Lowchen: What's Good About 'Em, What's Bad About 'Em

The bright, happy little Lowchen is a moderate breed in all respects. He will romp playfully in the yard, trot gracefully beside you during walks (on-leash), then curl up in your lap to sleep.

Very people-oriented, the Lowchen (also called the "Little Lion Dog") needs a lot of attention and interaction and doesn't like to be left alone for long periods of time. This is not a dog for people who work all day.

He is peaceful and gentle with everyone (humans and animals alike), though he is also very inquisitive and likes to sit perched on the back of a sofa or chair, looking out the window so he can announce visitors. Although he might announce non-visitors, too! In other words, barking may need to be controlled.

As with most sweet-natured breeds, there is timidity in some lines. Early socialization is important to build an outgoing, confident temperament.

Attentive and responsive to nonforceful obedience training, many Lowchens do well in competitive obedience and agility. The only training area where they can be a bit slow is housebreaking.

If you want a dog who...

Keep in mind that the inheritance of temperament is less predictable than the inheritance of physical traits such as size or shedding. Temperament and behavior are also shaped by raising and training.

• You can avoid some negative traits by choosing an ADULT dog from an animal shelter or rescue group. With an adult dog, you can easily see what you're getting, and plenty of adult Lowchen have already proven themselves not to have negative characteristics.
• If you want a puppy, you can avoid some negative traits by choosing the right breeder and the right puppy. Unfortunately, you usually can't tell whether a puppy has inherited temperament or health problems until he grows up.
• Finally, you can avoid some negative traits by training your Lowchen to respect you and by following the 11-step care program in my book, 11 Things You Must Do Right To Keep Your Dog Healthy and Happy.

More traits and characteristics of the Lowchen

If I was considering a Lowchen, I would be most concerned about...

1. Separation anxiety. Lowchen need a great deal of companionship and do not like being left alone for more than a few hours. They tend to express their unhappiness through destructive chewing and barking. If you work all day, this is not the breed for you.
2. Providing enough socialization. Standoffish by nature, Lowchen need extensive exposure to people and to unusual sights and sounds. Otherwise their natural caution could become shyness or suspiciousness.
3. Grooming. Without frequent brushing and combing, Lowchen become a matted mess. If you can't commit to the brushing, you have to commit to frequent trimming or clipping to keep the coat short and sanitary. Personally I think they look terrific in short clips!
4. Housebreaking. Like many other small breeds, the Lowchen can be a bit slow to housebreak. It is so easy for them to sneak behind a chair or under a small table, and it takes only a few seconds for the deed to be done. And the results can be hard to see. If you don't see it, you can't correct it – and so the bad habit becomes established.

   To housebreak a Lowchen, consistent crate training is mandatory. Or a doggy door will allow access to a small enclosed "potty yard" whenever the dog needs to go.

5. Barking. Lowchen are often too quick to sound the alarm at every new sight and sound. You have to be equally quick to stop them.