Lowchen vs Karelian Bear Dog - Breed Comparison | MyDogBreeds

Lowchen vs Karelian Bear Dog - Breed ComparisonLowchen is originated from Germany but Karelian Bear Dog is originated from Finland. Lowchen may grow 27 cm / 10 inches shorter than Karelian Bear Dog. Lowchen may weigh 15 kg / 33 pounds lesser than Karelian Bear Dog. Both Lowchen and Karelian Bear Dog has almost same life span. Both Lowchen and Karelian Bear Dog has almost same litter size. Both Lowchen and Karelian Bear Dog requires Moderate 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.

karelian bear dog - historyThe Karelian Bear Dog is a Finnish Spitz-type dog who is regarded as a national treasure in the country. They have always been noted for their hunting skills, and because the dog has been found in ancient Viking graves you can assume it is an ancient breed.

In fact the ancestry of the dog can be traced to neolithic times, when dogs followed human settlers to regions of Scandinavia and Europe.The American Kennel Club does not fully recognize the Karelian Bear Dog. It is however included in their Foundation Stock Service.

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.

karelian bear dog puppy - descriptionStanding at between 54–60cm in height and weighing roughly 20–23 kg, the medium sized Karelian Bear Dog has a beautiful shiny coat. The outercoat is shortish, straight and dense and the undercoat is soft and thick.

The color of the coat is black with white markings. The dog has a bushy tail which curls in a circle over the back and the tail’s end is white. The ears of the dog are small and erect while the small eyes are intense.

Temperament:

It is best to have your Karelian Bear dog trained and socialized as he can tend to be aggressive towards other pets in the house, and even towards people he isn't familiar with. The owner of these dogs must be firm and fair with training as the Karelian is a strong-willed dog.

He is devoted to his human owners while being somewhat aloof and unfriendly with strangers. They are very territorial.

He is a very social dog and just loves spending time outdoors with his family. He is also good with children in the home as he is a playful dog.He is a dog who is going to require a lot of space to use up his energy. He needs a lot of mental and physical stimulation, as in the past he has always had a lot of work to do, and just loves being active. He is a confident, brave dog who takes his job as family protector seriously.

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.

karelian bear dog dog - characteristicsYour energetic Karelian Bear Dog isn’t recommendeded for life in the city in a small garden. He needs a large garden or farm where he can run far and wide.

Exercising him will be an important part if you own one of these dogs. He is a social, friendly, active family pet who happens to make a good watchdog too.

Make sure you have your Karelian Bear Dog trained and socialized and he’ll make you a wonderful friend and pet.

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.

karelian bear dog puppies - health problemsThe Karelian Bear Dog can reach 10 to 12 years of age with good care, but just like with other dog breeds, he can be prone to certain health problems such as eye and dental problems as well as hip dysplasia.

Many people don’t realize that dental problems are far more serious than what they imagine. An offensive breath can be the first warning sign of tooth decay with your canine friend.

There are other problems that can develop orally for your dog and these include inflammation of the gums, swollen gums and mouth tumors. You need to brush your pet’s teeth but also see to it that he goes for regular dental check-ups at the vet.

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.

karelian bear dog dogs - caringThere are many people who just keep a dog for watchdog purposes and fail to make the pet a proper family member by meeting its physical and emotional needs.

Caring for a dog means providing nutritious food and clean drinking water, seeing that he has a warm, dry place to sleep, providing the dog with exercise and ensuring the dog is healthy and content.

Caring for a dog is a big responsibility, and you have to think carefully before you bring a dog into your home and life.

You need to be careful with the food you select for your pet. If you’re feeding him a commercially manufactured food, you need to make sure to read the label and make sure the top ingredients are meat and not meat by-products. If this is something you’ve never thought about, ask your veterinarian for food recommendations.

Speaking of veterinarians, make sure you have a reliable, reputable vet you can call on. At some time or other your pet may get sick and then you want to have the name of a reliable vet in your contacts list on your cell phone. Sometimes your pet can become suddenly sick where he will need immediate, emergency help from the vet.

Just like you look after yourself, you need to look after your pet by brushing him, checking him for fleas, ticks and worms and keeping an eye on his eyes, ears, teeth and general health.

Basic Information

Group:
Toy dog
Working dog
Origin:
Germany
Finland
Height Male:
25 - 33 cm
9 - 13 inches
54 - 60 cm
21 - 24 inches
Height Female:
25 - 33 cm
9 - 13 inches
54 - 60 cm
21 - 24 inches
Weight Male:
4 - 8 kg
8 - 18 pounds
20 - 23 kg
44 - 51 pounds
Weight Female:
4 - 8 kg
8 - 18 pounds
20 - 23 kg
44 - 51 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 14 Years
10 - 12 Years
Litter Size:
3 - 6
4 - 8
Size:
Small dog
Medium dog
Other Names:
Little Lion Dog
Karjalankarhukoira
Colors Available:
cream, grey, black, silver - bi-colored, All colors - white
Black and White
Coat:
Long and wavy
Shortish and dense
Shedding:
Minimal
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Sweet, Territorial
Affectionate, Aggressive, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
Moderate maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
Yes
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

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. Sakhalin Husky vs Karelian Bear Dog - Breed Comparison
  27. Portuguese Water Dog vs Karelian Bear Dog - Breed Comparison
  28. Puli vs Karelian Bear Dog - Breed Comparison
  29. McNab vs Karelian Bear Dog - Breed Comparison
  30. Porcelaine vs Karelian Bear Dog - Breed Comparison
  31. Hokkaido vs Karelian Bear Dog - Breed Comparison
  32. Petit Bleu de Gascogne vs Karelian Bear Dog - Breed Comparison
  33. Pumi vs Karelian Bear Dog - Breed Comparison
  34. Karelian Bear Dog vs American Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  35. Karelian Bear Dog vs Border Collie - Breed Comparison
  36. Karelian Bear Dog vs Alaskan Husky - Breed Comparison
  37. Karelian Bear Dog vs Catahoula Leopard - Breed Comparison
  38. Karelian Bear Dog vs German Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  39. Karelian Bear Dog vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  40. Karelian Bear Dog vs Griffon Bleu de Gascogne - Breed Comparison
  41. Karelian Bear Dog vs Borador - Breed Comparison
  42. Karelian Bear Dog vs German Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  43. Karelian Bear Dog vs Canadian Eskimo Dog - Breed Comparison
  44. Karelian Bear Dog vs Finnish Lapphund - Breed Comparison
  45. Karelian Bear Dog vs Berger Blanc Suisse - Breed Comparison
  46. Karelian Bear Dog vs Griffon Nivernais - Breed Comparison
  47. Karelian Bear Dog vs Australian Kelpie - Breed Comparison
  48. Karelian Bear Dog vs Griffon Fauve de Bretagne - Breed Comparison
  49. Karelian Bear Dog vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  50. Karelian Bear Dog vs Istrian Sheepdog - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds