Lowchen - Dog Breed Profile

Author: Dooziedog.com

Key Facts:

Size: Small

Height: 25 - 33 cm (10 - 13 inches)

Weight: 2 - 4 kg (4.5 - 9 lb)

Life Span: 15 years

Grooming: Fairly demanding

Exercise: Medium

Feeding: Medium

Temperament: Intelligent & affectionate

Country of Origin: France

AKC Group: Non-Sporting

Other Names: Little Lion Dog

Temperament:

The Lowchen is active, intelligent, playful and friendly. Lowchens make excellent family companions with their happy and affectionate nature. Their intelligence allows them to learn quickly and easily when being trained. Lowchens happily socialize with children and household animals and get along with people of all ages.

Grooming:

The coat needs to be brushed regularly to keep it knot-free and to remove the dead hairs. Lowchens are usually clipped in the 'lion' style regardless of whether they are to be shown. The 'lion clip' involves closely clipping the hindquarters, the root of the tail and the middle part of the front legs. An advantage with Lowchens is that they don't shed dead hairs.

Exercise:

Lowchens tend to adapt to their family activities for their exercise needs. They love going for a run in the park or going on outings with their owner.

History:

The name 'lowchen' means little lion dog in German, which is the name they earned from their clipped appearance. The ancestry of the Lowchen is rather obscure, but it is believed that their origins are similar to those of the Bichon Frise, Bichon Bolognese and the Maltese.

Physical Characteristics:

General Appearance: Strongly-built, eager with a lion-like appearance.

Color: Any color or combination of colors is accepted.

Coat: Fine, long and wavy. The coat may be clipped in a traditional 'lion clip'.

Tail: Medium length and carried over the back.

Ears: Pendant, long and well-fringed.

Body: The body is short and strong and the well angulated fore and hindquarters finish with small round feet.

Additional Comments:

* The Lowchen is actually more popular in France than in Germany. It was originally known as the 'Petit Chien Lion' in France.

About the author: This article provided courtesy of http://www.dooziedog.com/dog_breeds/lowchen/