A flowing mane, closely clipped areas and a proud, jaunty gait: the FCI standard requires the lion clip for a Löwchen (Petit Chien Lion) in the show ring. The outline is ancient. According to the standard, two stone little lions in the 13th-century cathedral at Amiens correspond exactly to the breed.
| FCI | Group 9 (Companion and Toy Dogs), Section 1 Bichons and related breeds, Standard No. 233, without working trial |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | France |
| Size (height at the withers) | 26 to 32 cm, 1 cm more or less allowed (no distinction between sexes) |
| Weight | approximately 6 kg |
| Life expectancy | median 13,9 years in a British analysis of 584.734 dogs (McMillan et al. 2024), including 143 Löwchen |
| Coat | silky, long, wavy and dense, without undercoat |
| Colours in the standard | all colours and colour combinations; nose and lips black, dark brown in brown-coated dogs |
Stone, tapestries and court ladies
Its silhouette appeared in 15th-century tapestries, Burgundian court ladies pampered it and 17th-century painters captured it. Buffon described it precisely in the 18th century, stressing its rarity; Linnaeus mentioned it too. According to the standard, the French breed club was founded on 18 November 1847. Its relatives include the Bichon Frise and the Bolognese.
A miniature sighthound outline
Intelligent, full of energy and robust, with a short body, high-carried head and, as the standard says, a sighthound-like outline. Noteworthy disqualifications include a snub nose, protruding eyes, entropion and ectropion. The standard thus explicitly protects the Löwchen from the short face that makes other companion dogs ill.
Affectionate, attentive and relaxed
Very affectionate and obedient towards its owner, attentive, receptive, relaxed in every situation and quiet and discreet when needed: that is the standard’s description. It moves briskly with good reach and enjoys longer walks. Its close attention to what you want makes tricks and small tasks a pleasure to learn.
Lion clip or natural hair
The standard requires the lion clip only for showing; the unshaved parts must remain entirely natural. For everyday life, you can leave the coat long. Silky and lacking undercoat, it still mats without brushing several times weekly. If you want the clip, schedule regular groomer appointments.
What is known about its health
Large studies on Löwchen are scarce. The 143 Löwchen in McMillan and colleagues’ analysis reached a median 13,9 years, compared with 12,0 for crossbreeds; their risk of early death was 0,59 of the crossbreed figure. Generalised progressive retinal atrophy (gPRA) has been described: a 2006 study examined seven Löwchen, six affected, and excluded several known candidate genes as causes (Lippmann et al. 2006). The work therefore provides no genetic test. An up-to-date eye examination for both parents matters all the more.
A Löwchen suits you if
you want a cheerful, affectionate small dog that enjoys joining you, including as a first-time owner or a family with considerate children, and do not mind grooming.
Less suitable if
you want a maintenance-free dog or must leave it alone for many hours daily. A Löwchen wants to take part, rather than simply be admired.
The breed quiz shows how well a Löwchen fits your life; for a closer look, turn to our book “Welcher Hund passt WIRKLICH zu dir?” (book in German). For the early days with a puppy, there is the free Puppy Starter Pack. The mane and lion clip also look lovely on a magazine cover on canvas , or bring your dog home as a digital artwork for instant download.
Further reading
- Poodle: why the Doodle only promises what it already does
- Puppy training: the 5 rules that really work
- Housetraining your puppy: a plan for the first 4 weeks
Sources, accessed on 20.10.2026: FCI-Standard Nr. 233 Petit Chien Lion (fci.be, German version dated 12.05.2004); McMillan KM et al., Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk from early death, Scientific Reports 2024; Lippmann T et al., Indirect exclusion of four candidate genes for generalized progressive retinal atrophy in several breeds of dogs, Journal of Negative Results in BioMedicine 2006.
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