Löwchen puppies

About the Löwchen

The Löwchen, the little lion dog, has turned up in European paintings and tapestries for centuries and is still shown in the traditional lion trim, clipped close over the hindquarters with the mane left long at the front. They weigh around 6.8 kg and stand 30 to 36 cm, in a long wavy coat. This is a companion breed with more backbone than most: bold, playful, quick to learn, and rated at the top of the scale for living with children.

A good brushing every few days and a bath every couple of weeks keeps the coat in order, with a visit to the groomer every month or two for the trim. They shed little. Exercise is a fenced garden, long walks and games, and they do well at obedience and agility, though they are not built for distance running. Supervision and socialisation still apply with children. Part the long coat as you brush, since mats like to form against the skin where they cannot be seen.

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a Löwchen puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A small breed puppy at eight weeks is light enough to carry everywhere, which is exactly how you get them socialised before the vaccination course finishes. They will still need four meals a day. Expect moderate energy, in short bursts separated by long naps. Grooming needs are moderate, so build the brushing habit now while the coat is still short and easy. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.

Health worth knowing about

Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.

• Hip dysplasia, screened by x-ray evaluation of breeding stock
• Patellar luxation, detected on orthopaedic examination
• Cataracts, found at an ophthalmologist eye examination
• Progressive retinal atrophy, found by eye examination and detectable by DNA test

Your Löwchen puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Small for a Löwchen.
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 6.8 kg adult range.
• Puppy names and the first week checklist.

Kit sizes: crate 24 inch (24 x 18 x 20 in, 61 x 46 x 51 cm) for an adult of up to 6.8 kg; chew toys made for small breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.

Buying guides for this

• Best crate for a puppy: wire, plastic or soft, and how to size one with a divider

Other small breeds

More on the Löwchen

Previous: Lhasa Apso · Next: Lucas Terrier

Sources

• akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
• fci.be for country of origin
• Health notes from Löwchen breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/lowchen/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

Photo: Jappitoo, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.