Lowchen
The little lion dog, clipped into a mane and bare hindquarters since the middle ages. Small, bright, and once counted among the rarest breeds in the world.
Photo by Petful.com, CC BY 2.0
Overview
The Lowchen, or little lion dog, has been clipped in a lion trim since at least the fifteenth century, appearing in European art with the mane, the bare hindquarters and the plumed tail tip. The clip is a styling tradition rather than anything about the coat itself.
In the 1960s it was recorded as the rarest breed in the world, with about sixty five known individuals, and it has recovered only partially.
Temperament
Cheerful, affectionate and outgoing. Lowchen are good with children, sociable with strangers and other dogs, and they are lively without being frantic.
They are intelligent and easy to train, and they are notably adaptable, which is unusual in a breed with such a narrow history. They bond closely and prefer company to solitude.
Care and grooming
The long wavy coat needs combing every day or two whether or not it is clipped in the lion trim, and it does not shed much.
The breed is generally healthy, which is fortunate given the founding population. Patellar luxation and progressive retinal atrophy occur at low rates. Thirteen to fifteen years.
Living and exercise
Forty five minutes a day plus play. They suit flats and families.
The practical difficulty is availability. Numbers remain very low, and the gene pool is worth asking a breeder about directly.
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