Lowchen
In the sport of purebred, AKC dogs, there is a little known breed called Lowchen. The Lowchen is a small (10-13 inches at the shoulder) dog with a big heart and a lot of love. This is an old breed, dating back (by surviving artwork) to the 1400’s. This is a long haired breed, but was given a “lion” clip to provide warmth to royalty and members of the court. As the lion was associated with bravery, these little dogs were commonly preferred by the knights and were seen on shields and gravestones.
The AKC breed standard for the Lowchen. The Canadian breed standard for the Lowchen. This standard has some nice pictures depicting the various aspects of the breed.
The Lowchen is a non-sheding breed, which makes it perfect for families where dog hair allergies are a concern. Although they are shown in the lion clip, many pet owners prefer to keep them in a “puppy” cut to elminate the grooming required with the lion clip.
The Lowchen is an active dog, but after a 15-20 minute run likes to settle down in their owner’s lap. They love all kinds of weather, especially the snow in the winter where they frequently burrow through the snow or roll around making snow angels.
I am new to the breed, after having and breeding Great Danes for 20 some years. My Lowchen love to play with my Danes and are fearless around the bigger dogs. I am showing my Lowchen and hope to finish them both in the US and Canada. I have also done a little bit of Rally classes with the Lowchen and find them eager to learn the stations.
My friend and co-owner, Gini Denninger has been in the breed for over 20 years. She has done extensive research on the history of the breed and even wrote a book (currently out of print) called The Lowchen the Breed Forgotten by History. Gini lives here in Rochester and you can read some of her real estate blogs on this site.
I live in Webster, NY and have a web site for both my Great Danes and Lowchen. Please visit my site to see my Great Danes and Lowchen. I am also an active member of the Genesee Valley Kennel Club which has been in the Rochester area since before 1936 and has an active web site.
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