Lowchen

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
GROUP: Gun Dog

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.