Additonal Breeds Starting
With Letter:
Pet Sites
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COUNTRY:
France
WEIGHT:
8-18 pounds
HEIGHT:
10-13 inches
COAT:
Long, silky, wavy but not curly
COLOR:
Any color or combination of colors
OTHER
NAMES: Little Lion Dog, Petit Chien Lion
REGISTRY:
FCI, TKC
GROUP:
Gun Dog
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Favorites of the Florentine nobles of the 15th century, the Lowchen catered
to the whims of the elite. Ladies at court clipped the hair from the dogs'
backs and used them as hot water bottles. Developed in Europe, the breed
has been traditionally clipped similar to the Portuguese Water Dog in the
"lion" trim. In fact, with his clip, his waving hair, his tail
held high over his back and his color varieties, one can almost imagine
him a miniature of that breed. This is probably not his immediate origin,
but the simi-larity of the
bichon family and the water dogs is emphasized by these comparisons. The
Little Lion Dog undoubtedly evolved from the family of bichons, as they
traveled from the Mediterranean into Europe. Many feel that the breed was
developed in Germany, but FCI lists France as the official country of development.
The Lowchen
has been established in Spain, France and Germany since the 1500s. One
of this type was painted by Goya in the late 18th century in a portrait
of the beautiful Duchess of Alba. These dogs with the lion cut are often
depicted at the feet of armored knights on tombs in old churches. The
story goes that if a knight was killed in battle, he had a figure of a
lion at his feet, demonstrating his courage. Otherwise he had the "little
lion dogs," the Lowchens, as did the ladies—perhaps to provide them
courage or comfort in their battles of the afterlife.
In more modern
times, the Lowchen fell out of favor and nearly disappeared. The few that
were left were turned out into the streets to fend for
themselves during the stress and uncertainty of the War years. Thanks
to the post-war efforts of Madame M. Bennert of Brussels, a dedicated
fancier, the Little Lion Dog was slowly brought back from obscurity. She
combed the streets, collecting typical specimens. These contributed to
the resurgence of the breed. Her work was carried on by a German, Dr.
Richert, after her death. In 1960, the Lowchen was named the rarest breed
by the Guinness Book of World Records. They are now recognized
in many countries of the world, including Great Britain, but are still
fairly rare. No longer, however, do they win the dubitable claim to fame
as the "rarest breed." Despite its diminutive size, the Lowchen
is robust and full of energy, yet sensible and not hyperactive. A dog
of intelligence and affection, he is exclusively a house pet and companion,
and is winning admiration in the US.
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