Fun Lowchen Facts For Kids

If you love dogs, here is one breed that you might like to learn more about: the Lowchen. The Lowchen comes from a German name meaning 'little lion'.

Because of this, people often call this breed a little lion dog.

When it comes to its origin, it is difficult to pinpoint the exact region that this dog originated from. So, answers to the question, of where the Lowchen dog breed originates are varying.

It is not actually recorded whether this little dog breed is from Spain, Germany, or Russia, even though this breed of dog has a German name.

In the 15th century, it is believed that this little dog was a companion to members of the nobility and this little lion dog was groomed by ladies of the Court in such a way that it closely resembled a little lion.

This is when the breed began being called a little lion dog. In fact, this little lion dog was so famous that it can be seen in 16th century Goya paintings!

This breed's population was also affected during times of war.

During wars, these breeds were left alone to fend for themselves, which led to them diminishing in number. However, the Lowchen was able to bounce back thanks to a Belgium lady who loved this breed so much that she ended up collecting as many Lowchen as she could find!

Lowchen dogs are likely to be related to the Bichon Frise breed, but it is also possible that they are bred from Havanese, Maltese, or Bolognese dogs.

In the mid '60s, the Lowchen population began to decline again, and this gave the Lowchen the title of 'the rarest breed' in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Lowchen breeders worked together and actively raised the popularity and the population of this breed again, and by the year 1995, it was finally registered into the miscellaneous class by the American Kennel Club (the official Kennel Club of America).

It was later shifted to be placed in the non-sporting class in 1999.

The Lowchen breed has a wavy and long-haired coat that is often given a lion-like trim so that they resemble traditional little lion dogs. Their back legs, rear, front legs, and one-half (or sometimes one-third) of their tail are shaved.

The parts of the body that aren't shaved are the bracelets around the forearm, hocks, and tail-end, giving these small dogs the traditional lion look, also known as the lion trim. This lion trim is a trademark of Lowchens.

Being such a famous dog, it is obvious the Lowchen is not a cheap dog breed. Lowchen prices can reach a cool $7,000! This is because these non-sporting dogs that resemble a traditional lion are pretty rare. Prices can shoot all the way to $13,000 for a purebred Lowchen.

If you enjoy reading these facts on Lowchen dog, you can read our other articles on the Miki dog or the Kelpie dog too.

Lowchen Interesting Facts

What type of animal is a Lowchen?

A Lowchen is a sweet-looking dog that is prized for its looks, often made to look like a lion with impressive grooming.

What class of animal does a Lowchen belong to?

The Lowchen belongs to the class of Mammalia or mammals.

How many Lowchens are there in the world?

Exact data on the population of Lowchens across the globe is currently unavailable.

Where does a Lowchen live?

As the Lowchen is a small dog breed that doesn't require too much exercise, these dogs suit an apartment or a house well, as long as it is spacious and the dog is given enough attention by its dog parents. Other animals to interact with are a great addition to their habitat.

What is a Lowchen's habitat?

The Lowchen dog breed fits best in a habitat where they get to spent lots of time with their humans. They are small dogs that need a fair bit of physical activity because of their high energy levels.

As they don't need huge fields or yards to run around in, they can be very happy in either an apartment or a house, as long as it is close to small parks where they can play and run to their heart's desire.

Who do Lowchens live with?

A Lowchen cannot live alone as they can suffer from separation anxiety. They love to live with other animals and humans and it is best not to leave them alone for long periods of time.

How long does a Lowchen live?

An adult dog of the Lowchen breed has a life span of 12-14 years.

How do they reproduce?

Lowchen breeds reproduce just like any other dog breed. When a female Lowchen is mature, she is ready to reproduce and a male and a female Lowchen can mate when the female Lowchen goes through an estrous cycle.

A female Lowchen adult dog gives birth to between three and six Lowchen puppies and a Lowchen puppy stays with its mother and is fed by her until it is big enough to take care of itself.

A Lowchen must be bred by professional breeders so that puppies are born without any complications. Also, the diet of the female whilst she is pregnant must be monitored closely so that her pups are born healthy.

What is their conservation status?

The conservation status of the Lowchen is Not Listed on the IUCN's Red List. However, we do know that the status of these dogs has suffered in the past.

They were found in a relatively good number at first, but during times of war, their population decreased significantly, before being revived again by a Belgian woman who collected all the Lowchen dogs she could find in a bid to save the breed.

In the '60s, the Lowchen population declined again, but two passionate breeders helped the number rise again. Finally, in 1995, the Lowchen was recognized by the AKC under the miscellaneous dog category before being moved to the non-sporting dog category in 1999.

Lowchen Fun Facts

What do Lowchens look like?

The Lowchen is a small dog breed. This dog looks like a little lion because of the lion trim that is often performed on this dog's coat.

These dogs are super-intelligent, have pendant-shaped ears, brown eyes, and a fur coat that accentuates the signature look of this breed. The coat of this dog is soft and it is one of their most distinguishing features. The most popular Lowchen dogs have a black coat, but there are different coat colors available too, including white and lemon.

How cute are they?

This is a small-sized dog that is really cute. Their fur coat is fluffy enough for you to pet them for hours and their innocent face and small size make them truly adorable!

How do they communicate?

Lowchens, like other dogs, communicate using both vocalizations and body language. The vocalizations of these dogs include whimpering, barking, and growling and different vocalizations mean different things.

Barking means that they want you to focus on them, or that they are hungry or warning you.

Whimpering means that they are scared or are being recessive and growling means that they are angry and are warning you to stay away from them. These dogs also use their body language to show how they are feeling and what they want.

Tail wagging means they are feeling happy and are in a good mood and head drooping means that they are waiting for you to pet them.

If they make a cute puppy face with big eyes, it means that they want to be loved and appreciated. Owners have to be aware of the behavior of their dogs to know what every act means to them.

How big is a Lowchen?

A Lowchen is not that tall, with a height of 11-14 in (28-36 cm) and a weight of 9.9-18 lb (4.5-8.1 kg). These are small dogs when compared to the Border Collie or the Labrador.

How fast can a Lowchen run?

One study says that Lowchen can run at a speed of 12 mph (19.3 kmph).

How much does a Lowchen weigh?

A Lowchen dog has a weight ranging between 9.9-18 lb (4.5-8.1 kg).

What are their male and female names of the species?

A female Lowchen is called a 'bitch', and a male Lowchen is called a 'dog'. Other than this, there are no specific names given to the genders. Both genders are simply known by the name Lowchen. On top of this, don't forget that this breed has other names like 'little lion dog' or 'petit chien lion'.

What would you call a baby Lowchen?

A baby Lowchen is called a Lowchen puppy.

What do they eat?

A Lowchen should be fed a highly nutritious diet that has balanced nutritional value and includes high-quality foods. As these dogs can easily become obese, it is important that they are fed properly so that their weight is maintained.

They should also be given dry kibble of high quality so that they have good oral health. A good diet should also boost the energy levels of this dog.

Are they slobbery?

Lowchens are not very slobbery when compared to the slobber levels of larger dog breeds!

Would they make a good pet?

Lowchens are very intelligent and alert dogs and are one of the best breeds to have as a pet. Lowchens not only look like lions, but they also have hearts like lions too.

They love to show affection and accept affection, are curious by nature, and love to go out and play with you. If you are looking for a four-legged best friend, you definitely should consider Lowchens.

They are also quite good at training. Training a Lowchen is relatively easy and you can quickly embed good manners in them.

Early training can control their barking as well. Training a Lowchen puppy is not difficult because a Lowchen puppy is small enough to understand everything it is taught in training and learn lots of new things.

Did you know...

This breed is considered to be one of the rarest dog breeds.

A Lowchen can easily be a cat's friend, partly because of its lion-like looks. As Lowchen dogs resemble lions (that belong to the cat family) it has been observed that cats trust them more easily and are more likely to become their friends.

This is a hypoallergic breed and is a good choice for people who suffer from allergies.

Characteristics and health issues

The most famous characteristic of Lowchen dogs is their look. This lion-looking dog with a friendly nature is the perfect combination.

With a good energy level and a passion for playing and loving, this dog is a great companion. As these breeds suffer from separation anxiety, it is better if they live with their human owners or other animals and are not left alone for long periods of time.

Their weight and height are both quite slight, and hence, they are small-sized dogs.

The easy-going typical Lowchen temperament means that they are relatively easy to train. Training a Lowchen should be relatively easy as they are also very intelligent dogs.

These are generally dogs with good health, but still, there are some health problems that Lowchen dogs suffer from, including hip dysplasia, patellar luxation, distichiasis, progressive retinal atrophy, and congenital deafness. The problem of patellar luxation is quite prominent in these dogs as their knee caps can slide easily. If needed, this can be corrected by surgery.

Getting your own Lowchen

Getting a Lowchen can be expensive. As these dogs have been considered to be one of the most rare breeds, buying them is a little costly.

Prices for Lowchens start at $5000 and can go higher. The average cost for a Lowchen puppy is $7000, but these loving dogs make every penny worth it with their affection, their fancy-looking coat, and the companionship they bring.

These alert dogs are a perfect companion to be around humans and other animals. Also, as it is easy to train these dogs, you hopefully won't have to spend extra money training them at training centers.

Getting a Lowchen is ideal for apartment owners, because, with their proportionate height and weight, this small-sized dog is a good choice to have in an apartment. Finally, of course, their lion look makes them very alluring to the eye and they are super cute!

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other mammals including the field spaniel, or the bloodhound.

You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one on our lowcehn dog coloring pages.