Breed Characteristics:
Apartment Friendly
?How well will this breed adapt to apartment living? Is the apartment size the most important factor when it comes to proper living conditions? Is the breed suitable for apartment living?
Good For First-Time Owners
?Some dogs aren't suitable for first-time dog owners. Is this breed a good match for someone with no dog experience? Can training help them be on their best behavior with owners with no dog experience? Are they suitable to be handled by someone who is just entering the canine world?
Overall Sensitivity
?Some dogs are sensitive. Certain breeds are rough on the outside, while having the softest heart on the inside. In other words, some dogs are 'thick-skinned' while some are 'easygoing.' Is this breed prone to sensitivity?
Tolerates Being Alone
?Separation anxiety in dogs is a serious condition that can affect a dog's life quality. Is this breed prone to this condition? Can you leave him alone for hours? How destructive this breed can become when bored, neglected, or not loved enough?
Affectionate With Family
?How affectionate this breed will be around his humans? Will he welcome new family friends easily or he will choose to be shy? Some breeds can be clingy with owners, while others don't attach a lot. Will this breed act as the family's best friend?
Kid-Friendly
?Some dogs will tolerate children, while others will adore well-behaved ones. Dogs and children should always be supervised, no matter how well trained the dog might be. Will this breed act as a nanny dog or he will stay away from children?
Friendly Toward Other Dogs
?Some dog breeds cannot wait to run to the dog park and run with others. Others prefer to be with their humans, and not to be a part of a multi-pet household. Is this breed dog lover or not? How friendly this breed will be toward other dogs?
Friendly Toward Strangers
?Some dog breeds tend to be reserved toward strangers and highly suspicious. Others are fast to walk away with them easily. How welcoming this breed is toward strangers?
Drooling Level
?If you love to clean all the time drooling level in dogs is a trait that you should mind. Is this breed less likely to drool, or you will always need a towel on hand?
Easy To Groom
?Heavier shedding during the shedding season is something that every dog needs to go through. However, some dogs shed just a bit all year round. Is this breed one of them? How often should you groom this dog?
Overall Health
?What can you expect from this breed in terms of health? Are there any genetic conditions to vary about? Is obesity a major issue in this breed? By knowing more about the dog's health, you are learning how to help him live a longer and healthier life.
Prone To Obesity
?Treats are a great addition to training sessions. Dogs love sweet bites of dog treats but they should be served in moderation. Treats can lead to obesity, next to poor nutrition. Can this breed gain extra weight from treats? How prone to obesity this breed actually is?
Trainability Level
?Training some dogs is easier than others. How easy this dog will be to train? What can you expect? Some dogs are huge people pleasers and they will master commands easily, while others will try to outsmart you.
Intelligence Level
?Dogs are smart beings. We do our best to train them, but they do still end up training us to adapt to their needs. How intelligent is this breed? Will he try to outsmart you? Or he will need multiple training sessions to master basic commands?
Prey Drive
?Dogs were bred for a specific purpose. Those who were bred to hunt have natural instincts to hunt, even today. This is why many dogs, like Terriers, will chase other animals. They will also have a hard time concentrating on your commands when there is something small moving. Is this breed prone to following his prey instincts?
Barking Level
?How vocal this breed is? Can you expect neighbors to ring you often to calm your dog? Or you can sleep without worries of hearing your Fido bark? Some breeds are highly vocal, others have unusual sounds, and some are silent. Is this breed prone to barking?
Energy Level
?Low-energy dogs are happy with regular walks and indoor chill times. High-energy dogs are always ready for action. Is this breed a couch potato, energetic dog, or somewhere in between?
Exercise Needs
?Some dogs are more than happy with a slow stroll down the street. Others need hours of active time to stay happy and fit. Is this breed demanding in terms of exercise? How much exercise this breed needs to stay happy and healthy?
Playfulness Level
?Some dogs never lose that puppy spirit, not even in their senior years. Others are more serious and prefer having a job to do. Is this breed demanding in terms of playfulness? Can you expect playfulness in their senior years as well?
Löwchen is a small-size outgoing breed who is highly affectionate toward his people.
This non-sporting dog can live up to 15 years if you provide enough care, love, and proper nutrition.
Löwchen is a German name that stands for ‘little lion‘. This small breed of only 14 inches and 15 pounds is extremely portable, and as such perfect for apartment living.
This mini lion has a full mane and plumed tail and coat that comes in several colors and color combinations.
Beneath all that coat is a dog of the strong and sturdy body that is well-balanced. This is a toy breed that will always excel in dog competitions such as agility and obedience.
These are purebred dogs who will bark. This trait is something that neighbors usually won’t appreciate a lot.
Since this is a compact dog that is easy to train, the Lowchen may be a great choice for first time dog owners.
They are true companion dogs and they are the happiest when they get to spend time with their humans. Expect to spend at least 20 minutes per day exercising your Lowchen.
Long walks when it’s not too hot or too cold is a perfect outdoor time for a small Lowchen.
They do not shed much, but they will require regular brushing to prevent tangles and mats. They may be shy of new people, which is why it’s so important to socialize them at an early age.
If you have a yard, you might learn that Lowchen loves to dig.
So, before you get any dog, make sure that you do proper research on the breed.
Once you have all the information on the breed, you can welcome the Lowchen into your home.
Quick Facts
Real name: Lowchen
Other names: Petit Chien Lion, Little Lion Dog
Origin: Europe
Breed type: Companion Dogs
Weight: 9 to 18 pounds
Height: 12 to 14 inches tall at the shoulder
Lifespan: 13 to 15 years
Litter Size: 2 – 5 puppies
Color: Variety of colors, including crewam, white, sable, and silver
Coat: Long and soft coat
Lowchen History
Lowchens is a small and mysterious breed.
We may know what they need to become great canine citizens, but we still have to discover a lot of their origins.
Still, dog historians and fanciers believe that these small size dogs were developed in Eastern Europe between Russia and the Mediterranean.
According to known records, Europeans were the first who first adopted the breed.
During the 1500s these energetic dogs were extremely popular in most of the European countries, including France, Germany, Italy, and Spain.
In these countries, Lowchens were mostly kept as royalty dogs. In the 1970s this breed was almost extinct, but dog breeders and dog lovers joined in their efforts and protected the breed. Lowchens are still considered to be rare dogs.
Lowchen Physical Appearance
Lowchens are among the smallest dogs alive.
They are so tiny, that they usually weigh 9 to 18 pounds. As for the height, they stand 12 to 14 inches tall at the shoulder.
Their small body is long making them easy to recognize. These dogs have a short head a dark nose. Their coat is dense and a bit wavy with a soft texture.
Lowchen’s coat should never be harsh on touch but have only a soft coat. They come in many colors and color combinations.
Lowchen Personality
Lowchens are great family dogs.
These smaller size dogs are a nice addition to families of any size. They will love spending time with children as long as they respect them properly. This means that children should know not to pull a dog’s ears, and tail.
Children should know how to interact with Lowchens safely. This means that no matter what, they should handle dogs as they are being toys.
In addition, they should never disturb them, while they are eating, sleeping, drinking water, playing with their toys, or just resting in their crate.
Lowchens are lively and even-tempered dogs who are very affectionate. They are active and gentle dogs who love to learn new tricks.
Lowchen Training
Training your dog should start as soon as you bring him home. You may think how nice it is when dogs in the dog park perform tricks on a single command, but you may not know that a single trick requires a lot of work. This is why training is so important.
Training your dog goes beyond him knowing to catch a ball.
Training a dog is all about creating a great canine citizen, and that is done through two major factors:
- Proper training, and
- Early socialization
Did you know that dogs can master basic commands as of two weeks of age? This is why you start training him as soon as you bring him home.
Arm yourself with enough time, patience, training toys, puzzle toys for mental stimulation, and always have delicious treats on hand.
To get out the most from training, make training sessions fun, short, consistent, and based on the positive reinforcement method. No dog should ever experience any harsh training methods.
Lowchen Exercise Needs
Daily walks are a great way to keep your dog in shape.
In fact, daily walks are mandatory if you want your dog to have a regular toilet break. That being said, do you know how many times per day dogs have to pee?
When we talk about exercise needs in dogs we are actually talking about additional outdoor time.
Some dogs are happy with regular walks, while others need hours to burn off that extra energy.
Where does Lochecn stand exercise-wise? Lowchens are easy dogs to exercise. They will love a long walk of more intense tempo or a good run with the buddies in the dog park.
Next to a daily walk, provide extra 20 minutes of exercise per day. Are you a fan of long walks? Lowchen will be more than happy to join in. This breed is in fact a great walking companion and will happily join you for a walk.
Lowchen Grooming
Grooming is an important part of a dog’s routine.
Brushing is what keeps a dog’s coat neat, clean, and healthy, while grooming helps the dog live longer.
Proper grooming should help the dog reach his senior years at a calmer pace. To keep the dog’s coat clean, you should provide weekly brushing once to twice per week.
For maximum results and minimal investment use a metal comb. If you notice that it puts stress on your Lowchen talk to your veterinarian about another brushing recommendation.
Brushing sessions should be between 15 to 20 minutes long. Grooming will always be easier if you have the right grooming tools on hand.
Make sure that you talk with experts in the pet shop on how to choose the best brush, clipper, and dog shampoo.
Dogs should be bathed only when it’s really a must. They have different skin than humans do, and they don’t need frequent bathing as we do.
The rest is basic care:
- Trim or grind nails monthly
- Bathe only when really needed
- Clean ears when needed
- Check eyes daily for any eye discharge
- Check gums weekly
If you choose to take your Lowchen to a professional groomer still provide some brushing time. This way you will create a stronger bond with your Lowchen.
After all, dogs are huge lovers of body language and physical touch. Brushing time is like telling him that you love him.
Make sure that you always provide a treat after any grooming session.
Lowchen Health
Lowchens are considered to be generally healthy dogs.
If you manage to provide high-quality food, proper care, overall beneficial nutrient, and enough exercise you can expect your Lowchen to reach up to 15 years.
Still, no matter how great care you might provide, you Lowchen may get sick.
Some issues may appear along the way, such as luxating patellas and eye problems, such as cataracts.
To avoid any health-related issues deal only with responsible dog breeders and do your best to stick to regular veterinarian check-ups.
Prevention is the key when it comes to having a healthy dog. So far it’s known that the biggest health issue in this breed is chronic allergies that cause terribly itchy skin.
To know that you are getting a healthy pup, you should deal only with responsible dog breeders. This way you will know exactly how healthy your puppy is and if there are any health-related issues that you should be aware of.
Responsible dog breeders will present you with medical documentation on the dog, ask you a lot of questions to make sure that you are the best fit for their pup, plus they will provide you tips on care, nutrition, exercise needs, and possible health issues.
Is Lowchen For You?
Lowchens are bright and small dogs who are very people-oriented. This breed isn’t for you if you are not a fan of clingy dogs.
They need a lot of attention and will demand you give them a lot of your time and love.
Lowchens are gentle with everyone and very attentive. If you want a dog that is small, elegant, playful, doesn’t need a lot of exercises, and tends to live long, the Lowchen may be the right breed for you.
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