Leonberger

From Pet Encyclopedia

Leonberger

Leonberger

Origin of Breed

Germany

Breed Nick Names

Leo

[edit] Introduction

Leonbergers are a large breed, meaning they grow up fast and are big! Yes, they can become a friend, companion, and an ideal family dog, but only after a lot of socialization with people on and off their property and only after formal obedience training, using positive reinforcement. It takes consistent work and participation from all family members. No dog is born with good behavior - you must teach that to your Leo.

Leos are high-energy dogs with amazing intelligence. They do well in obedience, agility, as therapy dogs, in water rescue work, and in many other outdoor activities, but it takes lots of patience, training and work. All of this adds up to TIME!

Leos do not adapt to being an outside dog. They must be integrated within your family. They are demanding of your time and most of them like to have the companionship of other animals. A Leo alone in a yard is not a happy dog and dogs that are consistently unhappy often become bored, destructive, or ill. Make sure to provide for the body and mind of your Leo.

Leos enjoy being part of a ?herd? of Leos! They are attracted to each other, but will accept other breeds. They accept cats, horses, farm animals and kids! Most Leos instinctively like children, but not all children instinctively like dogs. Never leave your Leo puppy or adult alone with strange children. Remember, an adult Leo is at eye level with a 5 or 6 year old child.

A Leo is extremely sensitive to your moods and your family's interactions. Family squabbles can make a Leo very unhappy, so be sure to avoid loud angry arguments in the presence of your Leo. Leos love to go with you on errands, trips and outings. You will need a vehicle large enough to accommodate your giant Leo. Taking your Leo along is part of proper socialization and socialization must continue throughout the dog's life.

As puppies, Leos can be very destructive if left to invent their own games. Be sure to provide lots of interactive toys like Wiggly balls, hide-a-treat balls, Kong toys, and frizbees. Whatever you purchase, use common sense to avoid choking hazards like toys that are too small or that break apart. Toys are great, but do not replace your companionship. Leos are inherently playful and need lots of playtime throughout their lives. If you combine play breaks with training, your Leo will be much happier learning what makes you happy.

Older Leos also enjoy play periods, proving that old does not mean inactive. Walks, exercise and play periods also keep your Leo?s weight under control while tuning up the immune system.

Dogs dig. Leos are dogs. Leos dig. Provide an out-of-the-way area for digging and you'll both be happier. Something under a bush away from the traffic areas because Leos can excavate a fairly large bunker. Leos are mud puppies throughout their lives. They love water and see nothing wrong with rolling in dirt. Lakes, rivers, and oceans make Leos very happy! They are a drip-dry breed, but as they dry, the mud covers your house. That's life with a Leo. If you're very meticulous about your carpet and furniture, a Leo may not be your ideal dog.

Leos, like most dogs, need some help and reassurance when they enter adolescence. They may demonstrate shyness or fearfulness. You can overcome this and help your Leo develop into a self-confident dog by reassurance, and exposure to new things. Bikes, skateboards, traffic, all of these things can startle and frighten which is why you are there with your Leo to help it overcome any shy behavior. Shyness can lead to very negative behavior.

The average Leo can easily surf your kitchen counters taking whatever it wants including your dinner. Remember, if your Leo reaches 30 inches at the shoulder, its big head is at least 6 inches higher. Dogs have a one thousand times greater sense of smell than humans ? Leos can smell any food left on your kitchen counter! Leos, being a large dog, can cover your house with a lot more fur than a small dog. Keep that in mind when deciding on a Leo. Their fur can jam your vacuum cleaner, many times over!

Leos should grow slowly. Large breeds should be allowed to grow at their own genetic pace and not overfed to promote growth. Leos weigh upwards of 100 pounds, and like most dogs, they like to eat the wrong thing. A fat Leo is not a healthy dog. Keep track of those ribs ? when you can no longer see them or feel them, your Leo needs a diet.

Most Leos are sensitive to some drugs, usually tranquilizers, anesthetics and sulfa-based drugs. Whenever possible, avoid overuse of these drugs. This should be discussed with your veterinarian when you bring your puppy in for a health exam.

Enjoy your Leo, but never forget it's a dog. It will never speak English - you must learn to communicate in ways it can understand, so train...TRAIN....TRAIN!

[edit] Origin and History

The Leonberger dog was created in the 1840’s to resemble the lion of the Leonber town crest. It is a cross between a Newfoundland and St Bernard, and a backcross to a Pyrenean Mountain dog. Another dog may also have been used in the creation of the Leonberger in order for the colour we see them in today to be developed. They became very popular and many distinguished people owned them. However during World War I they almost died out as people could not afford to feed them. The handful of dogs that were left were bred from carefully until the World War II when they were nearly all lost again. Today the Leonberger is still relatively rare but it is gaining in numbers and popularity.

[edit] Appearance

The Leonberger is a large, muscular, and elegant dog with a balanced rectangular build and is distinguished by a black mask and double coat. Mature males carry a lion-like mane on the neck and chest. For its size, the Leonberger is light on its feet and graceful in action. A dog or a bitch should be easily distinguishable as such. The Leonberger must always be shown naturally, with no alterations of coat, except for neatening of feet.

Size Height at withers:

Dogs: 29.5 in+. Most males are around 30-31 in. Bitches: 28 in+. Most bitches are around 28-29 in.

Weight:

Dogs: 130-170 lb* (some reach over 200). Bitches: 130-160 lb*.

• The weights are generally what each sex fits into. They are not limits. I heard of a Leonberger male which took 6 years to mature and at the end weighed 220 lb and was 36 in at the withers!

Coat The Leonberger has a medium length soft to coarse double coat that is very water resistant. Males often have particularly thick fur on the neck and chest creating the appearance of a mane. There is distinct feathering on the backs of the front legs and thighs. Coat colour can range from lion yellow, red, reddish brown, and sandy. Black hair tips are permitted, but black must not determine the dog's basic colour. All Leonbergers have a black mask. The Leonberger sheds fur very heavily.

[edit] Temperament

Leonbergers are supposed to be noble, gentle and sweet - and many are. There is no guarantee though, only good breeding practices with an emphasis on an outstanding temperament significantly increases the chances that your cute puppy will grow up to become a gentle adult.

Behavior is not only the responsibility of the breeder but also of the owner. Leos are large dogs and are frightening to many people simply by virtue of their size. Fear and aggression in a stranger can activate a dog's protective instincts. Large dogs can also do a great deal of damage just by jumping up on someone in a burst of enthusiasm.

In some Leonbergers, there is a fair amount of play drive, as in most dogs. Running children will be seen as an invitation to chase - with a 120 pound dog that might be problematic. When you invite a Leonberger to share your life, you bring to that contract the responsibility to make sure that both you and your dog receive excellent obedience training.

To become excellent family and watchdogs, Leonbergers must be well socialized as young puppies and extremely well-trained and under the control of their people at all times. It is difficult to train a dog that has been improperly socialized. The fear of parvo has led some owners to make the tragic mistake of keeping their puppies isolated until they have completed their vaccination series; they risk ending up with a fearful, timid dog that may become aggressive as an adult.

Owners must strike a balance: Puppies, especially from birth through four months, must be exposed to a variety of people and experiences. There are many parvo-safe activities and places to take dogs, and new owners have to take the time to expose their new pups to as many of these as possible. This is especially true for one's second and third Leo; it is too easy to keep the new pup in the company of the older dogs, depriving him of the opportunity to develop self-confidence.

Leos are known for their stability. As a general rule, they are consistently even-tempered and generally pleasing to be around even in noisy and chaotic situations that would be highly stressful for some other breeds.

A typical and impressive sight at dog shows and gatherings is a large "pride" of Leonbergers peacefully and contentedly sitting and lying together in close quarters. However, on closer observation one will find that males in the midst of "hormone storms" are carefully separated and have been placed at opposite ends of the group

[edit] Health

The Leonberger is in general a healthy breed. As long as they have the correct diet to allow their proper growth there should not be too many bone and joint problems. Many breeders are now screening their dogs for hip problems.

[edit] External Links

www.leonbergerclub.co.uk

www.leonbergerstudbook.co.uk

[edit] References

The Leonberger- Angela White... no longer published can only get second hand The Leonberger- Madeline Lusby... much similar to above book Leonberger- Guido Perosino....... The best book to buy if looking for a show leonberger