Leonberger

About this Breed

The Leonberger is a giant dog breed. The breed’s name is derived from the city of Leonberg, Germany. According to legend, the Leonberger was ostensibly bred as a ‘symbolic dog’ that would mimic the lion in the town crest.

This mountain dog comes with a generous double coat. The Leonberger is a large, muscular, and elegant dog with balanced body type, medium temperament, and dramatic presence. The head is adorned with a striking black mask that projects the breed’s distinct expression of intelligence, pride, and kindliness. Remaining true to their early roots as a capable family, working, and search and rescue dog (particularly water), the surprisingly agile Leonberger is sound and coordinated, with both strengths in bearing and elegance in movement. A dimorphic breed, the Leonberger possesses either a strongly masculine or elegantly feminine form, making gender immediately discernible.

The Leo loves being with his people and won’t be happy to spend all his time alone in the backyard. Expect to give him about an hour of exercise daily. Take the Leo’s size into consideration before bringing one home; this breed needs a family with a yard and an SUV, not a studio apartment and a Miata. The coat sheds heavily twice a year and moderately the rest of the time. On the plus side, his deep bark and huge size are more than enough to put off any halfway intelligent intruder.