Löwchen vs Portuguese Water Dog
Side-by-side comparison across all 14 AKC trait ratings, with a clear verdict on which breed fits which kind of household.
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Löwchen
Portuguese Water Dog
11–13 in
Height
17–23 in
10–15 lb
Weight
35–60 lb
15–15 yr
Lifespan
11–13 yr
$2.0–6.0k
Puppy price
$2.5–5.0k
#168
AKC popularity
#50
Trait-by-trait
Higher bar = more of that trait. Shedding, barking, drooling, grooming flipped for readability.5
Affectionate w/ Family
5
5
Good with Young Children
5
3
Good with Other Dogs
4
2
Shedding Level
2
2
Coat Grooming
4
1
Drooling Level
2
3
Good with Strangers
4
4
Playfulness
5
4
Watchdog / Protective
4
4
Adaptability
5
4
Trainability
5
3
Energy Level
5
3
Barking Level
3
3
Mental Stimulation Needs
5
Löwchen Portuguese Water Dog
Overlay
Where they diverge
Coat Grooming
Löwchen needs less grooming (2-point difference)
Energy Level
Portuguese Water Dog has more energy (2-point difference)
Mental Stimulation Needs
Portuguese Water Dog needs more mental stimulation (2-point difference)
Good with Other Dogs
Portuguese Water Dog is better with other dogs (1-point difference)
Drooling Level
Löwchen drools less (1-point difference)
The verdict
Choose the Löwchen if…
- Apartment living
- Allergy sufferers
- Seniors or retirees
Choose the Portuguese Water Dog if…
- Allergy sufferers
- Active families
- Water and outdoor enthusiasts
- You value coat grooming — Portuguese Water Dog scores higher here.
Löwchen Owner’s Guide
Everything you need before bringing your Löwchen home.
Breed variants, breeder red flags, and what to ask
First-week checklist and daily schedules by age
Training timeline from 8 weeks to adulthood
Health screenings, emergency card, and feeding portions
Grooming schedule, first-year costs, and what nobody tells you
Portuguese Water Dog Owner’s Guide
Everything you need before bringing your Portuguese Water Dog home.
Breed variants, breeder red flags, and what to ask
First-week checklist and daily schedules by age
Training timeline from 8 weeks to adulthood
Health screenings, emergency card, and feeding portions
Grooming schedule, first-year costs, and what nobody tells you
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