Leonberger

The Leonberger was created around mid 1800s in Germany by Alderman Heirich Essig, who wanted a dog that looked like the lion symbol of his town: Leonberg. For that he crossed several breeds like the: Newfoundland, the St. Bernard and the Pyrenean Mountain Dog.

In the beginning, the Leonberger was mostly white, but during the 19th century, other breeds were probably introduced to give him the appearance he has today. Leonbergers suffered greatly during both world wars, since they were demanding eaters and because of that, most of the times, they were left on their own.

The first time the Leonberger was exhibit it was disqualified for being a simple cross of other breeds. In the last years, this breed has gained popularity and although the breed is still waiting for the recognition of the AKC, it was already accepted by the FCI and the UKC.  

The Leonberger is a placid dog, very sociable, that gets along with other animals. Being a stable and patient dog, the Leo, as it is also called, is good with children.

Because of the sheer size of this breed, it is advisable to socialize it since early age. They become very large dogs that need to be controlled by the owner.

They are very intelligent dogs and also very loyal to their family. The training requires patiente, but the Leo responds well to it.

The Leo isn´t suited for apartment or city life due to its size and love for swimming  

The Leonberger was created around mid 1800s in Germany by Alderman Heirich Essig, who wanted a dog that looked like the lion symbol of his town: Leonberg. For that he crossed several breeds like the: Newfoundland, the St. Bernard and the Pyrenean Mountain Dog.

In the beginning, the Leonberger was mostly white, but during the 19th century, other breeds were probably introduced to give him the appearance he has today. Leonbergers suffered greatly during both world wars, since they were demanding eaters and because of that, most of the times, they were left on their own.

The first time the Leonberger was exhibit it was disqualified for being a simple cross of other breeds. In the last years, this breed has gained popularity and although the breed is still waiting for the recognition of the AKC, it was already accepted by the FCI and the UKC.
Large, big and magnificent are the first words that come into your mind when you look at the Leonberger and his 80 cm of height.

They have a broad head, with wide ears and a black mask that shoudn´t go beyond the eyebrows. The chest of this gentle giant is deep and the tail is bushy and carried down or half mast.

The coat is of medium length and longer and feathered on the neck, ears and legs. The desired hair colors are: brown with dark red shades, tawny or golden. White markings on the chest and toes are permitted. The toes are linked by a web that helps them swim 

Hip dysplasia is a major concern in this breed.