Lowchen vs Bichon Bolognese - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

Lowchen vs Bichon Bolognese - Breed ComparisonBichon Bolognese is originated from Spain but Lowchen is originated from Germany. Bichon Bolognese may grow 29 cm / 11 inches shorter than Lowchen. Bichon Bolognese may weigh 22 kg / 49 pounds more than Lowchen. Both Bichon Bolognese and Lowchen has almost same life span. Both Bichon Bolognese and Lowchen has almost same litter size. Bichon Bolognese requires Low Maintenance. But Lowchen requires Moderate Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Toy dog
Toy dog
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Spain
Germany
Height Male:
3 - 4 cm
1 - 2 inches
25 - 33 cm
9 - 13 inches
Height Female:
2 - 3 cm
0 - 2 inches
25 - 33 cm
9 - 13 inches
Weight Male:
27 - 30 kg
59 - 67 pounds
4 - 8 kg
8 - 18 pounds
Weight Female:
25 - 28 kg
55 - 62 pounds
4 - 8 kg
8 - 18 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 15 Years
12 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
3 - 5
3 - 6
Size:
Toy
Small
Other Names:
the Bolognese Toy Dog, the Bolognese, Bolo, the Botoli, the Bottolo
Little Lion Dog
Colors Available:
white
cream, grey, black, silver - bi-colored, All colors - white
Coat:
the Bolognese Toy Dog, the Bolognese, Bolo, the Botoli, the Bottolo
Long and wavy
Shedding:
Moderate
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Cheerful, Friendly, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Playful, Social
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Sweet, Territorial
Grooming:
Low Maintenance
Moderate Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
Yes
Yes
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

bichon bologneseThe Bichon Bolognese is one of 4 types of Bichon breeds the others being the Havense, the Bichon Frise and the Maltese. The Lowchen and the Coton de Tulear are also listed in this grouping at times. The Bolognese was developed in Italy and is a small, companion animal. They are named after the city of Bologna in Northern Italy. The Bichon Bolognese is considered a toy dog and are considered an ancient breed that lived with Italian nobility. Their precise ancestry is not known and the Maltese is considered its closest relative. They have been known to exist since at least 1200.

The Bichon Bolognese is found in many works of art throughout the centuries. They were the favorite of many an Italian artist since the 17th century including Titian, Watteau, Gosse and Goya. They were known to be owned by Duke Frederico Gonzaga, Madame De Pompadour, Catherine the Great of Russia and Empress Maria Theresa of Austria. Cosimo de Medici gave eight Bolognese to Belgian noblemen. The Duke d’Este was given two as a gift.

Of all the Bichon group – the Bolognese is the hardest to find and the best problem solver. They read body language amazingly well, stick with their owners and are attentive and devoted. Liz Stannard brought them to England in 1990 and they were entered in the breed registry that same year and joined the show ring cycle in 2001. By 2002 they were shown at Crufts, England’s International Dog Show.

lowchenKnown 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.

Description

bichon bolognese puppy - descriptionLike the other members of the Bichon group, the Bolognese is a compact, little white dog. It is considered a member of the toy group and is stocky in its build. It is a muscled, square dog of medium length with an ovoid skull and large, square, black muzzle. The jaw is well developed, and they have black lips, black nose and black eyelids. They have a straight muzzle with a strong, aligned bite and its eyes are round and wide. They have long, high set ears that hang down to a rigid base. The coat is white, long and shorter only at the muzzle. The coat is fluffy but not fringed.

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.

Characteristics

bichon bolognese dog - characteristicsThese little white dogs with the shaggy hair are intelligent, loving, playful, loyal, and happy to do whatever you ask them to. They are more reserved than their relative the Bichon Frise. They are great at obedience training and seem to love it. They learn quickly and love to please you, yet they can also be very stubborn. Like the Bichon Frise, they are difficult to housebreak. They need to be with their people who they will develop bad habits and a bad attitude. They are bred to be companion dogs. If socialized when young they are great with strangers after you have indicated that the strangers are ok. They are barking watchdogs but not continuous barkers. They get along with other dogs but are ok by themselves as well. They do get separation anxiety when their people are gone for extended periods of time. They can be very serious and docile, but they love to be with people. They are very loyal and very bonded to their family.

Be sure you are the pack leader as they can acquire Small Dog Syndrome. With this syndrome the dog comes to believe he is the alpha and the humans are his pack. This causes many kinds of problems with behavior including howling when not getting attention, their separation anxiety and destructiveness can also come from this.

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.

Health Problems

bichon bolognese puppies - health problemsLike others in the Bichon group, they have moving kneecaps (luxating patella’s). They also have some eye conditions. They should be tested for any genetic issues, although the breed is a very healthy one and they do not usually have major health issues.

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.

Caring The Pet

Feeding

bichon bolognese dogs - caringLike other toy breeds do not overfeed the Bolognese. Feed them ¼ of a cup of high quality dry food once a day. Treats are often used for training just be judicious with them.

Health issues

They are very healthy with a propensity toward: Moving kneecaps (Luxating patella)

Hip Dysplasia

Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease – This causes the thigh bones to shrink due to a loss of blood supply. It can be repaired surgically.

Periodontal Disease due to their small mouth size.

Exercise and games

They need to walk everyday but they can be couch potatoes. One long 20-minute walk will do or a couple 10-minute walks.

While Bolognese are perfectly happy to lounge around the house, they should also have a daily walk.[7] A suitable walk would be around 20–25 minute a couple of times a day or substitute 10-minute walks a few times a day. They love to play off-lead, whether its in the house or in a fenced in yard or dog park.

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.

Comparison with other breeds

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  26. Lowchen vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
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  28. Lowchen vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Lowchen vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Lowchen vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Lowchen vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Lowchen vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
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  34. Lowchen vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Lowchen vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Lowchen vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Lowchen vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Lowchen vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Lowchen vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Lowchen vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Lowchen vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Lowchen vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Lowchen vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Lowchen vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Lowchen vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Lowchen vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Lowchen vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Lowchen vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Lowchen vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Lowchen vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison