Little Lion Dog

The coat is commonly pure white but is also seen in black, chocolate, cream, black and tan, lemon and black, black and silver and many other combinations.

The Little Lion Dog has a long coat.

This breed boasts an amazing, long, wavy, soft and fluffy coat which is full of character and often compared to the man of a lion - hence their name!

The Lowchen has dark brown/black eyes.

Small yet sturdy, the Little Lion Dog is one of the bigger toys breeds. Despite their petite size, the body is surprisingly strong, with straight, well-muscled legs and relaxed shoulders.

The head is small but broad with a defined stop, a strong muzzle and a long neck. Ears are dropped and beautifully feathered, while eyes are big, dark, alert and friendly looking.

Your Little Lion Dog will be your biggest fan! This breed thrives on human company and is known to be affectionate, loyal and warm towards family and friends alike.

The Lowchen is like a forever puppy - chirpy, animated and playful throughout their life.

This breed is generally gentle and calm with everybody, but they do have an element of the ‘small dog, big attitude’ in them which can rear its ugly head occasionally.

This is a smart, intelligent breed which learns rules and tricks with ease. They’ve got a good little brain on them, and like to perceive meaning in commands they receive.

The Little Lion Dog isn’t known for its prey drive and it shouldn’t be a problem. However, as with most dogs, certain pups may still be prone to chasing smaller animals - early and consistent socialization can combat this.

While the Lowchen is super friendly and lovely towards familiar faces, it can take them some time for them to get to this point with new people. They’re likely to be a little wary of strangers at first, but proper socialization can help this problem.

Exclusively a pet dog, the Lowchen is therefore quite dependent on his master.

This pup loves human company and is prone to separation anxiety. They can get used to short periods of alone time, but if you work out of the house all day or need to leave your dog for long periods of time, the Little Lion Dog is probably not the right breed for you.

This smart breed is able to pick up training with ease - you should have no problems whatsoever! As previously mentioned, early socialization is particularly important for the Lowchen, as they tend to be rather timid around new people.

Unfortunately, this dog does like to bark. They’ll alert you to any passers-by or visitors, which could get rather annoying if you live on a busy street.

The Little Lion Dog has a low prey drive and is very obedient - therefore, they’re unlikely to run away and can generally be trusted off the lead. However, they do love water and may be tempted to jump in, so be wary around lakes, rivers, canals and the like!

Sometimes, the Lowchen can be prone to digging and this can be a hard habit to combat. This shouldn’t be too much of a problem if his needs have been met.

The Little Lion Dog isn’t particularly greedy, but will, like any dog, will appreciate treats as a reward for good behaviour.

Despite its small size, the Little Lion Dog is a marvellous watchdog who will bark at any unfamiliar face or passerby.

The Lowchen would make a pretty wonderful first dog due to its warm, friendly and obedient disposition.

This breed is small and has relatively low exercise needs, making them perfect for apartment living. That being said, they should be let out several times a day for physical and mental wellbeing.

The Little Lion Dog doesn’t need too much exercise - a daily walk for around half an hour will do. Don’t use their low activity needs as an excuse not to walk them - every dog needs some exercise.

This small dog is incredibly easy to transport. He can easily fit in the car, a bike basket, or in a transport bag if needed.

As long as the Lowchen has been well socialized, they should have no problem whatsoever with cats.

This breed can normally co-exist quite happily with other household dogs - yep, they really are the dream pet!

Could the Lowchen be the perfect dog for families with kids? They’re super gentle around children, their small size means they’re unlikely to accidentally knock kids over, and they love playing. Ideal!

The Lowchen would make a fantastic companion for an elderly person - they have low exercise needs, are easy to train and love constant company.

Good news for those with allergies - the Lowchen barely sheds!

This breed normally lives for around 13 years.

Despite their small size, the Little Lion Dog is surprisingly strong, robust and fearless.

This dog adapts well to different climates and can withstand the heat.

Despite the lack of undercoat, the Lowchen is pretty resistant to bad weather. That being said, he mustn’t live outside.

It’s important to control portion sizes and avoid going overboard with treats.

• Eye problems such as cataracts and progressive retinal atrophy
• Hip dysplasia
• Patellar luxation

The Lowchen is believed to have originated around 400 years ago in France, Germany or Spain - truthfully, no one knows for sure! Due to their similar looks, many believe the Little Lion Dog is closely related to the Bichon breed. For a long time, it was popular with wealthy people across Europes, often used as a foot warmer for ladies (yes, really!). However, their popularity quickly decreased after WWII - now, the Lowchen is a fairly rare breed.