Feiner Kennels

What group does the Leonberger belong to?

There are seven (7) basic groups. Sporting, Hound, Working, Terrier, Toy, Non-Sporting and Herding. The Leonberger belongs to the Working group.

What is the average size and weight of the breed?

Males are 72 – 80 cm at the withers, weight a minumum of 50 kg. and up to 75 kg. Females 65 – 75 cm . Weight 43 kg and up to 60 kg

What type of coat does this specific breed possess? Wiry, soft, long, short etc?

Medium to long, medium soft structure.

For what type of household is this breed a good match? For example, are the dogs recommended for homes with active children or homes that have a more sedate environment?

Leonbergers fit in almost every household, if well socialized. They are good with children, but the size and the strength of the dog has however to be considered. They need daily human contact and do the best when living in and with the family as four-legged members of it. It is a slow maturing breed, so not too much activity during the growth period (which is a very sensible rule for any giant breed) Avoid sportive activities, e.g. very long walks, hiking etc. until the dog has grown up. The Leonberger would also fit in a single household if enough time is spent with the dog and with elderly people who are still physically fit enough to handle the dog’s needs.

What is the breed’s suitability for urban living?

•	High-rise apartment or condo: No
•	Townhouse without a yard: Yes, when regularly walked and properly socialized and the neighborhood is "dog-friendly".
•	Small city house with a small yard: Yes, when regularly walked and properly socialized and the neighborhood is "dog-friendly".
•	Average to large house with average to large fenced yard: Would be very good.
•	Rural property with running space: Would be excellent.

What are the grooming requirements for this specific breed?

Regular grooming is necessary, esp. during the season of “shedding hair”, asit is a breed with an “undercoat” Also regular cleaning of the ears is necessary. Regular means at least once a week with regard to grooming – and when shedding hair, daily.

What are the exercise requirements for this specific breed?

Daily walks, puppies and youngsters to a maximum of 20 minutes three times per day. Adults – it depends on the activity level of the individual dog, usually 1- 2 daily for 45 minutes with the chance of the dog meeting other dogs. To run off leash would be fine if the dog has had obedience training.

A number of breeds clearly cause little or no problems for allergy sufferers. Is there a high or low concern with allergy sufferers owning this breed?

A low to medium concern, depending onthe environment that is how much the person is exposed to the allergens.

What is this breed’s suitability for living or sleeping outdoors with the appropriate shelter? Is it typically an indoor or outdoor pet?

The Leonberger is a 100% family dog. To develop the breed characteristics a leonberger needs to be with their family. As the breed liked "lower temperatures better than hot temperatures, some individual dogs might be happy to sleep outdoors if they had enough contact with their family but I do not recommend it. All the Leonbergers I have owned and those of my puppy owners, prefer to sleep where I do, indoors.

In regards to safety and home security this breed is:

•	Non-threatening and likes to avoid confrontation: Non threatening, yes, and will avoid confrontation but it depends on the confrontation.
•	Barks at every strange noise: The majority barks for only a good reason. Some individuals will bark more.
•	Is spirited enough to alarm intruders: Yes.
•	Average to large house with average to large fenced yard: Would be very good.
•	Will physically protect and be a definite deterrent: Yes, when trained, but schuthund is not recommended. The average leonberger will protect "their pack" by growling etc. As a deterrent, yes, due to the expression of being powerful, size and weight.

How much effort needs to go into training this breed to be a well behaved dog?

This is a dog who is eager to please and therefore easier to train, when properly socialized but patience is required with this breed as with any. The "Good Citizen exam" can be passed (supposing the dog is properly socialized, is living in the family, and if patience and no harsh methods are used) between the ages of 12 and 15 months. Harsh methods should never be used with this breed.

When deciding on this breed, are there any common conditions that the buyer should be aware of? E.g. Hip problems, cancer, poor eyesight, etc?

Like any large and giant breed, the Leonberger may suffer from skeletal problems (HD<ED Panosteitis which is a growth disorder. Cancer risk is neither higher or lower thanin other breeds; however large and giant breeds do have a higher risk for osteosarcoma. Poor eyesight is rare in the breed (entropion), ectropion and cataracts might appear in some lines more often however this can be controlled by good breeding strategies. Bloat/torsion is another risk for large and giant breeds. There are several methods to avoid this risk i.e. 2 small feedings, 1 larger in the evening. Rest after meals, no walks and no activities for about 2 hours post meals.

Does the breed have special diet requirements?

2 small feedings, 1 larger in the evening. Rest after meals, no walks and no activities for about 2 hours post meals. Rest after meals, no walks and no activiites for about two hours post meals. More specific information on diet can be obtained from the breeder.

Is this breed a good partner for other household pets to share living space with? E.g. are they good with cats, other dogs, birds, etc?

Yes! In the many years in which I have shared my life with Leonbergers, I would highly recommend this dog be treated as a member of the family which means to include the dog in all family activities. This will permit the Leonberger the best chance to develop the breed specific characteristics. The puppy should be exposed to every possible environment (other animals, city, traffic, children, schools, wheelchair bound individuals, the elderly etc. The majority of Leos, as we call them, will enjoy every activity with their people. However, it should be noted that the younger Leonberger may have a time in their puberty, where they can be a bit shy or overly sensitive, but with patience and training, this will disappear soon. For impatient or less sensitive people the Leonberger is not the right breed. It is also not the right breed for those who simply like the look of the dog but who are not willing to spend the time on socialization and care.

Learn More about our rare breeds and stables.