Lowchen

Official U.K.C. Breed Standard*

Companion Dogs Group
  © Copyright 1995, United Kennel Club, Inc.

HISTORY

The Lowchen is a very old breed, having been established as far back as the 1500's in Europe, specifically in Spain, France and Germany.

The Lowchen was recognized by the United Kennel Club on January 1, 1995.

GENERAL APPEARANCE

The Lowchen is a small, bright, lively dog that originated as a companion breed in pre-Renaissance Europe where ladies of the court groomed it in the likeness of a little lion. The body is approximately square when properly balanced.

CHARACTERISTICS

Breed characteristics include: a square outline; a relatively short, broad topskull; and a rough coat in a lion's trim. These quintessential features, combined with an outgoing and positive attitude, result in a dog of great style. Bone is moderate, being neither too coarse nor too fine.

The Lowchen is alert, intelligent, and affectionate, with the overall qualities of a loving companion dog. It has a lively, outgoing, and inquisitive personality.

HEAD AND SKULL

The head is a hallmark breed characteristic (as is the lion cut or trim). Expression is bright, alert, and lively. The backskull is relatively broad. The stop is moderate. The head is carried relatively high when the dog is moving.

The broad muzzle is the same length as, or slightly shorter than, the backskull. The underjaw has moderate depth. The result is that of a slightly rounded finish to the muzzle. The lips are tight, with pigment color depen ent on coat color.

TEETH
A full complement of strong, rather large, well spaced, white teeth meet in a scissors bite.

EYES
The eyes are set well into the skull. They are large and rather round in shape. They are set well apart and forward-looking.

Eye color is dependent on coat color. A darker eye is preferred. Full pigmentation is required on the eye rims.

EARS
The ears are pendant, moderate in length, well fringed, and set on slightly above the level of the eye.

NOSE
Dark, complete pigmentation is required on the nose. Color is dependent on coat color.

NECK

The slightly arched neck is of good length and fits smoothly into the shoulders and backline.

FOREQUARTERS

The moderately long shoulders are well-laid-back and have smooth musculature. The brisket is moderately wide and extends approximately to the elbows.

The upper arm is of equal length to the shoulder blade; and the two meet in a near 90-degree angle.

FORELEGS
The elbows are held close to the- body The distance from the elbow to the ground is slightly greater than the distance from the elbow to the top of the shoulder. The forearms are of good length.

When viewed from the front the legs are perfectly parallel from the elbow to the feet. The bone is rather more round than oval and of medium size, with only a slight decrease in size at the pasterns. The rather short pasterns are parallel when viewed from the front. When viewed from the side, they are slightly bent.

Dewclaws on front legs should be removed.

BODY

When properly balanced, the body is approximately square. The distance from the prosternum to the end of the pelvis is approximately equal to the distance from the withers to the ground. The backline is level from withers to tailset. The loin is short and strong. The ribs are well-sprung. The underline has a slight tuckup.

HINDQUARTERS

The pelvic bone is moderately long, projecting beyond the set of the tail. It is at an approximate 45-degree angle from a perfectly horizontal line.

The well-muscled upper and lower thighs are of approximately equal length, and with medium bond.

HIND LEGS
The stifles are well-bent. The hocks are well let down. The rear pasterns are perpendicular to the ground from any angle. Rear dewclaws should be removed.

FEET

The feet are well-arched, with the two center toes slightly longer than the two outer-toes. Pads are deep. Nails --are relatively short. The forefeet point straight ahead. The hind feet are slightly smaller than the forefeet.

A tight foot is preferred. A splayed foot is to be penalized.

TAIL

The moderate length tail is set high. It is of moderate thickness at the base, and tapers toward the tip. When the dog is moving, it is carded in a cup-handle fashion over the back. A dropped tail while standing is not to be penalized.

COAT

The long coat is rather dense and moderately soft in texture. It has a slight to moderate wavy appearance. Puppies typically have a softer coat than adults and should not be penalized.

Wiry woolly, curly, and flat coat textures are not correct and are to be penalized according to the degree of severity.

TRIM
The Lowchen is customarily shown in the Lion Trim. The coat is clipped to about one-eighth of an inch from the ribs back to, and including, the hindquarters. A ruff, or mane, that just covers to the last rib is left. The front legs are clipped from the elbow to a point just above the knee, which is equal to the same distance from the ground to the hock joint. The hindquarters are clipped to the hock joint. This leaves cuffs of hair on all four legs.

The tail is clipped from the base to approximately onehalf way from the tip, leaving a plume at the end of the tail. The feet are clipped to the dewclaws.

The coat is left at natural length on the head, neck, shoulders, and forward body. These unclipped areas must be completely untrimmed. On no account should the unclipped areas be smoothed, shortened, shaped, or otherwise tidied

COLOR

All colors and color combinations are acceptable, with no preference given to any.

HEIGHT

The preferred height range is from twelve (12) to fourteen (14) inches, measured at the withers. Dogs and bitches above or below the height range are to be faulted according to the degree of variance.

GAIT

When viewed from the front, the forelegs move in almost parallel lines, converging slightly as speed increases. From the rear, the hind legs move in almost parallel lines and in the same line of motion as the forelegs, converging slightly as speed increases.

Side movement is efficient and ground-covering. The forelegs reach well out in front in a long, relatively low stride. The rear legs come well under the body and extend behind to maximize propulsion.

The body remains nearly square in outline. The topline is held firm and level, with the tail being carried curved over the back. The head is held above the level of the back.

DISQUALIFICATIONS

Unilateral or bilateral cryptorchid. Extreme viciousness or shyness. Any trimming other than indicated. Any shaping or scissoring of the long coat

* NOTE: This information has been contributed by, and is property of The United Kennel Club, Inc. and is gratefully used here with permission.

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