Aren't they beautiful animals?

[madison2000]

Leonbergers

[kslib]

1. Yes they are. Endangered?

[madison2000]

7. I heard there were 24 left in Germany after WWII because no one

could spare the food for these large dogs. They are working dogs which pull carts (although mine mostly lies on the couch all day!) They are growing in popularity in the US.

[OldLeftieLawyer]

2. I went to school with Leon Berger

He didn't look anything like that.

[Dookus]

3. wow

they are beautiful. Never heard of them before.

[njdemocrat106]

4. Handsome beasts

Compared with the gassy Boston Terrier I'm sharing my computer room with now :)

[Texasgal]

13. Hmmm.... so your Boston is gassy too?

Check out this little smelly devil!

<img src="">

[CatBoreal]

5. They are pretty...

...but I like these guys better...



Bernese Mountain Dogs.

Just make sure they don't eat any songbirds, okay?? ;)

[Rainbowreflect]

10. Ohhhhhhhhhhhh, what a cute puppy.

[madison2000]

6. Rare breed, non-AKC, originally from Germany

I have a small one (67 lbs) which came from a shelter so he is probably a mix. Purebreds can be almost twice the size. They were bred to look like a lion from other giant breeds (St. Bernard, Great Pyrenees, Newfoundland). Very gentle wonderful pets. There are breeders in the US. Very popular in Scandinavia if you search the web.

[McKenzie]

8. I'm a doggie person and these are gorgeous

Never seen them before now. I'd like a pair. I'd give 'em a good home.

Lovely beasties...just love their faces. Gorgeous.

[madison2000]

9. historical summary of leonbergers

At the end of the thirties, beginning of the forties of the 19th century, Heinrich Essig, town Councillor in Leonberg near Stuttgart, crossed a black and white Newfoundland bitch with a so-called “Barry” male from the monastery hospice Grand St.Bernhard. Later a Pyrenean Mountain Dog was added. This resulted in very large dogs with predominantly long, white coats. Essig’s aim was for a lion-like dog. The lion is the heraldic animal of the city of Leonberg.

The first dogs really called “Leonbergers” were born in 1846. They combined the excellent qualities of the breeds from which they stemmed.

Only a short time later, many of these dogs were sold as status symbols from Leonberg all over the world. At the end of the 19th century, the Leonberger was kept in Baden-Württemberg as the preferred farm dog. His watch and draft abilities were much praised.

In both World Wars and the needy post war times, the numbers of breeding stock reduced dramatically. Today the Leonberger is an excellent family dog which fulfills all the demands of modern life.

[McKenzie]

11. thnx for that.

The faces on those beasties makes me want to get one and hug it.

I have a particular fondness for working dogs. We have "Border Collies" over here. Sheepdogs with high intelligence. You have them too. Love the bonnie beasties.

[madison2000]

12. I had a border collie before I had a leonberger!

But at the time I lived in Chicago and it probably wasn't the best environment for her. I knew little about border collies when I got her from a farm litter. She needed work and I didn't have any for her. She learned words I didn't try to teach her!

The leonberger is much more laid back, not quite as bright, but a great companion. Definitely not looking for work!