About the breed
Traits/Mentality:
The Leonberger today is primarily a companion and family dog. It still retains a certain guarding instinct, but is not a typical guard dog. The breed has many areas of use and can thrive with water work and tracking game.
As a family dog, the Leonberger is a pleasant companion under modern housing and living conditions. It can easily be taken everywhere and is particularly child-friendly. The breed is neither shy nor aggressive. As a companion dog, it is a pleasant, obedient, and fearless companion in all circumstances.
In line with its original purpose, the Leonberger is a very large, powerful, muscular, yet still elegant dog. It stands out for its harmonious body structure and self-assured calm, combined with a distinctly lively temperament. Especially the male dogs are large and powerful.
The withers height for male dogs is 72-80 cm (ideal 76 cm). The withers height for females is 65-75 cm (ideal 70 cm).
Coat Care:
Medium-soft to coarse, long-haired, lies close to the body, never parted. The breed has a lot of fur, and to keep the coat in good condition and free from tangles, it should be brushed properly once a week.
The body's contours must be clearly visible despite a good undercoat. Straight coat, but slightly wavy is allowed. There is a mane on the neck and chest, especially in males. Noticeable hair on the front legs and distinct feathering on the back legs.
History:
The Leonberger is one of the few breeds whose origin is known with certainty. Near Stuttgart, in the southern part of Germany, lies a small town called Leonberg. Here, town councilor Heinrich Essig lived from 1808 to 1889. Essig was fond of all kinds of animals, and his home was considered by many to be a small zoo. Of all these animals, it was probably the dogs that captured his greatest interest, and Essig decided to breed a dog that resembled the lion in the coat of arms of Leonberg.
As a foundation, Essig used the black/white Newfoundland (later known as the Landseer), long-haired St. Bernard, and Pyrenean Mountain Dog. The first "true" dog of this new breed is said to have been born in 1846 and was named Leonberger after Essig's hometown.
Most of the early Leonbergers were brought to Norway by sailors, and some also arrived after the war, with the first dogs coming over with the German Brigade. The first modern Leonberger to come to Norway was brought by Anne-Marie Smith in 1977. This female dog is now considered the founding mother and the start of the new era of Leonbergers in Norway.
In the early years, there weren't many Leonbergers in Norway. The availability of puppies was limited, but eventually, puppies were imported from Sweden and Denmark, and the number steadily grew.
In 1983, the Club for Larger Companion Dogs (KSS) established a breed group for the Leonberger, and this year is considered the start of organized work with the Leonberger in Norway. On January 1, 1991, the Leonberger's own breed club was founded. The club was named the Norwegian Leonberger Club (NLBK).