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Lowchen
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 The origin of the Lowchen is unclear. Some believe that Lowchens belong to the Bichon family and originated in the Mediterranean area. Others believe it more likely that the origins of the Lowchen belong with the various Tibetan breeds such as the Tibetan Terrier. Either way, Lowchens were extremely popular with the Royal Courts in the 16th century throughout France, Germany and Spain before almost becoming extinct in the 1960s. Around that time they were listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the rarest dog breed in the world. Other dogs to have achieved this dubious distinction include the Havanese and the Portuguese Water Dog.
The 'Little Lion Dog' (Le Petit Chien Lion) as the Lowchen is otherwise known (because of the way he is clipped to emulate the lion) has become tremendously popular since those perilous times. Cheerful, affectionate and energetic, Lowchens make wonderful family pets and are particularly good with children. They are intelligent and sociable and simply love to learn while at the same time being tough little dogs despite their size.
Lowchens feature prominently in many early works by the likes of Goya and Batoni. To the ladies of the Florentine Royal Court they were considered to be guardians of the bedchamber. It is even believed that their hindquarters were originally clipped in such fashion in order that they could be used as hot water bottles, although this may simply have been for hygiene reasons given the amount of time they spent in the boudoir of their mistresses.
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