Lowchen vs English Shepherd - Breed Comparison | MyDogBreeds

Lowchen vs English Shepherd - Breed ComparisonLowchen is originated from Germany but English Shepherd is originated from United States. Lowchen may grow 25 cm / 9 inches shorter than English Shepherd. Lowchen may weigh 20 kg / 44 pounds lesser than English Shepherd. Both Lowchen and English Shepherd has almost same life span. Both Lowchen and English Shepherd has almost same litter size. Lowchen requires Moderate maintenance. But English Shepherd requires Low maintenance

History

lowchen - historyKnown 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.

english shepherd - historyThe English Shepherd is another dog with an English name that was developed in the United States. They developed from British farm dogs that were brought to the United States in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries by the Scottish and English as they settled in the New World. Tracing their line through working dogs and collies in Scotland and northern England, the settlers bred them with local dogs and each other. These working farm dogs were called English Shepherds, Scotch Collies, barnyard collie, farm shepherd, the cow dog, and the old fashioned shepherd.

The English Shepherd was appreciated by the settlers and farmers because he was a versatile dog that could herd their flocks and protect their homes as well. They appreciated his intelligence and ability to hunt vermin and be a companion for their children. English Shepherds were bred to work with a variety of livestock such as pigs, cattle, goats, sheep and fowl. They were used to hunt as well and were known to track racoons and squirrels and tree them. There wasn’t a more popular dog in the American Midwest and East in the 1800’s and 1900’s.

The breed is trustworthy, alert and independent. As the small family farms were replaced by large agricultural enterprises the English Shepherd’s numbers dwindled as well until he fell into the category of a rare breed. There were no clubs to support it and not AKC recognition. The UKC had a different dog registered as a farm shepherd.

Today’s English Shepherd is still a farm dog, but he also hunts, is a therapy dog, competes in AKC trials, and performs search and rescue duties. As a farm dog, they are still the most desirable due to their versatility in working with different livestock, guarding the home and caring for the children. They do these things in a gentle way if possible but can be tough if needed. They have great empathy for the livestock and for their human family. This makes him a great dog for the family. The English Shepherd has remained a farm dog, working dog more than a show dog, over all these years.

Basic Information

Group:
Toy dog
Herding dogs
Origin:
Germany
United States
Height Male:
25 - 33 cm
9 - 13 inches
46 - 58 cm
18 - 23 inches
Height Female:
25 - 33 cm
9 - 13 inches
44 - 54 cm
17 - 22 inches
Weight Male:
4 - 8 kg
8 - 18 pounds
21 - 28 kg
46 - 62 pounds
Weight Female:
4 - 8 kg
8 - 18 pounds
18 - 23 kg
39 - 51 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 14 Years
13 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
3 - 6
5 - 8
Size:
Small dog
Medium dog
Other Names:
Little Lion Dog
old fashioed collie, old fashioned shepherd, Scotch Collie, old time collie, farm collie
Colors Available:
cream, grey, black, silver - bi-colored, All colors - white
black and white, sable and white, and tri-color. , black and tan
Coat:
Long and wavy
double, silky
Shedding:
Minimal
Constant
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Sweet, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Loving, Loyal, Protective, Social, Stubborn, Sweet
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
Low maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
Yes
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Description

lowchen puppy - descriptionThe 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.

english shepherd puppy - descriptionThe American bred English Shepherd is a medium sized dog that looks somewhat like an Australian Shepherd or Border Collie. They have tails, never come in merle coloring and their head is not as rounded as the Australian Shepherd. A working dog, its proportionally very well balanced. Because the English Shepherd is so popular across the country, doing a wide variety of jobs, there is some regional differences in the dogs.

The coat can be curly or straight with feathering around the tail, ears and legs. Their heads are slightly rounded but broad and the muzzle is also broad with a solid black nose except for the clear sable dogs whose nose is brown. The eyes show you how intelligent and strong this breed is, and they should be round, brown and oblique. The ears are close to the head and wide apart.

With a strong, muscular back and shoulders the English Shepherd can do almost anything you ask him to. His legs are strong and straight, and his hind legs are muscular. His feet are compact, oval and well padded.

Characteristics

lowchen dog - characteristicsThe 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.

english shepherd dog - characteristicsIt may seem strange to talk about kindness in a working dog, but it is one of the defining traits of the English Shepherd, along with intelligence. The breed is extremely kind to everyone he lives with animals and people. Once he is secure in his job and takes in his children or his herd, he is one of the best caretakers around. He is an independent thinker, is easily trained, and highly affectionate. However, he does see himself as the boss and unless you establish yourself in that alpha role you could have problems.

Health Problems

lowchen puppies - health problemsThe 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.

english shepherd puppies - health problemsLike many other herding breeds, it has been found that about 15% of English Shepherds had a gene mutation called MDR1. This means they have adverse reaction and high sensitivity to many common drugs for dogs. This condition could be life-threatening so test your dog for it and know what you are up against.

Caring The Pet

lowchen dogs - caringBecause 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.

Feeding

english shepherd dogs - caringRemember the English Shepherd is a hard working dog. But if you don’t work him don’t overfeed him. Twice a day, he needs about one half cup of a good quality dry food made with an active, medium sized dog in mind.

Health issues

In addition to the health concern listed above, the English Shepherd is also prone to:

Dysplasia

Both elbow and hip dysplasia can plaque the English Shepherd as it does almost any active breed. Have your puppy tested as it can cause lameness and arthritis.

Exercise and games

This is a herding breed and they need exercise. They need a job. They are intelligent and work oriented so make sure they have something to do. Take them to herding trails and have their herding instinct tested. Put them to work in flyball, agility, frisbee, tracking, obedience, rally, herding and showmanship events. Just make sure your English Shepherd has enough to keep his mind and body stimulated at a high rate every day.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Pomeranian vs Lowchen - Breed Comparison
  2. Maltese vs Lowchen - Breed Comparison
  3. Pug vs Lowchen - Breed Comparison
  4. Maltipoo vs Lowchen - Breed Comparison
  5. Papillon vs Lowchen - Breed Comparison
  6. Miniature English Bulldog vs Lowchen - Breed Comparison
  7. Miniature Pinscher vs Lowchen - Breed Comparison
  8. Lowchen vs Cavalier King Charles Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  9. Lowchen vs Cockapoo - Breed Comparison
  10. Lowchen vs Cavapoo - Breed Comparison
  11. Lowchen vs Cavachon - Breed Comparison
  12. Lowchen vs Japanese Chin - Breed Comparison
  13. Lowchen vs Bolognese - Breed Comparison
  14. Lowchen vs Italian Greyhound - Breed Comparison
  15. Lowchen vs Jug - Breed Comparison
  16. Lowchen vs Australian Silky Terrier - Breed Comparison
  17. Lowchen vs Dorgi - Breed Comparison
  18. Lowchen vs Belgian Griffon - Breed Comparison
  19. Lowchen vs Carlin Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  20. Lowchen vs Dorkie - Breed Comparison
  21. Lowchen vs German Spitz (Klein) - Breed Comparison
  22. Lowchen vs Doxiepoo - Breed Comparison
  23. Lowchen vs Bospin - Breed Comparison
  24. Lowchen vs Bantam Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  25. Lowchen vs Damchi - Breed Comparison
  26. Pembroke Welsh Corgi vs English Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  27. English Shepherd vs Australian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. English Shepherd vs Belgian Shepherd Dog (Malinois) - Breed Comparison
  29. English Shepherd vs Australian Cattle Dog - Breed Comparison
  30. English Shepherd vs Bearded Collie - Breed Comparison
  31. English Shepherd vs Collie - Breed Comparison
  32. English Shepherd vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison
  33. English Shepherd vs Dutch Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  34. English Shepherd vs Blue Healer - Breed Comparison
  35. English Shepherd vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  36. English Shepherd vs Catahoula Cur - Breed Comparison
  37. English Shepherd vs Australian Red Heeler - Breed Comparison
  38. English Shepherd vs Catalan Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  39. English Shepherd vs Bergamasco - Breed Comparison
  40. English Shepherd vs Berger Picard - Breed Comparison
  41. English Shepherd vs Appenzell Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  42. English Shepherd vs Bohemian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  43. English Shepherd vs Croatian Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  44. English Shepherd vs Belgian Shepherd Dog (Tervuren) - Breed Comparison
  45. English Shepherd vs Blue Lacy - Breed Comparison
  46. English Shepherd vs Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. English Shepherd vs Belgian Shepherd Dog (Laekenois) - Breed Comparison
  48. English Shepherd vs Black Norwegian Elkhound - Breed Comparison
  49. English Shepherd vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  50. Pyrenean Shepherd vs English Shepherd - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds