Let's get to know the Little Lion Dog, a sophisticated and refined companion breed. We explore its origins and history, examine its distribution and price. With the help of the breed standard, we describe its physical appearance and the key traits of its character.
History of the Little Lion Dog
The Little Lion Dog, and one look tells you everything, is a small French dog, also known as the Lowchen. Its origins have been attributed to France, but in several of Goya's paintings it appears alongside the Duchess of Alba, which would place it in Spain at quite an early date. Its earliest traces, scattered between France and Spain, date back to at least the 16th century. It is not entirely clear which breeds it descends from, but one very plausible theory suggests it is related to the Maltese, the Bichon à poil frisé and the Bolognese.
Its name — used by the French themselves in their own version, petit chien lion — comes from its distinctive and very carefully crafted lion-style trim, which combined with the texture of its coat makes it look remarkably like a miniature king of the jungle. Despite not being found in great numbers, the Little Lion Dog is present in its country of origin, France, as well as in Spain, England, Finland and Sweden. In Italy it does not appear to enjoy great popularity.
Breed Standard
The Little Lion Dog is a small-sized specimen with a well-proportioned and by no means slight build; yet what stands out most is its unmistakably regal bearing, almost a typically French attitude. An adult male can reach a height at the withers of 35 cm, with a maximum weight of 4 kg. The body is short and very well defined; the flanks, which are always left exposed by the grooming, are rounded and compact; the croup is not sloped. The belly is slightly tucked up, the chest is deep and, proportionally, well opened, with well-sprung ribs. The neck is of good length and in very harmonious proportion with the body. Highly mobile and held firmly, it is carried in an upright and slightly arched position.
Characteristics of the Little Lion Dog
The head is delicately chiselled, the skull is broad and domed between the ears, the stop is pronounced and the muzzle is short, ending in a small black nose that is neither protruding nor particularly wide. The eyes are large and round, with a very lively but not startled expression, and are very dark in colour. The ears are set at medium height, are long with a rounded tip, and are carried pendant on either side of the head, covered in long fringes of hair. The limbs are long and perfectly straight, with fine yet sturdy bone structure; the muscles are particularly well developed on the hindquarters. The feet are small and round, and well closed.
The tail is set as a natural extension of the topline, of medium length and carried low; it is clipped completely, leaving a plume of hair at the tip to reinforce the resemblance to a lion. The coat is long and wavy, neither too smooth nor too curly, covering the dog's entire body and forming fringes on the ears, tail, backs of the legs and chest. All colours are permitted, either solid or mixed; however, the colours most favoured by the breed standard are black, white and lemon.
Care of the Little Lion Dog and Nutrition
The health of the Little Lion Dog is far more robust than its appearance might suggest; in fact, when well cared for, this is a breed that can comfortably live to 14 years and beyond in good health. Its diet must be of excellent quality and varied, as the small French dog tends to get bored easily. The coat must, as is now clear, be trimmed very carefully by experienced hands; the grooming must follow the classic lion-style cut, taking care to leave small tufts of hair on the feet and at the tip of the tail, so as to make the overall look as close as possible to that of a little lion.
Character of the Little Lion Dog
The Little Lion Dog is the perfect companion dog — affectionate but not clingy, lively but not hyperactive, deeply devoted to its family without being obsessive. Highly intelligent and wonderfully adaptable, it thrives in any environment, from a city apartment to a country home; it is essential that it has plenty of opportunity to exercise, and it is happiest when there are children in the family.
The Little Lion Dog has an aristocratic and perhaps slightly aloof appearance, but it should not be treated as though it were made of porcelain; because, contrary to what one might expect, it can be quite boisterous at play and has little interest in being treated as an ornament.
Breeders and Price
The Little Lion Dog, as we mentioned, is not very widespread in Italy; whether that is because we tend to favour dogs with a less refined look, or whether the purchase price makes the difference is hard to say. And indeed, a specimen can quite easily cost 3,000 euros — undoubtedly money well spent, but perhaps not within everyone's reach. In any case, there are no ENCI-recognised breeders in Italy, but it is possible to contact certain agricultural companies that specialise in rare breeds, and that may be able to source a specimen. It goes without saying that, at this price more than ever, the puppy must come with a pedigree of at least some distinction and with all veterinary records in perfect order.
