2The Leonberger was established in the town of Leonberg, Germany in 1846. The breed was meant to resemble the rampant lion upon the town’s official crest. This breed is the result of the combining a St. Bernard, a Great Pyrenees and a Landseer Newfoundland--all giant breeds. The Leonberger is a large dog, though very agile for such a big breed. It possesses the loving and loyal nature of the Saint Bernard. The dog’s original purpose was as a companion breed and to that end they are very friendly. They love children and will never resort to aggression no matter how much they may be abused. The breed was nearly destroyed during WWII and has only now just begun to regain its numbers. There are currently about 1,000 Leonbergers in the U.S. and 10 times that number in Europe. Here is a guide on how to identify this rare breed.A pedigree Leonberger in profilewww.dogsindepth.com
- Begin by assessing the size, weight, and general shape of the dog. It should be a very large and solidly built dog, standing at about 30 inches high at the shoulder and weighing somewhere in the neighborhood of 150 pounds. The body should be box shaped as it is as long as the animal is tall. Also, the rear legs should be slightly longer than the forelegs, making the dog appear to slouch. The tail should be bushy and set low, reaching all the way to the hocks. The paws should be very wide and have webbing between the toes to facilitate easier swimming. This is the Newfoundland’s contribution to this breed.Examine the dog’s fur. It should be medium to long and matted in appearance. This does not indicated an ungroomed animal; it’s just how the fur on this breed lays down. The rear and forelegs should be lightly feathered. Most Leonbergers are a tawny light tan color, similar to that of a lion. Others can be darker with fur that is red-brown or red-grey. Some Leonbergers exhibit a recessive trait where the main body is very dark brown, but the legs are normal light tan. All Leonbergers have a very thick mane of fur, making the neck and chest look bigger than they really are. This is not so obvious in females than it is in males. Occasionally a patch of white fur will appear on the chest as well as the toes.Finish by looking at the dog’s head. It should be very heavy and wide, reminiscent of a Saint Bernard, but with no dewlap under the throat and significantly thinner jowls. The skull should be domed and ears set low and to the side. They are typically of medium length, falling down to the level of the back of the jaw. The eyes should always be brown, the structure of the cheek and brows giving them a gentle appearance. All Leonbergers have a black mask covering the muzzle and under the eyes, but never going higher than the brows. If the dog matches this description then it’s a Leonberger.
