NZKC OFFICIAL BREED STANDARD

FOR THE LÖWCHEN IN NEW ZEALAND

 

 

CHARACTERISTICS: 
Intelligent, lively and affectionate. 

GENERAL APPEARANCE: 
A strongly built, active, well balanced and alert little dog whose presentation gives the "little Lion" appearance. 

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

Eyes: 
Round, large and intelligent, dark in colour. 

Ears: 
Long and well fringed, set on level with the eye, close hanging. 

Mouth: 
The jaws should be strong, with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. the upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set square to the jaws. 

Nose: 
Black/brown according to coat colour. 

Neck: 
Good length, proudly arched. 

Forequarters: 
Forelegs straight and fine boned. Shoulder well laid. 

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

Hindquarters: 
Hind legs well-muscled, with good turn of stifle; straight when viewed from the rear. 

Feet: 
Small and round. 

Gait: 
Free, parallel movement fore and aft, no hackneyed action. 

Tail: 
Of medium length, clipped with a tuft of hair to resemble a plume. Carried gaily on the move. 

Coat: 
Fairly long and wavy but not curly. Fine and silky. Clipped in the traditional lion clip. 

Colour: 
Any colour or combination of colours permissible. 

Size: 
Height 25-35 cm. (10-13 inches) at the withers. 

Faults: 
Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness of the fault should be in exact proportion to its degree. 

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