Independent dog care guides · Sourced from veterinary references · Written for owners everywhereHow we workPet insurance
Straight answers for dog people, everywhere.
Hound Handbook
Insurance guide
Breed profile

Löwchen

Small, sturdy companion famous for its 'lion' clip. Cheerful, people-focused and easy to live with.

Close-up of a grey and white Löwchen with a long, untrimmed coat looking up and smiling
A Löwchen in natural, unclipped coat.Photo: John M. P. Knox from Austin, USA / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Weight
4.5–8 kg10–18 lb
Height
28–36 cm11–14 in
Lifespan
13–15 yrs
Group
Toy / Non-Sporting
Origin
Western Europe
Popularity
#159 US#162 UK · 2025

Known for: Flat-friendlyLow sheddingFirst-time ownersFamily dogs

Energy
Shedding
Trainability
Barking
Good with kids
Flat-friendly

Temperament

Affectionate, Outgoing, Lively, Gentle.

Health problems to know about

  • Patellar luxation
  • Hip dysplasia
  • Cataracts
  • Progressive retinal atrophy

Ask breeders for the parents' health test results, and check what your national breed club recommends screening for.

Daily care

Daily walks and play. Brush and comb a few times a week; pet dogs are often kept in a simple puppy clip.

A good fit for

Flats, first-time owners, families and older owners who are home a lot.

Probably not ideal for

People out all day, and anyone who won't commit to regular grooming.

Sources

  1. Löwchen Dog Breed Information | American Kennel Club
  2. Lowchen (Little Lion Dog) | Breeds A to Z | The Royal Kennel Club
  3. Löwchen | Wikipedia

Popularity: AKC 2025 registration rankings (US); Royal Kennel Club 2025 registrations (UK, ranked by us). Breed traits are tendencies, not guarantees. Individual dogs vary, and mixed breeds and rescues can be wonderful fits too.

Similar breeds

All breeds
Fluffy white Bichon Frise sitting on a car seat with its tongue out

Bichon Frise

A cheerful white powder puff that gets on with nearly everyone. Low shedding, high grooming, and very fond of company.

A full-coated white Coton de Tulear sitting on sunlit grass, head turned to the left, hair tied up off its eyes.

Coton de Tulear

Cotton-coated companion from Madagascar. Cheerful, clingy and barely sheds, but that coat needs a comb through it every day.

A black Miniature Poodle in a natural pet trim stands on long green grass

Miniature Poodle

All the Poodle brains in a small, sturdy package. Lively, quick to learn and low-shedding, but the coat needs regular clipping.

Blenheim Cavalier King Charles Spaniel lying with its chin on the grass in front of a hedge

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Sweet, gentle and adaptable, with serious inherited heart and neurological risks.

Related guides

Fluffy white Bichon Frise on a rock beside a lake, with the Manhattan skyline behind
Breeds

Best Dog Breeds for Apartments: 12 Honest Picks (and What Matters)

The best apartment dogs are calm and quiet, not just small. Twelve breeds with honest pros and cons, why mixed breeds are worth a look, and building pet rules.

9 min read · 8 sources