Schnauzerdor 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.

With these modern day mixed-breeds, there is no history or records of when they came into being so we assume the USA. And so it it with the Schnauzer Lab mix breed. Each of the parent dogs – the Schnauzer and the Labrador, have their own histories.

It is uncertain how the Schnauzerdor came into being. Not so long ago, puppies born from different parents were simply labeled mongrels, but today they have been specifically bred. With these dogs you are never really sure how the puppies will turn out, and even within one litter, the puppies can be different looking.

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.

A Schnauzer Labrador or Schnauzerdor is much the same size of the Labrador if the parents were a Labrador and a standard Schnauzer.

You can expect the height to be roughly between 50 to 62cm and weight could be anything from 20 to 35kg. Everything will depend on the size of the Schnauzer really as there are 3 kinds – miniature, standard and giant.

There’ is no way of knowing what physical characteristics the Schnauzerdor will get from each parent. The coat of these dogs can be anything from smooth to wiry and they can also be in a number of different colors, from yellow to cream, grey, black, brown.

Temperament:

Schnauzers and Labradors are intelligent dogs so the Schnauzerdor is guaranteed to turn out smart. Make sure that your Schnauzerdor receives training and socialization. Clever dogs like this won’t battle with training and it can ensure your pet is obedient and balanced, knowing how to behave around different people and in different situations.

Schnauzers are considered non-shedding and hypoallergenic, so it could be that your Schnauzerdor ends up with a low shedding coat.

Your dog is likely to be social, playful, energetic and a good watchdog. They are loving and loyal to their human family members.

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 Schnauzer Lab is a crossbreed so this essentially means that your dog can have behavioral traits from either of the parents.

They're social, friendly, loving dogs that can also make good watchdogs. The Schnauzerdor gets on well with children and can get on with other dogs too. With training and socialization he becomes much more amicable and obedient, making a super family companion.

You can be sure that he is going to make your family a great playmate, friend and pet.

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.

Your Schnauzerdog can live to be between 10 and 14 years of age if looked after well. There are some dog illnesses that many dogs succumb to, regardless of breed or age -

Hip Dysplasia:

Hip dysplasia is when the hip joints don’t develop properly. You notice your dog is reluctant to play and even battles to get up again after lying down. Hip dysplasia can lead to painful arthritis and you will need to get him to the vet for pain relief and a treatment plan.

Obesity:

This dog loves his food, and because you love him so much, it will be tempting to pop treats into his mouth all the time. It is so easy to overfeed these dogs and obesity is a big problem and can contribute to joint problems with a dog as well as strain on the heart and other organs.

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.

Check your Schnauzerdor’s ears and eyes for infection. Look inside his mouth and check for bad teeth. When you brush him twice a week, check him over for new lumps.Trim his claws.

Your Schnauzerdor is an active dog and he will require vigorous exercise every day. A daily walk won't be enough for this dog. He will want runs in the park off his leash as well as rope- and ball games.

Give your Schnauzerdor the best chance to enjoy good health by providing him with good food.

There are some good commercially manufactured dog foods out there and they can be a good, convenient choice, especially if you choose the high quality ones known for their wholesome, natural ingredients.

Give him some home-made food too which can be added into the dry kibble twice a week. Boil brown rice and chicken in a pot and add in sweet potatoes, carrots and spinach. Chop all this up and as a treat, add some of this into the dry kibble.

Your dog’s wagging tail will be all the thanks you need. Try to also include some raw meat occasionally. Never leave your pet without a constant source of fresh, cool water.