Leonberger
-
The Leonberger is a true giant breed, their luscious coat making them appear larger than life. They come in a beautiful range of sable colors, from deep chestnut to a golden color. A black mask on their huge face frames kind eyes. Leos are a watchdog at heart, though they are deeply loyal to their family members. Armed with a gentle nature and aristocratic grace, a Leo will command the attention of any room. Leonbergers require lots of brushing, ample space for roaming, and abundant quality time.
- Our Standards > Our Process >
More About The Breed
The Leonberger is a true giant breed, their luscious coat making them appear larger than life. They come in a beautiful range of sable colors, from deep chestnut to a golden color. A black mask on their huge face frames kind eyes. Leos are a watchdog at heart, though they are deeply loyal to their family members. Armed with a gentle nature and aristocratic grace, a Leo will command the attention of any room. Leonbergers require lots of brushing, ample space for roaming, and abundant quality time.
Leonbergers are an eager to please breed and have sound judgement. This makes training fairly straightforward. Positive reinforcement and food motivation are key, as they have very sensitive souls. Though they are not as swift as some smaller breeds, Leos excel at canine sports such as agility and cart pulling. Their hardworking spirit shines through making them a motivated student.
As with all giant breeds, Leos are susceptible to bloat, joint issues, and have a shorter life span than smaller breeds. Ask your breeder about the health of the parents, as this is very important to predict what kind of puppy you will be getting. Regular exercise and a healthy diet are important as they tend to put on excess weight in later years. In hot summer days, your Leonberger will need to be monitered closely, as they do not do well in hot weather and are prone to heat stroke. Always make sure they have fresh water and cool shade to hang out in.
Leos have a silky, luscious coat that is quite high maintenance. Daily brushing will keep matts at bay and keep your dog's coat soft and manageable. You can expect quite a bit of shedding, with most of it focused in spring and fall. This beautiful breed has a double coat that should never be trimmed. It is waterproof and acts as an insulator through the colder months.
Leonbergers are not high energy, however they need daily mental and physical stimulation. They thrive on having a job to do, even if this is as simple as accompanying their human on a walk. They love to be around their people, so including them in physical activities such as swimming, hiking, or running is a great way to keep your Leo busy. Due to their large size, they do better in homes with a yard or frequent trips to the dog park.
Leonbergers are very large. An adult male stands 28 to 31 1/2 inches in height and an adult female is 25 1/2 to 29 1/2 inches. It is important to note that they grow very slowly and will not be at their full size until 3 years old. Weight can range from 90-170lbs with females towards the lower end of that scale.
