Leonberger
Breed Profile
The Leonberger is a giant dog breed. The breed’s name finds its roots in the city of Leonberg in Germany. According to legend, the Leonberger was bred as a “symbolic dog” that would mimic the lion in the town crest.
Temperament
The Leonberger exudes self confidence and is insensitive to noise. It is known to be submissive to family members, affectionate toward children, dignified with passersby, and keen on conferring its folks or property with protection. Hardy, faithful, and they are also very flexible and can adjust easily to a variety of circumstances, even when other dogs are brought into the picture.
Color & Coat
Coat: Both a necessity for work and a defining attribute of the breed, the Leonberger has a water-resistant double coat on his body that is complemented by the shorter, fine hair on his muzzle and limbs. The long, profuse, outer coat is durable, relatively straight, lies flat, and fits close.
Color: A variety of coat colors are acceptable, including all combinations of lion-yellow, red, red-brown, and sand.
Health
The Leonberger rarely inherits and/or develops a number of devastating diseases. In addition to hip dysplasia, Leonbergers can inherit and/or develop heart problems, paralysis/polyneuropathy, osteosarcoma, hemangiosarcoma, osteochondritis dissecans, allergies, digestive disorders, cataracts, entropion/ectropion eyelids, progressive retinal atrophy, perianal fistulas, and thyroid disorders.