Lowchen (Little Lion Dog)

The Lowchen’s origins are a little unclear. The name they go under now and have been known as since the 1970s is German and means ‘little lion’ however prior to this they were known as ‘Little Lion Dogs’ across Germany, France and the Netherlands. How many of these little lions were actually genetically related to today’s Lowchen is unknown, as the traditional haircut is their defining feature and this was a popular cut for companion dogs as early as the 1400’s. Underneath that coat there is a tall-ish terrier-ish type dog with no extreme features. Potentially they are related to the Tibetan Terrier and Lhasa Apso types of Tibet, and the Bichon types of the Mediterranean - they are certainly of a similar size and construction. 

This attractive little dog will suit first time dog owners who want a coated breed they can groom themselves. Lowchens do enjoy active walks and require some training, they will also enjoy fun trick training, so owners must be able to meet those needs. Ideal owners will have a quiet home and live rurally or at least semi-rurally/quiet property, as the Lowchen’s watchdog nature means they can be rather vocal!

The Lowchen is a little ball of energy, and while they won’t require epic hikes over hill and dale on a daily basis, they do require regular walks of around half an hour or more each time. They will also benefit from plenty of mental stimulation, so benefit greatly from varying the walk routes, playing games and training at different spots along the way – this is not a breed who will plod along behind you as you look at your phone!

The Lowchen will fit anywhere, corner of the sofa, on your lap, under the covers in bed so they do not need a large home. They do however need a reasonably quiet home with a very secure garden – even if small. Lowchens like the sound of their own voice, and like to let you know their every thought – something close neighbours may not appreciate.

Your dog's diet needs to have the right balance of all the main nutrient groups including a constant supply of fresh water. It's also important to conduct regular body condition scores to ensure you keep your dog in ideal shape and remember to feed him at least twice daily and in accordance with the feeding guidelines of his particular food.

Such a clever and quick breed is a joy and a bit of a challenge to train – the basics are reasonably easy however but focus on a good recall as Lowchen are active and have long legs under the fur, and can really move. Pay careful attention to early and sensitive socialisation. They shouldn’t ever be fearful but equally you should not expect them to approach everyone (dog or human) they clap eyes on, in the hopes of fun and fuss. Beyond this, keeping your Lowchen’s brain occupied and entertained is key - a bored Lowchen is a loud Lowchen!

The Lowchen’s silky coat should be fairly hard and dry, and requires daily brushing and frequent trimming, even if you don’t intend to maintain the traditional lion clip. The coat produces quite a lot of insulative undercoat and if this is not combed out, it will build into severe matting quite easily (particularly with the addition of food, water, saliva, mud or vegetable matter!). 

Work hard on teaching your Lowchen to accept gentle grooming and enjoy having paws, legs and pads checked daily after walks, and introduce bathing and drying early. Make it fun and it won’t be a chore.

A well trained and confident Lowchen is a delight to live with, however they are small and despite their robust build, are easily squashed by larger dogs or rough children. Better for the family with older children who understand a dog’s boundaries and can help with training and grooming. 

While many dogs are traditionally thought of as being good with children, all dogs and children need to be taught to get on with and respect each other, and be safe together. Even so, dogs and young children should never be left alone together and adults should supervise all interactions between them.