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While it is one of the newest breeds to
the AKC, the Löwchen has a rich old history. The breed traces its roots to
the renaissance period of Europe. Its ancestry has long been believed to
stem from the Bichon family, yet now there is evidence pointing in another
direction. It's possible that the Löwchen descends out of a type of dog
that made its way west from Tibetan regions to Northern Europe. In
countries known today as Germany, Belgium and Holland, Terrier and
Spitz-type dogs probably mingled with the ancestors of those dogs from
Tibet. These dogs evolved into the feisty, athletic and hardy dog we know
today as the Löwchen. There is much evidence supporting this theory of
development in Teutonic countries, even so, the FCI credits the Löwchens
development to France.
Today we are lucky to find many examples
of Löwchen from the past thanks to surviving artworks. A trip to any museum
that includes renaissance art usually yields examples of Löwchen. Students
of the breed have a wonderful array of opportunities to glimpse its past.
We are, of course, interested with the here and now. Of importance in the
United States is how are judges, unfamiliar with the breed, to correctly
evaluate them?
Judging this breed appears easier than it
is. This is a breed of moderate qualities with no extremes. Correct
movement of the dogs is efficient and ground covering. This is a breed
identified, at first, by its trim. But, here is the crux of the matter;
this breed relies on "type" for definition. The trim stands out
to the casual observer, who is often inclined to remark: "without the
haircut this dog would be a mutt." This would be true if there were
not definite traits, which define the breed. Here is where judges can get
into trouble, as well as newcomers to the breed. Judges can choose a dog
that is moderate in every way, moves efficiently and looks like a Löwchen
since it is cut so, but still pick a dog that has no type what so ever
making the dog chosen, a poor example of the breed.
The Head
This breed is not a "head-breed", but the head plays an
important part in identifying the breed. If topped with a head conforming
to the prescribed classic type, then a Löwchen is certainly identifiable
out of a crowd of dogs of undetermined breeds. Very few mixed breeds
possess all the elements that put together a beautifully classic Löwchen
head. Mixed breeds may have some of the characteristics called for, but
rarely if ever, all of them at once.
Approaching the Löwchen from the front, a
judge first sees the profuse coat crowning the head. Moving closer, the
eyes stand out, presenting the dogs character, happy and friendly. Only
upon closer examination will the examiner be able to determine if the dog
is blessed with the correct head, which defines a Löwchen. Those judging
the Löwchen should make all effort to study the head. Be aware of that
which defines the head and when laying hands on one, be able to immediately
grasp if the bone structure is laid out as needed. Know if the head is
well-boned sturdy to the hand. Additionally, one should be able to
determine correctness of skull proportion by asking themselves several
questions: If one prefers the internationally recognized classic Lowchen
head: "Is the muzzle shorter than the back skull?" If American,
does one prefer the newer American style head? This type of head has a
muzzle length equal to the length of back skull. Which ever type the
judge prefers, the following questions are relevant to both types: "Is
there enough width to the back skull or enough stop? Is the muzzle broad,
nose prominent, the eyes round?" After having asked these questions,
judges should know if the dog holds the right qualities to be able to
answer yes to all questions asked.
The ideal Löwchen head is well boned,
possessing correct proportions. The back skull should be broad, never
narrow. Additionally, the top of the skull is relatively flat. It should
not round like a Chihuahua. Viewed from the front, the widest portion of
the head is between the ears. Frau Ostertag, of the world famous German
Livland kennel, explained that the back skull should be square in
appearance. The ideal backskull is equal in length between the ears, to the
length from occiput to the stop. Behind the ears the head ever so gently
rounds, almost in a half circle. From the ear to the eye the head remains
approximately the same width. From the eye to the muzzle the head gently
begins to taper. If one cradled the head between both hands, the hands
should be able to trace, roughly, the shape of a teardrop. When tracing to
find the teardrop, don't actually run a hand down the sides of the muzzle,
but try to see an imaginary line from the widest point of the head to the
tip of the nose. The portion behind the ears (of the backskull) forms the
top of the imaginary teardrop. This is an easy way to determine if the dog
is close to possessing the correct shape of head, since you can't trace a
tear drop shape on a dog that is too oblong, rounded or more rare, short of
head. This tear drop shape is, of course, a rough estimate towards
evaluating the head, since there are other important factors to be
considered.
There should be a slight stop, which is
defined on the correct Löwchen head. If the stop sloops too gently, usually
the head will be too long. Worldwide, the accepted Lowchen head has a
shorter muzzle compared to the length of the back skull. Adapted in the
latest American standard is the head of equal proportions, but if you judge
dogs internationally, know that the first is preferred in all other
countries. How this break with European interpretation came about is
unknown but theories exist. For many years in the United States Löwchen
breeders were not sure what a correct head should look like. (This is
changing.) Some of their dogs had muzzles as long as the line from the
occiput to the stop. Sometimes these heads were too long, in proportion to
the body. During the late 1980's and early 1990's many American breeders
had Löwchen with heads equal in muzzle and back skull, fewer had the
Lowchen with the short head described in all standards that existed at that
time. This accounts for the unprecedented change in the American standard,
of allowing for a muzzle equal in length to the back skull. Unexplained is
why breeders preferred the longer head versus the shorter. A head with a
shorter muzzle gives a very sweet expression. One possibility is that
several early Lowchen breeders were also Havanese breeders. The Havanese
standard calls for muzzle and back skull to possess equal proportions.
These breeders, believing that the Havanese and Lowchen came from the
Bichon family, may have assumed that their heads should possess
similarities. They may have chosen heads more typical to their Havanese
than Löwchen, since they were not trained to do otherwise. Another reason
they may have preferred this head was that it presented itself with
frequency, leading one to believe that it must be correct since it was so
strong in the gene pool. Lastly, another reason to prefer the longer muzzle
is less chance of a bad bite or crooked teeth. Whatever the reason, as a
result, an adjustment or allowance for this type of head was included in
the current American breed standard.
In Europe, where breeders and judges had
more exposure to those trained by Madame Bennert and Dr. Rickert the
original preservers of the Löwchen, the idea of equal proportions is
foreign and considered very incorrect. This would be supported by the fact
that all Lowchen standards, including the current American, call for short
heads. Commonly understood is that a dog with a muzzle equal to back skull
in length has a medium length head. This is an issue that may never be
resolved, but in the meantime since the American standard allows for two
distinct head types, judges judging in the United States have more leeway
of choice.
The Löwchen muzzle should never be longer
than the back skull. That creates too oblong a head, resembling a Poodle to
the untrained eye. Equally as important is that the muzzle not be too
short. The Löwchen head should never resemble a Lhasa Apso head, whose nose
is approximately 1/3 the length of the back skull. The Löwchens ideal head
proportion is 2/3rd of muzzle to back skull. Anything slightly over or
under that proportion is certainly acceptable.
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