Lowchen vs Gull Dong - Breed Comparison | MyDogBreeds

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.

The Gull Dong dog is thought to come from British Colonial India during the 1900's. The area later became known as Pakistan, and this is where the dog originated from.

Known also as the Bully Gull Terr, the dog came about by crossing Bully Kutta (Pakistani Mastiff) with a pure bred Gull Terr. The breeders wanted a dog that had the best features and characteristics of both the 2 dog breeds.

They were looking for particular characteristics such as size, strength and speed. This is a rare dog breed and he isn’t associated with any kennels or clubs, so not many records have been kept regarding their origin and development.

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.

The deep chested Gull Dong is a large dog and stands at 76 – 106cm in height and weighs in the region of 40 – 63kg.

He has a short, smooth coat in various colors such as white, grey, black, brindle or bi-color such as white with black spots. He is a muscular, powerful breed dog and his ears are mostly cropped, but when left they are short and floppy. His tail can be docked but these days it tends to be left long. He has a huge head, and similar to bulldogs, this mastiff dog has loose skin around the jaw and neck.

Temperament:

This is a strong-willed dog who is also intelligent. Just his sheer size will require that you have him trained and socialized. It is actually important to train and discipline this dog as he is strong willed. He is intelligent and learns easily.

After training, he will require a strong, firm and consistent owner. He is fairly suspicious of strangers and won't take kindly to anyone who tries to come onto his properly. He is a dominant, aggressive dog and while he is a loyal, loving pet with his human family, he isn't an ideal dog to have with small children in the home.

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.

This is a powerful, intelligent dog and with training and socialization he is capable of becoming a loving, protective pet who listens to you.

He does tend to be aggressive and therefore people who are buying a dog for the first time might battle with the characteristics of this dog. He will certainly need a firm, strong, patient owner. He isn't the wisest choice for when you've got small children in the house, though well trained dogs and children are able to get along well together.

When your heavy, muscular Gull Dong is handled in a firm, kind manner, he is well exercised and fed and treated firmly and kindly, he is able to make a great, loyal companion.

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.

The Gull is a fairly healthy dog, and with good care he can reach 10, 11 or 12 years of age.

Deafness:

If you choose to own a white one, you will know that he is susceptible to deafness and skin problems. White coated dogs battle with deafness, and the reason for this is that they carry the piebald gene. The piebald gene is a result of the absence of melanocytes – those cells which create pigment.

The ability to hear comes from a layer of cells within the inner ear which come from the same stem cell source. Without this stem cell, the dog isn't able to make this specialized layer of hearing cells.

Hip Dysplasia:

With hip dysplasia, the head of the thigh bone doesn’t fit properly into the hip socket, resulting in the bone wearing away and arthritis settling in. Your dog can experience pain and stiffness and he can become lame. You'll notice he is no longer enthusiastic to join in with games and exercise.

Hip dysplasia can be managed with medication while some dog owners, if they can afford it, turn to surgery which can be very costly.

Bloat:

He is a deep chested dog and this means you need to be aware of the risks associated with bloat, an emergency gastrointestinal syndrome which can be life threatening and where your dogs stomach becomes hard and bloated.

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.

Exercise:

Plenty of room to run around in is important for the Gull Dong as he is a working breed who is used to having a job to do. You will certainly need to take him on walks or play rope- and ball games with him.

Grooming:

The Gull will require brushing twice a week as he is a short haired dog and an average shedder.

Diet:

This is a large energetic dog and you will need to feed him a high quality food specially for large, energetic dogs. He needs his full quota of minerals and vitamins in his food. Provide him with homemade food such as cooked chicken, rice and vegetables and some raw meat from time to time. Never leave him without a constant supply of fresh, cool drinking water.