Lowchen Dog Breed

These dogs were bred to be companions who were also ratters and alarm dogs. They are fine for first-time dog owners but they require a lot of patience in no fewer than two stages: the years-long waiting list (IF you can get on one) and then the training and socialization. There is also the high price just to adopt one. By the time you actually have one of these puppies, you will have had many chances and lots of time to have carefully considered your responsibility. They are dogs who will give back what you do for them, as they understand that it's a symbiotic relationship.

Here are some things, both good and bad, that you should consider if you really wish to adopt one of these rare dogs:

The Lowchen is a very small dog that to the unknowing eye can be confused with a Bichon Frise, a Pekingese, and other such dogs. The big difference is often in the way the owner grooms their Lowchens: the lion cut. The rear of the dog is shaved so as to accent the long, wavy' coat's head, thus producing the effect of a little lion's mane.

Long bred to fulfill many roles for many people and places, the Lowchen is a highly intelligent dog. They are easy to train, love to learn new tricks and tasks, and are very eager to please their masters. They will not hesitate to try new and bigger tricks, take on the largest of foes (real or imagined!) and be imaginative in ways that are sure to please you.

They are ever at the ready to chase down rats, keep a close watch on all walls and newcomers, and to perpetually be at the master's side through thick and thin. These are some of the most loyal dogs around, and they demand the same.

The Lowchen is a breed that can be fine lying around all day or making the rounds all day. The one things these dogs require regardless of the amount of exercise and other activity they receive is you. At the least, they should have a couple of brief walks with someone they trust.

Lowchen history reaches back to the tail end of the middle ages, when the "Little Lion Dog" was depicted in art during the mid-15th century. There are multiple theories regarding the breed's origins; some say Russia or Tibet, others say Germany or Belgium, and still others say the Bichon in the Mediterranean. They were popular dogs to many types of people and places — from royalty to serfs, and in castles as well as on farms.

The end of the 1800s was also nearly the end of the breed. Fortunately, a woman named Madelaine Bennert took up the cause to reinvigorate the dog. She was given her first Little Lion Dog in 1897, and she received it from Maximillian de Conick, the first known modern "Lowchen" breeder. A few years later, in 1904, a count named Henry A. Graaf Van Bylandt wrote out the first Little Lion Dog breed standard which he submitted to be published in a book titled "Dogs of all Nations: their varieties, characteristics, points, etc." (1904, London, W.E. Mason).

When Bennert took up the reins, it was just in time. Shortly after she started her breeding program, WWI exploded. Over the next four decades, the two world wars threatened many dog breeds but none so much as the already rare and rather fragile "Lowchen." In 1944, immediately following the end of the second world war in Europe, she reinvigorated her Little Lion Dog reinvigoration program.

It was in 1968 that the as-yet-named Lowchen was exported to the United Kingdom. A few years later, in 1971, the dogs were exported to America. That same year, the Löwchen Club of America (LCA) was founded right alongside the breed's name-change to "Lowchen." By 1976, the dogs were around the world to Australia. Also that year, the UK Kennel Club formally recognized the breed. It took several years, until 1999, for the American Kennel Club (AKC) to recognize the breed.

Over the centuries, the Lowchen temperament has remained upbeat. It may be the secret that kept these dogs cheery and with a wonderful personality that is far larger than the dog, the breed, or the earth-shattering world wars that nearly killed them off. To their masters and family, these can be the most loving of all companion dogs. They will be happy to sit with you all day, or to be put to work alongside you keeping vermin out of the house, learning new tricks and guarding you and your home.

They can be very bossy, however, as it is their job: to warn against possible threats, and to be the first line of defense meant to hold down the figurative fort until backup arrives. Because of this, they can be aloof or even downright suspicious of strangers. This goes for other dogs too, and regardless of the size of any other dog, the Lowchen will not back down.

It's remarkable that with so few of these dogs registered worldwide, the Lowchen is nevertheless a very healthy breed. Perhaps the biggest "health" problem is this dog's derring-do, for their huge courage can lead these small dogs quickly into danger if a much larger foe — dog, human, or otherwise — takes up the challenge. Also, all the Lowchen clubs throughout the Western world strongly recommend that all the orthopedic, eye, skeletal, and other veterinary and certification tests be done prior to adoption and/or breeding.

Below is a list of possible health problems the Lowchen might encounter:

• Cataracts
• Patellar luxation
• Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)

The average lifespan of a typical Löwchen is from 12 to 14 years.