Leonberger

Bred in 19th-century Germany to resemble a lion, Leonbergers are descended from the Newfoundland, the long-haired Saint Bernard, and the Great Pyrenees, and were intended as both working and companion dogs. They’re classified in the working group because they were once used to pull carts of goods as well as guard homes.

This dog’s mix of strength and intelligence is why it’s used as a rescue dog. It helps to find people who are lost and/or injured in the mountains and other perilous locations. A household with kids will find this dog’s gentle nature and playful behavior a welcome addition to the family.

The 6 Different Types of Leonbergers and Leonberger Mixes

Leonberger mix with other breeds:

• Leonberger Husky
• Leonberger Afghan Hound
• Leonberger Bernese Mountain Dog
• Leonberger German Shepherd
• Leonberger Newfoundland
• Leonberger Bull Mastiff

3 Pros and Cons of Owning a Leonberger

Origins 

Large, with an agility which belies its size, the Leonberger is the offspring of three other large breeds: the Newfoundland, the St Bernard, and the Great Pyrenees. The Newfoundland started out earning its keep by working with fishermen in Newfoundland. Along with its fishing boat duties, this cousin of the Labrador retriever and the Irish water spaniel is also renowned for its courage and its steadfastness in rescuing its human friends. The St Bernard, on the other hand, worked as a rescue operative for the Great St. Bernard Hospice in the heights of the Pennine Alps.

It was the breeder Heinrich Essig, of Leonberg, Germany, who was inspired to create a breed which would be a worthy companion of royalty in the 1800s. His efforts yielded fruit when royalty from all over Europe came seeking his brand-new regal breed. Included in that list were the Prince of Wales, the Empress of Austria, and Umberto I, King of Italy. But not every Leonberger got to live a pampered lifestyle, being fed the choicest cuts of meat. Others had to earn their keep as watchdogs or put their impressive size and strength to use tugging carts.

During World Wars I and II, Leonbergers were employed pulling ammunition carts during both armed conflicts. As a result, they nearly became extinct on both occasions. Following the Second World War, only eight Leonbergers remained. Thanks to assiduous breeding efforts by Otto Josenhans and Karl Stadelmann, the breed was saved from the brink of extinction and was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 2010.

Size and Weight

This is a large breed of dog with a double coat of thick hair. An adult male achieves a height of 31 inches at the shoulder, and a grown female’s height is 30 inches. When fully grown, a male has a weight of as much as 170 pounds, and a female 140 pounds. When they reach eight weeks old, these puppies have an average weight of 22 pounds. They are considered adult-size at 18-22 months.

Common Health Issues

This pet has health issues commonly seen in other large breeds of dogs. One example is bloat. This happens as a result of a dog taking in too much air, food, or water. Signs of bloat are a distended abdomen, drooling, whining, and retching. It is serious, and the dog should be taken to a vet for care immediately. Some owners use a special bowl that distributes small amounts of food, so their dog isn’t able to gulp down food too quickly.

Hip dysplasia also affects some dogs of this large breed. It is essentially a hip joint that is out of alignment. It can cause lameness and pain in a dog. A vet may recommend weight loss, medication, or surgery if it’s an extreme case. Elbow dysplasia is the misalignment of the elbow joint. It can cause pain and lameness as well. Physical therapy, medication, and surgery are all treatments a vet may recommend.

Temperament & Behavior

Though this dog is large in both height and weight as well as strong, its behavior is best described as gentle. They are known to be calm and compatible with children. These dogs become very attached to their family. Loyalty is just one of the traits that owners love about this canine.

These canines get along with other dogs and enjoy being a part of whatever game is going on in a household. Their playful personality makes them fun pets to have around!

How to Take Care of a Leonberger

Taking thorough care of this pet means considering its diet, grooming, and exercise needs. A Leonberger puppy and an adult dog have their own requirements to keep them feeling good. Check out the facts on the care of this pooch.

The Best Dog Food for Leonbergers

Leonberger puppies have nutritional needs that are different from fully grown dogs. Feeding this breed the right nutrients can be the key to maintaining its health.

Leonberger puppy food: Protein such as lean chicken, turkey, and brown rice in this puppy’s diet lends nourishment to its growing muscles, joints, and tissue. Vitamin E and Omega-6 fatty acids both support its coat and skin health. This puppy burns carbohydrates in its food to give it energy for its daily antics. It’s best to feed puppies three or four small meals spread throughout the day. This keeps their energy up so they can explore as puppies do!

Leonberger adult dog food: This active dog needs lean protein like chicken, lamb, and turkey to continue to enjoy healthy muscles and joints throughout its lifespan. Remember, hip dysplasia is a concern for this breed, so protein is essential in its diet. While there is less fat than protein in quality dog food, fat is necessary to give an adult dog energy for the day’s activities. Vitamin C helps the dog’s immune system to head off disease and illness. Glucosamine is important for maintaining healthy joints.

Bloat is another health issue for this dog. It’s a good idea to space out meals and exercise, and divide one portion of food in half and feed the dog one half at a time. That helps the dog to avoid taking too much air into its stomach by eating a large amount of food too fast.

Maintenance and Grooming

How much does a Leonberger shed? They are heavy shedders. Not only do they shed a large amount of hair regularly, but their shedding activity also increases with the change of seasons.

Proper grooming care must include daily brushing. It’s recommended that an owner use a tool called an undercoat rake to remove tangles from the hair located closest to the dog’s skin. A slicker brush is the best tool for working through the upper or outer coat to remove debris, mats, and tangles.

Professional breeders will tell you that grooming care takes at least 30 minutes because of the thickness of the dog’s coat. Be sure to pay special attention to the hair behind the dog’s ears and on the backs of its legs. These are two locations that tend to attract tangles.

Another essential task to take care of during the grooming routine is to trim the dog’s nails. This is done every two weeks.

Training

Because they are smart and eager to please, training this dog is a fairly easy task. An effective program of obedience training is necessary for a dog of this size.

Exercise

One of the basic facts about the care of this breed is that it needs 60 minutes of exercise daily. They mix well with other dogs, so a dog park is a good idea. If the dog is fully trained, taking it to the woods for an off-leash run would be fun. Taking the dog to a lake or a pond would be a real treat. These dogs are dedicated swimmers!

This is not a good breed of dog to own if you live in an apartment.

Puppies

Socialization is essential for any dog, but it’s especially important for a breed of this size. Socialization as a puppy teaches a Leonberger not to jump up on people, bark excessively, etc. This process requires taking these puppies to different environments and allowing them to interact with people of different ages.

Children

The especially large size of this canine means it should be monitored while spending time with children. Despite having a friendly temperament and being fond of kids, the size of this dog puts very small children at risk of being bumped into or knocked down. A socialized Leonberger is more aware of how to behave around kids and adults.

Dogs Similar to Leonbergers

The Great Pyrenees (Pyrenean Mountain Dog), longhaired Saint Bernard, and Newfoundland are all similar breeds to the Leonberger.

• Great Pyrenees: This breed and the Leonberger are about the same height; however, an adult Leonberger has a higher weight. The Leonberger’s coat has a wide variety of colors, whereas a Great Pyrenees is white.
• Longhaired Saint Bernard: This breed and the Leonberger are about the same size in terms of height. But, a male longhaired Saint Bernard can have a higher body weight. Both are accomplished rescue dogs!
• Newfoundland: Both breeds have a sweet, affectionate temperament. Looking at size, the Leonberger is larger than this breed in both weight and height.