New Zealand Kennel Club (NZKC) Standard
Lowchen
Toy Group
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.