The Right Stuff
Non-sporting Group IV
By Debbie Best
Lowchen
The "little lion dog," known in France as Le Petit Chien Lion, originated in Europe, where it was popular as a companion dog in the 1500s. Aristocratic ladies groomed this ancient breed in the likeness of a little lion.
It's seen in works by leading artists and was featured in a painting by Goya of the Duchess of Alba in the late 1700s. The Lowchen suffered a decline in popularity to the point, by 1960, it was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's rarest breed. Since then, this charming, spunky dog has enjoyed a comeback–accepted by the American Kennel Club in 1999 and no longer considered rare.
Good natured and affectionate, it makes a loyal companion. An outgoing personality makes it friendly with other animals and good with gentle children. The dog is inquisitive, intelligent and easy to train.
The long, silky coat is slightly to moderately wavy and should be brushed regularly. It's nonshedding and good for allergy sufferers. All colors and color combinations are acceptable. Although many Lowchen owners opt to keep them in a puppy clip, the traditional "lion" clip is required for the show ring. The body is clipped on hindquarters, part of the front legs and the section of tail closest to the body, leaving a tuft of hair at the end. No scissoring or shaping of the coat's untrimmed part is permitted.
The Lowchen has a compact, well-proportioned body, with the head carried high when moving. Long pendant ears are well fringed, and the nose is dark. Large, round, dark eyes wear a bright lively expression. The medium length tail is held high and curls forward over the back. Legs are straight and slender with hind feet slightly smaller than forefeet. It's generally a healthy breed, measuring 12-14 inches in height, weighing 8-18 pounds, with a life span of 13-15 years.
SCHIPPERKE
The Schipperke (pronounced skip-er-key, Flemish for "little captain") originated in Belgium in the 1500s and was used as a guard dog on barges. Tradesmen and middle-class households used it as a watchdog and ratter.
Some claim it's descended from the Spitz, others say a black Belgian Sheepdog. After Queen Marie Henriette of Belgium acquired one in 1885, it became the most popular dog in Belgium. First brought to the U.S. in the 1880s, the sprightly breed was admitted to the American Kennel Club in 1929.
This is a bright, delightfully high-spirited, self-confident dog, devoted to its family, especially children. It's good with cats and other dogs. Naturally protective, the Schip makes an excellent guard dog. Active, curious and quick to learn, it can also be a little stubborn and independent. It needs consistent, firm training.
A shiny, jet-black coat has a distinctive silhouette that appears to slope from shoulders to croup. This abundant, straight, slightly harsh coat is double with a standout ruff, cape and culottes. Grooming is minimal, but it does shed.
The Schip is short, compact and thickset, with a fox-like head and pointed muzzle. The skull is fairly wide and flat between small, upright, triangular ears. Small, dark brown eyes are oval with a mischievous, questioning look about them. The nose is small and black. Most are born tailless. If not, the tail is docked close to the body.
There are no prominent health problems inherent with this long-lived breed. It's 10-13 inches tall, weighs 12-18 pounds and has a life span of 14-16 years.
POODLE
The Standard, Miniature and Toy Poodles make up one breed in three sizes. Regarded as the national dog of France, the Poodle may actually have originated in 15th century Germany, where it was used to retrieve waterfowl. The German word, pudel, means to splash in water.
The smaller dogs, bred down from the Standard, were used as truffle sniffers in England, Spain and France. The French are credited for developing it as a companion dog.
Not only is the Poodle the world's most popular dog, it's also one of the smartest. Anxious to please, it's one of the easiest dogs to train. Loving, affectionate, happy and friendly, it makes a superb family pet. However, the Toy may not be the best fit for young children, due to its small size.
The Poodle's non-shedding double coat consists of an outer coat of wiry curls with a thick woolly undercoat, making professional grooming necessary. Untended, the hair will grow into long matted cords. Most people keep their dogs in a simple "sporting" clip, but for show dogs, only two clips are acceptable: the continental and English saddle. These styles, with their pompoms and such, may seem over-the-top, but originally, they did serve a purpose. The hindquarters were shaved to make swimming easier in water retrieving. The mane warmed the heart and lungs while improving buoyancy, and the pompoms protected joints from the cold.
This elegant coat can be found in a great variety of solid colors. Black, blue, gray, silver, cream and white Poodles have black noses and very dark eyes. Brown and cafe'-au-lait ones have liver-colored noses and dark amber eyes. Apricot Poodles may have the same, but for show purposes, black noses and dark eyes are preferred. The alert, expressive eyes are oval in shape. Long feathered ears hang close to the head. The muzzle is long and straight, and the tail is docked, carried at an angle to the body.
The Standard Poodle stands over 15 inches (average 22-26) and weighs 45-70 pounds. The Miniature is 11-15 inches and weighs 14-16 pounds. The Toy is 10 inches or under and weighs 5-7 pounds. All have a life span of 10-14 years.
Next month: Shiba Inu, Tibetan Spaniel and Tibetan Terrier
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