Mini Sheepadoodles vs Lowchen - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

Known as the Little Lion Dog, the Lowchen is considered by some registries as a toy dog and by the American Kennel Club as a non-sporting dog.

Nobody seems too certain about the true origin of the dog but most records seem to suggest it originates from Germany, France or Holland.

He was bred to catch rats and mice and his history goes way back to 1442, with images of him being found in engravings and paintings. People think he may be related to the Bichon Frise.

His history shows that apart from being used to catch vermin he was also a companion dog to the wealthy. A breeding program for the dog was started in 1944 and they were later imported to Britain in the late 1960s. The dog was given Kennel Club recognition in the UK in 1971, also appearing in America in 1971 with The Lowchen Club of America being formed.

The Mini Sheepadoodle is such a sweet, teddy bear of a dog. It comes from two awesome dog breeds – the Old English Sheepdog and the Miniature Poodle. It is thought that the dog originated in the USA.

They are two very different looking dogs, but their personalities are fairly similar. This designer dog isn’t purebred and isn’t registered with the American Kennel Club (AKC).

The Lowchen is a small dog but robustly built and stands at between 25 – 33 cm in height and weighs anything from 4 – 8 kg.

He has a long coat which is available in a number of colors - cream, white, grey, black, silver and bi-colored. The single coat isn’t like that of the Bichon Frise, thin and fluffy, but is much thicker, silky and wavy and sheds minimally. People love snipping the long coat cut so that the dog looks like a small lion, short over the body and with a mane, with some hair left around the ‘ankle’ parts of the legs.

The tail is also sheared and left with a pom-pom look. People look at him as an ideal pet as he doesn’t shed much and is looked upon as being a hypoallergenic dog.

He has a wide muzzle and broad, flat skull. The ears are floppy with fringing, the eyes dark, round and intelligent looking. The litter size of this dog is is usually between 3 and 6 puppies.

Temperament:

Intelligent, bright, outgoing and affectionate, you won’t find any aggression in this cute little dog unless the owners have treated him so badly that he wants to be aggressive.

He is such an amicable little pet that he won’t cause you any trouble – he just wants to be your friend. He is a social dog, but can be quite timid when introduced to new people.Socialization and training will do wonders for him and give him some confidence.

He just loves receiving attention and is also prepared to give a lot of attention too. Although he can adapt easily to life in the city or the countryside, he wouldn’t like his owners being at work all day and leaving him alone hour after hour. He is gentle with his human family and sees to it that he gets on well with children as well as pets in the home.

The Mini Sheepadoodle, a mix between the Mini Poodle and Sheepdog stands at between 48 and 52cm and weighs between 11 to 20kg.

He is solidly built with a broad skull and face. The coat is usually medium length and can be either straight, wavy or curly. The coat can be quite a few colors depending on the parents. Some are brown, cream or black while others are white and grey or white and brown.

He is a low shedding dog. He has a double coat which will still need brushing. This hybrid breed has a thick coat that will need to be trimmed professionally every now and then as well. This is good for hot weather and for reducing the time it takes to groom the pet.

Temperament:

They’re easy-going, social dogs, loving to spend time with their human families. They are gentle and patient with children and they get on well with other pets in the home as well.

The Poodle is a very intelligent dog and because there is Poodle in the Mini Sheepadoodle, you can be sure that your dog is going to be bright too and that he will be able to be trained and socialized with ease. They’re friendly and don’t do too well as watchdogs.

The Lowchen is sure to make anyone a splendid pet as he is friendly, playful, loving and loyal. He is such a good natured pet and will make a wonderful companion, being able to get on well with children and pets in the home.

He is energetic too and will love to be outside playing games or joining you on a walk. Those who have had the Lowchen as a pet haven’t been disappointed as they all agree that he makes the most amazing family companion.

The Mini Sheepadoodle is such an affectionate teddy-bear dog and is calm, gentle and loving.

They make perfect family pets and want to please their owners. He is friendly and gets on well with his human family as well as with other pets in the home.

Children love him as he is always willing to have a game. They’re sociable and playful and make a wonderful canine pet and companion in your home.

The Lowchen is a healthy dog breed so you aren’t going to be spending too much money with him at the vet. Some health concerns with this particular dog breed are cataracts and patellar luxation.

Cataracts:

It can be so sad witnessing your dog’s bright, alert eyes clouding over. Dogs have clear lens, but cataracts, while not painful, can impair vision and actually lead to complete vision loss. As the eye disease progresses, the lens can become completely opaque.

Patellar Luxation:

This occurs when the kneecap of the dog is dislocated from its normal position. You’ll see your dog holding up his hind leg every now and then. It can only be returned to its normal position once the quadriceps muscles of the dog relax.

This is a common knee joint problem in dogs and it can lead to arthritis. He will need to get to the vet.

They’re healthy dogs and you’re not likely to be spending too much time at the vet. Every dog can be prone to any one of the many common dog illnesses there are. These can be hip dysplasia, obesity, bloat, dental disease, cataracts and more.

Bloat:

This can be a life-threatening disease and treatment will be required as soon as possible. Known also as gastric dilatation and volvulus, the stomach twists and fills with gas. The dog’s stomach becomes distended with gas, and pressure is placed on the diaphragm, creating breathing problems.

Your dog will have a swollen stomach, he’ll be drooling and panting and he’ll be restless and he may even make little whimpering noises because he is in pain. He may be trying to vomit. Your dog needs to get to the vet immediately.

Hip dysplasia:

This is a leading health concern with many dogs and with the Mini Sheepadoodle as well. It’s a condition where there is an abnormal formation of the hip socket. It can lead to pain and arthritis and you may even notice your once-active pet battling to do what he once did, even when he is still young.

There are things that can be done though and your vet will discuss treatment methods with you and ideas to make it comfortable for your pet.

Because your Lowchen is a bright, happy companion dog you want to ensure that you look after him well to ensure his ongoing wellbeing.

The single coat is long and you will need to brush him regularly to keep it looking good. If brushing becomes too hectic, you can have him sheared at a professional dog groomer.

Check him over for fleas and ticks while brushing him.

Feel all over his body for the emergence of new lumps.

Clip his nails to ensure they don’t grow long so that they hook on things and tear his flesh.

Check the inside of his ears to make sure there is no sign of redness and ear infection. This can drive your pet mad with the itching. The ears need to be kept clean, as do the teeth and both these can be done for you at professional dog groomers.

Every dog requires exercise and your Lowchen will need games and walks to keep him fit, to ward off obesity and to provide him with something to look forward to.

Make sure to feed your pet wholesome food as good quality food promotes good health and longevity. Give your Lowchen the best quality kibble there is and try and mix in some homemade cooked chicken, brown rice, pasta and cooked or raw vegetables every now and then just to add some tasty variety to your pets diet. Make sure he always has access to fresh, cool water.

Make sure your Lowchen has a warm, dry comfy spot to sleep, and ensue that when he’s outside he has shade to lie down in.

Exercise:

The Mini Sheepadoodles will need quite a lot of exercise as he is an active dog. Walks are always a super idea, and hikes even better. He will love other forms of activities such as ball games, hide and seek, ropes games and general rough and tumble games.

Grooming:

A brush every other day will be required. You can have your pet professionally trimmed. Check him over during brushing for unusual lumps. Check inside his ears and inside his mouth as he can’t tell you about ear infections or a bad tooth causing him a lot of pain.

Diet:

Provide your wonderful dog with the best food there is. Just like human beings, food plays an important role in good health. Learn to read the labels on commercially manufactured dog foods and try to feed your pet natural, wholesome foods with vitamins and minerals.

Some of the more inferior brands pump their foods full of colorants and preservatives. Try and provide your Mini Sheepadoodle with some home-made food which is simple and free of spices. Things like boiled chicken, brown rice and vegetables chopped up and added to the dry kibble sometimes can do your pet a lot of good.

Make sure your pet always has a bowl of fresh, cool water available.

General:

Provide your pet with a warm, dry place to sleep.

Make sure his vaccines are up to date and make sure you have a reliable trusted vet to turn to when he is sick.