The Lowchen is related to the Bichon Frise. It is an old breed found in many countries around the duringduringsacred city of Lhasa, the 19th centurycenturycentury and by the end of World War IIWWII the Lowchen was considered to be the rarestrarestrarest dog in the world.
A Lowchen fancier named Madame Bennert is credited with saving the breed though extensive breeding efforts that began in 1945. Soon after the dog's numbers began to steadily increase, and during the late 1960's and early 1970's the breed was finally introduced to Great Britain and the United States.
The breed is commonly referred to as the Little Lion due to its mane. The AKC recognized the Lowchen as a non-sporting dog in 1999. Despite breeding efforts, today the Lowchen remains one of the rarest breeds in the world.
