Leonberger Dog Breed

Below are the details and specs for the Leonberger dog breed.

The Leonberger is a huge dog; males and females are easily distinguishable by size. The male is typically 28-31.5 inches at the shoulder while females are 25.5-29.5 inches. Weight for males is 120-170 pounds for males, females 100-135 lbs.

The ideal family companion, Leos are sociable with friendly strangers and other pets, and excellent with children. They are calm, gentle and intuitive while still managing to be friendly and playful.

These dogs are moderate to high maintenance when it comes to training, grooming and exercise. Daily brushing, outdoor exercise and training refreshment is required. They also are primarily family companions and will be at their best when around you and participating in activities with the "pack".

Heinrich Essig, a councilman in Leonberg, Germany, is credited for creating this breed in 1849. Desiring a reincarnate of the lion on the town crest, he crossed Saint Bernards, Newfoundlands and Pyrenean Mountain Dogs (although geneticists insist there must be more breeds involved). The result was the massive Leonberger, which was so popular, they were given as gifts to royalty; even the Prince of Wales and Czar of Russia owned one of these dogs. In 1889 the first clubs were founded for the breed including the "Internationaler Klub fur Leonberger Hunde Stuttgart", which created the first breed standard. Many canine populations declined during WWI and after this time two men, Stadelman and Josenhans, began a new breeding program to revive the Leo; there was later a committee made for this purpose after WWII (during which time the German government closely restricted breeding). In America, the Leo saw the best revival since the Depression during 1975-1985 and the Leonberger Club of America was formed in 1985. The AKC officially recognized the Leonberger as its 167th dog breed in 2010.

This breed is very large but well proportioned; males are easily distinguished from females by size and other traits such as an abundance of hair (mane) on the chest. With a broad, deep chest and well-muscled legs that are straight and strong, the Leonberger could be mistaken for a proud lion. They have a waterproof double coat consisting of a short, dense undercoat and a medium-long outer coat that is shorter on the muzzle and front of the legs. The coat is feathered on the backs of the legs and the ears, while the tail also has no lack of hair. Owners usually choose to keep the coat natural and it is imperative to do so if you wish to show your dog. Overall, they possess a calm, good natured expression in their dark brown eyes. The ears are medium sized, triangular and hang close to the head.

The Leonberger if one of the biggest dog breeds-- Leonbergers are giant, huge and the paw of a fully grown Leo can easily match the hand of a 6 foot tall man! The largest Leonberger can weigh around 170 pounds. These gentle giants are perfect for owners specifically seeking a large dog breed with a sweet personality. For those in love with the breed but not the size, Leonburgers have no mini size variations. In fact, doing so would either include breeding the smallest (potentially unhealthy) individuals or introducing a completely different breed into the mix.

Additionally, the Leonberger is a big dog with a big coat. It is lush, thick and sheds all year-round. You are extremely unlikely to ever come across a clipped Leonberger, but if you do you can guarantee the owner has shaved or clipped him/her.

Leos were bred to be companion and watch dogs; in fact, they were meant to be the perfect family dog. If trained and socialized as a puppy, your dog will be a list of wonderful things including: patient, calm, good-natured, loving, family oriented, bright, playful and friendly. Sounds good? Well, Leos aren't for everyone. A fully grown individual of this breed weighs over 100 pounds; that's a lot of dog if you do not have time to patiently and consistently train them as puppies. You must be able to confidently establish yourself as the pack leader and they will adapt to any role to please you. They will master basic commands like "sit, stay, down" with relative ease but do not excel in agility and obedience training. They are often bored by the tasks of retrieving continuously and do not enjoy those types of games.

These dogs are sociable with strangers, wonderful with kids and good with other pets due to lack of hunting instincts. They are noted for their natural gifts as therapy dogs, don't mind being held onto and are even said to "lean on" owners themselves. Despite the size and musculature of the breed, they were intended primarily as companions and have "house-dog" temperament. Due to their intuitive nature they are able to adapt to a variety of working and living conditions.

Only twenty percent of Leonbergers live past age 10 with the median being 8 years. Bloat, as well as hip and elbow dysplasia are common within large breeds. Another bone related problem, Eosinophilic Panosteitis, can afflict them during puppyhood but this bone inflammation generally corrects itself in time. Entropion (inward positioned) and ectropion (outward positioned) eyelids are a minor issue for these dogs. Polyneuropathy (peripheral nerve damage) is common and a source of discomfort for this breed; this can be evaluated at your checkup. Your Leo should also be tested for Addison's disease, as it is common to the breed and is an adrenal disease that can result in death if not kept in check. Bone cancer is a major killer of large dog breeds so it is important to take your pet to scheduled veterinary visits.