Should You Get a Leonberger?
The Leonberger dog breed
is a relatively new breed, developed by Heinrich Essig in Germany in the mid 19th century. It is believed they were bred from the Landseer Newfoundland, Saint Bernard, and then a Pyrenean mountain dog. Some experts say, because of the Leonberger’s unique looks, there were other breeds in the mix.
Essig wanted to create a robust
and large-sized breed of working dogs that could serve as rescue dogs in mountains and rivers. The resulting breed was named Leonberger after the lion (“leon”) found on the town of Leonbergs emblem, combined with the description of being from “Bären” (bear) country.
The Leonberger was used during
World War II as a military dog and search and rescue dog. They faced extinction after the war, with records suggesting there were only 5-10 Leonbergs left alive!
The Leonberger is a sexually
dimorphic breed, meaning the male dogs appear larger and visibly more masculine and the female dogs, smaller and distinctly feminine.
According to FCI Breed Standard
the Leonberger can reach up to 32 inches in height and 170 pounds in weight. Accepted coat colors are:
“Lion yellow, red, reddish brown, also sandy (pale yellow,
cream coloured) and all combinations in between, always with a
black mask. Black hair tips are permitted; however, black must not
determine the dog’s basic colour.”
Leonberger’s are a Large dog
but their average litter size is only 6 puppies. However, a Leonberger named Ariel in Powell, WY gave birth to a staggering 18 puppies, setting a breed record. The world record litter size belongs to a Tia, a Neapolitan mastiff in 2004. She gave birth to a whopping 24 puppies!
Growing Up Leonberger!
Have pictures of your dog as a puppy and an adult? We give-away free random videos of dogs growing up every month. You can enter pictures here!
Because of their gentle
disposition and an uncanny ability to sense human emotion, Leonbergers generally make excellent therapy dogs. Leo owners will swear their dogs will become visibly distressed when members of the family are sad or angry!
Leo Humor!
Leonbergers Shed
a lot-all the time-specially during spring and fall months. Brushing their coat every two weeks will help control excess shedding while bathing once a month works well for the rest of the year.
So, What do You Get With a Leo?
They shed a lot. They love to swim and will think nothing of rolling in a mud puddle. They generally do not drool much but a drink of water can turn into a puddle across the floor. They like to dig. They are relatively intelligent but can be stubborn (specially during adolescence)…
AND
they are devoted to their families. They have a huge heart and will become your best friend. They will sense your bad, sad and happy moods and act accordingly. They are usually very even-tempered even in the middle of chaos and will protect their families if necessary. They are great with kids and, usually other animals. Leonberger’s are gentle giants with a huge heart!
Take a Fun Leonberger Quiz!
