Pugnaces Britanniae vs Lowchen - Breed Comparison

Lowchen is originated from Germany but Pugnaces Britanniae is originated from United Kingdom. Lowchen may grow 42 cm / 16 inches shorter than Pugnaces Britanniae. Lowchen may weigh 102 kg / 224 pounds lesser than Pugnaces Britanniae. Both Lowchen and Pugnaces Britanniae has almost same life span. Lowchen may have less litter size than Pugnaces Britanniae. Lowchen requires Moderate Maintenance. But Pugnaces Britanniae requires Low Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Toy dog
Miscellaneous dogs
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Germany
United Kingdom
Height Male:
25 - 33 cm
9 - 13 inches
67 - 75 cm
26 - 30 inches
Height Female:
25 - 33 cm
9 - 13 inches
67 - 75 cm
26 - 30 inches
Weight Male:
4 - 8 kg
8 - 18 pounds
52 - 110 kg
114 - 243 pounds
Weight Female:
4 - 8 kg
8 - 18 pounds
52 - 110 kg
114 - 243 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 14 Years
12 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
3 - 6
10 - 15
Size:
Small
Large
Other Names:
Little Lion Dog
War Dog of Britannia
Colors Available:
cream, grey, black, silver - bi-colored, All colors - white
brindle, tan, Fawn
Coat:
Long and wavy
Short and smooth
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, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate Maintenance
Low Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
Yes
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

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.

Pugnaces Britanniae is a dog which is now extinct. There isn't certainty surrounding the origins of the dog but it is thought they descended from dogs brought to Britain way back in the 6th century BC already.

These are ancient dogs, and when you do research you find references dating back to centuries ago. In fact when you read of the Roman conquest of Britain you read of huge dogs, which the Romans referred to as Pugnaces Britanniae.

It is believed that the English Mastiff descended from the ancient Alaunt and Pugnaces Britanniae and that the dog was used as a war dog.

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.

The Pugnaces Britanniae was a huge dog standing at roughly 67 to 75cm and weighing 52 to 110kg.

He was a heavily built dog, a Mastiff type dog that had a large head, broad muzzle with fairly loose skin around the mouth, brown eyes, a broad back and rump, muscular legs and floppy ears with a long tail. In fact the Mastiff, thought to have descended from the ancient Alaunt and Pugnaces Britanniae, gives you an idea of what the dog looked like. He no doubt has a short, smooth coat available in fawn, tan or brindle and with the black mask.

Temperament:

The Pugnaces Britannia was a naturally aggressive dog so it is to be expected that he wouldn’t automatically have been a good family dog, possibly being aggressive around children and other dogs. They were intelligent and were no doubt taught some simple commands.

They were also very territorial dogs, wanting to instinctively chase and attack unknown people and animals. They were strong minded, confident, loyal ad loving dogs towards their owners, being protective of them, wanting to please them.

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.

The Pugnaces Britanniae may well have been a large dog and quite imposing to look at but he was in all likelihood a good-natured pet who got on well with his family members, being loyal and loving if brought up correctly.

Long ago dog training and socialization didn’t exist but a large dog like this would have to be socialized and trained to become obedient and an amicable all-rounder.

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.

The Pugnaces Britanniae could live to 10, 11 or 12 years of age with good care. Large Mastiff type dogs like this would have had to watch out for common canine diseases such as hip dysplasia, cancer and bloat.

In those days, no screening tests were available for health problems like this. Gastric dilatation volvulus or bloat is a common health issue with large, deep chested dogs where the stomach fills with gas and the stomach twists. Its a life threatening disease.

Canine heart disease is another serious health issue with these mastiff type dogs. Early stages with heart disease show there may well be no symptoms at all. However, as the heart disease progresses towards congestive heart failure, the dog will have symptoms such as fatigue, difficulty with breathing, weight loss, a distended abdomen and coughing.

A dog with symptoms like this would have to see a vet immediately.

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.

Diet:

The diets of ancient dogs were different to what they are today, as in those days there were no commercially manufactured dog foods. Dog owners in all likelihood tossed scraps to them which included starch.

Today a large dog such as the extinct Pugnaces Britannia would have no doubt been fed a high quality kibble from a leading brand and packed with minerals and vitamins specially formulated for a large dog breed.

Homemade food is also important, but not any kind of food – it has to be food which doesn’t upset the dog’s digestive system. Simple but nutritious food such as boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta, sweet potatoes, carrots and spinach is ideal for a dog, and when it is chopped up can be added twice a week to the dry kibble for a tasty, healthy treat.

Raw meat added in occasionally is also hugely beneficial. No dog should ever be without fresh, cool water constantly available.

Grooming:

As a short haired dog, the Pugnaces Britanniae would have required a brushing twice a week to rid the dog of loose hairs. Maybe in those days they didn’t check their dogs over to see that all was well, but today you would need to check the inside of the ears. If the insides were red, it could be a sign of an ear infection brought on by dampness, excess wax and dirt.

The eyes would need to be checked for discharge and the teeth checked a well. One rotten tooth can cause a lot of havoc. The nails of the dog would have had to be checked and clipped as well.

Exercise:

As a war dog, the Pugnaces Britanniae would have been fit. He is a big dog and while they require exercise such as walks and hide-and-seek type of games, he isn’t the kind of dog that would go running with you on a jog, as large, heavy dogs can overheat easily.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Pugnaces Britanniae vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
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  5. Pugnaces Britanniae vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. Pugnaces Britanniae vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  7. Pugnaces Britanniae vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  8. Pugnaces Britanniae vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Pugnaces Britanniae vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. Pugnaces Britanniae vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  11. Pugnaces Britanniae vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  12. Pugnaces Britanniae vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  13. Pugnaces Britanniae vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  14. Pugnaces Britanniae vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  15. Pugnaces Britanniae vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  16. Pugnaces Britanniae vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  17. Pugnaces Britanniae vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  18. Pugnaces Britanniae vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  19. Pugnaces Britanniae vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  20. Pugnaces Britanniae vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  21. Pugnaces Britanniae vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  22. Pugnaces Britanniae vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  23. Pugnaces Britanniae vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  24. Pugnaces Britanniae vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  25. Pugnaces Britanniae vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. Lowchen vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Lowchen vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  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
  33. Lowchen vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  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