Leonberger puppies

About the Leonberger

The Leonberger was put together in the German town of Leonberg from Newfoundland, St Bernard and mountain dog stock, intended as an imposing companion and later put to work on farms and around water. This is a giant of 40.8 to 77.1 kg standing 65 to 80 cm, with a long weatherproof double coat, a black mask and webbed feet. Adults are calm and steady rather than boisterous, playful with their own families, and rated at the top of the scale for living with children.

Exercise is one vigorous outing a day, hiking, carting or swimming, kept controlled while the dog is still growing. Grooming is a daily job: brushing the long hair behind the ears and on the backs of the legs where it mats, plus a thorough weekly session that takes real time given the size. Shedding is heavy, and heavier twice a year. A small flat will not suit one. The hardest part is the lifespan, which is short at around seven years, and anyone taking a Leonberger on should go in knowing that.

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. Expect moderate energy, in short bursts separated by long naps. Grooming needs are high. Start daily brushing and short, positive handling sessions at eight weeks, well before the adult coat arrives, or the first professional groom will be traumatic. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their 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

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 40.8 to 77.1 kg adult range.
• Puppy names and the first week checklist.

Kit sizes: crate 48 inch (48 x 30 x 32 in, 122 x 76 x 81 cm) for an adult of up to 77.1 kg, the largest size in the chart, which tops out at 49.9 kg, so measure the dog before you buy; chew toys made for large breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.

Buying guides for this

• Do slow feeder bowls work? Choosing one for a puppy that gulps
• Best crate for a puppy: wire, plastic or soft, and how to size one with a divider

Other giant breeds

More on the Leonberger

Previous: Large Munsterlander · Next: Lhasa Apso

Sources

• akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
• fci.be for country of origin
• Health notes from Leonberger breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/leonberger/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

Photo: Pleple2000, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.