History

Löwchen, also known as the little lion dog has a history that goes back to the 1500s, when artists like Goya featured it in his paintings. While the ancestors of this breed are from south Europe, its modern sources belong to Belgium, France and Germany. After the two World Wars, the popularity of this breed waned to the extent of being named the rarest breed in the world by the Guinness Book of World Records in 1960. However, the situation has considerably improved now.

Appearance

The Löwchen’s head with an abundant mane like that of a lion has earned it the name little lion dog. The dog has a short head with a broad skull; dark, round, intelligent eyes; black nose; feathery, pendant ears; short body with medium length tail; and long, wavy coat in colors like white, black, lemon and sometimes speckled.

Color

white, black, spotted, cream, ivory, yellow

Personality

A playful, friendly and intelligent breed, the Löwchen loves to learn; and for this reason they are easy to train. These little dogs think they are top dogs and would try to challenge the larger dogs at home. Löwchens are good with children and are mostly comfortable with other canine and non-canine pets too. This robust and tough breed though not hyperactive, is a good watchdog and will warn of dangers with intense barking.

Health Concerns

The Löwchen is a healthy breed and only rare cases of patellar luxation are seen in some dogs.

Recognized By

CKC, FCI, AKC, ANKC, NKC, NZKC, APRI, ACR