The Leonberger breed originated, as their name suggests, in the town of Leonberg in Germany in the 19th century. They were originally developed by crossing an early St Bernard type dog with a Newfoundland, both of which are very big dogs. These dogs were valued for their strength, which made them useful on farms for guarding the property and for draft work.
This breed of dog has an interesting history. The First World War had a devastating effect on the population of Leonbergers, and the breed was almost completely wiped out. Fortunately, there were a few surviving dogs which increased breed numbers, but then World War Two arrived. Again, the breed almost became extinct. Fortunately, there were enough dogs to again start a breeding program, and from there the breed standard was developed, and the number of dogs increased.
Leonbergers are generally healthy dogs. While many giant breeds are affected by hip dysplasia, responsible breeders have significantly reduced its incidence in this breed. Unfortunately, the larger breeds don’t usually have a long lifespan, and the Leonberger is no exception. The average lifespan of these beautiful dogs is only 7 years.

Appearance

The Leonberger is a very handsome dog indeed. They are powerfully built and can grow as tall as 30 inches, or 75cm at the shoulder. The weight of an adult male can reach 170lb, or 75kg!
You can’t help but be impressed by the Leonberger’s coat. It is long and thick, in colours ranging from yellow-gold to a creamy sandy colour, and may also be a rich reddish brown.  Adult males have longer hair on their neck and chest, which looks very much like a lion’s mane. The hair may have black tips, and the dogs always have a black mask on their face.
Leonbergers have a double coat. Their soft undercoat is covered by long, coarse, slightly wavy hair. These dogs shed heavily, especially when they are moulting. If you don’t like the idea of drifts of dog hair throughout your house and yard, you do need to brush them thoroughly at least once a week. A Gripsoft comb will help remove any loose hair before it finds its way onto your floor!

Temperament

These intelligent dogs are gentle giants. Because of their size, training is very important so their owner can easily control them when they are out walking, or around other people. If a dog the size of a Leonberger were to jump up on someone, they would easily knock them over.
If a Leonberger is lucky enough to have an owner who is prepared to put the effort into training and socialising them, they will develop into a confident dog that is loyal, playful and an excellent family companion. They are particularly good with children, but do need supervision because of their size.

Working and Tasks

Because the Leonberger was developed as a guard dog, they will naturally be protective of their family. These dogs only need a moderate amount of exercise, so don’t need a huge back yard. This also makes them ideal companions for less active people.