Leonberger

Infobox Dogbreed
akcfss = part of the akc fss
akcgroup = FSS
akcstd = ?
ankcgroup = Group 6 (Utility)
ankcstd = http://www.ankc.aust.com/leonberg.html
ckcgroup = Working Dogs
ckcstd = http://www.ckc.ca/en/Default.aspx?tabid=99&BreedCode=LOB
country = Germany
fcigroup = 2
fcinum = 145
fcisection = 2
fcistd = http://www.fci.be/uploaded_files/145GB2002_en.doc

---

image_caption = Leonberger
kcukgroup = Working
kcukstd = http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/item/54
name = Leonberger
nickname = Leo
nzkcgroup = Utility
nzkcstd = http://www.nzkc.org.nz/br670.html
ukcgroup = Guardian Dogs
ukcstd = http://mail.ukcdogs.com/UKCweb.nsf/80de88211ee3f2dc8525703f004ccb1e/01b722a141b2708d8525704400606e98?OpenDocument The Leonberger is a large breed of dog. The breed's name derives from the city of Leonberg in south-west Germany.

Description

Appearance

According to the original purpose, the Leonberger is a large, strong, beast-like yet dainty dog. He is distinguished by his balanced build and confident calmness, yet with quite a lively, friendly temperament. Males, in particular, are powerful and strong. Leonbergers love the water and can hunt for wild salmon in their natural environment(s).

Leonberger males are known to occasionally drool. [ [http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/leonberger.htm Leonberger Information and Pictures, Leonbergers ] ]

ize

Height at the shoulders

males: 28.5 to 31.5 inches (72 to 80 cm)
females: 25.5 to 29.5 inches (65 to 75 cm)

Weight: Females appx 90-130 lbs; Males appx 105-165 lbs

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.

Temperament

Leonbergers are very loving and great with children. They are very large but do not necessarily need a big garden and house to roam around. They are adaptable and do not take up much more space when curled up to sleep than any other medium to large dog. Like any dog they ask for nothing more than to have a daily walk and bit of brain stimulation. Aggression often comes from improper training when young or from bad experiences. A well raised Leonberger can provide loving and loyal companionship. Since World War II, the numbers and popularity of Leonbergers have grown and in Britain alone there are over 2,000 registered Leonbergers.

Health

Leonbergers are strong, generally healthy dogs, and providing they have the right diet they may be more resistant to hip dysplasia. Breeders are now screening their dogs to reduce the risk of bone/joint problems.

Longevity and Causes of Death

Leonbergers in UK and USA/Canada surveys had a median lifespan of about 7 years.http://users.pullman.com/lostriver/breeddata.htm Dog Longevity Web Site, Breed Data page. Compiled by K. M. Cassidy. Retrieved July 5, 2007] , which is about 4 years less than the average purebred dog, but similar to other breeds of their size .http://users.pullman.com/lostriver/weight_and_lifespan.htm Dog Longevity Web Site, Weight and Longevity page. Compiled by K. M. Cassidy. Retrieved July 5, 2007]

In a 2004 UK Kennel Club survey, the most common causes of death were cancer (45%), cardiac (11%), and "unknown" (8.5%) http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/item/570 Kennel Club/British Small Animal Veterinary Association Scientific Committee. 2004. Purebred Dog Health Survey. Retrieved July 5, 2007 ] . In a 2000 USA/Canada Leonberger Club of America survey, the most common causes of death were cancer (37%), old age (12%), cardiac (9%), and "sudden death" (8%) http://www.leowatch.org/PDFfiles/FinalPrintLeoWatch2002.pdf Leonberger Club of America.. 2002. Summary of the 2000 Health Survey Findings. LEO Watch Volume 2, Spring 2002. Retrieved July 5, 2007 ] .

History

Heinrich Essig, a dog breeder and seller from Leonberg in southwestern Germany, originally bred the Leonberger from the Newfoundland (the Landseer type, with black/white marks), Saint Bernard, and Pyrenean Mountain Dog in the early 1800s, although it has been an "established" race in Germany only from 1846. The popular legend is that it was bred to resemble the coat-of-arms animal of Leonberg, the lion, but in fact the earliest Leonbergers were predominantly white and the coloring of today's Leonbergers, brown with a black mask, was developed during the 19th century, probably by introducing other breeds. [http://leonberger-hunde.org/breed_history.html]

The Leonberger was initially used to protect livestock and pull loads in West Germany and other European countries.Leonbergers were seriously affected by the privations of the two world wars. During World War I most Leonbergers were left to fend for themselves as breeders fled or were killed. Only five Leonbergers survived World War I and were bred until World War II when, again, almost all Leonbergers were lost. All Leonbergers today trace their ancestry back to eight dogs that survived World War II. [http://www.thebreedsofdogs.com/LEONBERGER.htm]

References

External links

* Clubs, Associations, and Societies
** [http://www.leonbergerclubofamerica.com/ Leonberger Club of America] - The first US Leonberger club, founded in 1985.
** [http://leoclub.us/ The Leonberger Club of the United States] - A second club founded in 2003 by breeders seeking incorporation into the AKC.
** [http://www.leonbergerclub.co.uk/ Leonberger Club of Great Britain]
** [http://uklaleos.com/index.html United Kingdom Leonberger Association]
** [http://www.leonbergerunion.com/ International Leonberger Union]
** [http://www.leonberger-hunde.de/ Deutscher Club für Leonberger Hunde] - German Leonberger club (site in German).
** [http://www.leonberger.no/ Norsk Leonberger Klubb] - Norwegian Leonberger Club, official site for Norway.
* Miscellaneous
** [http://www.leohealth.org/ Leonberger Health Foundation] - A 501(c)(3) charitable organization raising funds for research that will improve the health of Leonbergers.
** [http://www.leowatch.org/ Leo Watch] - Identifying, Researching, and Educating the public about health issues facing the Leonberger.
** [http://www.leonberger.com/LeoWorld/main.html LeoWorld] - Provides information on Leonberger breed of dogs.
** [http://leonberger-hunde.org/breed_history.html Leonberger history] - Short illustrated history of the Leonberger dog.

** [http://www.letempledartemis.info/Mariage_D1-en.htm Leonberger breeder in Bourgogne] - Marriage of Tanzanite-Jewel du Temple d'Artémis and Caspar H.Bora Miloticek at Jantonely.

** [http://www.martenlakes.com Martenlake's Leonberger kennel] - Leonberger breeder in Sweden.
** [http://www.Nahkolam.co.uk Nahkolam Leonbergers] - Leonberger Breeders in UK, Jersey, Channel Islands
** [http://www.twinfallsleonbergers.com Leonberger Puppies] - Leonberger breeder in United States.
** [http://www.leonius.net/] - Leonius Leonbergers, Widham, Purton, Wilts. UK.
** [http://art-shop.milansorm.com/en/dog-breeds/35-leonberger/ Milan Sorm Art Shop] - Artistic gifts with Leonberger motifs