Site created by: Lee Gray

April 2008 ©

ABOUT THE LEONBERGER

What is a Leo?

A loyal, outgoing giant breed, powerful and agile. They are considered to be ideal family members, loving to play and work but also content to recline quietly with their families in front of the living room hearth or TV when their exercise is over.

Where are they from?

The Leo is of German origin from the town of Leonberg, which is just outside Stuttgart.  The breed has been in existence since the mid 1800's. The commonly accepted history is that the breed originated in the kennels of Herr Heinrick Essig (1808-89), an alderman of the town of Leonberg, who set out to breed a dog which resembled a lion - the town symbol. Over the years he crossbred the St Bernard, Landseer Newfoundland and Pyrenean Mountain Dog and in the late 1860's the new breed, the Leonberger, made it's first official appearance at the Oktoberfest in Munich. The Leo then spread across most of Europe, Scandinavia, America and, of course, Britain.

When did the Leo come into the UK?

The Leo was reintroduced in the late 1970's. It is believed that there were a few in this country in the 1940's but that the breed died out.  The first litter was born in 1981 to the only two imported Leos in the country.  The rest, as they say, is history.

Would they make good family members?

They are devoted family members and well able to tolerate other household animals. You will find them wanting to participate in any family activity from boring shopping trips to stimulating hikes or swims on the beach.

A Leo should be a natural protector of children, this is in their general make-up. However, this does not stop them accidentally knocking children over, jumping up or getting over-excited when playing or having a silly 5 minutes. Hence no "Gentle Giant" description here.  Generally they are good with other dogs, especially if brought up with them. Puppy behaviour classes and plenty of early socialisation is an advantage. There can be "male to male" aggression in the breed.

How big will a Leo get?

A Leo does not reach full maturity until between 3 and 4 years of age. As with most large breeds, they are slow developers, so much care is needed with feeding and upbringing during this period.  When fully developed a bitch will normally be between 26 and 29 inches tall (65 – 75 cms).  A dog will be between 29 and 32 inches tall (72-80 cms) and weigh anything up to 150lbs (70 kgs).

How much exercise does the Leo need?

This varies as the Leo develops. Much care is needed when they are young and their bones are developing.  As adults they are livelier than most giant breeds. A bored Leo who does not get enough mental and physical stimulation can become a problem.

How much do they eat?

When a Leo puppy is maturing his food consumption can seem quite vast and he will be expensive to feed.  As he develops into maturity what he eats will probably be less than you would expect for such a large breed.  Every dog is an individual and exact feeding amounts will always be different.

How long do they live?

The average life span is about 10 years but many Leos are known to have lived for 12 or 13 years.

Do they live indoors?

Leos are capable of living in kennels with their double coat to keep them warm.  However, they much prefer to be a part of the family. They often prefer the company of humans to that of other dogs - so it is the Leo in the house with you, or you in the kennel with the Leo!

How much grooming do they need?

They certainly need regular brushing, especially if living indoors.  It can be hard work if the Leo has been spayed or neutered as the coat becomes more dense.  Coats can become unmanageable if neglected but frequent brushing ensures coats are shining, elegant and tangle-free.

How often do they moult?

Living indoors, a Leo will moult heavily 2 or 3 times a year and moult lightly all year round.

Do they drool?

No not normally but there are always exceptions.

Do they chew?

They chew very actively as little puppies when teething. For some reason some seem to start again with their nice, new set of big teeth at a later date!

What training do they need?

All dogs, and especially a dog the size of a Leo, need good basic obedience training so they can be a pleasant companion and member of society.  Training starts from day one.  Never think of letting your Leo be a puppy first and that training comes later. You have to be dominant from day one.  Not very easy when you see a Leo puppy but remember what size and strength that puppy will achieve when fully grown. You have to be able to handle that 150lb dog (over 10 stone) (70 kgs).

What can they do?

The Leo seems to be a bit of a "Jack of all Trades". They are happiest when putting their minds to work.  Some of the activities that Leos are involved with in the UK are: Water Rescue, Draughtwork, Agility, Obedience, Working Trials, Tracking, PAT Dogs.  At one time there was even a Leo taking part in competitive Flyball.  There also Leos in active service for the Guide Dogs for the Blind, Hearing Dogs for the Deaf and Dogs for the Disabled.

How much do they cost to keep?

How long is a piece of string? You can always take into account the normal things such as feeding, leads and collars, training, injections, worming etc. but it's probably worth thinking about what can follow: changing your vehicle if not suitable for your Leo's size when grown, destruction to the garden and home by digging and chewing, unexpected vet's bills which can run into thousands of pounds.  (A good pet insurance is highly recommended).

Are there any health concerns?

All breeding stock should be hip scored. The average hip score for the breed is 12, which is lower than most of the giant breeds. Breeding stock should not have total hip scores greater than 25 (or a difference between hips of more than 10). Breeding stock should also have annual eye tests.  Eye certificates should show that the dog is free of Hereditary Cataract.  When looking for a puppy always make sure the sire and dam have certification for these tests.

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