Breeds / Giant
Leonberger puppies
Self assured and playful, neither timid nor aggressive. An amenable, intelligent and fearless dog distinguished by its friendliness.
The facts
- Size class Giant
- Adult weight 49.9 to 77.1 kg
- Adult weight in pounds 110 to 170 lb
- Adult height 65 to 80 cm
- Energy level Very high
- Grooming Low
- Typical lifespan 7 to 8 years
Source: https://www.royalkennelclub.com/search/breeds-a-to-z/breeds/working/leonberger/
What to expect at eight weeks
At eight weeks a Leonberger puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A giant breed puppy at eight weeks is already heavy and will keep growing for up to two years. Controlled growth matters more here than in any other size class, so a large breed specific puppy food and no overfeeding. This is a very high energy breed. The mistake owners make is trying to tire it out physically. Training, scentwork and puzzles will do more than distance ever will. Grooming is straightforward, but start handling the coat, feet and ears in week one anyway so it is never a fight later. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything it meets calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of its life.
Health worth knowing about
Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.
- Leonberger polyneuropathy (LPN1 and LPN2), detectable by DNA test
- Laryngeal paralysis and polyneuropathy (LPPN3), detectable by DNA test
- Leukoencephalomyelopathy (LEMP), detectable by DNA test
- Hip dysplasia, screened under the BVA/KC Hip Dysplasia Scheme, and elbow dysplasia under the BVA/KC Elbow Dysplasia Scheme
- Primary lens luxation and other inherited eye disease, screened by eye testing and gonioscopy under the BVA/KC/ISDS Eye Scheme
- Gastric dilatation volvulus, a surgical emergency, risk rises with a deep chest, prophylactic gastropexy is often performed
From Leonberger breed information at https://www.royalkennelclub.com/search/breeds-a-to-z/breeds/working/leonberger/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.
Your Leonberger puppy's first six months
- Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
- Worming and parasite schedule.
- Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Giant for a Leonberger.
- Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 49.9 to 77.1 kg adult range.
- Puppy names and the first week checklist.
Other giant breeds
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Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.