A whirlwind of activity inside without being hyperactive, the Löwchen (LAOO-chen) is a dog that loves his family and to play. He enjoys romping outside but requires little exercise which allows him to fit into the apartment lifestyle quite easily. But don’t leave him alone frequently or for long periods of time, this loving dog really does need the attention and companionship of his family. With their sweet-natured, cheerful demeanor, they do best with older, considerate children, and they enjoy the company of dogs and other pets. A superior watchdog, he likes a vantage point that allows him to watch for visitors, sounding the alarm when they arrive. Once announced, strangers are readily accepted as this friendly little dog is simply not a guardian. But watch their barking; some overuse their voice. The lion-cut coat, reminiscent of the poodle, may give make him look fragile, but he is much more robust than he appears.

The Löwchen is a small dog, 12-14 inches tall, and 9-18 pounds in weight. They are easily recognizable by their distinctive lion cut from whence his nickname “little lion dog” is derived. His coat is clipped to 1/8 inch from the last rib to the hindquarters leaving a plume on the end of the tail, cuffs of hair on all four feet, and a mane on the chest and shoulders making him appear like a miniature lion. Keeping him in the lion cut requires clipping about every six weeks. All coat colors are acceptable with the most common being white, black, lemon or speckled. Their coat color changes periodically throughout their lifetime. The coat needs combing or brushing every other day. When maintained in this manner, there is extremely little shedding, and he is among the breeds called hypoallergenic. They start to suffer as the temperature varies significantly in either direction from normal room temperature.

As some lines are timid, Löwchens should be thoroughly socialized to promote a confident, outgoing, sweet-natured disposition. They are eager to learn and make an outstanding agility and obedience dog. He wants to be with his people, and he may develop bad habits of barking or digging if denied the companionship he needs. He is very impressionable, has a great memory, and strongly dislikes pressure, or strong corrections. Learning must be fun, varied, and positive. Löwchens are a very good choice for a first-time dog owner or seniors.