Leonberger Breed Standard and Characteristics

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📜 Translation: Mrs C. Seidler, revised by Mrs E. Peper

🌍 Origin: Germany

📅 Date of Publication of the Original Valid Standard: 04.01.1996

🐕 Utilisation: Watch 🛡️, Companion 🤝, and Family Dog 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

🏷️ Classification FCI:
Group 2: Pinscher and Schnauzer, Molossoid breeds, Swiss Mountain and Cattle Dogs and other breeds 🐾
Section 2.2: Molossoid breeds, Mountain type 🏔️
Without working trial ❌🎽

📖 Brief Historical Summary

At the end of the 1830s to early 1840s, Heinrich Essig, a town councillor in Leonberg near Stuttgart, bred a black and white Newfoundland bitch with a “Barry” male from Grand St. Bernard monastery hospice 🏞️. Later, a Pyrenean Mountain Dog 🐕‍🦺 was added to the mix. The aim was a lion-like dog 🦁—the lion being the heraldic animal of Leonberg 🛡️.

The first dogs officially called “Leonbergers” were born in 1846 🐶. They combined excellent traits from the founding breeds.

Soon after, Leonbergers were sold globally 🌍 as status symbols. By the late 19th century, they were valued in Baden-Württemberg as preferred farm dogs 🚜, praised for watchfulness and draft work 🐾💪.

Despite dwindling numbers due to both World Wars and post-war hardships today the Leonberger is an excellent family dog, meeting modern needs with ease.

🧬 General Appearance

A large, strong, muscular yet elegant dog 🐕. Balanced build, confident calmness 🧘‍♂️, and a lively temperament 😄. Males are particularly powerful 💪.

📏 Important Proportions

• Height at withers to body length: 9 to 10

• Chest depth: nearly 50% of withers height 📐

🧠 Behaviour / Temperament

Ideal family companion 🧑‍🤝‍🧑—friendly to children 👶, obedient 👍, fearless 🦸, and adaptable to various life situations 🌍. Not shy or aggressive 🚫.

Key traits:

• Self-assurance 😌

• Composure 🧘

• Playfulness 🎾

• Willingness to obey 🤲

• Good learner 📚

• Noise insensitive 🔇

🐶 Head & Facial Features

• Shape: Deep, elongated

• Muzzle:Skull ratio: 1:1

• Skull: Slightly arched 🧱

• Stop: Moderately defined

• Nose: Black 🖤

• Muzzle: Long, slightly arched

• Lips: Tight, black

• Teeth: Full set, strong scissor or pincer bite 🦷

• Eyes: Medium, oval, dark brown preferred 👁️

• Ears: High set, medium, close to head 👂

🦴 Neck & Body

• Neck: Slight curve, no dewlap

• Withers: Pronounced, esp. in males

• Back: Firm, straight

• Loins & Croup: Strong, broad, gently sloping

• Chest: Deep, broad, oval

• Underline: Slight tuck

🐾 Tail & Limbs

• Tail: Well-furnished, hangs straight, slight movement curve

• Forelimbs: Straight, muscular

• Shoulders: Long, sloping

• Feet: Round, arched toes, black pads 🐾

• Hindquarters: Parallel, strong angles, straight hocks

🏃‍♂️ Gait / Movement

Ground-covering, smooth, and even stride ✨
Front limbs extend well, hind limbs drive strongly 💨
Straight-line movement when walking or trotting 🚶‍♀️🐕

🧥 Coat

• Texture: Medium soft to coarse, thick undercoat, never parted

• Form: Mane (esp. in males), feathering on front legs, breeches on rear

• Colours: Lion yellow, red, reddish brown, sandy, with black mask 🦁🎨

• Markings: Black hair tips okay, small white patch/stripe on chest or toes tolerated ✅

📐 Size

• Males: 72–80 cm (avg. 76 cm)

• Females: 65–75 cm (avg. 70 cm)

❗ Faults

• Deviation from standards should be judged by degree

• Very Serious Faults include:

  • Shyness or aggression 😠

  • Severe anatomical issues 🦴

  • Missing or misaligned teeth 🦷

  • Eye or ear defects 👁️❌

  • Faulty tail 🌀

  • Wrong colours or missing mask 🎨

  • Excessive white 🤍

  • Behavioural or physical abnormalities 🚫

⚠️ Note: Males should have two normal testicles fully descended ⚖️🐾