Leonbergers belong to the so-called giant breed. They grow up fast and become rather big!

Puppies are adorable, cuddly teddy bears but always remember: they become very big teddy bears in a comparatively short time while still remaining dogs in need of proper socialisation!

Leos as lovers of the breed call them can become great friends and companions. They make ideal family dogs. But no dog is born that way. To bring out their best qualities a lot of socialization with people and other animals, as well as obedience training, is recommended. Introduce them to friends and strangers, gently at first at home on their own territory, then with more confidence outside the home at different locations.

Involve all family members in socialization and training units and work best by using positive reinforcement. Always give plenty of praise for the Do’s and ignore Don’ts with patience.

All puppies can be rather destructive and a Leo-puppy is no exception. Be sure to provide lots of suitable toys and spend enough time playing with the puppy, as playing alone is boring. Integrate small training-units and your puppy will learn without stress. Leos love to play as adults and we know even “seniors” who still enjoy playing with toys.

Like all giant breeds, Leos should grow slowly and must not be overfed. Growing too fast in combination with too much weight can result in skeletal disorders. Leo’s reach about 85% of their final size within the first year of life and the growth process puts great strain on the juvenile metabolism. We recommend weight control (at least monthly) to avoid skeletal disorders as well as panosteitis (also known as growth disorder). Do not worry, your Leo will reach its genetically determined size – but the slower the better for its health.

Leos can sometimes react sensitively to some drugs, such as tranquilizers and anaesthetics. In the past, the amount of anaesthetic-medication was measured according to weight. Leos respond to less: e.g. a 70 kg-Leo might already respond to the amount of anaesthetic for a 45-kg-dog. Most veterinarians are aware of this problem and with new anaesthetics only very rarely have problems been reported.

Leos should never be kept solely outside, never kennelled. They must be integrated within the family. They will demand a lot of time and attention, but only that way they will develop the true characteristics of the breed. A Leonberger kept alone outside, even on a large property, will never be a happy dog.

Leos enjoy being part of a pack of dogs and they also get on well with other animals (cats, horses, birds).

Most Leos are very fond of children, provided their previous experiences with children have not been negative ones. Never leave your Leo puppy or adult alone with children you don’t know until you are absolutely sure, we recommend monitoring both of them.

Dogs love to dig and Leo’s are no exceptions. So it’s best to reserve a small part of your property for such activity. They are also very fond of water (although there are a few exceptions who do not like swimming) and water can mean a river, a lake, a pool or a dirty pond. So you have to be prepared for some dirt and mud in the house and hairs on your carpet and furniture. If you find this a big problem, a Leonberger might not be the ideal breed for you.

Agility, however, we would not recommend for the simple reason that a giant breed is usually far less suited than a medium-sized breed, even if some individuals do amazingly well in agility training.

Enjoy the company of your Leo, but never forget: even if it is a great breed, it's still a dog. Proper socialization, training, patience, appropriate nutrition and health-care as well as lots of love provide the best ways of being happy with your Leo and enjoying its company for a long time!