The Löwchen (Little Lion Dog) is a breed of small dog that remains fairly uncommon in North America. The Löwchen once had the troublesome 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 couple hundred new registrations each year worldwide.
They are a compact companion breed which has along and flowing coat that comes in many colors. The coat should not be fluffy like a Bichon Frise, but relatively straight with minimal waves. It is a mixed-textured coat with approximately half of the hairs being thicker straight hairs and the other half being softer silky hairs. This particular mix of hairs, in the way that it presents itself in this breed, allows for an easy-to-maintain coat that is silky to the touch and not prone to large matting. The Löwchen does not shed, although hair may sometimes be found on the floor or furniture or in a brush due to occasional breakage. They have very low allergic effects, and are considered hypoallergenic. It is important to note, 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 Löwchen's long coat can be presented in the trim that is traditional for the breed; the 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 down to the skin, and the rest of the coat is left natural and kept brushed and conditioned. This gives the dog the appearance similar to that of a male lion. It is speculated that the lion cut was to allow the naked areas to provide warmth to their owners while the long coat would entice lice off of an owner and out of an owner's bedding, then allowing them to be killed by simply washing the dog. Dogs in lion clip may need some protection in either extreme cold or intense sun on the shaved parts if you live in a harsh climate. In temperate climates, however, they shouldn't need any additional protection, aside from the application of sun screen if they'll be in the sun for an extended period of time. Surprisingly, many owners report that keeping the dog in a lion cut actually makes grooming upkeep easier - possibly due to their being almost half as much hair! Alternatively to the lion cut, pets can be kept in a variety of trims based on whatever the owner prefers, and often look like perpetual puppies.
The Löwchen is a friendly, healthy, and happy dog. Dogs of this breed are both active and playful, and very intelligent. They make excellent house pets and are generally regarded as not difficult to train. They are also wonderful with children. This breed has a long history as a companion dog and the dogs need the attention of humans. They are not happy left alone for longer periods of time. Some individuals may be quiet, but they are typically vocal.
This little 'lion dog' is seen in many art pieces featuring dogs as far back as the sixteenth century, but it is unclear whether these were all dogs like the Löwchen, or simply small dogs of the Bichon type that were trimmed in a lion cut. Although this dog may be related to the Bichon Frise, the Löwchen's exact origins remains shrouded in mystery.
The Löwchen has a history as a companion dog to the wealthy and elite. It is possible to trace the modern history of the breed back to late-19th-century enthusiasts in what are now Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands. It is thought the breed's ancestors were dogs that were brought in by travelers from the far eastern lands of Tibet and mingled with local dogs such as Spitz and terrier-type dogs.
They were imported into Britain in 1968 and the breed was given official recognition from the UK Kennel Club in 1971. They would finally make an appearance in America in 1971, by way of England. At this time, the Löwchen was still known simply as “Little Lion Dog”. Also in 1971, The Löwchen Club of America (LCA) was formed and the breed's name was officially changed to “Löwchen.” It was then accepted into the American Kennel Club Miscellaneous class in 1996, and fully recognized into the non-sporting group in 1999.
The number of Löwchen worldwide continues to fall with the breed being listed as at risk for extinction, and it is ranked 159th out of 200 recognized breeds with the American Kennel Club. An effort to keep the breed from becoming extinct has begun, reaching around the world to diversify the existing gene pool. This is destined to be a slow process given that their litter size is usually small, between two and five puppies. The demand for the breed remains relatively low, though they have managed to stay near the 159 mark in AKC rankings.
The Löwchen's typical life span is between 14 to 18 years. This is thanks in large part to them being such a healthy breed, solely thanks to the tireless efforts of ethical breeders who prioritize health. Always, regardless of breed, make sure the breeder you are considering purchasing from is completing all applicable health tests on their breeding stock!
Recommended Health Tests from the National Breed Club:
Patella Evaluation
Hip Evaluation
Ophthalmologist Evaluation
The above health tests are easy to verify. Any breeder who health tests will be eager to show you proof of health testing, usually by sending you a link to the parent's profiles on the OFA website. Any breeder who gets cagey about health testing or says they did the tests but didn't send them in to OFA for certification is not on the up-and-up and should be avoided.
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