Over twenty years ago I fell in love with lowchens. Back then this breed was one of the rarest breeds in the world. I studied more about this breed and finally made a puppy reservation. I waited for my first lowchen over a year and finally the puppy was born. She was born on May 18th 1980. Soon "Diana" arrived and changed our lives totally. She had a breathtaking personality and a strong mind of her own. I began obedience training and show training early. She became a nice show dog who soon finished her titles in Finland, Sweden and Norway. She won quite a few BOBs and got some nice group placements. I loved the breed and its unique temperament . The breed had such an interesting history too. I knew I wanted to do my share for this breed. Ch. Texan Diana had a nice pedigree and was mated once. After her first litter we realized she was not going to be a producer worth continuing with. So she was retired from maternal duties after her first litter. I wish more lowchen breeders would do that - only continue with the material that is really worth it.

I saw lowchens elsewhere in Europe too. I understood that there is so much to do with this breed - to breed it back to original bichon type of dog. Lowchens with a round nice body, strong head with large intelligent eyes, shortish nose, wavy silky coat - small in size. Some breeders like Eileen Banks of Cluneen kennels and Freda & Ron McGregor of Littlecourt kennels did excellent work. I realized they had the dogs that I want to start my breeding with. There was also a wonderful pioneer of the breed in Finland whose foundation bitch was the daughter of the famous Int & Fin & Swe & Norw Ch Cluneen Countess Glodagh. Glodagh was mated with Multi Ch Cluneen Baron Alexander whom produced the Family Wiita´s foundation bitch Ch. Gravelbays Larissa. "Larissa" was mated with the famous Dutch import Int & Fin & Holl & N Ch Sjaco v.t Agnietenhof. This combination did produce several top winning champions. The best and top winning of these lowchens was Multi Ch Angel Walley´s Belle. She was an outstanding individual.

Later on the Wiitas imported a very nice male from England Int & Fin & Swe & Norw Ch Littlecourt Rufus. "Belle" was mated with him and I realized that was the perfect combination – line bred to GB & Irl Ch Cluneen Adam Adamant. Most of that combination was a continued excellent bitch line, and so I realized that combination should produce the ultimate foundation bitch. I called up and spoke with Mrs. Wiita and asked if I could have the pick of the litter bitch puppy. I cannot ever thank them enough. They let a young boy like me to have their pick of the litter puppy. Mrs. Wiita and late Mr. Wiita also shared alot of information about this breed.

So I got the ideal foundation bitch, the legendary producer Fin & Swe Ch Angel Walley´s Francoise. She had a wonderful personality and was a superior brood bitch, producing 7 champions in her 3 litters, including multiple BEST in SHOW winners.

In the early 1980´s Norway had some nice lowchens, Signe Eldor of Sonnafjellets lowchens did good work with the breed. She imported GB & Norw & Swe Littlecourt Acajou from England. Then it hit me. "Francoise" had to be mated with that dog - it would be nice line breeding to the famous producer Prawls Merry Minstrel who was again from half sister-brother mating to GB & Irl Ch Cluneen Adam Adamant. "Francoise " and "Acajou" suited also type wise perfectly with each others. The results were breathtaking. In my second litter ever, I produced an all champion litter. Three beautiful, healthy and type wise very even puppies. There was only one bitch in the litter - she was very special from the very beginning. She became the legendary Multi BEST in SHOW winning Int & Fin & Swe & Norw Ch Chic Choix Brigitte Lifar. She is still probably the top winning lowchen bitch of all time. She won her first group at the tender age of just over one year. She won her last group almost ten years later and she won everything you can image in between that. She made this breed very well known in Finland and also Scandinavia . Lowchen became a breed that judges took more seriously. Many judges and breed fanciers think she was the best lowchen they have ever seen.

"Brigitte" produced also 8 champions in her few litters (two litters only had two puppies each) including BISS and several Best in Group winners. These dogs again have been excellent producers themselves.

"Francoise" had her second litter with famous Signe Eldors male Multi BISS Int Ch Sonnafjellets Evans. Again it was a wonderful combination producing three champions including for example one of the top winning lowchen males in the history of the breed Multi BIS & BISS Int & Fin & Swe & Norw Ch Chic Choix Chic et Noir. "Chico" was not only top winning dog but also a superior stud dog. Used only at limited stud he was able to produce over 15 lowchens champions around the world including BEST in SHOW winners and group winners. "Chico´s " sisters were also nice especially BISS Multiple BIG-winning Int & Fin & Swe & Norw Chic Choix Caresse de Nuit was impressive. She only had two litters but 5 out 6 puppies did finish their titles by storm.

"Brigitte" was mated the first time with a superior Swedish dog BIG-pl. Int & Swe & Norw & Fin Ch Lionheart Beau-Regard son of famous Int Ch Westmount Acjou (also sire of BISS Int Ch Sonnafj. Evans) out of legendary GB & Swe & Norw Ch Littlecourt Emmi. Emmi remainded so much of my foundation bitch "Francoise". The result from this combination was again everything that a beginner can hope for two Int and Multiple group placed Champions. We continued with Int & Fin & Dan Ch , World and European Winner Chic Choix Dame de Coeur.

These three first combinations have been the ground stones of Chic Choix lowchens. We have continued breeding with the original lines and type. We have introduced and imported new lowchens very selectively from the pure bred pedigrees with true original type. We have also mated our bitches around the world but always very carefully. Especially Int & Holl & Fin & Lux Ch Littlecourt Joss has had an important part in our breeding program.

As the foundation was bred carefully using the best lowchens left - specially using lots of Littlecourt dogs it has been difficult to continue. We don´t want to make any compromises with the true original type. So we have used a lot of line breeding. We have used our first generations to build up the next ones. "Brigitte" mated with "Chico" was a wonderful combination with two Int Champions and both group winners. Int & World Ch Chic Choix Dame de Coeur was mated with "Chico" that combination produced for example Multi BISS & BIS Int Ch Chic Choix Mioche et Papa. He mated again "Chico´s" litter sister to produce Int & Multi Ch Chic Choix Oiseau De Venus and Int & Multi Ch Chic Choix Oiseau De Nuit.

Today we still continue our original unbroken champion bitch line that have produced already 9 generations of champions bitches and the future seems promising. Chic Choix lowchens have produced over 50 champions and these dogs have won many BEST in SHOWs and Groups. We follow our lines with the greatest of care. The Chic Choix line is closed and everything is kept carefully under control so that this unique line will be continued with great care. We examine and follow the development of our line very carefully. We are very pleased with the results, most of our dogs have been extremely healthy outgoing individuals that only visit the veterinarian for their routine check ups and vaccinations.

We try to breed well balanced lowchens that can move freely and easily - dogs that can carry themselves well. It is very important that lowchens have a nice round skull and shortish nose. Eyes have to be round and dark with very loyal and intelligent impression. Body must be round with good chest. Lowchens are well angulated all around. Lowchens have wavy silky coat. We breed fresh colors black & silver/cream, parti white & black and lion colored lowchens being our specialty.

Our lowchens are bred from the original Mediterranean type, we try to avoid the poodle influence that was mixed in the breed in the 1900 s. Look at the old original Goya´s paintings! That is the type of lowchens we do try to breed and continue with. We have studied the history of this breed as deeply as simply possible. We have done several trips and excursions to isolated Mediterranean islands to look for evidence of this breed and to build up its history and development. Too many breeders do look to the dogs that by accident survived the second world war and think those dogs as original lowchens....This is a terrible mistake and tell how little many breeders really understand the development and true history of this unique breed. This is bichon type of breed from Mediterranean islands. It is one of the oldest breeds in the world. This is the legacy that we want to continue carefully and selectively.