Breed Standard

CKC BREED STANDARD

The Löwchen Club of Canada follows the breed standards set by the Canadian Kennel Club. These standards are upheld by breeders and are the standards by which Löwchen are judged at shows and breed events. Check out a quick summary below, or check out our complete Judge’s Guide for full information on the breed standards.

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General Appearance

Strongly built, active, well-balanced and alert little dog whose presentation (that is, coat and tail clipped in traditional lion clip) gives the “little lion” appearance.

Head and Skull

Short. Skull wide in proportion, flat between the ears, head carried proud and high. Well-defined stop. Short, strong muzzle.

Eyes

Round, large and intelligent, dark in colour. Unbroken pigmentation of eye rims. Pigment to be in accordance with coat colour.

Ears

Pendant, long and well fringed, set on level with the eye, close hanging.

Mouth

Jaws strong with perfect, regular and complete scissors bite (that is, the upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set square to the jaw).

Nose

Black or 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 top line. 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, round.

Tail

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

Gait/Movement

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

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 -33 cm. (10 -13 in.) at the withers.

Faults

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault is regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.

Note

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