Leonberger

This breed does not need a lot of exercise, however, it does need to be taken on a daily walk. They love to be included in all family outings and are very adaptable to most any environment. They LOVE to swim, hike and be trained to pull carts and sleds. If you plan to have your Leo pull carts or hike, one has to wait until the dog is grown. It is not recommended before the dog is about 18 months old.

High Maintenance: The Leonberger has a magnificent double coat that comes in lion yellow, golden or reddish-brown. Although it’s beautiful when he has just been bathed and groomed, its natural state is best described as damp and leafy. The Leo loves being wet and muddy, and if his coat looks clean afterward, it’s because all the dirt and debris has dropped onto your floor or furniture.

The Leonberger is a calm, large, muscular working dog with proud head carriage, level top line, and balanced build. They are a dimorphic breed, with males and females easily discernible as such. Males have strong, masculine heads while the female head expresses femininity. Tight flews, a distinguishing feature of the breed, provide for a dry mouth with no drooling. A soft, sweet expression, dark brown eyes, and a black mask are hallmarks of the Leonberger breed. For his size, the Leo is light on his feet and graceful in motion with a powerful, ground covering gait. Although a multi-purpose working breed, the Leonberger is primarily value as a loving companion, enthusiastically participating in most family endeavors and socializing at human gatherings.

First and foremost a family dog, the Leonberger's temperament is one of its most important and distinguishing characteristics. Well socialized and trained, the Leonberger is self-assured, insensitive to noise, submissive to family members, friendly toward children, well composed with passersby, and self-disciplined when obliging its family or property with protection. Robust, loyal, intelligent, playful, and kindly, they can thus be taken anywhere without difficulty and adjust easily to a variety of circumstances, including the introduction of other dogs.