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A Leonberger is a big dog,
with an even bigger hearth! Not so many know this breed, but those who do know the Leo, can't imagine life without it! |
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A Leonberger is a big dog,
with an even bigger hearth! Not so many know this breed, but those who do know the Leo, can't imagine life without it! |
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ORIGIN: Germany
PUBLICATION DATE OF THE CURRENT STANDARD: 1995
USE: Watchdog, companion and family dog
CLASSIFICATION: FCI Group 2
Section 2.2 Mountain Rescue Dogs without working dog certification
SHORT HISTORY: During the end of the 1830s and the early 1840s, Heinrich Essig, a City Councilman from the town of Leonberg, near Stuttgart, crossed a black and white Newfoundland bitch with a "Barry-Dog" from the Hospice of Saint Bernard. Later on a Pyrenean Mountain Dog was added to the breeding. The results were very large dogs with long predominately white coats Essig's goal was to breed a lion-like dog; the lion being the animal on Leonberg's coat-of-arms. The first dogs that were truly called "Leonbergers" were born in 1846. They combined the outstanding qualities of the original breeds.Within a short period of time, these dogs became status symbols from Leonberg and many were sold throughout the world. By the end of the 19th century the Leonbergers that remained in Baden-Würtemberg were mostly kept as farm dogs. Their watchdog and weight-pulling ability were highly esteemed. In both World Wars and during the misery of the postwar eras the numbers of breeding dogs were dramatically reduced. Today the Leonberger is an outstanding family dog ideally suited to contemporary lifestyles.
GENERAL APPEARANCE: By nature, the Leonberger is a large, strong, muscular, yet elegant dog. They are distinguished by a well-balanced build and a self-confident, calm demeanor, yet maintaining an overall lively spirit. The males are especially majestic and powerful.
PROPORTIONS: The ratio of the height at the withers to the length of the trunk is 9:10. The depth of the chest is approximates one-half of the height at the withers.
TEMPERAMENT AND CHARACTER: As a family dog the Leonberger is ideally suited for modern lifestyles. Leonbergers are pleasant partners who can be taken anywhere without difficulty. And they are exceptionally ffond of children. Leonbergers are neither shy nor aggressive. As companion dogs, they are pleasant, obedient and confident in all situations. The essential nature of the Leonberger is especially derived from:
HEAD: It is generally more deep than wide and rather more elongated than stocky; the ratio of the muzzle to the skull is approximately 1:1. The forehead and face are smooth and free of wrinkles.
SKULL: From both profile and front views it is slightly domed. In proportion to the trunk and limbs it should be substantial but not heavy. The posterior portion of the skull is not substantially broader than it is by the eyes.
STOP: Clearly recognizable, but only moderately developed.
FACE
NOSE: Always black
MUZZLE: Rather long, never pointed; of even width from front to back; never concave, and with a slight roman-nose shape.
FLEWS: Close-fitting; black, and closed at the corners.
JAWS/TEETH: Strong jaws with a perfect, even and complete scissors bite, in which the upper row of teeth overlaps the lower row without any gap and the teeth are positioned vertically in the jaw. There should be 42 healthy teeth complying with the dental formula (a missing M3 is tolerated). A pincer or level bite is allowed. There should be no narrowing of the lower jaw at the level of the canine teeth.
CHEEKS: Only slightly developed
EYES: Light to preferably dark brown, of average size, neither deep-set nor protruding, neither too closely nor too widely spaced. Eyelids are tight, not showing any conjunctiva; the white of the eye (the visible portion of the sclera) is not reddened.
EARS: Set high and slightly back, moderate sized hanging, well-fleshed- out, drop ears, falling close to the head. Neck: Gently sloped, attaching without an abrupt break in line to the withers, somewhat longer than stocky. The skin over the throat is firm, with no dewlap.
BODY
WITHERS: Imposing, especially in the male
BACK: Wide, robust, with a level topline.
LOINS: Wide, strong and well muscled.
CROUP: Wide, relatively long, gently rounded, flowing smoothly into the root of the tail. Under no circumstances is the croup higher than the withers.
CHEST: Wide, deep, reaching at least to the level of the elbows, not too barrel-shaped, rather oval. Underline: Only slightly tucked up.
TAIL: Very fully feathered. When the dog is standing, the tail hangs straight down. When the dog is in motion, the tail is only slightly curved and ideally not carried any higher than the level of the back.
LIMBS: Very strong, especially in the male.
FORE QUARTERS
HIND QUARTERS
MOVEMENT: The Leonberger covers a lot of ground with each stride. Movement is even, regular, uniform, and symmetrical in all gaits. The front legs have good reach and the rear legs show good drive at both the walk and the trot. When viewed from either the front or the rear, the limbs move straight forward in relation to the line of travel.
COAT
TEXTURE: Moderately soft to coarse, fairly long, laying flush, never with a part. In spite of a dense undercoat, the shape of the body should be recognizable. The coat is straight and flat although a slight waviness is permitted. A mane is formed at the neck and chest, especially in the male. There is a clear feathering down the front legs, and well developed pants on the hind legs.
COLOR: Lion-yellow, red, reddish brown, also sand colored (cream, pale yellow) and all combinations thereof, each with a black mask; black hair tips are allowed, but black may not constitute the base color of the dog. Lightening of the base color on the bottom side of the tail, the ruff, the feathers of the front and the pants of the back legs should not be so contrasting as to disturb the harmony of the main coloration. A small white spot or line on the chest and white hairs on the toes is allowed.
FAULTS: Any small deviation from the previously described characteristics is a minor fault, all obvious deviations are major faults. Evaluation of these faults has to be in direct proportion to the degree of the deviation from the standard. The degree to which these faults affect essential characteristics, (such as temperament, type, harmony and movement) has to be taken into consideration also. Faults, which exclude a dog from breeding and which do not allow a further consideration of breeding: