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Leonberger Dog Breed Introduction
Leonberger ( Leo for short) is a giant-sized dog breed that originated in the city of Leonberg in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It gets its name from the Leonberg City. The head of a Leonberger is embellished with a striking black mask hence projecting the breed’s distinct expression of pride, intelligence, and kindliness.
This is a sexually dimorphic breed. Therefore, the gender of the dog is easily discernible since the Leonbergers possess either a strongly masculine or elegantly feminine form. Generally, males should have a lion-like mane around the neck and chest. Leonbergers have a profuse weather-resistant double coat that is presented in its natural state except for the trimming of the feet for a neater appearance. The lips, foot pads, and nose leather should always be black.
These are gentle-natured giants with serene patience. Leonbergers enjoy the companionship of the whole family. They are friendly toward children, insensitive to noise, well composed with passersby, submissive to family, and self-disciplined while obliging the property or family with protection. Leonbergers are kind, loyal, robust, playful, intelligent, and versatile dogs. They can be taken anywhere without difficulty since they easily adjust to a variety of circumstances including introduction of other dogs.
Leonberger Origin | History
The Leonbergers originated in the town of Leonberg near Stuttgart in Baden-Württemberg, Germany in the early 19th century. Heinrich Essig, a dog seller and breeder and mayor of Leonberg claimed to have created Leonbergers by crossing barry, a male from the Great St Bernard Hospice and Monastery ( who is also the progenitor of the modern Saint Bernard ) with a female Landseer Newfoundland. Heinrich wanted a dog that had a close-resemblance to a lion.
Later on, he added the Great Pyrenees( Pyrenean Mountain Dog) into the mix resulting in very large dogs with pleasant temperament and long white coats that were fashionable at the time. The Leonberger dog became popular with several European royal households including the Prince of Wales, Otto Von Bismarck, Empress Elisabeth of Austria, Napoleon II, Emperor Napoleon III, and Umberto I of Italy.
The modern look of the Leonberger, black masks and darker coats was developed during the latter part of the 20th century by reintroducing other breeds such as Newfoundland. The reintroduction of other breeds in the Leonbergers line was a necessity because the breeding stocks were seriously affected by World War I and II. Reportedly, during World War I only five Leonbergers survived. The surviving dogs were bred until World War II when again the breed almost became extinct.
The Leonbergers were used for pulling the ammunition carts during the two world wars. Otto Josenhans and Karl Stadelmann are credited for saving Leonbergers from near-extinction. The modern Leonbergers can have their ancestry traced to the eight dogs that survived World War II. This breed was recognized by AKC in January 2010 along with Cane Corso and Icelandic Sheepdog. It is the 167th breed to be recognized by the American Kennel Club(AKC).
Leonberger Lifespan
The Leonbergers have a lifespan of 8 to 9 years. They have a median lifespan of 7 years which is the typical lifespan of similar sized breed. Although, it is 4 years less than the life expectancy of the average purebred dog.
Leonberger Grooming
The Leonbergers have a profuse double coat that sheds a lot all-year round and heavily during Spring and Fall. They require a brief daily brushing especially in the areas that tend to mat including the long hair behind the ears, chest, neck, and backs of the legs. Leonbergers require a thorough grooming once a week. Work on the top coat using a slicker brush and pin brush. Use an undercoat rake and metal comb to work on the undercoat.
A Leonberger needs a bath every 6 to 8 weeks unless it rolls in something stinky. Brush the coat before bathing to remove mats and tangles that get messier when wet. Use a canine shampoo and conditioner to bath and moisturize the coat. Thoroughly rinse off the grooming products from the coat to prevent skin irritation using lukewarm water. Wipe the eye corners using a clean damp washcloth or unscented canine wipes.
Trim the nails of a Leonberger every 3 to 5 weeks using nail clippers or grinders to prevent cracking, overgrowth, and splitting. Trim the hair on the foot pads for more traction while the dog is walking on various surfaces. Brush Leonberger’s teeth at least twice a week if not daily to remove tartar buildup using a dog-formulated toothpaste and toothbrush. Clean the ears on a weekly basis using an ear cleanser solution and cotton balls to remove wax or debris buildup. Make a habit of checking the ears for signs of dog’s ear infection such as odor, redness, or a dark discharge.
Leonberger Shedding
The Leonbergers are heavy shedding dogs. They shed a lot throughout the year and excessively twice a year while experiencing seasonal change in Spring and Fall.
Leonberger Coat
The Leonberger has a medium to long water resistant double coat on the body and short fine hair on the front limbs and muzzle. The outer coat is medium-soft to coarse and lies flat. The undercoat is soft and dense. However, it may be less noticeable in warmer climates or summer months.
Leonberger Hypoallergenic
A Leonberger is not a hypoallergenic breed. It is a heavy shedder all-year round. This breed also sheds excessively twice a year in Spring and Fall. A moulting coat allows dander and fur to spread around the house triggering allergies. Apart from dander and fur, Leonberger’s saliva, urine, and mucus contain a protein allergen that aggravates allergies.
Leonberger Training | Training Tips
The Leonbergers are strong, large, playful, and intelligent dogs are eager to please their owners making them highly trainable. A mature Leonberger has a minimum weight of 90 pounds ( approx. 41 kg). Therefore, the impressive size and strength of Leonbergers makes early training a necessity to teach the dog what they can do and not do.
Furthermore, both puppies and adults are extremely enthusiastic with loads of energy. During the adolescent stage, Leonbergers may be destructive and rambunctious hence training good behavior from an early age is key to getting ahead of the antics. Most Leonbergers are stronger than their owners. Therefore, parents should assert control when the puppy is still young. The Leonberger puppies need socialization from an early age to mature into well-mannered, friendly, and well-adjusted dogs. This breed should be socialized before the age of 20 weeks.
Normally, socialization training starts from the age of 3 weeks while the pup is the breeder until the age of 16 weeks after the pet has already settled in its new home. Usually, parents take their puppies home from the age of 8 weeks. To socialize Leonbergers, expose them to a wide range of people, situations, smell, animals, places, surfaces, sight, experiences, and sounds such as door bells, washing machines, lawn mowers, baby crying sounds, vacuum cleaners, sirens, and whistles. Enrolling a Leo in a puppy class or group obedience classes will also serve as a form of socialization.
These classes create a controlled environment where dogs interact with each other. A puppy class enables the owner to not only identify and correct bad habits but also have access to training information and assistance. Obedience training also helps the Leonbergers to learn not to jump on people, steal food on the table, knock into small children, or otherwise take advantage of their size. Use positive reinforcement methods to encourage positive behaviors through the use of treats, playtime, toys, verbal praise, and petting.
Harsh correction methods are counterproductive and should not be used on Leos. Some of the harsh correction methods include yelling, shoving, beating, kicking, and use of choke or prong collars. Keep the training sessions fun, short, and interesting for a period of 5 to 10 minutes distributed throughout the day to avoid boredom and distraction. Start teaching basic command words like come, sit, stay, heel, leave it, and lie down one at a time to avoid overwhelming the pooch. Avoid issuing a command word while too frustrated or excited since it no longer sounds the same for your pet. Effectively housebreak Leonbergers by creating a feeding schedule, potty training, and crate training.
Leonberger Temperament | Characteristics
- Gentle-natured.
- Playful.
- Confident.
- Willing to please.
- Loyal.
- Intelligent.
- Affectionate.
- Protective.
- Robust.
- Calm.
- Steadfast.
- Friendly.
- Easygoing.
- Obedient.
Leonberger Exercise
Although mature Leonbergers are calm and subdued, they will still need some vigorous exercise once a day. This breed will benefit from hiking or jogging with their owner keeping a pace alongside a bicycle. Leonbergers may also participate in drafting and agility training.
Leonberger Barking
A Leonberger is not a vocal breed. However, it will bark to alert the owner when someone is approaching hence making a great watchdog.
Leonberger Height
Mature female Leonbergers have a height of 25.5 to 29.5 inches ( approx. 65 to 75 cm ) while their male counterparts have a height of 28 to 31.5 inches ( approx. 71 to 80 cm ).
Leonberger Weight
Adult male Leonbergers have a weight of 110 to 170 pounds ( approx. 50 to 77 kg ) while the female Leonbergers have a weight of 90 to 140 pounds ( approx. 41 to 64 kg).
Leonberger Size | Size Comparison
The Leonbergers are giant-sized dogs. However, the male Leonbergers are slightly bigger as compared to their female counterparts in terms of height and weight. Mature male Leonbergers have a height of 28 to 31.5 inches ( approx. 71 to 80 cm ) and a weight of 110 to 170 pounds ( approx. 50 to 77 kg ) while female Leonbergers have a height of 25.5 to 29.5 inches ( approx. 65 to 75 cm ) and a weight of 90 to 140 pounds ( approx. 41 to 64 kg).
Leonberger Aggressive
The Leonbergers are not aggressive dogs. They are gentle-natured and even-tempered animals that can adjust easily to a wide variety of circumstances including introduction of other dogs.
Leonberger Price
A Leonberger puppy that comes from a normal breeding farm cost around $2000 to $2700.
Leonberger Bite Force
A Leonberger has a bite force of 399 PSI.
Leonberger Health Issues | Health Problems 10
For their size, Leonbergers are healthy and robust dogs that have a lifespan of 8 to 9 years. However, they may suffer from certain health issues such as hip dysplasia, allergies, gastric torsion, osteosarcoma, thyroid disorders, perianal fistulas, osteochondrosis dissecans, hemangiosarcoma, inherited Leonberger paralysis, and eye disorders like cataracts, progressive retinal atrophy, ectropion, and entropion.
Apart from Leonbergers, other dog breeds include:
Leonberger Names
After getting a Leonberger from a responsible breeder, the next best thing is getting a name for the fur baby. Although, some parents may find a name for the dog before it joins them home from the breeder. Names may be inspired by the giant size of Leonbergers, their origin, personality, coat color, celebrity Leonbergers, historical figures, nature, books, music, food, movies, etc.
Regardless of where you source your inspiration, ensure that the name chosen won’t make your embarrassed when uttered out loud. The name should also freely roll off your tongue. Leonbergers and other dog breeds better understand a name that has vowels. Avoid giving your pooch a name that rhymes with the command words since it would create confusion.
If a Leonberger parent settles with a long name, he or she should find a cute nickname for the pet. If this breed shares a name with any family member or guests who frequent your home it will cause chaos. Some of the names that Leonberger owners give to their pets include:
- Millie.
- Sofie.
- Klum.
- Otis.
- Rusty.
- Sheba.
- Spike.
- Jesse.
- Ezra.
- Sassy.
- Bailey.
- Gideon, etc.
Leonberger Food | Dog Food
The amount of food that a Leonberger feeds on depends on its age, metabolism, activity level, size, and build. Puppies have a high metabolism than adult and senior dogs. Therefore, they feed 3 or 4 times a day from when they start weaning at the age of 1 month to 6 months. From the age of 6 months, Leonbergers feed a total of two meals a day.
Leonbergers are large-sized dogs with a deep chest hence susceptible to bloat or gastric torsion. Therefore, a Leonberger should not feed one large meal a day, drink large amounts of water after eating, and exercise vigorously one hour before or after meals. Bloat is a life-threatening condition that can easily claim the life of a Leonberger. Owners should familiarize themselves with the signs of bloat and what to do in such a situation
Like other dogs, Leonbergers need to feed on the right amount of minerals, protein, amino acids, fatty acids, carbohydrates, water, and fats to maintain a healthy bone structure and weight. Depending on the budget and the time of preparation needed, a pet parent may feed a Leonberger dry food, wet food, home made meals, or a raw diet. If the pet parent decides to feed the pooch on the commercial dry or wet food, he or she should ensure the first three ingredients are proteins from a known source.
The commercial dog food should never contain fillers, chemicals, additives, and preservatives. This also applies to the snacks. Dry or wet food should also be formulated for large-sized puppies, adults, and seniors depending on the age of your pet. Make a habit of regularly checking the physique of your dog to know whether it is overweight or underweight.
If you can easily spot the ribs, chances are the pooch is underweight. Although, if the ribs are not visible but you can feel them without pressing hard, the Leonberger has an ideal weight. If you cannot feel the ribs, the pet is obese. After getting a puppy from a breeder, the owner is likely to switch to another quality food. Gradually do this over a period of one month by mixing both old food and new food. As the weeks progresses, the amount of old food reduces as the new food increases until a Leonberger is only feeding on new food during the fourth week.
Leonberger Colors
The Leonberger may have a red brown, golden to red, lion-yellow, and sand colored( pale yellow, cream) coat colors with a black mask.
Are Leonbergers Good Guard Dogs
The giant size of a Leonberger is a natural deterrent. However, apart from barking to notify the owner of someone who is approaching, they are likely to befriend the intruder.
Do Leonbergers Shed
Yes. Leonbergers are heavy shedders. They shed a lot all-year round and excessively twice a year during Spring and Fall.
Do Leonbergers Drool
No. Leonbergers have a low tendency of drooling as compared to other dog breeds such as Saint Bernard, Mastiff, and Bullmastiff.
Leonbergers Quick Facts
- They are excellent swimmers with webbed feet that comes in handy for serious water work.
- Leonbergers make ideal family pets and therapy dogs due to gentle, kind, and even disposition.
- Although this is a giant size breed, a Leonberger moves with elegance and speed.
