Leonberger

General: Leonbergers are large dogs used mainly as companions. They were bred to resemble the town crest lion of Leonberg in Germany. The breed experienced ups and downs in the course of history, namely during World Wars, when it was hard to feed large dogs. Leonbergers are wonderful pets. They are said to make great family companions due to their outstanding temperament. The dogs are famous for their stability. A Leonberger will never start a fight with other pets. Instead, it will walk away. The breed is neither aggressive, nor timid. It enjoys human contact and loves to be a part of the family. Personality qualities of the Leonberger have provided for much success of the breed. The dog is well known in European countries. The Leonberger is well established in France and Germany. However, the breed is little known in other countries. Though the Leonberger is not hard to own, the population of the breed is not great. However, it is establishing itself as a good companion dog. Hopefully, Leonbergers will acquire greater popularity soon.

Origin: Leonburg, Germany

History: The early history of the Leonberger is clouded and tumultuous, revolving around the enthusiasms and exploits of Heinrich Essig (1809-1889).Essig was a successful politician with a genius for marketing and public relations. He was an alderman and a prominent citizen in Leonberg, a town on the outskirts of Stuttgart in southern Germany. The town crest of Leonberg contains a lion rearing up on its hindquarters. Although it is not known for sure if the town name refers to a lion, there is a definite association through the crest. The Leonberger, as we know it today, is lion-like in appearance. However, Essig's early versions certainly weren't. According to Essig, he crossbred a black-and-white female Landseer with a long-haired Saint Bernard that he had acquired from the Saint Bernard monastery in Switzerland. The puppies were, of course, black and white. He reportedly then crossbred these dogs for four generations, out crossing with a yellow-and-white Saint Bernard and later a white Pyrenean Mountain Dog that he had in his kennels. He was striving at this early stage for an all-white dog, because they were very fashionable at the time. It was only many generations and out crossings later that the golden color and black mask became typical. Early records indicate that in 1865, Essig showed a dog at the Oktoberfest in Munich that was described as a fine dog, resembling a lion, yellow and brown, with black tips.It is important to note here that the Leonberger we know today could not have come from the matings that Essig initially described. As has been pointed out by Letellier and Luquet in France and Nijboer in Holland, the AY allele does not exist in the three breeds that were supposed to be the originating breeds. Also, from a genetic standpoint, the Leonberger head is morphologically much different from that of the Saint Bernard or Newfoundland.

Temperament: As a family dog, the Leonberger is an agreeable partner for present day dwelling and living conditions, who can be taken anywhere without difficulty and is distinguished by his marked friendliness towards children. He is neither shy nor aggressive. As a companion, he is agreeable, obedient and fearless in all situations of life.

Size: 130-170 pounds.

Today's Uses: Training and competing in obedience, agility, carting, or other activities.

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