| Training | |
| Sensitivity to strangers | |
| Affection for family | |
| Suitable for first-time owners | |
| Ease of grooming | |
| Energy level |
Contents
The Leonberger is a dog breed that has impressive features, among these we may mention its elegance, and charming temperament.
It was in Baden-Wurttemberg, a few kilometers from Stuttgart, in the first half of the 19th century, when Heinrich Essiq created the first Leonberger specimen.
This breed owes its size to the crossbreeding between the Newfoundland, the Saint Bernard, and the Pyrenees.
The “creator” of the breed wanted a dog that resembled the lion on the town crest. That’s why he crossed large breeds in order to create the Leonberger.
Despite its big size, it is elegant, well-proportioned and it has a golden temper. It is considered one of the most suitable dogs for children. Obviously, the relationship between the dog and children must be built on mutual respect.
The Leonberger shares physical characteristics from the Newfoundland, the Saint Bernard, and the Pyrenees. However, it shares physical characteristics from other dog breeds, especially shepherd dogs, like the Caucasian Shepherd.
Leonberger: Physical Dimensions
This breed is large in size and can easily reach 31 inches (80 cm) in height and weigh between 143 and 154 lbs (65-70 kg). Not bad, isn’t it?
Its owner should pay attention to its diet as it is a dog breed that has a big appetite and tends to gain weight. Although it is a giant dog, it is harmonious, elegant, and well-proportioned. It needs its daily exercise.
Leonberger: Physical Characteristics
Despite its size, the Leonberger has a toned, muscular and balanced body. It also has strong bones, and its head is really huge!
It is true that it looks bigger thanks to its coat. A dramatic feature of the male’s coat is the lion-like mane around the neck and chest.
The Leonberger’s long, water-resistant double coat is straight and moderately soft. It comes in:
- Lion-yellow,
- Golden to reddish-brown,
- Sand, cream or pale yellow.
Leonbergers may have a black facemask that frames kindly dark-brown eyes. However, black cannot be the base color of its coat. The black mask should not extend above the eyebrows; the mask can be up to the eyes or above the eyes, but never over the entire head if you want to meet the standard.
The Leonberger dog is historically important as it was present in the palaces of half of Europe and in Japan. Garibaldi of Italy gave one specimen to his wife, Anita. Elizabeth of Austria had seven specimens of this dog breed.
Leonberger: Temperament
As we mentioned before, the Leonberger is a giant dog with a quiet heart. It is never aggressive (unless provoked), and it is a balanced dog.
This breed loves to be with children. It is a great playmate and very patient. The Leonberger dog knows how to be an excellent companion for our family. If you have the chance to take it to the beach, you will see its extraordinary swimming skills.
That is why it is also used as a rescue dog. As you can notice, it has great versatility. Once it becomes familiar to its human family, it will build an everlasting relationship with them.
The Leonberger does not like to be alone. On the contrary, it wants to be part of all-family activities. To sum up, it is an adorable dog that can be your faithful companion for life.
Leonberger: Health
Like other giant-sized dog breeds, the Leonberger may suffer from hip and elbow dysplasia. Another health problem that this breed may suffer from is parasitosis as their ears are large and they are hanging.
The Leonberger is also prone to eye diseases like cataracts and entropion. However, cases are very rare. The main causes of death of the Leonberger dog are tumors and heart disease. Torsion is a common pathology in these dogs, so their owners should be alert if symptoms related to it appear.
In spite of everything said above, it is a long-lived dog if we compare it with other giant-sized breeds. Many Leonbergers may live up to 12-13 years of age.
Leonberger: Breeders
When it comes to breeding Leonbergers, like any other breed, it requires thorough knowledge. Breeders must comply with a number of standards and requirements.
It should not be too difficult to find a certified breeder that respects all the regulations. You can consult them on the internet, but we recommend you visit the establishment.
Leonberger: Price, and Puppies For Sale
In this section, we will talk about how much a Leonberger puppy costs. It is an expensive dog breed, in fact, it does not cost less than 1000 dollars, about 900 English pounds. In some cases, it can exceed 1400 dollars.
As this is not a low figure, you should make sure that you are buying a specimen from reliable and certified persons. In addition, if you adopt a puppy, the reliable breeder will provide you with a veterinary certificate which states that the animal has been dewormed and is completely healthy.
You can always ask for the pedigree, which is essential: it allows you to check the purity of the dog’s breed. An animal with a pedigree has certain characteristics of its breed that differentiate it from the rest.
Now that we have clarified all the most important aspects, you can go in search of your new 4-legged friend, who is surely waiting for you.
You may be interested in reading another article related to other dog breeds such as:
- Tibetan Mastiff
- Komondor
- Clumber Spaniel
- Lhasa Apso
- Neapolitan Mastiff
- Presa Canario
- Coton De Tulear
