article published in
Showsite magazine August 2009
Written and Copyright by Gini Denninger (Phone: 585-760-3880)
The Löwchens' colorful
history dates to the European middle ages. Abounding in Renaissance
paintings and illustrations, they look remarkably like todays
dogs! AKC Recognized in 1996, they are shown in the Non-sporting
group. Judging this breed is not as simple as one might think. Only
with intense study are breed subtleties understood. To the casual
observer, an untrimmed Löwchen looks like a mongrel. It is breed
type that defines them. A Löwchen with poor type, yet moderate in
every way, well moving and groomed is still a poor
representative of the breed.
General Appearance
Löwchen should possess no
extremes, their movement is efficient and ground covering. They should
be slightly off-square with moderate angulation. While small and
elegant they are Cobby and athletic at the same time. Löwchen are
very hardy dogs who weight more than one would expect, when picking
them up. They must be trimmed in the Lion clip to be shown.
Size, Proportion, Substance
Currently the breed is
12-14” at the shoulders. This is larger than FCI and English
Kennel Club standards. They state size must be between 9.9-12.6”
at the shoulder, as did all the early breeders. American breeders
believe larger Löwchen compete better in the Non-Sporting group.
Die-hard purists prefer the breed standard return to the size favored
world-wide. Löwchen should be slightly longer in length to height.
Knowledgeable breeders measure proportions from the withers to the
tail, then from withers to ground. The correct proportion is 11 parts
long to 10 parts tall. The 11/10 proportion doesn't work if measured
from the brisket to tail and withers to ground, as called for in the
American standard, since the dog would be shorter than tall, especially
if the dog has a prominent brisket. The American standard should call
for 13-14 parts long to 10 parts tall.
There is an elegance to the breed, but this does not mean the dogs are fragile They should be muscular, sturdy and yet moderately boned. Coarse Löwchen are not elegant, while refined Löwchen can look elegant but be incorrect, due to lacking the right amount of bone and muscle. Ideally, if dropped, there should be no fear of injury. A well-built, athletic Löwchen will not be harmed but probably insulted!
There is an elegance to the breed, but this does not mean the dogs are fragile They should be muscular, sturdy and yet moderately boned. Coarse Löwchen are not elegant, while refined Löwchen can look elegant but be incorrect, due to lacking the right amount of bone and muscle. Ideally, if dropped, there should be no fear of injury. A well-built, athletic Löwchen will not be harmed but probably insulted!
Head
The head is important in
identifying the breed. It should be sturdy and proportionate to the
body, not too large or too small. Sometimes this is hard to detect
under the coat, thus hands-on examination is important. The back skull
should be broad, never long and narrow. According to Frau Ostertag, of
the famous pioneering Livland Kennel, it should be squarish in
appearance when viewed from the top, with the widest portion between
the ears. The ideal back skull is equal in length between the ears and
from occiput to stop. Past the ears, the head rounds slightly in a half
circle. From the eyes to the muzzle the head begins to gently taper. If
cradling the head between both hands, you could trace a rough likeness
of a teardrop. The top of the skull is never rounded-much like a
Chihuahua. There should be a slight stop. Often, when the stop sloops
too gently, the head is too long.
The ideal eye is large, round and dark in color. It must be round. This is crucial, round eyes are a hallmark of the breed world-wide. A light round eye is preferred to a dark almond eye, giving an idea of how important the shape of the eye is. While large, they should not protrude. The eye must be rimmed with unbroken pigment. The breed standard does not call for a halo of pigment as seen in other breeds, but a Löwchen possessing this trait is not penalized, since this trait indicates strong pigment.
Ears are set slightly above the level of the eye. Profuse coat can hide this fault, so one must find where the ears are placed. If located too high, the expression is softer and pleasing but wrong, while a low ear set can give the illusion of surliness, also wrong. The degree of incorrect placement determines the degree of fault. If not too intruding on the dogs overall appearance, then consider this to be one of the lesser faults. All Löwchen standards call for pendant ears, hanging close and well fringed.
There are two head types according to the American standard. The difference being the length of muzzle. All breed standards world-wide, ask for a muzzle shorter than back skull. In addition, the American standard allows for a muzzle of equal length to back skull. The muzzle should never be longer than the back skull. Ideal proportion is 2/3 of muzzle to the whole of the back skull. The muzzle must have depth and width, with a nose that appears slightly larger than one would expect for the dogs size. The skin over the muzzle is tight, with no dewlaps or loose skin extending to the neck.
Löwchen teeth are large, in a scissors bite with complete dentition. It is common to find missing teeth. One or two seem to be accepted, more are frowned on. Wry bites are also found, but not tolerated. Crooked teeth generally occur when baby teeth are not pulled. Löwchen are prone to retaining baby teeth long after the adult tooth has come in, creating this problem. Penalize accordingly.
A well groomed coat will emphasize and frame the Löwchen face. The coat softens the angles and planes, giving the dog a pleasing appearance. There should be enough coat to create the illusion of a mane around the head. Some Löwchen have an interesting genetic trait that can express to varying degrees. They have what are known as open-faces. The coat on the face itself is less profuse, blending gradually into the surrounding more abundant coat. The face really pops out, especially eyes and nose. Sometimes it appears that a dog was trimmed this way. But if the coat is genuinely uneven, it is likely this is natural. The debate being; should these dogs be penalized? This may be genetically connected to smooth coats. This trait is becoming more rare, especially now, with the emphasis on coat.
Neck, Topline, and BodyThe ideal eye is large, round and dark in color. It must be round. This is crucial, round eyes are a hallmark of the breed world-wide. A light round eye is preferred to a dark almond eye, giving an idea of how important the shape of the eye is. While large, they should not protrude. The eye must be rimmed with unbroken pigment. The breed standard does not call for a halo of pigment as seen in other breeds, but a Löwchen possessing this trait is not penalized, since this trait indicates strong pigment.
Ears are set slightly above the level of the eye. Profuse coat can hide this fault, so one must find where the ears are placed. If located too high, the expression is softer and pleasing but wrong, while a low ear set can give the illusion of surliness, also wrong. The degree of incorrect placement determines the degree of fault. If not too intruding on the dogs overall appearance, then consider this to be one of the lesser faults. All Löwchen standards call for pendant ears, hanging close and well fringed.
There are two head types according to the American standard. The difference being the length of muzzle. All breed standards world-wide, ask for a muzzle shorter than back skull. In addition, the American standard allows for a muzzle of equal length to back skull. The muzzle should never be longer than the back skull. Ideal proportion is 2/3 of muzzle to the whole of the back skull. The muzzle must have depth and width, with a nose that appears slightly larger than one would expect for the dogs size. The skin over the muzzle is tight, with no dewlaps or loose skin extending to the neck.
Löwchen teeth are large, in a scissors bite with complete dentition. It is common to find missing teeth. One or two seem to be accepted, more are frowned on. Wry bites are also found, but not tolerated. Crooked teeth generally occur when baby teeth are not pulled. Löwchen are prone to retaining baby teeth long after the adult tooth has come in, creating this problem. Penalize accordingly.
A well groomed coat will emphasize and frame the Löwchen face. The coat softens the angles and planes, giving the dog a pleasing appearance. There should be enough coat to create the illusion of a mane around the head. Some Löwchen have an interesting genetic trait that can express to varying degrees. They have what are known as open-faces. The coat on the face itself is less profuse, blending gradually into the surrounding more abundant coat. The face really pops out, especially eyes and nose. Sometimes it appears that a dog was trimmed this way. But if the coat is genuinely uneven, it is likely this is natural. The debate being; should these dogs be penalized? This may be genetically connected to smooth coats. This trait is becoming more rare, especially now, with the emphasis on coat.
Because
of the Löwchens profuse coat, the right length of neck is crucial!
Too short, the head sits right on the chest, too long and the dog
becomes a caricature of itself. Balance is key. It is more common to
find Löwchen with too short a neck than long. When too short, the
illusion is created of too long a back, when in actuality, the dog may
be just right. If the dog has too long a neck, the back can appear too
short in contrast. The neck should be strong and muscled, fitting
smoothly into the shoulders and topline.
The Löwchen topline should be level, no exceptions. A level ruler should be able to sit from withers to tail. Any deviation is incorrect. A variety of faults can be found, such as low tail sets, low shoulders and roached toplines. Physical examination is necessary since coat can hide or even create a bad topline! A common problem occurs when the coat is thin around the shoulders and bushy in the midsection, making the dog will look roached when in actuality it isn't.
Löwchen bodies are muscular and sturdy. Reedy Löwchen are not uncommon, but should not be rewarded. Compact is the keyword here. Ribs are well sprung and large enough to hold lungs of an athlete. Barrel chests or slab-sided Löwchen are to be greatly faulted! Signs of these traits are easily revealed by the dogs movement. Barrel chested dogs are often out at the elbows, whereas slab-sided Löwchen have loose fronts, or cross over when moving. The Löwchen should have a moderate tuck-up. The line from the chest to the loin is gradual, not pronounced or extreme. They should appear a little thick waisted. The early Löwchen had barely pronounced tuck-ups. Exaggerated tuck-ups may make the dogs look more elegant, but are wrong and could become a problem if allowed by judges and breeders. A Löwchen with Greyhound tuck-ups is very incorrect!
Tail-sets are crucial in this breed as well as the shape of the tail. The correct tail is another hallmark of the breed. It should come off the back with no break in the level line until the point where the tail lifts off. There should not be any rolls or indentations at the point of joining. A correctly set tail with the right amount of curve resembles a teacup handle. The tail should curve over the back with coat hanging on one side or the other. A tight-to-the-back tail is as incorrect as a straight tail or flag tail. Flag tails are common in the breed. Since the natural tendency is toward ever looser tails as generations pass, it is important that breeders and judges select for correct tails, preferably erring on the side of too tight a tail, even a piglet style curl but never for the straighter or flag tail. To pick straight or flag tails ensures the eventual loss of the teacup handle tail. Another issue seen less commonly are too short or kinky tails. Penalize these faults to the degree of severity. The Löwchen tail is carried happily over the back when gaiting. But, dropped tails should not to be penalized when the dog not gaiting. A serious, frequently seen fault is a low tail set, which can cause Lowchen to move wide or stiffly in the rear. Another sign of a too low tail set is if there is a roll of flesh over the base of the tail. When found on an otherwise fit dog, the tail is usually set too low. If the dog is flabby and out of shape, fat pads can develop by the tail, creating the roll. Either way, this is a very undesirable trait and takes away from the clean outline of the dog. The tail when properly set and carried helps create the unique breed profile.
The Löwchen topline should be level, no exceptions. A level ruler should be able to sit from withers to tail. Any deviation is incorrect. A variety of faults can be found, such as low tail sets, low shoulders and roached toplines. Physical examination is necessary since coat can hide or even create a bad topline! A common problem occurs when the coat is thin around the shoulders and bushy in the midsection, making the dog will look roached when in actuality it isn't.
Löwchen bodies are muscular and sturdy. Reedy Löwchen are not uncommon, but should not be rewarded. Compact is the keyword here. Ribs are well sprung and large enough to hold lungs of an athlete. Barrel chests or slab-sided Löwchen are to be greatly faulted! Signs of these traits are easily revealed by the dogs movement. Barrel chested dogs are often out at the elbows, whereas slab-sided Löwchen have loose fronts, or cross over when moving. The Löwchen should have a moderate tuck-up. The line from the chest to the loin is gradual, not pronounced or extreme. They should appear a little thick waisted. The early Löwchen had barely pronounced tuck-ups. Exaggerated tuck-ups may make the dogs look more elegant, but are wrong and could become a problem if allowed by judges and breeders. A Löwchen with Greyhound tuck-ups is very incorrect!
Tail-sets are crucial in this breed as well as the shape of the tail. The correct tail is another hallmark of the breed. It should come off the back with no break in the level line until the point where the tail lifts off. There should not be any rolls or indentations at the point of joining. A correctly set tail with the right amount of curve resembles a teacup handle. The tail should curve over the back with coat hanging on one side or the other. A tight-to-the-back tail is as incorrect as a straight tail or flag tail. Flag tails are common in the breed. Since the natural tendency is toward ever looser tails as generations pass, it is important that breeders and judges select for correct tails, preferably erring on the side of too tight a tail, even a piglet style curl but never for the straighter or flag tail. To pick straight or flag tails ensures the eventual loss of the teacup handle tail. Another issue seen less commonly are too short or kinky tails. Penalize these faults to the degree of severity. The Löwchen tail is carried happily over the back when gaiting. But, dropped tails should not to be penalized when the dog not gaiting. A serious, frequently seen fault is a low tail set, which can cause Lowchen to move wide or stiffly in the rear. Another sign of a too low tail set is if there is a roll of flesh over the base of the tail. When found on an otherwise fit dog, the tail is usually set too low. If the dog is flabby and out of shape, fat pads can develop by the tail, creating the roll. Either way, this is a very undesirable trait and takes away from the clean outline of the dog. The tail when properly set and carried helps create the unique breed profile.
Forequarters
The American kennel club
breed standard provides an in-depth description of the shoulders. It
calls for a moderately long and well-laid back shoulder. The brisket
extends to the elbow. Upper arms are equal length to the shoulder
blade, meeting at a 90° angle. The front legs are parallel and well
muscled. Forearms should have good length, with the distance from the
ground to the elbow slightly greater than the distance from the elbow
to the top of the withers. The bone is described as more round than
oval with a slight decrease in size at the pasterns. Pasterns are short
and slightly bent. Dogs with faulty pasterns often do not have the
correct ground beneath them. They need uneven terrain to allow the
pastern to retain strength and flexibility. Feet should be tight
and well arched, but not as extreme as a poodle foot is. Splayed feet
should be penalized. The standard also calls for dewclaws to be
removed. This is a problem since only the AKC standard calls for
dewclaw removal. This is rarely, if ever, done in other countries and
strictly enforcing this could eliminate foreign-bred dogs from the show
ring. Fortunately judges seem to recognize this dilemma and have never
seemed to penalize a Löwchen for having dewclaws.
Hindquarters
This breed has always been
noted for its strong rear. It should be well muscled and slightly
rounded. Due to the roundness, when viewed from the rear, it appears
wider rather than narrow. Not desirable is the rear described as a
“horse-shoe” rear. This type of assembly is too broad and
causes the dog to move widely and less efficiently. The original
breeders in all their descriptions of the breed, never called for this
type of rear. This seems to be a phenomenon coming from the early
1980's. The legs should be parallel and not hock in or out. The
bracelets or pompoms can give the impression of hock issues, if too
full or wispy. Judges or breeders must be able to see through coat to
determine correct movement. Löwchen should have moderate rear
angulation. The early dogs were moderately angled. As years have gone
by, angulation in the breed changed and is more pronounced, to the
point in some cases, of extreme angulation. A Löwchen should not
stand out for being well-angulated. Recognizing correct angulation
seems to be a problem for some breeders and judges alike,
probably since a well-angulated dog is more flashy in the show
ring, standing and moving. A more than moderately angulated
Löwchen goes against historic breed type.
Coat
Watching a Löwchen with correct coat parade around the show ring or in the back yard can be breathtaking. A correct coat is actually relatively low maintenance, despite being long. Since the days of Madame Bennert, who saved the Löwchen from extinction, breeders were instructed that the coat should be wavy, and long. All four breed standards around the world reflect her words. The American standard is very descriptive. Löwchen coats should be healthy and shiny in appearance. Dry, brittle, broken-off, hard, terrier-like, harsh or poodley coats should be severely penalized. Too soft, frizzy, curly or limp coats are also incorrect and to be penalized. A correct coat will flow when moving. Proper coat has two types of hairs equally distributed; thin, very fine and larger-in-circumference hairs. When examining a Löwchen lift a strand off the back at the withers and spread it out across one or two fingers. The distribution of both types of hairs should be 50/50. If there is an imbalance in the equation, then the coat will be too hard or too soft. The thick hairs provide strength, the thin ones, volume. Because of this mix, the Löwchen coat is voluminous, not limp or straight. It is this mixture that also makes the coat easy to maintain. It does not mat quickly or easily. A once-a-week thorough brushing and bath will maintain a show coat, as long as the dog is not exposed to harsh elements.
Currently at serious issue is presentation of the coat. Many changes have occurred since the breed was first introduced to this country. The early dogs were not as well-coated as todays dogs. Much of this is attributed to improved grooming techniques on the part of the exhibitor. Once thing that has not changed is the pattern of cut. The American standard goes into this in detail. The most serious problem, that is getting worse, pertains to the only breed disqualification; “Any trim other than specified, Shaping or scissoring of the long coat”. Most manage to clip where appropriate. The problem seen increasingly, is shaping of the long coat by various means. Löwchen do not have an even, tidy appearance. Their coat does not have a scissor straight edge, it falls in varying lengths, long in some parts, shorter in others. The strands are not even at the tips, but a real mis-mash of lengths, off by up to ¾ of an inch. They do not resemble Bichons or Poodles in any way. There should be no rounding of coat on the head or pompoms. No scissoring or trimming around the eyes. Some exhibitors have become very skilled in their trimming procedures, even using a pumice stone to sculpt coats while disingenuously proclaiming that they did not “scissor” the coat and so are adhering to the standard. Dogs appearing trimmed in the show ring are explained away with excuses such as: “The dog chewed the coat”, “...was kept on concrete”which resulted in the wearing of coat away in strategic spots, and “the bitch was in season” which for some reason allowed her to drop coat to the point that it was perfectly sculpted. Such luck!. Some owners or handlers go so far to explain the perfectly even or sculpted coat as having been the result of being meticulously kept up. In even the most meticulously kept coat, the coat will not appear even or trimmed, since there is always hair loss. New hairs replace dropped hairs throughout the coat, resulting in many lengths up to the longest tip, producing the uneven ends found only on an untrimmed dog. A perfectly sculpted outline is contrary to the breed. Puppies under a year will appear to be scissored, but are not. Their coats grow out at the same length since all hairs are new. Once they become adults and begin dropping and breaking coat, unevenness will be unavoidable.
Normally, Löwchen coats rarely grow long enough to reach the floor. To achieve this, some exhibitors wrap coats or keep their Löwchen in pens-never touching the ground, or in crates for endless hours. Correct coat breaks off where stress points naturally occur, creating the lion-like outline of the breed.. Coats to the ground take away from this outline and are incorrect. Another extreme, also incorrect, is the naturally short coated Löwchen. No matter what, their coats do not grow beyond a certain point. Also rare is the smooth-coated Löwchen. Smooths come in many variations from dogs with very thin, almost see-through, longer coats, and running the gamut to the extreme of spaniel or Spitz type coats.
Besides trimming and shaping coats, another technique becoming an issue is straightening of coats, either with a blow dryer or hair iron. The coat must have some wave to it. Perfectly or nearly straight is incorrect. Straight coats look more polished and so have caught on in the show ring. The problem is that it can be impossible to determine if coat texture is correct when altered in this manner.
Lastly, exhibitors must let the coat part naturally. Running a comb or knitting needle through to get the perfect part is unnecessary. The coat will fall into a natural part on its own. Parting hair on the head is definitely not encouraged. A Löwchen with a parted headpiece will resemble a Tibetan Terrier, especially if their muzzle is equal in length to back skull.
Color
All colors are allowed, as well as all patterns of color. What is
increasingly rare and should be rewarded are clear or pure colors-those
that do not fade. These colors are consistent throughout each strand,
perfectly the same color, with no lighter, white or gray strands
mingled in. There is a dominant fade-factor gene in the breed, leading
to the loss of pure colors. When finding a pure colored dog, bonus
points should be given for their color clarity, assuming they otherwise
adhere to the standard. Some claim that coat texture is color related.
This is incorrect. Correct coat texture is found in all colors. Color
should not be an excuse for incorrectness.The AKC breed standard describes
movement thoroughly. The description calls for efficient, ground
covering strides. Toplines must hold firm, with tails up over the back.
The head should be held above the shoulders. Löwchen possess
stamina and elegance of movement when put together correctly, covering
ground with little effort. They surprise those unfamiliar with the
breed, with their speed when running with the big dogs!
TemperamentThe Löwchens main purpose
in life is to be a companion dog. They are highly intelligent and
blessed with playfulness and boldness, making them the perfect tomboys
of the dog world. They are naturally confident dogs who like to be the
center of attention. Many enjoy being in the show ring and when
retired, still beg to go to shows when the loading of crates begins.
Timid Löwchen must be discouraged. In the show ring a Löwchen
that refuses to stand for examination or move due to shyness should be
penalized severely. There is no excuse for a poor temperament, none.
Finally
Judging and breeding the Löwchen can be complicated, due to all the nuances. Because there are so few Löwchen in breeding programs, the ones being used must be of top quality. It is the job of both breeders and judges to carefully weed out the lesser quality dogs, or both will contribute to the decline of this breed and the loss of its unusual qualities, intact for hundreds of years. “Faddy” show styles should not be allowed to alter this breed! All must be vigilant and select only the true best!