Löwchen
| Löwchen | |||||||||||||||||
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 Löwchen | |||||||||||||||||
| Other names | Petit Chien Lion Little Lion Dog | ||||||||||||||||
| Origin | Europe, possibly France in particular[1][2] | ||||||||||||||||
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| Dog (domestic dog) | |||||||||||||||||
The Löwchen or Little Lion Dog (German: Löwchen, "little lion"; French: Petit chien lion, "little lion dog") is a breed of dog. A small dog, they are considered by some registries as a toy dog and by the American Kennel Club as a non-sporting dog.
The Löwchen once had the dubious 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.[3] Even today, the breed generally has fewer than a few hundred new registrations each year worldwide.
Description
The Löwchen's coat is long and flowing and comes in many colours. The coat should not be thin and fluffy like a Bichon Frise, but fairly straight with waves. It is a multi-texture coat with a 50/50 mix of silkier thicker hairs and softer hair. This allows for a easy to maintain coat that is silky to the touch. Löwchen coat should not be harsh, wooly or cottony. The Löwchen does not shed, and this breed has very low allergic effects, and are considered hypoallergenic.[4] 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 head of the Löwchen is one of its most important features, with its relatively wide muzzle, broad skull, lively round eyes, and pendulant ears. They can come in all colours with dark pigmentation around the eye rings and nose. The head, when in proportion to the body, is neither too big nor too small, but helps to emphasize the friendly, regal, and leonine personality of the Löwchen. The litter size is usually between two to five puppies. The Löwchen's life span is around 14 to 18 years.
Lion cut
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The Löwchen's long and wavy coat is presented in a 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, and the rest of the coat is left natural to give the dog the appearance of a male lion. The lion cut is the traditional way of presenting these dogs. It is speculated that the lion clip was to allow the naked areas to provide warmth to their owners while the long coat would collect lice and nits from their ownrs. [3] Dogs in lion clip may need some protection in wintertime on the shaved parts.[3]
Temperament
The Löwchen is a friendly, healthy, and happy dog. Dogs of this breed are both active and playful, and very intelligent. The Löwchen is an excellent house pet.[3] The Löwchen makes also a good pet for families with children. This breed has a history as a companion dog and the dogs need the attention of humans and they are not happy left alone for longer periods of time.[3] The Löwchen can be vocal in excitement or demands, though some can be quiet.[3]
History
The breed is traceable to as far back as 1442. They are found in many old paintings, tapestries, engravings, drawings[3] and in literature. It is an old breed type, found in many countries as far back as the sixteenth century.[3] The 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 history remains obscure.
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 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. Occasionally a genetic throw-back is found. Madame Bennerts started a breeding program in 1944, later with the help of veterinarian Dr. Rickert.[5]
Lowchen were imported into Britain in 1968 and the breed was accorded Kennel Club (UK) recognition in 1971.[6] The Lowchen would finally make an appearance in America in 1971,[7] by way of England. At this time, the Lowchen was still known as the “Lion Dog”. Also in 1971, The Lowchen Club of America (LCA) was formed and the breed's name was officially changed to “Lowchen”.
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Portrait of Agnès Sorel (1422–1450) with a little dog in lion cut. -
Dog depicted in lion cut, 1505. -
Wedding portrait of Magnus Gabriel De la Gardie and Maria Eufrosyne, 1653. Beside them, a little dog in lion cut. -
Old Dutch painting, of Adriaen van Utrecht, detail of the dog. -
Two-year-old Henri Bertholet-Campan with his dog in lion cut, by Ulrik Wertmüller, 1786. -
Duchess Katharina von Mecklenburg, by Lucas Cranach the Elder, painted 1514, showing dog in lion cut. -
Portrait of Princess Marie Zéphyrine of France (1750–1755) with her dog in lion cut. -
Archduchess Maria Christina, Duchess of Teschen (1742–1798), with her dog in lion cut.
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External links
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References
- ^ “Lowchen (Little Lion Dog).” The Kennel Club, [www.thekennelclub.org.uk/services/public/breed/display.aspx?id=6158]
- ^ “Löwchen Dog Breed Information.” American Kennel Club, [www.akc.org/dog-breeds/lowchen/#timeline]
- ^ a b c d e f g h The dog selector, David Alderton, 2010, pg 59, ISBN 978-91-7401-2460 or 0-7641-6365-5 or 978-07-641-6365-4.
- ^ The dog selector, David Alderton, 2010, page 59, ISBN 978-91-7401-2460 or 0-7641-6365-5 or 978-0-7641-6365-4.
- ^ Madame Bennert
- ^ "Lowchen Information". Retrieved 2016-11-26.
- ^ "Lowchen Breed Information: History, Health, Pictures, and more". www.easypetmd.com. Retrieved 2016-11-26.