Lowchen Puppy Checklist

Before Puppy Comes Home

Preparing Your Home and Gathering Supplies

A Lowchen puppy is a small, curious, and active dog that will explore everything in its environment. Basic puppy-proofing applies: secure electrical cords, remove toxic plants, block access to stairways and high-risk areas with baby gates. The Lowchen is not as destruction-prone as high-prey-drive terrier breeds, but puppy teeth and puppy curiosity require the same precautions in any breed.

Because Lowchen puppies are rare and often come from breeders at some distance, coordinate with your breeder about pickup logistics well in advance. Most responsible Lowchen breeders will not ship puppies as cargo; plan for personal pickup or a breeder-approved flight nanny if the breeder is geographically distant. Confirm the puppy's current vaccination status, deworming history, microchip number, and any health testing documentation before or at pickup.

Supplies to have ready before the puppy arrives:

• Small to medium crate — a 24-inch wire or plastic crate is appropriate for an adult Lowchen at 15 lbs
• Soft, washable crate bedding
• Stainless steel or ceramic food and water bowls (small breed appropriate)
• Puppy breakaway collar with ID tag
• 4–6 foot lightweight leash
• Pin brush and medium-toothed metal comb for daily coat handling
• Enzyme cleaner for accidents
• Baby gates for stairways and room boundaries
• Variety of appropriate puppy toys (soft toys, gentle tug toys, mild chews)
• Puppy food as recommended by the breeder

Identify a veterinarian experienced with small companion breeds before pickup. Schedule the first wellness exam within 72 hours of bringing the puppy home. Bring all health documentation from the breeder to this first appointment.

First Week Setup

Settling In, Routine, and the First Days

Lowchen puppies adjust well to new environments when given a calm, consistent, supportive introduction. Unlike very high-energy or anxious breeds, the Lowchen tends to settle relatively quickly when it feels secure with its new people. However, the first days should still be kept calm and moderately low-stimulation — resist the urge to introduce the puppy to every friend and family member simultaneously.

First week priorities:

• Crate training: Feed all meals near or in the crate. Place high-value treats progressively deeper inside. Close the door for short periods while the puppy is relaxed, then immediately open it before the puppy becomes anxious. Gradually extend crate time. Overnight, place the crate beside your bed so the puppy has olfactory reassurance during the first nights.
• Potty training: Consistent outdoor trips after every meal, nap, and play session. Praise and treat immediately upon elimination outside. Lowchens are among the easier small breeds to house-train when the routine is consistent.
• Grooming handling: Begin gentle daily handling of ears, paws, muzzle, and coat from the first day. The Lowchen's long coat will require consistent grooming throughout its life; a puppy accustomed to handling makes grooming pleasant rather than stressful. Run the pin brush gently through the coat daily, even if there is nothing to brush out yet.
• Feeding routine: Three small meals per day for puppies under 5–6 months. Use the food recommended by the breeder and transition gradually to a new food if needed (7–10 days minimum for transitions).
• Boundary setting: Decide immediately what the house rules are and apply them consistently. Lowchens are intelligent enough to learn rules quickly and persistent enough to test them repeatedly if given any inconsistency.

Training

Socialization, Basic Training, and the Lowchen's Learning Style

The Lowchen is genuinely easy to train by small-breed standards. It is attentive, biddable, and motivated by both food and praise. Short, positive, varied training sessions from the first week home will produce a well-mannered dog with impressive responsiveness. The breed excels in basic obedience, rally, agility for small dogs, and tricks — any owner who enjoys training will find the Lowchen an enthusiastic and capable partner.

Begin with name recognition, sit, and focus (eye contact on cue) in the first week. Keep sessions to 3–5 minutes and end on a success. The Lowchen learns quickly; move through the foundations promptly and add new skills to maintain engagement.

Socialization is important for all breeds and the Lowchen is no exception. Despite its naturally outgoing temperament, undersocialized Lowchens can become cautious or selective with strangers. During the critical socialization window (up to 14–16 weeks), expose the puppy to:

• People of all ages, including children, men with beards, people wearing hats and uniforms
• Gentle, healthy dogs of various sizes
• Different floor surfaces (grass, gravel, tile, hardwood, stairs)
• Everyday sounds (traffic, vacuum cleaners, thunderstorms recorded gently)
• The grooming process (brushing, comb, paw handling, ear handling)

Enroll in a puppy class as soon as your veterinarian approves. The Lowchen's easy trainability and good manners make it an excellent puppy class participant. Look for positive-reinforcement classes with appropriate supervision of dog-to-dog interaction.

One area requiring attention: the Lowchen can develop separation anxiety if it becomes overly dependent on constant human presence. From the first week, introduce short periods of alone time — brief absences of 5, 10, 20 minutes — with the puppy in its crate with an enrichment item. This gradually builds the puppy's confidence that departures are temporary and non-threatening.