Lowchen vs Africanis - Breed Comparison | MyDogBreeds

Lowchen vs Africanis - Breed ComparisonLowchen is originated from Germany but Africanis is originated from South Africa. Lowchen may grow 27 cm / 10 inches shorter than Africanis. Lowchen may weigh 37 kg / 81 pounds lesser than Africanis. Both Lowchen and Africanis has almost same life span. Both Lowchen and Africanis has almost same litter size. Lowchen requires Moderate maintenance. But Africanis 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.

africanis - historyAfricanis is one of the original African breeds. This breed was not shaped by humans, but they went through the process of natural selection. Humans did not affect this breed by standard breeding practices. Through the history, this breed became stronger and stronger because only the strongest of the breed survived. Africanis descent is the early dog that is originally from ancient Egypt. Approximately 4500 BC was the period of first data about this breed.

As time passes through, Africanis became more and more popular through the whole continent. This breed migrated with people for thousands of years, and now, a modern Africanis is similar to Greyhound dog. The original Africanis can be found in tribes and more traditional people. One of the oldest breeds in the world is one of the lasts that has been recognized by Kennel Union of Southern Africa.

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.

africanis puppy - descriptionAfricanis origins from South Africa. The average Africanis weights 25-45 kg, with a height of 50-60cm, while females are slightly smaller. They are medium sized dogs who are friendly, but also independent and territorial. They can are good pets for training, but it requires persistent work.

The lifespan of Africans is 10-12 years, but lifespan always depends on health, genetics, and care of the dog. Therefore, if they are healthy and well cared they can live longer than average.

Litter Size variates a lot, so female can have 2-8 puppies.

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.

africanis dog - characteristicsAfricanis is a very good and healthy breed. They are very intelligent and friendly breed. They are not an aggressive breed, but they tend to protect the master. Africanis is a natural guard dog. This breed is used to being alone because for the centuries they migrated close to humans, but they also have been independent.

Training Africanis is not very hard. They tend to learn very quickly. Positive training with awards is the best way to train your Africanis. The old-fashioned way of training dogs with punishment is not recommendable for Africanis. They are intelligent breed who requires patience and constancy.

They are very good with other animals too, but they need proper socialization. Africanis requires daily exercise so if you keep your dog in the apartment it should have few daily walks. Africanis can live in the apartments though.

Overall, they are very healthy breed, so with regular vet checks and proper care, they are perfect pets for the whole family since they are great and gentle with small children and kids.

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.

africanis puppies - health problemsThe great thing about Africanis is that this breed is very healthy. Thousands of years of evolution made this breed one of the toughest breeds in the world. They can survive very tough conditions. Africanis has a very healthy immune system too. It evolves so strong that there are no internal or external parasites that can harm the dog.

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 the Africanis

africanis dogs - caringAfricanis has used to eat everything, so this breed does not require any special treatments. 2-2.5 cups of dry high-quality food would be more than enough to have healthy and well feed the dog. But have in mind that feeding the dog depends on daily activity and size. If the dog is more active, an extra cup wouldn’t be a problem for a dog to eat.

Feeding Africanis puppy

Africanis puppy should eat more times per day than an adult dog. 3-5 meals per day of quality dry food are good measure to feed your puppy Africanis.

Grooming Africanis

Since Africanis has short hair they are very easy to groom and care. Few brushes on a weekly basis with occasional bathing would be more than enough to have a clean and healthy dog.

Basic Information

Group:
Toy dog
Working dog
Origin:
Germany
South Africa
Height Male:
25 - 33 cm
9 - 13 inches
50 - 60 cm
19 - 24 inches
Height Female:
25 - 33 cm
9 - 13 inches
50 - 60 cm
19 - 24 inches
Weight Male:
4 - 8 kg
8 - 18 pounds
25 - 45 kg
55 - 100 pounds
Weight Female:
4 - 8 kg
8 - 18 pounds
25 - 45 kg
55 - 100 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 14 Years
10 - 12 Years
Litter Size:
3 - 6
2 - 8
Size:
Small dog
Large dog
Other Names:
Little Lion Dog
Bantu Dog, African Dog, Umbwa Wa Ki-Shenzi, Khoikhoi Dog, Hottentot Hunting Dog, Zulu Dog
Colors Available:
cream, grey, black, silver - bi-colored, All colors - white
Tan, White, Black, Brown and Black & Tan
Coat:
Long and wavy
Short, Hard and Thick
Shedding:
Minimal
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Sweet, Territorial
Friendly, Independent, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
Low maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
Yes
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
No

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. Samoyed vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  27. Alaskan Malamute vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  28. Bullmastiff vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  29. Great Pyrenees vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  30. Boerboel vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  31. Presa Canario vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  32. Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  33. Labrador Husky vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  34. Argentine Dogo vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  35. Giant Schnauzer vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  36. Africanis vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  37. Africanis vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  38. Africanis vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  39. Africanis vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  40. Africanis vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  41. Belgian Shepherd vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  42. Goldador vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  43. Bandog vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  44. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  45. Dogo Cubano vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  46. Dogo Sardesco vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  47. Beauceron vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  48. Central Asian Shepherd vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Mackenzie River Husky vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  50. Black Russian Terrier vs Africanis - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds