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Toy group · France/Germany

Lowchen

Also called Little Lion Dog, Petit Chien Lion.

Small dog, moderate energy, quick to learn.

  • Affectionate
  • Outgoing
  • Positive
  • Playful
  • Fearless
AI-generated illustration of an adult Lowchen
AI-generated illustration
Size
Small
Weight
5 to 7 kg10 to 15 lb
Lives
13 to 15 years
Energy
Moderate
Trains
High
Barks
Moderate

Training

Training a Lowchen

Toy breeds. Train them like a dog, not an ornament. Small dogs skip the manners work because they can be picked up.

  1. Eager to Please

    Start here

    Highly trainable breed that loves learning. Use this enthusiasm for bonding.

  2. Prevent Small Dog Syndrome

    Despite size, need consistent rules and boundaries like larger dogs.

  3. Socialisation Important

    Generally friendly but benefits from early exposure to many situations.

The app turns this into five to fifteen minutes a day.

Add your Lowchen and it builds the plan around their age, where they came from and what they already know, on video with Atlas and Shango.

Free to start. iPhone. No card needed.

At home

Living with one

Bred for company. Small in body, and often bigger in personality than the owner expected.

Gets on with

  • ChildrenHigh
  • Other dogsHigh
  • StrangersHigh
  • CatsHigh

Breed averages. Early socialisation and the individual dog matter more.

Exercise
30-45 minutes daily. Short walks and play sessions. Adaptable to owner lifestyle.
Grooming
High maintenance in show clip. Pet clip requires regular brushing and trimming.
Drool
Very Low
Coat
Long, Dense, WavyAny colour, Black, White, Lemon, Blue, Chocolate
In a flat
Can work, with enough exercise outside it.

Health

Things to ask a breeder or vet about

  • Patellar Luxation

    Moderate

    Kneecap displacement common in small breeds

  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy

    Moderate

    Inherited eye disease causing gradual vision loss

  • Cataracts

    Mild

    Eye lens opacity that may develop with age

Where they come from

History

Ancient breed appearing in Renaissance paintings. Was nearly extinct with only 65 dogs worldwide in 1973, making it the rarest breed. Now recovered but still uncommon.

  • Renaissance Art Dogs · Frequently depicted in paintings by Goya, Durer, and other masters as companions of nobility

Similar breeds

All breeds

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