Working group · Germany
Leonberger
Also called Leo, Gentle Lion, Gentle Giant.
What makes them remarkable
Breed tradition says the Leonberger was created to resemble the lion on its German hometown’s coat of arms.
- Friendly
- Gentle
- Playful
- Patient
- Loyal
- Size
- Giant
- Weight
- 41 to 77 kg90 to 170 lb
- Lives
- 7 to 10 years
- Energy
- Moderate
- Trains
- High
- Barks
- Moderate
Training
Training a Leonberger
Working breeds. Calm structure beats force every time. These dogs shut down under pressure and thrive on predictability.
Train While Small
Start here
They grow incredibly fast. Establish manners before they outweigh you.
Highly Trainable for a Giant
More responsive and eager to please than many large breeds. Take advantage of their cooperative nature.
Gentle Training Methods
Sensitive giants who shut down under harsh corrections. Reward what you want and they do it more.
The app turns this into five to fifteen minutes a day.
Add your Leonberger and it builds the plan around their age, where they came from and what they already know, one step at a time.
Free to start. iPhone. No card needed.
At home
Living with one
Bred to guard, pull and rescue. Big, strong, and serious about their people and their patch.
Gets on with
- ChildrenVery High
- Other dogsHigh
- StrangersHigh
- CatsHigh
Breed averages. Early socialisation and the individual dog matter more.
- Exercise
- 1 hour daily. Swimming is excellent exercise. Moderate walks; avoid excessive exercise when young.
- Grooming
- Heavy maintenance. Daily brushing needed. Heavy seasonal shedding twice yearly.
- Drool
- Moderate
- Coat
- Double coat, Long, Water-resistantLion Yellow, Golden, Red, Red-Brown, Sandy
- In a flat
- Needs more space than a flat gives.
Health
Things to ask a breeder or vet about
Hip Dysplasia
Moderate
Common in giant breeds; screening essential
Osteosarcoma
Severe
Bone cancer unfortunately common in large breeds
Leonberger Polyneuropathy
Severe
Inherited nerve condition causing progressive weakness; DNA test available
Where they come from
History
Created in Leonberg, Germany in the 1840s by Heinrich Essig, who crossed Saint Bernards, Newfoundlands, and Pyrenean Mountain Dogs to create a dog resembling the lion on the town's crest.
- Buck · Though described as a St. Bernard mix, the film dog was a Leonberger
Similar breeds
All breeds
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Saint Bernard
Monks bred these dogs to find and rescue travellers lost in the Swiss Alps.
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Boxer
The Boxer descends from the Bullenbeisser, a German hunting dog that no longer exists as a breed.
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Newfoundland
This fisherman’s working dog hauled gear and became famous for rescuing people from the water.
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