Pets

The Leonberger is a giant of a dog, the name deriving from the city of Leonberg in south-west Germany. Due to their large size, love of muddy water, and the amount of attention and exercise needed, the Leonberger is not commonly seen in large cities or towns. They are big, playful clowns.

Appearance
The female Leonberger weighs up to 60 kg and the male up to 80 kg although much smaller animals are are acceptable in show ring. The Leonberger are heavy shedders

Temperament
They can make an excellent companion with a loving temperament. They are fine with children and are happy to play ball with the whole family. They get on well with other pets if they are taught from an early age how to behave around them. They are sociable dogs that love other dogs and water. Daily walks a must, starting with about 20 minutes a day as a puppy and working up as the dog grows. They are not good apartment dogs; they at least need a big back yard where they can run around.

History
The Leonberger, was originally bred from the Newfoundland, Saint Bernard, and Pyrenean Mountain Dog. They originated from Germany in the early 1800s, it was bred to resemble the coat-of-arms animal of Leonberg, the lion.

Health
As with all giant dogs, they are not long lived with average life span 10 years. Some cases of congential problems such as osteosarcoma, hemangiosarcoma, and hypothyroidism reported, so seek a reputable breeder.


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