The Lowchen dog is a beautiful, yet different looking dog. They are also referred to as the "lion dog" because of the haircut they have that resembles a lion, from their head right to the tuft of hair on their tail.
The Lowchen used to be particularly popular, especially with the ladies who would use them like hot water bottles. The dog would crawl under the blankets, lying very still next to their owner. Their shaved skin on their little bodies warmed many cold hands or feet.
For many years, they became very rare and weren't heard about very much. When the television show Hart to Hart had a little unclipped Lowchen named Freeway on the show, the Lowchen started becoming very popular again.
Did you know that although they are a very healthy breed, they are also inbred a lot?
The Lowchen is a member of the Bichon group of dogs and has been the most loved and treasured of dogs for a few centuries now and specifically with the nobility. The Lowchen dog, famous for their lion-like haircut, was used in many paintings in the 1500s. If a knight survived the war and was not killed, he was put in paintings along with a Lowchen at his feet. This was a symbol of the bravery and courage of the knight and a way to honor his service.
Although in 1960 they were given the title of being the rarest breed in the Guinness Book of World records, they no longer hold this title since their breed was revived years ago by a breeder dedicated to this breed.
With good food and excellent health, the Lowchen can live up to 16 to 17 years of age, which is an excellent life span for a dog.
As popular as the Lowchen is, the male dog is much more preferred than the female. In fact, in agility events, the male seems to perform better than the female. The reason for this is unknown to many, but the owners and trainers just seem to have better luck with males in the ring.
In a recent survey of 257 Lowchen owners, only 35% stated that they actually kept their dog's hair in the style of the lion, as the breed is meant to be.
The Lowchen dog is infamous for having a great memory, which makes them so easy to train. Although they tend to be stubborn at times during training, they comprehend what they are being taught and they will remember it always.
In addition to the regular canine shows the Lowchen dog performs in, they also perform in Specialty shows which are dedicated just to the Lowchen dog, as opposed to competing against all different breeds.
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