The Lowchen is one of the oldest breeds of dogs, evolving from the same family of dogs as the Bichon, Havanese, Maltse, Bolognese and Coton de Tulear.

It is believed that the dogs came from the Mediterranean region.  France is listed as the country of origin but we know the breed had strong roots in Germany.

Tapestries from Lyon, woodcuts from Germany, paintings from Belgium and various other antique objets d'art all help to place the Lowchen throughout Europe from the 14th century, easily identified in art by the unique lion trim.

The dog was the treasured pet of nobility and legent recounts that the dog's back was shaved so that its owner could warm her hands and feet on the naked skin!

As the royalty of the Middle Ages faded, so did the breed.   It is speculated that it was one of the ancestors of the Toy Poodle since they share many common traits and the Poodle emerged about the time the Lowchen almost disappeared, around the end of the 1800's.

The earliest mentioned breeder of the Lowchen as we know it today was in Germany in the 19th century.  There were, however, very few breeders in Europe and during the two World Wars, once again the Lowchen almost became extinct.

A Belgium woman, Madame Bennert, saved the breed during World War II.  She devoted the last  20 years of her life to rebuilding the breed then passed her stock to her veterinarian friend in Germany, Dr. Hans Richart.  Lowchen is the German word for "little lion"; we have retained the German name since our present-day dogs are descendants from his German exports.

In the laste 1960's, the dogs were imported in to England and in 1971, from England into the United States. They are now popular in England, Finland, France, Sweden, Belgium, Canada, Australia, N.Z. and the US.

Listed in 1960 and in 1973 in Guinness Book of Records as the world's rarest breed of dog, there are now many hundreds of Lowchen in the United States (and Canada). 

The Lowchen was recognized for AKC competition - Non-Sporting Group in January 1999.

Note: The Lowchen was recognized for CKC competition - Non-Sporting Group in January 1995.