Breed standards

Lowchen (Little Lion Dog)

Breed standards are the official guidelines that describe the ideal characteristics, temperament, and appearance of a breed and ensures that the breed is fit for function with soundness essential.

Last Updated: 22 Feb 2017

Kennel Club, London 1994

Amended
July 1996
October 2016

Group:
Group 1 (Toys)
History:
General:

Coat clipped in traditional lion clip, tail also clipped, topped with plume, giving appearance of a little lion. Strongly built, active, well balanced and alert.

Characteristics:

Gay, happy, lively little dog.

Temperament:

Intelligent, affectionate showing no sign of aggression.

Head And Skull:

Short fairly broad.. Skull flat between the ears head carried proud and high. Well defined stop; short, strong muzzle.

Eyes:

Round, dark, relatively large and intelligent. Unbroken pigmentation of eye rims, pigment to be in accordance with coat colour.

Ear:

Pendant, of moderate length with long fringing.

Mouth:

Jaws strong, with perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. the upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set square to the jaws.

Neck:

Good length, proudly arched.

Forequarters:

Shoulders well laid. Forequarters straight with round bone, no too fine.

Body:

Short, strong and well proportioned. Level topline. Ribs well sprung. Strong loin with moderate tuck up.

Hindquarters:

Hindlegs well-muscled. Good turn of stifle without exaggeration; straight when viewed from rear.

Feet:

Small, round.

Tail:

Medium length, clipped with tuft of hair to resemble a plume. Carried gaily on move.

Gait/Movement:

Free, parallel movement for and aft, no hackneyed action.

Coat:

Fairly long, wavy, never curly. Single coat of silky texture. Coat to be shown in its natural state without scissoring or sculpting, apart from the traditional lion clip.

Colour:

Any colour or combination of colours permissible. Merle is not acceptable.

Sizes:

Height: 25-33 cm (10-13 ins) at withers.

Faults:

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.

Notes:

Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

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