowchen imported to New Zeland.jpg|Quinbury Fiesta Fashion, a female Lowchen imported to New Zealand

File:Duncara Sapphire female Lowchen.jpg|Duncara Sapphire female Lowchen

File:Duncara Fine Prelude.jpg|Duncara Fine Prelude, a Lowchen in exhibition in Australia

File:Madame Bennert walking her Lowchens.jpg|Madame Bennert walking her Lowchens

File:Madame Bennert and her dogs.jpg|Madame Bennert and her dogs

</gallery>

See also

  • Dogs portal
  • List of dog breeds

References

  • Löwchen World
  • Löwchen Club of Canada
  • Löwchen Club UK
  • Löwchen Club of America