NZKC OFFICIAL BREED STANDARD

FOR THE LÖWCHEN IN NEW ZEALAND

 

 

CHARACTERISTICS: 
Intelligent, lively and affectionate. 

GENERAL APPEARANCE: 
A strongly built, active, well balanced and alert little dog whose presentation gives the "little Lion" appearance. 

Head and Skull
Short, fairly broad skull, flat between the ears, head carried proud and high. Well defined stop. Short, strong muzzle. 

Eyes
Round, large and intelligent, dark in colour. 

Ears
Long and well fringed, set on level with the eye, close hanging. 

Mouth
The jaws should be strong, with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. the upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set square to the jaws. 

Nose
Black/brown according to coat colour. 

Neck
Good length, proudly arched. 

Forequarters
Forelegs straight and fine boned. Shoulder well laid. 

Body
Short, strong, well-proportioned. Level topline. Ribs well-sprung. Strong loin with moderate tuck up. 

Hindquarters
Hind legs well-muscled, with good turn of stifle; straight when viewed from the rear. 

Feet
Small and round. 

Gait
Free, parallel movement fore and aft, no hackneyed action. 

Tail
Of medium length, clipped with a tuft of hair to resemble a plume. Carried gaily on the move. 

Coat
Fairly long and wavy but not curly. Fine and silky. Clipped in the traditional lion clip. 

Colour
Any colour or combination of colours permissible. 

Size
Height 25-35 cm. (10-13 inches) at the withers. 

Faults
Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness of the fault should be in exact proportion to its degree. 

Note
Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
 
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