Leonberger

 

Briefly about Leonberger

• Today, the Leonberger is a company and family dog.
• The breed has a certain guarding instinct, but is not a distinctive guard dog.
• The Leonberger is a pleasant, obedient and fearless companion in all conditions.
• The coat requires regular brushing to keep it in good condition without knots.
• The Leonberger has an exciting history originating in the city of Leonberg in Germany.

History

The Leonberger has a unique and certain origin that can be traced back to the city of Leonberg in Germany. Councilor Heinrich Essig, who lived there in the 19th century, was a great animal lover. He decided to breed a dog that resembled the lion in the coat of arms of Leonberg. Essig used a combination of black and white Newfoundlanders (later known as Landseers), long-haired St. Bernhards and Pyrenees to achieve his goal.The first real Leonberger dog was born in 1846 and was named Leonberger after Essig’s hometown. The first Leonberger dogs came to Norway with sailors, and later dogs were imported after the war by those who were in the German brigade. In 1977, the first modern Leonberger bitch was introduced in Norway, and she is now considered the progenitor of the breed in the country. In the years that followed, the number of Leonbergers in Norway increased after imports from Sweden and Denmark.

Characteristics and mentality

The Leonberger is a wonderful company and family dog. It still has a certain guarding instinct, but it is not a distinctive guard dog. The breed has many uses and thrives in water work and game tracking. As a family dog, the Leonberger is a pleasant companion that fits well into today’s living and lifestyle. It is child-friendly, not shy or aggressive. As a companion dog, it is a pleasant, obedient and fearless companion in all situations.

Size and appearance

The Leonberger is an impressively large and muscular, yet elegant dog. It has a harmonious physique and a proud and lively demeanor. Male dogs are particularly large and powerful. The height at the withers for male dogs is 72-80 cm (ideal measurement 76 cm) and for bitches it is 65-75 cm (ideal measurement 70 cm).

Fur care:

The Leonberger’s fur is medium soft to coarse, long-haired and lies close to the body without visible separation. The breed has a lot of fur, and to keep it in good condition without knots, it should be brushed thoroughly once a week. The coat should be straight, but slightly wavy is allowed. The body should have clear contours despite the good undercoat. There is a marked collar on the neck and chest, especially in male dogs. The forelegs must have clear hair, and the hind legs must have pronounced breeches.

Want to know more about the breed?

The breed club is the expert on the breed, has an overview of breeders and knowledge of the breed’s health. The breed standard provides a thorough description of the breed’s physical and mental characteristics, and it is recommended as reading material for anyone considering getting a puppy of this wonderful breed.We wish you the best of luck with your eventual Leonberger puppy!Supporting Sources: Wikipedia , Precious