Meet The Leonberger

April 1, 2019

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Leonberger is a giant dog breed that comes from the city of Leonberg in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Despite its size and rugged looks, these pooches are friendly, great with kids and excellent family dogs.

Origin

In the 1830s, Heinrich Essig, a dog breeder from Leonberg created the the breed by crossing a female Landseer Newfoundland with a “barry” male from the Great St. Bernard Hospice and Monastery (which would later create the Saint Bernard breed). Essig later added a Pyrenean Mountain Dog to the mix, which resulted in a very large but even-tempered breed.

Description

The Leonberger is a large, muscular, and elegant dog with balanced body type. The head is adorned with a striking black mask, and projects the breed’s distinct expression of intelligence, pride, and kindliness.

Average height at withers is 28 to 31.5 inches (71 to 80 cm) for the males, and 25.5 to 29.5 inches (65 to 75 cm) for the ladies. Average male weight is 140 – 150 pounds (64–68 kg), and 115 pounds (52 kg) for the ladies.

The Leonberger has a generous, water resistant, double coat on his body that is complemented by the shorter, fine hair on his muzzle and limbs.

Coat colors include all combinations of lion-yellow, red, red-brown, sand, with the trademark striking black mask.

As for the temperament, the Leonberger is well socialized, easy to train, self-assured, insensitive to noise, submissive to family members, friendly with, well composed with passersby – in one word – a true family dog.

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Pros

  • even-tempered
  • dog/cat friendly
  • intelligent
  • trainable
  • adaptable
  • great watchdog

Cons

  • requires a lot of grooming
  • susceptible to hip dysplasia

Should I adopt/buy a Leonberger?

If you are looking for a large and frightening watchdog that will also be a perfectly friendly family pooch, this Gentle Giant is the breed for you.

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