Leonberger
Bred in the German town of Leonberg to resemble the lion on the town crest. A water rescue dog with webbed feet, and gentle out of all proportion to its size.
Photo by Petful.com, CC BY 2.0
Overview
The Leonberger was created in the town of Leonberg in Germany in the 1840s, reputedly to resemble the lion on the town crest, from Newfoundland, Saint Bernard and Great Pyrenees stock. It is a water rescue dog and a draught dog, and it has webbed feet.
The breed was nearly destroyed twice by the World Wars and rebuilt both times from a handful of dogs, and eight to nine years is the honest lifespan.
Temperament
Calm, confident and gentle. Leonbergers are famously good with children, tolerant of other animals, and steady in the face of noise and commotion.
They are sensitive and respond badly to harsh handling. They are also enormous and boisterous while growing, and a hundred and fifty pound adolescent that has not been taught manners is a serious problem. They want to be with their family and do badly isolated.
Care and grooming
A long water resistant double coat that needs brushing two or three times a week and daily during the two heavy moults. They shed enormously.
Leonberger polyneuropathy has DNA tests for several variants and is a serious breed specific condition. Hip and elbow dysplasia, bone cancer and bloat all occur. Ask for the polyneuropathy panel specifically.
Living and exercise
An hour a day of moderate exercise as an adult, with swimming ideal, and strictly limited exercise while growing.
They drool, they shed, and they take up an enormous amount of room. They are among the gentlest giant breeds and the lifespan is short even for the group.
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