Löwchen

Löwchen means little lion in German, and the breed earns the name through its traditional clip: full coat left over the front half of the body, hindquarters trimmed close to mimic a lion's mane and tail. Strip away the grooming and you find a solidly built toy-to-small dog, the kind that's happy on your lap one minute and trotting after you to the letterbox the next.

Temperament carries this breed. The Löwchen is affectionate, sociable, and keen to be involved in whatever the household is doing. It's alert rather than yappy, and with sensible introductions it generally settles well alongside children and other pets. Adults sit around 4 to 8 kg and stand roughly 26 to 32 cm at the shoulder, small enough for a central-city flat yet sturdy enough for a section in the suburbs.

The coat is long, wavy, and doesn't shed heavily, though it mats fast without regular brushing. Anyone considering a Löwchen is usually after a steady, people-focused companion rather than a dog bred to work stock or cover long distances on the farm.

Who it suits

The Löwchen suits owners who can offer daily company and don't want a dog left home alone for long stretches at work. It's a solid pick for first-time owners, families with considerate kids, and older adults after a small, even-tempered dog. Coat care is the main ongoing job, so factor in regular brushing or a professional groom before you commit.

The Löwchen ranks among the older companion breeds of continental Europe. Small lion-clipped dogs of its type turn up in European art from the Renaissance onward, usually pictured on the laps of well-to-do women. Several small companion breeds wore the same lion trim, so pinning down one exact line is tricky, but the type has long been associated with France and its neighbours.

Through the 1700s and 1800s the Löwchen stayed a household companion, kept by families with room for a small non-working pet rather than bred for hunting, herding, or guarding stock. Its story belongs to the parlour, not the paddock.

Numbers dropped sharply in the twentieth century, and at one stage the Löwchen was counted among the rarest breeds on earth. A small group of dedicated European breeders rebuilt the population from a narrow base, and the breed recovered enough to win recognition from major kennel clubs, including registration with Dogs New Zealand.

The Löwchen arrived in New Zealand as an import, which means every dog, and any semen or embryos used to widen the local gene pool, had to clear the Ministry for Primary Industries' biosecurity and quarantine requirements, standard practice for an island nation that guards its pest-free status closely. The breed remains uncommon here today, well behind the mainstream companion breeds, but it has a small, committed following among Kiwi enthusiasts.

The Löwchen is compact and well proportioned, a touch longer than it is tall, with a level topline and a confident, lively way of moving. The head is fairly short and broad with a clear stop, dark round eyes set well apart, and drop ears feathered with long hair. When the dog is alert, the tail lifts up and curves over the back.

The signature look is the lion clip: coat left long over the head, neck, chest, and front legs, while the rear half of the body, part of the legs, and part of the tail are clipped short, leaving a plume at the tail's tip.

Coat and colours

The Löwchen carries a single coat, long and wavy rather than curly or corded. With no dense undercoat, shedding is light, but the long hair tangles fast if brushing slips. Every colour and combination is accepted under the breed standard, solids and parti-colour patterns alike. A puppy's coat colour can shift in tone as the adult coat comes through.

The Löwchen is outgoing and thoroughly people-oriented. It's affectionate with the whole household rather than fixating on one favourite person, and it stays playful well past puppyhood, keen on games, gentle fetch, and interactive toys.

With strangers the Löwchen is usually friendly once introduced, meeting visitors with curiosity rather than suspicion. It's alert enough to announce someone at the gate, but it isn't a dog that barks for the sake of it once its needs are met. It's patient and tolerant with children, though supervision still makes sense given its small size, and it generally gets on with other dogs and cats, especially when raised alongside them.

The breed is sharp and reads its people well, which makes it sensitive to mood and tone of voice. Because it genuinely craves company, a Löwchen left home alone for long stretches on a regular basis, say through a full working week, can turn unhappy or pick up nuisance habits.

Grooming

The long single coat is the main care job. Plan on routine brushing and periodic trimming, whether you keep the traditional lion clip or opt for a shorter all-over cut.

• Brush two to three times a week, more often if you're keeping the full lion clip
• Comb through the longer feathering on legs, ears, and chest to catch tangles before they set
• Bathe roughly every three to four weeks, or as needed
• Book a professional groom every six to eight weeks if you keep the lion trim
• Check ears, trim nails, and brush teeth as part of the regular routine

Exercise

The Löwchen runs at moderate energy and doesn't need marathon workouts, but it does better with something on the calendar every day.

• One or two short walks a day
• Indoor play with toys or gentle fetch
• Short training games for mental stimulation
• Supervised play with other friendly dogs

Environment

The breed settles well in flats and houses alike. It's an indoor dog that wants to be near its people, not one suited to living outside or being left for long days on end. A securely fenced section is handy for off-lead play, though not essential given the breed's modest exercise needs. New Zealand's temperate climate suits the Löwchen, but owners in humid northern regions may need to brush more often in summer, while those further south should watch the dog closely during cold snaps given its small size.

The Löwchen needs a complete and balanced diet formulated for small breeds. Being a small dog, its calorie needs are modest, and weight creeps on fast if portions aren't measured out properly. Feed to the packet guidance for the dog's weight, then adjust against body condition: you should be able to feel the ribs easily, without a thick layer of fat over them.

Small breeds are prone to dental tartar, so dry food, dental chews, or regular tooth brushing all help keep the mouth healthy. Fresh water should be available at all times.

Treats and supplements

Keep treats to around 10 percent of daily calories so they don't throw the diet out of balance or pack on weight. A complete commercial food usually covers what the dog needs, so add supplements only on veterinary advice, for instance for a specific joint or skin issue.

The Löwchen is regarded as a generally healthy breed and commonly reaches 13 to 15 years of age. Its modern population came through a tight bottleneck during last century's decline, so choosing a breeder who screens breeding stock, and one registered with Dogs New Zealand, helps cut the risk of inherited problems. As with most small breeds, dental care and keeping weight in check make a real difference to long-term health.

Preventive care

• Annual vet checkups, moving to twice yearly once the dog is a senior
• Keep vaccinations and parasite control current
• Routine tooth brushing and dental checks
• Maintain a lean body weight to protect the joints
• Ask breeders for knee and eye health screening results

The Löwchen is intelligent and tuned in to its owners, so it picks things up fast once training is positive and consistent. It doesn't respond well to harsh handling and does its best work with patience and rewards. Because the breed is sensitive and bonds closely, training doubles as a way of building the relationship between dog and owner.

Early socialisation matters. Introducing the puppy to a range of people, dogs, sounds, and places builds the confident, friendly adult the breed is known for. House training can take some patience, as it does with most small breeds, so stick to a steady routine rather than expecting overnight results.

Basics

1. Start with name recognition and simple attention games
2. Teach sit, down, and come using food rewards
3. Begin house training on a fixed schedule from day one
4. Get the puppy used to gentle handling for grooming and vet visits
5. Add lead manners with short, low-distraction walks
6. Socialise widely during the early months

Breeding a Löwchen should be approached responsibly, with both parents health-screened before mating. Because the breed came through a narrow genetic bottleneck last century, keeping genetic diversity up and avoiding close pairings matters as much as any single health test.

Bitches reach sexual maturity within their first year, but breeding is usually held off until they're physically and mentally mature, generally around two years of age. Gestation runs roughly 63 days from conception. Being a small breed, the Löwchen tends toward small litters, commonly two to four puppies.

Puppies arrive helpless, eyes and ears closed, and rely entirely on the dam for the first few weeks. Weaning starts around three to four weeks, and puppies usually head to new homes from about eight weeks once weaned, vaccinated, and well socialised. Under New Zealand law puppies must be microchipped, and new owners need to register the dog with their local council within the required timeframe. Early gentle handling sets up the friendly temperament the breed is prized for.

Löwchen registration and microchip registration in New Zealand

The National Dog Database has required chipping of newly registered dogs since 2006, and council registration sits alongside that rather than replacing a proper contact record. Holding one with United Pet Club is free for your Löwchen's whole life. Registering your dog takes a few minutes, with nothing to renew afterwards.

Getting the chip implanted was the vet's job; giving the number somewhere to point is yours. Registering the microchip with United Pet Club costs nothing on the lifetime plan, suits any brand a Kiwi vet reaches for, and keeps the record searchable at any hour from anywhere. Creating a free account ties the profile and the chip together.