Home - Leonrua Kennels | Ethical Breeders Leonberger Puppies New Zealand

Leonbergers raised as family. Bred with the future in mind.

Based in Mid-Canterbury, New Zealand, Leonrua is a family-focused Leonberger kennel. Our dogs share our everyday lives, while our breeding decisions are guided by health, temperament, pedigree and the long-term genetic diversity of the breed.

Family Life Our Leonbergers are family members first, valued for their individual personalities and the lives we share with them.

Health & Temperament We look at health information, soundness and character together when considering the dogs and combinations behind future litters.

Genetic Diversity Pedigree depth, shared ancestry and new bloodlines are considered with future generations of New Zealand Leonbergers in mind.

Our Journey and Values

Leonrua began with a simple aim: to enjoy life with Leonbergers and, when we breed, to make thoughtful decisions that support healthy, confident dogs and the future of the breed in New Zealand.

Health We use health screening and breed-specific testing as part of the wider picture behind every breeding decision.

Temperament Calm, confident and affectionate character matters because our Leonbergers are family dogs first.

Genetic Diversity We look beyond a single litter to pedigree depth, shared ancestry and the genetic contribution of future generations.

Owner Support Matching puppies carefully and remaining available to their families is part of the responsibility we take on as breeders.

Our dogs remain at the centre of everything we do. Breeding is one part of life with Leonbergers — not the reason we share our lives with them.

Responsible breeding, backed by evidence.

Responsible breeding is more than completing a checklist. We consider health screening, temperament, pedigree depth and genetic diversity together when deciding whether a mating should proceed.

Transparency matters to us. We want prospective owners to understand not only which tests have been completed, but why a particular combination has been chosen.

100%

Health screened

Dogs used in our breeding programme complete our required health screening, including breed-specific genetic tests, hips, elbows and eyes.

Generations researched

We review pedigrees across up to ten generations when assessing ancestry, shared lines and a potential mating.

Countries represented

Countries represented within the previous five generations of the pedigrees behind our Leonbergers.

100%

Clear for tested genetic conditions

Dogs in our breeding programme are clear of the recognised Leonberger genetic conditions included in our testing programme.

We’re here for you throughout your Leonberger journey.

Bringing home a Leonberger is the beginning of a long relationship, not the end of ours. Leonrua families can come back to us for practical support, questions and guidance as their puppy grows into adulthood.

Ongoing Guidance

A familiar point of contact for the questions that arise as your Leonberger settles in, grows and changes.

Training & Behaviour

Breed-aware suggestions around training, routines and everyday life with a large, social Leonberger.

Health Information

Help understanding breed-specific health considerations and where veterinary advice or further information may be useful.

Socialisation & Family Life

Practical support as your dog experiences new people, places, environments and stages of family life.

Support does not end when a puppy leaves Leonrua. We want our owners to know they can come back to us with a question at any stage of their dog’s life.