Leonberger Breeders:
What Describes a Typical Leonberger? written by: Faith Leonberger breeders all over the world know the value of Leonberger dog. Just like other things that come big like cars, Leonbergers are big dogs that are not just for anyone. They are expensive to bring up and maintain all throughout their lives.
So, what is a Leonberger? Leonberger is a breed of dog that originated from the small town of Leonberg, Germany. The story goes that the people of then town were in search of a mascot of their own and came up with the idea of a lion. There was a problem: lions were not found in Germany and the only way out was to create their own.
The dog breed is said to have been created by the mayor of the town who was also a dog breeder. This he did by crossbreeding different breeds of dogs namely Saint Bernard, Newfoundland and later introduced the Great Pyreneese. Moreover, there it was, the Leonberger, which resembled a lion! Since then Leonberger breeders have continued to breed the dogs that have come to be loved by many people as pets.
Description of the Leonberger Dog:
The average height of male Leonberger is 29.9 inches while that of the female is 27.5 inches while the average weight for males is between 64-68 kg and 52 kg for females. The dog has a well-balanced and muscled body whereby its weight is directly proportional to the height. The head is rectangular in shape and is deeper than broad with males having a generally larger head than females. It is has a black mask that extend above the eyes.
The dog has black nose and lips that perfectly blend with the black mask. The color of the eyes is dark brown apart from the almond shape and medium size. Leonbergers ears are fleshy with moderate size and pendant shape. On his body, the dog is covered by a water resistant double coat and short fine hair on the muzzle and limbs.
The color of this breed is varied ranging from red and sand to combinations of yellow-red and red-brown. What is uniform is the striking black mask. The lion like appearance of the Leonberger is due to its thick mane. The breed also has bushy tail that hangs straight down, black fleshy pads and webbed feet.
The Temperament:
According to Leonberger breeders, what is unique about this particular dogs is their temperament. Generally, it is a lively dog with a friendly personality that makes it an ideal family dog. It is friendly towards all family members especially children, self-assured, submissive, self-disciplined, and well composed to outsiders. Moreover, it is loyal, playful, kind, and intelligent and can interact well in new situations and places especially when introduced to new dogs.
These qualities are hard to come by with many dogs and that is why many people love Leonberger as a pet or a big pet in that matter. To get a dog that has maximum good characteristics, the Leonberger needs to be well trained starting from a very early age which stresses the importance of finding a good Leonberger breeder to buy your puppies from.
Health and Care of Leonbergers:
Leonbergers despite being large dogs are generally healthy and strong. Common health problems that they may encounter include hip dysplasia due to their large size although it can easily be avoided by active screening, and completely removing dysplastic specimens away from the gene pool. Other problems include heart diseases, osteosarcoma, cataracts, digestive disorders, allergies, thyroid disorders, progressive renal trophy, and others.
The lifespan of Leonbergers is about 7-8 years, which is similar to that of dogs of the same size. The exposure to diseases may result from poor care and lead to the shortening of their lifespan. Caring for Leonbergers require good brushing of their fur, usually on a weekly basis, and should never be shaved. Like any other dog, a daily walk, a good socialization and regular training is necessary.
Leonbergers are good dogs that are perfect companions and pets to any household. They are unique in their size, temperament and appearance as well as history and that make them a breed to be proud of. This fact come with its limitations like the extra care involved and the early training that it needs. This also means that one should be careful when obtaining the puppies because not any Leonberger breeders can produce what is expected from such a dog breed.
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