The New Löwchen Owners Handbook

by

Eileen

Spavin-Harrison

"Sholeen"

This booklet has been compiled to try and assist you as a New Löwchen Owner in the proper care of your dog. Should you need any additional help, there are Club members in all parts of the country, who will be more than willing to share their experience and lend a hand, should the occasion arise.

Like most proud new owners of a Löwchen, you will no doubt be curious of the origins of the breed. I have endeavoured to provide a brief outline of the History of the Löwchen and to explain the aims of the LÖWCHEN CLUB and the obligations of the members.

The Löwchen in History

April 1993 marked 25 years of Löwchen history in Britain, starting with the first imports into the UK from the Kennel V.D. 3 Löwchen of Dr. Hans Rickert. However, the real history of Le Petit Chien Lion spans many centuries and is steeped in antiquity. Originating from the Mediterranean countries, Southern France, Italy and Spain. representations of the breed can be found in the Lady & The Unicorn tapestries in the Cluny museum, France dated 15th century and they are apparent in many other paintings and tapestries in galleries throughout Europe, the Louvre, the Prado and fine art museums in Brussels and Amsterdam.

Albrecht Durer depicted the Little Lion Dog in a great many of his 14th century woodcuts. In St Bravo’s cathedral in Ghent you can find examples in oil on wood (16th century), also on tapestries in St Etiennes cathedral in Toulouse, again 16th century. Earlier still in the cathedral at Amiens (14th century), two Löwchens can be seen cut out of stone.

The Little Lion Dog is featured in many early paintings, notably the Goya portraits, his sponsor the Duchess of Alba is said to have owned several of the dogs. One of his outstanding paintings must be “La Carta” (1812), showing quite clearly and in detail the little dog. The famous Italian artist Batoni (1708 - 1778) painted a quite beautiful portrait of the Countess of Stanhope with her little lap dog, and there are many more, too numerous to mention.

The Löwchen were pets of the Florentine courts and the ladies had them clipped into the classic “Lion Cut”. It is rumoured that they were used for ‘hot water bottles’, I suspect the clipping was also for hygiene reasons as the little dogs were known as guardians of the bedchamber. The guarding instinct remains to this day.

The dogs fell from grace and almost became extinct, in fact the Guiness Book Of Records of 1969 featured the Löwchen as the ‘Rarest Breed of Dog in the whole World’. It was said that only about 40 of the breed existed. After World War II, Madame Bennet from Belgium stepped in to rectify that sad state of affairs, gathering together as many of the breed as she could find. Launching into the task of saving the Löwchen by working to develop, strengthen and improve the breed. A task that was to last 20 years until her death in 1972. Dr. Hans Rickert then followed on to become one of the very few Löwchen breeders and the kennel behind 25 years of British Löwchens.

The Löwchen Today

In 1968 Mrs. Stenning imported the first Löwchens into the UK, Hit VD 3 Lowen and Charlotte V Liveland. In 1969, a mating between these two produced the first bitch registered in the UK, Cherrcourt Amynta. Mrs. Banks of the famous Cluneen kennel brought in Butzi VD Lowen and her son, Itzi VD Lowen. A mating produced 6 puppies in 1969, one of these puppies became Britains first Löwchen Champion; Champion Cluneen Adam Adamant, a dog that features strongly on many pedigrees.

Mrs. Banks imported several more Löwchens bred by Dr. Rickert and in 1973, Mrs. Dutson of the Rossglen Kennel imported Antje VD 3 Lowen and brother and sister, Earl and Esmeralda VD Bungener Heide. You will find all these imports at the back of most pedigrees. Mrs. Friedland also imported a dog from Dr. Rickert’s kennel in 1974. So initially almost everything was related in one way or another. from this limited gene pool developed the Löwchen as we know it today.

Thanks must be given to the early pioneers of the breed for their hard work and dedication, with a special mention going to Mrs. Freda McGregor (Littlecourt) and Mrs. Janet Perret-Green (Duncara) who did so much to promote the Löwchen in the country by breeding and exhibiting quality dogs over many years and who gave a great number of overseas members a start in the breed by exporting sound, typical stock.

The Löwchen Club

The Löwchen Club of Great Britain is an organisation comprising individuals from all walks of life and who reside in all areas of the UK, we also embrace many members from abroad and we are all united by one common interest; The Löwchen.

The present Löwchen Club was formed around 1975 and through the years the objectives of our club have been as follows:

1. To encourage and promote the breeding of Pure Bred Löwchens, striving to do everything possible to bring their natural qualities to perfection.

2. To encourage members and breeders to accept the Breed Standard as approved by the Kennel Club, as the only standard of excellence by which the Löwchen shall be judged.

3. To do everything in its’ power to protect and advance the interest of the Breed by promoting sportsmanlike competition and good manners at all times.

Our Code of Ethics states that,

“all owners of Löwchens should take care to ensure that their dogs be provided with adequate food and water, clean dry bedding, that owners should realise that Löwchens need regular exercise, time and room to play".

Our Club conducts two Open Shows and one Championship Show each year, incorporating a yearly Seminar and Teach In at the August weekend show. We also publish a Yearbook, packed with information.

We would like to welcome you as a new Löwchen owner, to join our endeavours on behalf of this lovely Breed. We are sure that, should you wish to join, you will find association with our Club an enjoyable and rewarding venture.

Care of Your Puppy

The care of your new puppy should be a fun experience for you both. I hope these few simple guidelines will help.

It is important that your Löwchen visits your Vet as soon as he is old enough (10 / 11 weeks) to receive his protective vaccination. Ask your Vet to give the puppy a thorough check over prior to his first injection; the Booster is given two weeks later and it will be another week before it is safe to take him “walkies”. DON’T be tempted to take the puppy out before the vaccinations, I know it is very natural to want to “show him off” but this is very dangerous and can have dire results.

In all probability the breeder will have wormed your puppy. However, it may pay when you take him to the Vets’ to ask for some worming tablets and worm him yourself, following the instructions. If you are likely to regularly visit areas where sheep have been or where lots of other dogs exercise, it is as well to worm him twice a year.

You should have received a diet sheet from the breeder, it is wise to stick to this for some time to avoid upset tummies. Remember, a puppy has a small stomach and a large appetite! He has a lot of growing to do but several small meals are better than one large one. You can regulate this to fit in with your own timetable and by the time he is six months old, two meals a day should be sufficient. A balanced diet is important for a growing puppy and there are many products on the market. You may find it convenient to feed a complete food, these are quite satisfactory as they contain all the vitamins, minerals and trace elements necessary. Don’t be tempted to add anything else to the food as it is a COMPLETE food and requires no further additives. It is essential to have plenty of fresh water available if feeding by this method.

If you prefer to feed meat and biscuits, always use a good quality puppy meal and a proprietary brand of tinned dog food. Alternatively, if you wish to use fresh meat, chicken, lamb and fish are excellent but avoid pork or ham. Feeding too much liver or heart may prove too rich for his digestive system. Avoid giving the puppy any kind of bones; small bones such as chicken or lamb may splinter and cause damage to his mouth or intestine. Even large marrow bones can cause a problem as sometimes a puppy will gnaw and gnaw, swallowing the particles which then bind together to form a ball and cause a serious blockage. Puppy will enjoy a hard biscuit to chew and this will help his teeth and not be a danger to him.

It is quite in order to feed table-scraps and most Löwchens love vegetables which can be included in the puppys’ daily diet. Nearly all dogs like boiled rice and this can be a welcome change from Puppymeal. Raw eggs are not always a good idea as some dogs can be violently allergic to them. However, a scrambled egg every now and again is usually well received. All my dogs love a fried egg mashed up and soon clean their dishes. Sardines and Pilchards are another little delicacy that puppies relish (good for coats too). A daily vitamin tablet or a teaspoonful of oil on his dinner will keep both the puppy and his coat in tip-top condition, but don’t overdo it.

Don’t be misled into thinking that your dog needs a different menu for each day of the week, he doesn’t! My advice is, find out what your puppy enjoys and, as long as it is balanced, stick to it and that way you will avoid tummy upsets. Do remember on festive occasions such as Christmas time not to be over generous with the turkey, Xmas pud, trifle and mince pies (only for the dog that is) as this is not really suitable fare for him. Avoid “choccies” and those appealing eyes when you are having your cup of tea and biscuit / piece of cake / toast / etc. Not Good For HIS Figure.

Training

Most Löwchens are easily trained to be clean, but a puppy will need some help. Lots of breeders train on newspaper, so it is wise to continue. A piece of paper by the Kitchen door will usually encourage a result. Common sense plays a large part in training; put your puppy outside at regular intervals, always first thing in the morning, always after a meal and always last thing at night; he will soon get the idea.

It is best to start his lead training as soon as he is able to go out; whether he is a show hopeful or just a loving pet and companion, you will both have much more enjoyment and pleasure if he behaves and is obedient. A few patient minutes lead training every day will achieve better results than an hour once a week. Extra training can be obtained at your local Ring Craft classes, usually held weekly.

Löwchens are generally outgoing, happy little dogs but a strange experience can easily upset and frighten a young puppy, especially if he is usually kept in the security of his own home. So it would be wise to gradually expose him to other people, other dogs, to traffic and of course to journeys in the car.

Grooming

Watch your puppys’ mouth and check that he has not retained any baby teeth after his second teeth have grown, a double set of teeth is unattractive and can cause a bad mouth and premature decay. If you have any doubts let your Vet have a look at him.

One of the nice features of the Löwchen, is that he doesn’t have an annual moult so you are spared carpets and furniture full of hair. However, this means that the coat needs regular brushing and combing using either a stainless steel pin brush or a slicker brush. If you can part and section the coat whilst brushing this will help you do a thorough job. A run through with a wide toothed comb will give you a tangle free coat. Make sure you keep the puppys’ face clean and combed and pay attention to his ears, giving them regular inspections. Check that his nails do not get too long, this can be achieved through careful clipping of the tips.

A show Löwchen is clipped in the official Lion Cut which means his feet and forelegs are clipped leaving a bracelet of coat. A bracelet is left on his hind legs but above that his legs and bottom are clipped off, his tail is also clipped leaving a plume on the end.

All of this may sound confusing but if you are to “Show” your Löwchen I am sure his breeder will assist you until you feel confident to try it yourself. Many “Pet” owners prefer to leave to coat to grow naturally and very pretty it looks. Regular brushing and combing, with a bath every few weeks, or when you feel it necessary, using any good shampoo and conditioner, will keep his coat in condition.

Some owners prefer to visit the Dog Parlour where they will usually trim him in what is known as “Puppy Clip” making him easier to groom and looking very tidy. Which ever option you choose, with regular care, he will look lovely.

General

Apuppy needs space to play, he also needs a place to “call his own”, somewhere he can curl up and feel safe. He will need regular cat naps (or dog naps) whilst he is little, so provide him with a bed, placed out of draughts and with a warm, dry blanket; he will soon know which is his bed.

Use single words to train, he will understand more easily if you keep it short; “ DOWN - SIT - STAY - NO”. Puppies can easily be discouraged from leaping all over the furniture by firmly removing him each time he jumps up on the couch and telling him NO!

Here are the basics. Encourage him to play with a ball (not small enough to swallow), squeaky toy etc. DO NOT give a slipper or old shoe to chew, he will not know the difference between his old one and your brand new ones, - BIG TROUBLE.

Above all, make his training and playtime fun, that way you will enjoy it too. Remember puppies are mischievous and can be boisterous and sometimes, like small children, very naughty. Try not to lose your cool, never smack or hit with a stick, this can often cause aggression. Usually, changing the tone of your voice and a severe “You Naughty Boy” will make him think twice. Or the threat of a rolled up newspaper usually has the desired effect.

I hope that you have found this booklet helpful and interesting. You may feel that it sounds a lot of work but buying a puppy doesn’t end when you hand over the cheque. The responsibility, hard work and real enjoyment begins when you leave the breeders premises with that lovely, dark eyed, not so sure what’s happening, fluffy bundle. Use your common sense, be patient and kind and watch with pride as your Löwchen puppy grows and matures into a faithful friend and an intelligent, handsome companion.

	The New Löwchen Owners Handbook by Eileen Spavin-Harrison "Sholeen" © Copyright 1994 - 2005 Eileen Spavin-Harrison All rights reserved This booklet has been compiled to try and assist you as a New Löwchen Owner in the proper care of your dog. Should you need any additional help, there are Club members in all parts of the country, who will be more than willing to share their experience and lend a hand, should the occasion arise. Like most proud new owners of a Löwchen, you will no doubt be curious of the origins of the breed. I have endeavoured to provide a brief outline of the History of the Löwchen and to explain the aims of the LÖWCHEN CLUB and the obligations of the members. The Löwchen in History April 1993 marked 25 years of Löwchen history in Britain, starting with the first imports into the UK from the Kennel V.D. 3 Löwchen of Dr. Hans Rickert. However, the real history of Le Petit Chien Lion spans many centuries and is steeped in antiquity. Originating from the Mediterranean countries, Southern France, Italy and Spain. representations of the breed can be found in the Lady & The Unicorn tapestries in the Cluny museum, France dated 15th century and they are apparent in many other paintings and tapestries in galleries throughout Europe, the Louvre, the Prado and fine art museums in Brussels and Amsterdam. Albrecht Durer depicted the Little Lion Dog in a great many of his 14th century woodcuts. In St Bravo’s cathedral in Ghent you can find examples in oil on wood (16th century), also on tapestries in St Etiennes cathedral in Toulouse, again 16th century. Earlier still in the cathedral at Amiens (14th century), two Löwchens can be seen cut out of stone. The Little Lion Dog is featured in many early paintings, notably the Goya portraits, his sponsor the Duchess of Alba is said to have owned several of the dogs. One of his outstanding paintings must be “La Carta” (1812), showing quite clearly and in detail the little dog. The famous Italian artist Batoni (1708 - 1778) painted a quite beautiful portrait of the Countess of Stanhope with her little lap dog, and there are many more, too numerous to mention. The Löwchen were pets of the Florentine courts and the ladies had them clipped into the classic “Lion Cut”. It is rumoured that they were used for ‘hot water bottles’, I suspect the clipping was also for hygiene reasons as the little dogs were known as guardians of the bedchamber. The guarding instinct remains to this day. The dogs fell from grace and almost became extinct, in fact the Guiness Book Of Records of 1969 featured the Löwchen as the ‘Rarest Breed of Dog in the whole World’. It was said that only about 40 of the breed existed. After World War II, Madame Bennet from Belgium stepped in to rectify that sad state of affairs, gathering together as many of the breed as she could find. Launching into the task of saving the Löwchen by working to develop, strengthen and improve the breed. A task that was to last 20 years until her death in 1972. Dr. Hans Rickert then followed on to become one of the very few Löwchen breeders and the kennel behind 25 years of British Löwchens. The Löwchen Today In 1968 Mrs. Stenning imported the first Löwchens into the UK, Hit VD 3 Lowen and Charlotte V Liveland. In 1969, a mating between these two produced the first bitch registered in the UK, Cherrcourt Amynta. Mrs. Banks of the famous Cluneen kennel brought in Butzi VD Lowen and her son, Itzi VD Lowen. A mating produced 6 puppies in 1969, one of these puppies became Britains first Löwchen Champion; Champion Cluneen Adam Adamant, a dog that features strongly on many pedigrees. Mrs. Banks imported several more Löwchens bred by Dr. Rickert and in 1973, Mrs. Dutson of the Rossglen Kennel imported Antje VD 3 Lowen and brother and sister, Earl and Esmeralda VD Bungener Heide. You will find all these imports at the back of most pedigrees. Mrs. Friedland also imported a dog from Dr. Rickert’s kennel in 1974. So initially almost everything was related in one way or another. from this limited gene pool developed the Löwchen as we know it today. Thanks must be given to the early pioneers of the breed for their hard work and dedication, with a special mention going to Mrs. Freda McGregor (Littlecourt) and Mrs. Janet Perret-Green (Duncara) who did so much to promote the Löwchen in the country by breeding and exhibiting quality dogs over many years and who gave a great number of overseas members a start in the breed by exporting sound, typical stock. The Löwchen Club The Löwchen Club of Great Britain is an organisation comprising individuals from all walks of life and who reside in all areas of the UK, we also embrace many members from abroad and we are all united by one common interest; The Löwchen. The present Löwchen Club was formed around 1975 and through the years the objectives of our club have been as follows: 1. To encourage and promote the breeding of Pure Bred Löwchens, striving to do everything possible to bring their natural qualities to perfection. 2. To encourage members and breeders to accept the Breed Standard as approved by the Kennel Club, as the only standard of excellence by which the Löwchen shall be judged. 3. To do everything in its’ power to protect and advance the interest of the Breed by promoting sportsmanlike competition and good manners at all times. Our Code of Ethics states that, “all owners of Löwchens should take care to ensure that their dogs be provided with adequate food and water, clean dry bedding, that owners should realise that Löwchens need regular exercise, time and room to play". Our Club conducts two Open Shows and one Championship Show each year, incorporating a yearly Seminar and Teach In at the August weekend show. We also publish a Yearbook, packed with information. We would like to welcome you as a new Löwchen owner, to join our endeavours on behalf of this lovely Breed. We are sure that, should you wish to join, you will find association with our Club an enjoyable and rewarding venture. Care of Your Puppy The care of your new puppy should be a fun experience for you both. I hope these few simple guidelines will help. It is important that your Löwchen visits your Vet as soon as he is old enough (10 / 11 weeks) to receive his protective vaccination. Ask your Vet to give the puppy a thorough check over prior to his first injection; the Booster is given two weeks later and it will be another week before it is safe to take him “walkies”. DON’T be tempted to take the puppy out before the vaccinations, I know it is very natural to want to “show him off” but this is very dangerous and can have dire results. In all probability the breeder will have wormed your puppy. However, it may pay when you take him to the Vets’ to ask for some worming tablets and worm him yourself, following the instructions. If you are likely to regularly visit areas where sheep have been or where lots of other dogs exercise, it is as well to worm him twice a year. You should have received a diet sheet from the breeder, it is wise to stick to this for some time to avoid upset tummies. Remember, a puppy has a small stomach and a large appetite! He has a lot of growing to do but several small meals are better than one large one. You can regulate this to fit in with your own timetable and by the time he is six months old, two meals a day should be sufficient. A balanced diet is important for a growing puppy and there are many products on the market. You may find it convenient to feed a complete food, these are quite satisfactory as they contain all the vitamins, minerals and trace elements necessary. Don’t be tempted to add anything else to the food as it is a COMPLETE food and requires no further additives. It is essential to have plenty of fresh water available if feeding by this method. If you prefer to feed meat and biscuits, always use a good quality puppy meal and a proprietary brand of tinned dog food. Alternatively, if you wish to use fresh meat, chicken, lamb and fish are excellent but avoid pork or ham. Feeding too much liver or heart may prove too rich for his digestive system. Avoid giving the puppy any kind of bones; small bones such as chicken or lamb may splinter and cause damage to his mouth or intestine. Even large marrow bones can cause a problem as sometimes a puppy will gnaw and gnaw, swallowing the particles which then bind together to form a ball and cause a serious blockage. Puppy will enjoy a hard biscuit to chew and this will help his teeth and not be a danger to him. It is quite in order to feed table-scraps and most Löwchens love vegetables which can be included in the puppys’ daily diet. Nearly all dogs like boiled rice and this can be a welcome change from Puppymeal. Raw eggs are not always a good idea as some dogs can be violently allergic to them. However, a scrambled egg every now and again is usually well received. All my dogs love a fried egg mashed up and soon clean their dishes. Sardines and Pilchards are another little delicacy that puppies relish (good for coats too). A daily vitamin tablet or a teaspoonful of oil on his dinner will keep both the puppy and his coat in tip-top condition, but don’t overdo it. Don’t be misled into thinking that your dog needs a different menu for each day of the week, he doesn’t! My advice is, find out what your puppy enjoys and, as long as it is balanced, stick to it and that way you will avoid tummy upsets. Do remember on festive occasions such as Christmas time not to be over generous with the turkey, Xmas pud, trifle and mince pies (only for the dog that is) as this is not really suitable fare for him. Avoid “choccies” and those appealing eyes when you are having your cup of tea and biscuit / piece of cake / toast / etc. Not Good For HIS Figure. Training Most Löwchens are easily trained to be clean, but a puppy will need some help. Lots of breeders train on newspaper, so it is wise to continue. A piece of paper by the Kitchen door will usually encourage a result. Common sense plays a large part in training; put your puppy outside at regular intervals, always first thing in the morning, always after a meal and always last thing at night; he will soon get the idea. It is best to start his lead training as soon as he is able to go out; whether he is a show hopeful or just a loving pet and companion, you will both have much more enjoyment and pleasure if he behaves and is obedient. A few patient minutes lead training every day will achieve better results than an hour once a week. Extra training can be obtained at your local Ring Craft classes, usually held weekly. Löwchens are generally outgoing, happy little dogs but a strange experience can easily upset and frighten a young puppy, especially if he is usually kept in the security of his own home. So it would be wise to gradually expose him to other people, other dogs, to traffic and of course to journeys in the car. Grooming Watch your puppys’ mouth and check that he has not retained any baby teeth after his second teeth have grown, a double set of teeth is unattractive and can cause a bad mouth and premature decay. If you have any doubts let your Vet have a look at him. One of the nice features of the Löwchen, is that he doesn’t have an annual moult so you are spared carpets and furniture full of hair. However, this means that the coat needs regular brushing and combing using either a stainless steel pin brush or a slicker brush. If you can part and section the coat whilst brushing this will help you do a thorough job. A run through with a wide toothed comb will give you a tangle free coat. Make sure you keep the puppys’ face clean and combed and pay attention to his ears, giving them regular inspections. Check that his nails do not get too long, this can be achieved through careful clipping of the tips. A show Löwchen is clipped in the official Lion Cut which means his feet and forelegs are clipped leaving a bracelet of coat. A bracelet is left on his hind legs but above that his legs and bottom are clipped off, his tail is also clipped leaving a plume on the end. All of this may sound confusing but if you are to “Show” your Löwchen I am sure his breeder will assist you until you feel confident to try it yourself. Many “Pet” owners prefer to leave to coat to grow naturally and very pretty it looks. Regular brushing and combing, with a bath every few weeks, or when you feel it necessary, using any good shampoo and conditioner, will keep his coat in condition. Some owners prefer to visit the Dog Parlour where they will usually trim him in what is known as “Puppy Clip” making him easier to groom and looking very tidy. Which ever option you choose, with regular care, he will look lovely. General Apuppy needs space to play, he also needs a place to “call his own”, somewhere he can curl up and feel safe. He will need regular cat naps (or dog naps) whilst he is little, so provide him with a bed, placed out of draughts and with a warm, dry blanket; he will soon know which is his bed. Use single words to train, he will understand more easily if you keep it short; “ DOWN - SIT - STAY - NO”. Puppies can easily be discouraged from leaping all over the furniture by firmly removing him each time he jumps up on the couch and telling him NO! Here are the basics. Encourage him to play with a ball (not small enough to swallow), squeaky toy etc. DO NOT give a slipper or old shoe to chew, he will not know the difference between his old one and your brand new ones, - BIG TROUBLE. Above all, make his training and playtime fun, that way you will enjoy it too. Remember puppies are mischievous and can be boisterous and sometimes, like small children, very naughty. Try not to lose your cool, never smack or hit with a stick, this can often cause aggression. Usually, changing the tone of your voice and a severe “You Naughty Boy” will make him think twice. Or the threat of a rolled up newspaper usually has the desired effect. I hope that you have found this booklet helpful and interesting. You may feel that it sounds a lot of work but buying a puppy doesn’t end when you hand over the cheque. The responsibility, hard work and real enjoyment begins when you leave the breeders premises with that lovely, dark eyed, not so sure what’s happening, fluffy bundle. Use your common sense, be patient and kind and watch with pride as your Löwchen puppy grows and matures into a faithful friend and an intelligent, handsome companion. Enjoy your Löwchen © Copyright 1994 - 2005 Eileen Spavin-Harrison All rights reserved