CKC Löwchen Standard

What are breed standards?
Breed standards define the physical characteristics of a breed as well as personality and temperament. By adhering to these standards, Löwchen breeders both preserve the quality of the breed and ensure that they are providing Löwchen owners with happy, healthy pups.

How are standards judged?
Several ways. Individual breeders will evaluate their own lines for health, temperament, adherence to breed standard, etc. before deciding which dogs to breed and which to “pet out.” Breeding dogs, or “show dogs” will usually then be taken out on the show circuit to earn their championship pedigree where the breed standards are evaluated by judges.

How does a judge know what to look for?
With less than 100 Löwchens in Canada, they’re rarely seen in the show ring. Outside of a Löwchen specialty, judges may encounter Löwchens in group six, companion dogs. When evaluating a Löwchen, judges should be looking for type and movement as described by the CKC breed standard.

For judges looking to brush up on the specifics, our Judge’s Guide is an excellent resource. It provides visual assistance in interpreting the official Canadian Standard of the Löwchen. Each section of the standard is stated and then elaborated to provide direction to correct Löwchen type. 

 
 

  • 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.

  • Intelligent and affectionate showing no signs of aggression.

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

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

  • Black or brown according to coat colour.

  • 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).

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

  • Good length proudly arched.

  • Forelegs straight and fine boned. Shoulder well laid.

  • Short, strong, well proportioned. Level top line. Ribs well sprung, strong loin with moderate tuck up.

  • Hind legs well muscled with good turn of stifle, straight when viewed from the rear.

  • Small, round.

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

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

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

  • Any colour or combination of colours permissible.

  • Height 25-33 cm (10-13 in) at the withers.

  • 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.