Lowchen E-Book

Juliette Cunliffe

• Herausgeber: CompanionHouse Books
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Serie: Comprehensive Owner's Guide
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 255

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2012

Beschreibung

German in name and French in origin, the Löwchen is an inquisitive, confident, charming "clown" with a happy temperament that endears him to all. Though small in size, the stylish Little Lion Dog, as he is called, is leonine in heart and appearance. The distinctive lion trim in which the coat is fashioned, with full mane and tufted tail, distinguishes him from his Bichon family relatives and makes him an impressive sight from city streets, parks and beaches to show rings. Effectively "saved from extinction" after World War II, the Löwchen dates back to the 15th century and today enjoys a following of ardent admirers who are dedicated to the breed's preservation. Written by world-renowned breeder/judge and author Juliette Cunliffe, this Special Limited Edition provides an insightful chapter on the breed's history in Europe, complemented by a special section by popular American dog author and Löwchen breeder Alice Bixler, who retells the breed's history and development in the United States. The book also details the breed's characteristics and discusses the breed standard. Further chapters discuss the selection of a breeder and puppy, preparing the home for the puppy's arrival, feeding, grooming and coat care, exercise and much more. The chapter detailing the house-training process and the basic obedience commands will be welcomed by any Löwchen owner, as will the sections about behavior and solving puppy problems. Additionally, a lavishly illustrated chapter on preventive healthcare by Dr. Lowell Ackerman provides up-to-date accurate information on inoculations, parasite control, selecting a veterinarian and other topics vital to the ownership of a healthy pure-bred dog.

Leseprobe

Physical Characteristics of the Löwchen

(from the American Kennel Club breed standard)

Eyes: Set well into the skull, large, dark and round in shape, set well apart and forward looking.

Nose: Dark in color.

Muzzle: Equal in length or slightly shorter than the backskull.

Bite: Scissors.

Lips: Tight, with color the same as the nose.

Forequarters: The shoulders are strong and well laid back with smooth musculature. The elbows are held close to the body. The pasterns are short, parallel from the front and very slightly bent when viewed from the side. The forefeet point straight ahead, and are well arched.

Ears: Pendant, moderate in length, well fringed.

Neck: Of good length, with a slight arch, fitting smoothly into the shoulders and topline.

Topline: Level from withers to tailset.

Body: Slightly off-square when properly balanced.

Tail: Set high and carried in a cup-handle fashion over the back.

Hindquarters: The pelvic bone projects beyond the set of the tail. The upper and lower thighs are well muscled. The stifles are well bent. The hocks are well let down and perpendicular to the ground from any angle. The hindfeet are slightly smaller than the forefeet.

Size: Ideally 12” to 14” at the withers.

Coat: The untrimmed coat is long, rather dense and moderately soft in texture. It has a slight to moderate wavy appearance. Trim—Trimmed in the Lion Trim.

Color: All colors and color combinations are acceptable.

Underline: Slight tuck-up at the loin.

Contents

History of the Löwchen

Enter the den of the Little Lion Dog and meet one of Europe’s most intriguing companion dogs, the lion-clad relation of the Bichon family. From Buffon’s early descriptions of the breed and Renaissance portraits to its modern-day incarnations in show rings and homes, the Löwchen comes to us with a colorful history that is fascinating to read.

Characteristics of the Löwchen

Discover the cause of the Löwchen’s growing popularity: its distinctive appearance and hardy yet small construction and its amenable and affectionate personality. Learn about the breed’s physical characteristics, disposition and health considerations before deciding if the Löwchen is the right dog to add to your pride.

Breed Standard for the Löwchen

Learn the requirements of a well-bred Löwchen by studying the description of the breed set forth in the American Kennel Club standard. Both show dogs and pets must possess key characteristics as outlined in the breed standard.

Your Puppy Löwchen

Find out about how to locate a well-bred Löwchen puppy. Discover which questions to ask the breeder and what to expect when visiting the litter. Prepare for your puppy-accessory shopping spree. Also discussed are home safety, the first trip to the vet, socialization and solving basic puppy problems.

Proper Care of Your Löwchen

Cover the specifics of taking care of your Löwchen every day: feeding for the puppy, adult and senior dog; grooming, including coat care, ears, eyes, nails and bathing; and exercise needs for your dog. Also discussed are the essentials of dog identification.

Training Your Löwchen

Begin with the basics of training the puppy and adult dog. Learn the principles of house-training the Löwchen, including the use of crates and basic scent instincts. Get started by introducing the pup to his collar and leash and progress to the basic commands. Find out about obedience classes and other activities.

Healthcare of Your Löwchen

By Lowell Ackerman DVM, DACVD

Become your dog’s healthcare advocate and a well-educated canine keeper. Select a skilled and able veterinarian. Discuss pet insurance, vaccinations and infectious diseases, the neuter/spay decision and a sensible, effective plan for parasite control, including fleas, ticks and worms.

Your Senior Löwchen

Know when to consider your Löwchen a senior and what special needs he will have. Learn to recognize the signs of aging in terms of physical and behavioral traits and what your vet can do to optimize your dog’s golden years.

Showing Your Löwchen

Step into the center ring and find out about the world of showing pure-bred dogs. Acquaint yourself with the basics of AKC conformation showing, including how shows are organized and what’s required for your dog to become a champion. Also discuss other types of competitive events such as obedience and agility.

KENNEL CLUB BOOKS®LÖWCHEN

ISBN 13: 978-1-59378-288-7

eISBN 13: 978-1-62187-044-9

Copyright © 2006 • Kennel Club Books® A Division of BowTie, Inc.40 Broad Street, Freehold, NJ 07728 USACover Design Patented: US 6,435,559 B2 • Printed in South Korea

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, by photostat, scanner, microfilm, xerography or any other means, or incorporated into any information retrieval system, electronic or mechanical, without the written permission of the copyright owner.

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Photography by Carol Ann Johnsonwith additional photographs by:

Alice Bixler, Mary Bloom, Paulette Braun, T.J. Calhoun, Alan and Sandy Carey, Isabelle Français, Bill Jonas, Karen Taylor, Michael Trafford and Alice van Kempen.

Illustrations by Patricia Peters.

The publisher would like to thank Alice Bixler for contributing the section on the breed’s history in the United States.

Two modern European champion representatives of the Löwchen, showing off their impressive coats.

ORIGIN OF THE BREED

The Löwchen is one of many breeds whose history has been rather lost in time, though it would appear that the breed has existed, at least in similar form, for about 2,000 years. The earliest known name of the breed is Maltese Lion Dog; to add to the confusion, some Maltese and other breeds were also trimmed in a manner resembling that of the Löwchen we know today. The Löwchen is, in fact, just one of a group of breeds sharing similar ancestry: the Maltese, Bichon Frise, Bolognese, Havanese and Coton de Tulear. Even today, it is sometimes difficult for people unfamiliar with these breeds to distinguish among them. However, the Löwchen clearly stands out as different from the rest because of his characteristic trim, resembling the coat of a lion. All of the aforementioned breeds come from the same root stock, but each has evolved in its own special way, due in part to whim and fancy and in part to trading routes as they were opened up through the centuries.

“Le Bichon and Le Chien Lion” from Buffon’s Histoire Naturelle, published in 1798. The name “Le Bichon” refers to the Bichon Maltese, an early name for the Löwchen’s Maltese cousin.

Georges Buffon, a famous naturalist of the early 19th century, re-named the dog the Bichon Petit Chien Lion “Little Lion Dog” and, probably because of Buffon’s own nationality, the French subsequently claimed the Löwchen as French in origin. However, the word Löwchen is German, translating to “Little Lion Dog,” and more accurately being pronounced “Lerv-chun.”

Writing in 1907, Robert Leighton claimed that Russia was the original home of the Little Lion Dog, though he believed that, at that time, the breed had no distinctively local habitation. It could, he said, “just as often be found in Germany or in Holland as in any other country,” noting Mme. M. de Connick of Dieghem, Belgium as one of only a few owners who then bred Lion Dogs with success. With reference to Leighton’s comment about the breed’s just as easily being found “in any other country,” we know that the Löwchen enjoyed certain popularity in Italy, Spain and, as mentioned, France, even as early as the 16th century.

Overall, however, the breed was not very numerous, and Leighton wondered why this particular dog had not become more fashionable, for he described it as an active, well-proportioned dog “with a winning disposition.” The breed then weighed only a little over 5 pounds and its long, wavy coat could be almost any color, but white, lemon and black were preferred. Some such dogs were parti-colored. Leighton was one of only a few canine writers who imparted any information about this rather special and unusual breed, telling his readers that the name “Little Lion Dog” came from “the fashion of clipping the coat from the shoulders to the tuft of the tail, leaving a profuse mane which gives the appearance of a lion in miniature.”

CANIS LUPUS

“Grandma, what big teeth you have!” The gray wolf, a familiar figure in fairy tales and legends, has had its reputation tarnished and its population pummeled over the centuries. Yet it is the descendants of this much-feared creature to which we open our homes and hearts. Our beloved dog, Canis domesticus, derives directly from the gray wolf, a highly social canine that lives in elaborately structured packs. In the wild, the gray wolf can range from 60 to 175 pounds, standing between 25 and 40 inches in height.

THE BREED DESCRIBED IN 1904

In 1894 Count Henry van Bylandt compiled a book initially for an exclusively Dutch readership; by 1904, it had been extended to cover four languages. This made it one of the most wonderfully informative books about dogs that has ever been written. In 1904 readers had the opportunity to delve into the magic of this book not only in Dutch but also in German, French and English.

Thanks to Count Bylandt’s tome, readers of this book have the opportunity to learn exactly how the Löwchen was described in 1904, when it was still called the “Little Lion Dog.” This description follows:

General Appearance: A small ladies’ dog, very active and intelligent, always one-third of the body to be clipped or shaved, giving him with his profuse collar the appearance of a lion in miniature.

Head: Short; skull rather broad.

Nose: Black; not turned up.

Eyes: Round, large and intelligent, dark in color; eyelids dark.

Ears: Long and hanging, well feathered.

Body: Small, short but well proportioned.

Legs: Fine and straight.

Feet: Small and round; nails dark in color.

Tail: Of medium length, clipped at the root and well feathered at the tip.

Coat: Rather long and wavy, but not curly.

Color: All colors, self-colored or parti-colors; the most preferable colors are the self-colored white, black and lemon.

Height at shoulder: From 8 to 14 inches.

Weight: From 5 to 9 lbs.

“La Dame et La Licorne” (The Lady and the Unicorn) is a fine 15th-century tapestry from France. The dog depicted is likely an ancestor of the Löwchen. This tapestry hangs in a museum in Paris.

For those who prefer to think in metric terms, the foreign language texts indicated 8 to 14 inches as the equivalent of 20 to 35 cm for the dog’s height at shoulder, and 5 to 9 pounds as the equivalent of 2 to 4 kg for the dog’s weight.

“SAVIORS” OF THE BREED

At the beginning of the 20th century, there were few breeders of Löwchens. One of these was the aforementioned Mme. de Connick of Dieghem, Belgium and it was she, along with her husband Max, who is generally accepted as having kept the breed’s flag flying.

In the early 20th century, the Löwchen was undoubtedly rare. After World War II the breed is reputed to have been effectively “saved from extinction” by a somewhat eccentric elderly Belgian lady, Mme. Bennert. Mme. Bennert had originally owned a white bitch that she had bought from the de Connicks, people who had already shown with success. After this, she was said to have scoured the streets of Brussels in search of Löwchens and she found two bitches that she considered typical specimens. One was blue and the other biscuit in color. She also discovered a blue male, and with these three Löwchens she was able to begin a breeding program. She also acquired a third bitch and was to spend the next 20 years devoted to the breed and its improvement. Thanks to her careful breeding, all post-war Löwchens are believed to have been descended from Mme. Bennert’s stock.

Today’s Löwchen is an appealing and affectionate dog whose popularity is growing around the world.

KNIGHTS AND LIONS

Frequently one finds a lion on the tomb of a knight who was killed in battle, but it is often said that if a knight died a less valiant death, the depiction on his tomb was that of a Little Lion Dog.

Her first litter was whelped on April 13, 1948, but in those formative years dogs were often registered with only one name. Therefore, several Löwchens had to be bred before Mme. Bennert’s affix “de la Souveaine” could be added. So it is that many of the Löwchens that were bred by this staunch lady supporter of the breed are not immediately evident in early pedigrees.

Two breeders who founded their own kennels on Mme. Bennert’s breeding were Mme. de Meuleniere and Dr. Hans Rickert, the latter from Germany, who effectively carried on Mme. Bennert’s work. All early Löwchens imported to the UK were dogs of Dr. Rickert’s breeding or were traced back to his stock.

THE LÖWCHEN IN ART

Dogs that clearly resemble the Löwchen of today are to be found in 14th-century French tapestries. They also appear on German woodcuts and in Belgian paintings, so it seems clear that they were known over a wide geographical area of Europe.

The Löwchen was a favorite of Renaissance artists and can be found in “The Lady and the Unicorn” tapestries as well as in works by Albrecht Durer, particularly his woodcuts. In Durer’s work, the Löwchen’s personality clearly shines through, so these are not only representations of the breed’s physical form. Goya was another artist who included the Löwchen in his paintings, such as in one of the Duchess of Alba (who apparently owned several such dogs) that was painted in 1795.

Once called the Little Lion Dog, the Löwchen is a small yet sturdy dog whose clip gives him the appearance of the lion.

THE LÖWCHEN IN THE UNITED STATES

By Alice Bixler

Blame it on an article in The New York Times and some fortuitous timing. Though Löwchens had been gaining ground in Europe throughout the 20th century, they were unknown in the United States until 1971. That’s when Charles and Jane Cook of Medford, New Jersey visited Crufts, England’s premier dog show, where the Löwchen was being exhibited for the first time. The Cooks, breeders of Briards, Bouviers and Bedlington Terriers, fell under the spell of the feisty little lions. They spoke with Mrs. Elisha M. Banks, whose Cluneen Adam Adamant was destined to become the first English champion in the breed and later earned a spot in the 1979 Guinness Book of World Records as “The World’s Most Expensive Dog” when Mrs. Banks turned down an offer of 10,000 pounds for him. Mrs. Banks found the Cooks to be pleasant, dedicated dog people and was excited about introducing the breed into the US.

THE LION FROM LYON

Under the rules of Europe’s Fédération Cynologique Internationale, better known as the FCI, the breed was originally recognized under the name “Le Petit Lion Chien Bichon.” This arose from dogs from Lyon in the south of France that fit this description.

She consented to sell them three of her puppies: Cluneen Fergus, Cluneen Dana (Pinkie) and Cluneen Erinna (Blackie). The media got wind of the trio’s imminent arrival in the States, so when the Cooks returned to the US with the dogs, they were met at the airport by newspaper reporters and TV cameramen anxious to introduce the rare and unique canines to their readers and viewers. In time, Jane Cook bred Fergus to both Pinkie and Blackie, producing the first litters in America. She was not happy with Blackie’s pups, but Pinkie’s offspring went on to become the foundation of the breed in America.

The honor of being the first Löwchen in America may have actually been claimed by Cherrycourt Crunch, a dog bought in England by Consuela Vanderbilt for her friend Luther Green of New York City in 1971. Mr. Green also imported other Löwchens for a time, but since his dogs were never registered with the breed club, they did not become part of the gene pool in the US and faded from view.

An article in The New York Times telling of the breed’s debut at Crufts piqued the interest of Bob and Carole Yhlen of Hopatcong, New Jersey, who had previously been involved with German Shepherd Dogs and Afghan Hounds. Perhaps it had something to do with both Bob’s and Carole’s having been born under the zodiac sign of Leo and with Bob’s long-standing fascination with lions. But finding information on the breed and tracking down the Cooks was no easy task. After encountering several dead-ends, Bob finally succeeded in reaching Mrs. Banks in England who provided pictures, information and, most importantly, how to reach the Cooks.

Visiting the Cooks and meeting the vivacious Löwchen for the first time sealed the Yhlens’ resolve. In the fall of 1972, they purchased Cluneen Dana and two of her pups born in the interim — Coco d’Eayre, a chocolate female, and the champagne-colored d’Eayre’s Tinker Damn. The friendship that followed between the Cooks and the Yhlens led to the formation of the Little Lion Dog Club of America (LLDCA). Bob Yhlen assumed the presidency and held the post until 1986. Carole Yhlen took over duties of both treasurer and registrar. Donning several hats in the fledgling organization, Jane Cook served as vice president, secretary, assistant registrar and editor of Headlions, the club’s newsletter.

THE BREED IN SWEDEN

In 1983 a “Swedish Löwchen Circle” was established, and every year the club holds a show, which is judged by a specialist. There are now around 300 Löwchens in Sweden, a country that holds championship shows for the breed.

Competing in the show ring, the Löwchen is a naturally responsive contestant, a true showman that captures the interest of spectators.

The Cooks’ original trio of Löwchens were subsequently registered as #001, #002 and #003 in the stud book. With all of her jobs in addition to her dedication to breeding, Jane did little showing, especially since opportunities were not that numerous. Rare-breed shows were just beginning to catch on at that time and it remained for the Yhlens to bring their Löwchens to the attention of the public. Making a name for himself in that milieu was their home-bred Lowe-Ray’s Cricket, who racked up multiple Best in Show awards in the rare-breed events of the 1970s.

WORLD’S RAREST DOG

The Löwchen became less and less popular during the war years and those that followed, so that in 1960 it was listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s rarest breed of dog.

Another influential breeder entered the picture in April 1975. Jane Cook received a letter from Dorothy Goodale of Berdot kennels in Colorado. She had seen the Cooks’ ad in Dog World magazine and was interested in the Löwchen. As an owner of Soft-Coated Wheaten Terriers and Irish Wolfhounds, she was looking for a smaller breed. Jane explained that the numbers were minuscule, the breed wasn’t registered with the American Kennel Club (AKC) and Bob Yhlen was the only US breeder. But that didn’t deter Dorothy Goodale, who imported dogs from England and Germany and bred Löwchens that became the foundation stock of many of today’s dogs.

The Löwchen with an unclipped coat, not in the lion trim, certainly has a much different appearance.

Dog show exposure and subsequent articles generated more interest in the breed. The requests for puppies grew, and additional dogs were imported. Membership in the LLDCA expanded. To encourage Löwchen owners to exhibit their dogs, a point system was initiated in 1984 that allowed the dogs to earn club titles in both conformation and obedience. Two years later, a ranking system was put in place so that top dogs in the breed might be recognized at the end of each year. Under this system, a specified number of points could be earned for breed wins, group placings and Best in Match victories.

Regional specialty shows were introduced in 1987, and national specialties first became a reality in 1988. Several were held in conjunction with rare-breed events. Entries were not exactly overwhelming. The 20th-anniversary specialty drew only 27 entries, but even that number was impressive compared to the 1993 specialty held in conjunction with the American Rare Breed Association’s Cherry Blossom event in Washington DC, where the entry was a grand total of 3 in the classes.

LIKE A LION TO WATER?

Although it has been said that the Löwchen is a water dog, this is highly unlikely. While many Löwchens seem to enjoy water and have no fear of it, their coat is not one that would be effective as insulation when working in wet conditions.

Properly trimmed in the lion clip, the Löwchen is a distinctive-looking dog with a unique silhouette.

In keeping with breed clubs worldwide, which had incorporated “Löwchen” into their names, the Little Lion Dog Club of America officially became the Löwchen Club of America in 1991. April 1996 saw the Löwchen accepted into the American Kennel Club’s Miscellaneous Class along with the Havanese and Anatolian Shepherd. It was a giant step forward, though the sight of diminutive Löwchens competing against the towering Anatolians in Miscellaneous competition had its humorous aspect. But it helped to introduce the little lions to a whole new world of canine competition.

Growing interest in the breed finally resulted in the Löwchen’s being admitted to full AKC recognition in the Non-Sporting Group in 1999. First to attain an AKC championship was Ch. Kismet’s Pearlbrook Andante, a lavishly coated parti-color, co-bred and co-owned by Nadine Pelleschi of Pennsylvania and Carole Kramer of New Jersey. Following on his heels to become the second champion was another of Nadine Pelleschi’s breeding, Ch. Kismet’s Eclipse Corona.

Andante wrote another chapter in the record books by becoming the first breed winner at Westminster when Löwchens were eligible to compete in 2000 at that prestigious show. Though Löwchens found their way into Non-Sporting Group placings from time to time in all-breed shows around the country, it was 2004 before one finally reached the Best in Show pinnacle. That handsome male was Ch. Touche Pearlbrook Heartbreak, owned by Richard and Jennifer Lawless and Carole Kramer Pearlbrook.

Though American exhibitors tended to pile up AKC conformation champions quickly—approximately 45 in the first year of recognition—they were slow to realize the Löwchen’s potential to excel in other dog sports. Only a handful have participated in performance events. These pioneers certainly deserve recognition for blazing a trail. One of the first owners to title her dogs in AKC obedience was Earl Marie Dingel of California, who trialed her home-bred Ch. Lambert’s Maid Marian to the first Companion Dog (CD) and Companion Dog Excellent (CDX) degrees while the breed was still in the Miscellaneous Class. The second Löwchen to earn a CD, also from Miscellaneous, was another of Earl Marie’s breeding, Ch. Lambert’s Annie Oakley, co-owned and trained by Alice Bixler of Florida. Demonstrating the breed’s versatility, Quiet Riot O’Braemara, owned by Marsha Moore of North Carolina, scored as the premier Löwchen to earn a tracking title, in October 2004.

STARRING THE LÖWCHEN

The television program Hart to Hart featured an unclipped Löwchen named Freeway, and this played an instrumental part in bringing notice to this hitherto “unknown” breed.

But stand back and clear the track! One Löwchen in particular has made a stunning impact in performance events. His name is Pistil and he moves like a shot! Barbara Cecil of Texas, who had previously owned and trained Papillons in obedience, acquired Taywil’s Aerien Pistil Pete, and the team proceeded to set the agility world ablaze. Running agility courses with dazzling speed, this flyin’ lion has been clocked at 5.17 yards per second! Name the agility title and Pistil has won it—and with style and verve. And it’s worth mentioning that he’s also adding obedience and rally titles to his laurels. At last count, he was MACH, NATCH, ATCH Taywil’s Aerien Pistil Pete, CDX, RN, NJP, NAP, TN-O, WV-O, TG-O, U-CDX, ASCA CD. Says Barbara, “Boy, I just love taking my cute little frou-frou baby into the ring under judges who haven’t seen him before. They always smile benevolently as in ‘How sweet, a grandmother and her little lap doggie’ and then I tell Pistil to go and he blows the competition away! Now that’s my idea of fun!”

Respiratory problems have made it difficult for Barbara to run agility courses with warp-speed Pistil lately, but switching to distance control has made it possible for her to direct him from obstacle to obstacle without having to run a single step. In three years of competition, Pistil has earned 50 titles: 21 in North American Dog Agility Council (NADAC) agility, 13 in Australian Shepherd Club of America (ASCA) all-breed agility, 11 in AKC agility, 2 in AKC obedience, 2 in United Kennel Club (UKC) obedience and 1 in ASCA obedience and he’s still going strong. “It takes a really special dog to do something like this, and Pistil is special indeed,” says Barbara. “He’s intelligent, athletic, easy to train, consistent, has tons of prey drive and a sense of humor that usually overrides everything else.”

Alice Bixler’s Annie is a beautiful example of an American “lioness.”

Stories abound regarding Pistil’s sense of humor. After one trial, a steward brought in a basket of toys for the winners to select as their prizes. Barbara asked her to put it on the floor so Pistil could make his own choice. Diving in, Pistil brought up one toy, squeaked it and tossed it aside. The next one also proved audibly unsatisfactory and he discarded that one too. Rummaging in the depths, he emerged with a giant pink pig which emitted a raucous “squeak-oink, squeak-oink” when he chomped down. And he trotted proudly off bearing his noisy pink prize.

Roaring into new fields of performance, Löwchens are bringing their own version of spunk and high spirits to the action here in North America.

WHY THE LÖWCHEN?

The Löwchen is reasonably small in size but has a great personality. He is fun to own and fun to look at, especially when clipped in his distinctive “lion trim.” Indeed, many owners describe themselves as “living with a pride of lions,” something both owners and “lions” seem to thoroughly enjoy.

As a breed, Löwchens seem to be very happy with their lives and rarely have any objection to meeting both people and dogs, whatever their size! According to the breed standard, the Löwchen is not only cheerful, happy and lively but also intelligent and affectionate. This breed should certainly show no sign of aggression.

Some pet owners prefer to leave their Löwchens with long coats all over their bodies. However, the lion trim is one of the characteristics of the breed. In any case, a coat clipped into the lion trim is much easier to keep clean and is probably more comfortable for the dog. Alternatively, some pet owners like to keep their Löwchens in what is known as a “puppy trim,” with the hair kept fairly short, the same length all over the body. So, whether caring for the coat in the lion trim, in keeping with centuries of tradition, in a natural state or in a puppy trim, the coat will need some looking after. Time must be dedicated to this aspect of canine care if selecting a Löwchen to share your life; grooming to some extent should be carried out every day.

The Löwchen is a fairly long-lived breed and can often reach 15 years of age or more, another factor that must be seriously contemplated before deciding that this is really the breed for you. Clearly, when taking a new animal into your home, the ultimate aim will be that the dog remains with you for his life.

Owned by Alice Bixler, sweet Tally embodies the characteristics that attract many to the breed—petite, pretty and downright charming!

The Löwchen has come through times when it clearly has not been as popular as might have been expected; indeed, in the past the breed has experienced times where it has been on the very brink of extinction. However, in recent decades the breed has risen rather rapidly in popularity, and on average there are now between 120 and 150 Löwchen puppies newly registered with the American Kennel Club each year. Undoubtedly, the breed is now much better known; its many wonderful traits have caused it to become appreciated in many countries throughout the world.

The Löwchen is classified in the US as a Non-Sporting breed. The Löwchen stands some 12–14 inches high at the withers (highest point of shoulders). Although strong and sturdy in bone, the Löwchen should never be coarse in any way. Indeed, the breed’s size makes it eminently suitable for life in a city, although of course Löwchens can also thoroughly enjoy a more rural life when given the opportunity. This is an active and well-balanced breed. With his tail carried gaily on the move and his head held proudly and high, the Löwchen is undoubtedly a dog with great style.

COLOR AND COAT

Any coat color or combination of colors is acceptable in the Löwchen; it is the only breed within the Bichon “family” that can be of any color. As no preference is given, the breed can be seen in a variety of eye-catching hues, and a line-up of Löwchens in the show ring can be a veritable feast for the eyes. In fact, there seems to be a much wider variation of color in the breed now than there was in days gone by. Of course, some people will have their own personal color preferences, but what is of utmost importance is the dog’s soundness of temperament and structure, not the color of his coat. With the Löwchen, the coat color can change from puppyhood to adulthood, but a good breeder can help you predict what the adult color will be.

The breed is always exhibited in the show ring in “lion trim,” and that is the way most people like to keep a Löwchen’s coat, whether or not it is a show dog. The untrimmed part of the coat is fairly long and, though wavy, should never be curly. The AKC breed standard describes the coat as “rather dense and moderately soft in texture,” and it is quite clearly stated that the untrimmed area of the coat should not be “smoothed, shortened, shaped or otherwise tidied with anything other than a comb or brush.” Wiry, woolly, curly and flat coats are atypical of this breed.

WEIGHING YOUR DOG