El leonberger is one of larger dog breeds, weighing between 45 and 78 kg. Muscular and strong, it has a dense coat of fur that protects it against low temperatures. Although its appearance is imposing at first glance, it is a calm and peaceful dog, generally sociable and highly intelligent. We tell you everything you need to know about it.
Breed history
Its origin is somewhat uncertain. Its birth dates back to the late eighteenth century, and it is believed that it was used both as a protective dog and as a companion animal. One of the most accepted theories is the one that says that it comes from the German city Leonberg, being a direct descendant of the Tibetan Bulldog and later crossed with the Saint Bernard and the Newfoundland. According to another hypothesis, his hometown is Löwenberg, in Switzerland.
Actually, the breed was officially established in 1846 in Leonberg. The breeder heinrich essig He was the architect of all this. It is believed that he began by crossing a black and white female Newfoundland with a Saint Bernard named Barry. Although some claim that he also used the Pyrenean or Great Pyrenees mountain dog breed.
Essig's goal was to get a dog looking similar to lion, something that is evident in the extensive mane of this breed. The Leonberger would end up becoming a prestigious dog, being the mascot of high society personalities. The breed almost disappeared as a result of the two world wars, but it survived thanks to the efforts of some breeders.
Character
The Leonberger is calm, faithful, docile and protective with yours. Its great intelligence facilitates its training process, as it quickly learns the basic commands. Family in character, he is patient with children, although distrustful of strangers. He rarely presents aggressiveness problems.
Es very curious. He loves to exercise outside and enjoys sniffing every corner. He likes to play and usually has a correct attitude towards other animals, although he can be somewhat shy. This is why it is important that we encourage you to socialize with others.
His love of water stands out. It's a expert swimmer, partly thanks to the interdigital membranes that it has between the fingers. This, together with its enormous strength, makes it often used as a rescue dog. In addition, its strong self-confidence helps it to remain calm in all situations, making it perfect as a rescue animal.
Care
Although generally quiet, the leonberger needs exercise frequently to keep your powerful muscles in good condition. The ideal is three daily walks of approximately half an hour; if we can let it run inside a closed and clean room, the better.
In addition, its dense and long coat requires regular brushings, especially during the molting season. Not forgetting the daily monitoring of your ears, which tend to suffer from infections.
On the other hand, you need a balanced diet, rich in vitamins and nutrients. You should eat a special feed for large breeds in doses appropriate to their size, but you must be especially careful when measuring them, as this breed tends to suffer from obesity.
"Salud"
Regarding its health, like other large breeds it shows a greater predisposition to suffer stomach torsion and hip dysplasia. Given its physical characteristics, it can also have ear infections and cataracts.
Likewise, the Leonberger is prone to Hypothyroidism, although this depends largely on the quality of life that we offer the dog. They are also at higher risk than other breeds for progressive retinal atrophy, entropion, and cataracts. Frequent veterinary check-ups are essential to prevent all of these problems.