The Leonberger: A Large and Friendly Pet Dog Breed
Dylan the Leonberger as a puppy
Linda Crampton
What Is a Leonberger Dog?
Leonbergers have a reputation for being gentle giants. They are intelligent, friendly, and playful dogs. They are also affectionate and loyal family members that are patient with children and other animals in the home. In addition, they are good watchdogs. A well-trained and socialized Leonberger makes a wonderful pet.
Leonbergers are often called Leos by their families. Based on what I've experienced during my years with a Leo as a pet, the breed is unfamiliar but attractive to many people. People often stopped to stroke our Leos when we took them for a walk and asked us questions about them. Leos are generally great ambassadors for their breed.
My family has contained three Leonbergers, all of whom were much loved. Our first member of the breed was a female named Scala. Our second was a male called Ryan, and our third was a male named Dylan.
Dylan at eighteen months old after playing with his brother
Anita Crampton (used with permission)
History of the Breed
The Leonberger breed was created in the mid-1800s by Heinrich Essig, a politician, businessman, and dog breeder in the town of Leonberg, Germany. He reportedly wanted to breed a dog that looked like the lion on the town’s crest. He began by crossing a Landseer Newfoundland female with a male Saint Bernard. As he continued to develop his new breed, he added a Great Pyrenees into the mix. Eventually, the Leonberger was created.
Scala (on the left) and another Leonberger that she met in Burnaby Mountain Park
Linda Crampton
Pets, Therapy Dogs, Show Dogs, and More
Today Leonbergers are family pets as well as therapy, working, and show dogs. They often participate in competitive events such as obedience, carting, herding, water rescue, and agility. All of these activities can be fun for both Leos and their owners and may be helpful for other people. They should only be performed if a dog enjoys them, however.
A Leonberger who is simply a pet can give his or her owner a great deal of enjoyment. As long as a prospective owner is prepared to train and care for such a big dog, a Leo can be a great friend.
Features and Differences Between Genders
Adult Leonbergers have a regal appearance. They usually have long, yellow-brown hair, but some dogs have a reddish-brown or a cream coat. Some coats have a combination of colours. The dogs have a black mask over their face. They often have black hairs on their ears and sometimes black tips to their body hairs. Their coat is water-resistant.
By the time they are about four years old, male Leos have longer hair on the neck and chest. The area is known as a mane. Females may have a mane too, although it's less noticeable. An adult female weighs around 100 to 130 pounds. An adult male weighs about 130 to 175 pounds. Females may reach 29 inches high (measured at the highest point of their back), while males reach around 31 inches in height.
Ryan, a male Leonberger
Linda Crampton
Training Is Important
Since adult Leonbergers are so big, it’s very important to train the dogs while they are young. A boisterous, untrained adult won’t fit into a family very well and will be hard to handle. Aggressive Leos are rare, but as in any other breed of dog the chance of aggression increases if a dog is inadequately socialized or is easily frightened.
Consistent and gentle-but-firm training is important from an early age. Leos don’t respond well to harsh corrections. Attending obedience classes would be very helpful for educating a young dog. In addition, puppies should be exposed to a wide variety of people, animals, places, and situations.
Training can be done entirely at home or by a combination of dog training classes and home sessions. The important thing is that a Leonberger is trained, however that is done.
Exercising a Leo
Despite their size, Leos don't require a lot of exercise. They should have a daily walk, however. Taking a Leonberger for a walk is a good way to meet people, since many people are curious about the breed and ask for information.
Leos generally love to swim and get muddy. They make great water rescue dogs. Some enjoy retrieving objects like balls or sticks, but most Leos are not natural retrievers. It often requires a lot of effort to train them to return a thrown object. They just don’t see the point of fetching things. Having said that, while Scala and Ryan had very little interest in retrieving, Dylan enjoyed it just as much as my Labrador Retriever. He often initiated a game by finding a ball and dropping it expectantly at my feet.
Leonbergers can be trained to pull carts, but they must be at least eighteen months old and in good physical condition before they start. They also make good trackers and can be taught to herd. Some Leos compete in obedience trials, and some compete in agility events. Although they are powerful animals, they are not as fast as many other breeds. Some Leo owners find agility events to be hard on their dog’s joints.
Ryan enjoyed his cooling bed, especially in summer.
Linda Crampton
A Leonberger in the Family
Living Space
Leos don’t require a huge amount of living space, despite their size. An apartment might be too small for them, but a house with a good-sized, fenced yard would be just fine. Leos do need to leave the house for daily exercise, though.
A Family Member
Leos enjoy being part of the family’s activities and receiving attention and affection. A Leonberger should not be left alone for long periods. He or she will become bored. Boredom can lead to behaviour problems.
Grooming
Leonbergers shed their coat and require regular brushing. Twice a year, they go through a heavier molt as the seasons change. Grooming is not only a physical requirement but is also a great way for a person to bond with their dog. A grooming session can be a pleasant and relaxing time for both the person and the dog.
Some Leos like to lean against their owner’s legs, giving them the nickname of “lean-on-bergers."
Puppy Pictures
Food Issues
Although Leonbergers are giant dogs, they don't require as much food as might be expected. Different people have different ideas about the ideal diet for a pet dog. A puppy's breeder and the puppy's veterinarian should be consulted about the best diet to follow.
Despite the disagreements about factors such as cooked versus raw food in a dog's diet and dry food versus canned, it's widely agreed that puppies shouldn't follow a diet that makes them grow too rapidly. Research has shown that rapid puppy growth—especially in a large breed of dog—can increase the risk of skeletal, joint, and other health problems.
We are lucky that Dylan's breeder is very knowledgeable and that she kept one of the other male puppies in Dylan's litter for herself. In addition, she kept in touch with all of the purchasers of the puppies in the litter. At one point, she felt that the puppies were growing too fast. She contacted the people that supplied Dylan and his brother with food to order a slightly different type of food for the pair (after discussing the situation with us).
An Adequate Water Supply
Like all dogs, Leonbergers must always have access to water in their home. They also need a source of water if they are away from home for a long time, especially when the weather is hot. They generally don’t drool, but they may be messy drinkers. Water often drips out of their mouths as they leave a water bowl.
If you’re planning an extended walk, be sure to bring water for your dog—especially if it’s warm outside.
— ASPCA (American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals)
Ryan as a young puppy; he seems to be concentrating very hard!
Linda Crampton
Potential Health Problems
Leos are susceptible to a number of health problems, including hip dysplasia, bloat, and cancer. Additional problems experienced by some dogs are bone disease, eyelid defects, a genetically-determined neurological disease called leukoencephalomyelopathy (LEMP), and a neuromuscular disease known as Leonberger polyneuropathy (LPN), which is also genetically controlled.
Genetics and family background should be discussed with a puppy's breeder. It would be a good idea to do some research about the genetically-determined disorders before a visit to the breeder.
Hip dysplasia is a condition in which the hip joints develop an abnormal structure, which can cause discomfort and movement problems. The condition ranges from mild to severe. Some dogs don't experience any symptoms from their hip dysplasia, while others require medical or surgical treatment.
Bloat involves two different processes. In the first stage, the stomach fills with gas and fluid and distends. This may be followed by a second stage in which the stomach twists. The distended and twisted stomach may interfere with the function of other organs and with vital processes such as the flow of blood in blood vessels. Bloat is a life-threatening condition and a medical emergency.