2. Löwchen
The Löwchen, or Little Lion Dog, at one point, had the dubious pleasure of bearing the title of the world’s rarest dog breed: in 1971 there were only 65 registered examples in existence. Nevertheless, the breed’s history might be traceable back to the 15th century. Little lion dogs, companions of the wealthy and elite, appear in many Renaissance paintings and works of literature.
The Löwchen is a great house pet: friendly, playful, and intelligent, and, unlike many other toy dog breeds, not known to be a barker. They need affection and may suffer from separation anxiety if left alone for a long time. They are also good with children, and make excellent family pets – it’s a real pity the breed is virtually unknown.
