Leonberger

The history of these beautiful giants has undergone a lot of changes. Being favorites of royal families, the Leonbergers, however, lost their superiority in a flash. And having received world recognition, they were on the verge of complete extinction. But whatever happens in the past, today representatives of this breed are popular, especially among residents of the countryside and the private sector. Who are leonbergers?

The history of the origin of Leonberger

The breed was named in honor of a small town in Germany - Leonberg, the name of which, when translated, sounds like “the city of the lion”. In the 30s of the 19th century, Heinrich Essig, a well-known cynologist engaged in selection work, lived here well-known throughout the country. And once he was visited by a significant idea - to bring a new type of dog, symbolizing his city. Naturally, only a lion or a dog, very similar to it, could become a symbol of the “city of the lion”. This was the main condition for the selection activity of the felinologist.

On this occasion, there is an official version, according to which, the birth of the breed began with the crossing of two giant dogs, it was a black-and-white landseer and a long-haired Saint Bernard . The result obtained entered further work and was crossed with representatives of various breeds. In the final stages, the dogs were brought down with two large breeds - the St. Bernards and the mountain dogs with the Pyrenees. As a result, the world saw a huge dog with silver-gray hair and a black mask on its face.

Somewhat later, leonberger with a yellow-brown color began to appear, which significantly brought them closer to the appearance of a mountain lion. Officially, the breed was recognized only in the middle of the 20th century.

The author of the official version of the appearance of this breed was Essig. But after his death, some experts, including the canine expert Strebel, expressed doubt that it was Saint Bernard that participated in the selection activity. All indirect data pointed more to a different theory: the mountain “Alpine” dogs became the ancestors of the Leonbergers. And today it is this version that prevails among dog handlers.

There are also some documented evidence that such dogs existed before, in the 17th and 18th centuries. Then it turns out that Essig was engaged not in breeding a new breed, but in reviving a previously existing one.

These dogs were truly royal, as they lived at the court of many monarchs — Friedrich of Baden, Prince of Wales, Napoleon III, Nicholas II, and others. But despite this, the Leonbergers more than once found themselves on the verge of extinction. At the beginning of the 19th century there was an epidemic of plague among the representatives of this breed. And the world wars brought to nothing all the livestock of dogs, then only three thoroughbreds managed to survive. But this turned out to be quite enough, albeit for painstaking, but successful restoration work.

Description of breed Leonberger

If we talk about the general impression, the leonbergers are large, proportional, powerful, but not without elegance dogs, which can instill two feelings in those who met them for the first time - panic and admiration. Characteristic of Leonbergers:

• The dog's head is slightly elongated, with a moderately pronounced transition from the frontal part to the muzzle. The skin is tight and does not form folds. The muzzle is elongated, with a smooth broad back of the nose, somewhat convex and large black lobe. Lips are pigmented with black color, they are tight. The jaws of the leonberger are strong, strong, have a scissor bite. Standard dogs are allowed and with a pincer bite.
• The eyes are small, oval. The iris can be any shade of hazel - from light brown to black. The eyelids fit well, so the conjunctiva remains invisible, and the protein is white, without redness. The look is very insightful and attentive.
• Ears have a high landing, they are small, hanging down, adjacent to the head. The neck has a slight bend and passes immediately to the withers. It is slightly long, does not have loose skin in the throat or area of ​​the suspension.
• The withers are quite well marked, especially noticeable in males. The back is straight, with well-developed muscles and a wide, strong waist. The croup of the dog is wide, has a somewhat rounded shape, it smoothly passes into the region of the base of the tail, is not turned up. The chest is wide, of decent depth, oval in shape.
• The tail is covered with thick long hair, hangs in a quiet state when the dog moves, bends slightly and rushes no higher than the level of the back.
• Limbs (both back and front) parallel, very strong, muscular, with strong erect metacarpus. Especially they are powerful in males. The paws are set straight, without eversion, rounded, with well arched fingers and black claws. If the dog has dewclaws, they should be removed. The leonbergers move boldly, evenly, regardless of the gait.
• The coat in dogs is different - and soft and in places coarse, hard, with a rich dense undercoat. The coat is long, fits well with the body, does not have parting. Basically it is smooth, but slight waviness is allowed. In the chest and neck, the fur forms a mane, more pronounced in males. There are also feathering on the front paws, and on the back - puffy pants.

Leonberger colors

There are several colors in pedigree individuals:

• yellow brown;
• red-brown;

And also any color combinations between them. The presence of a black mask is mandatory, black ends of the fur are allowed, but this color should not be the main one. Also, the standard allowed a small speck of white color on the chest and whitish hairs on the fingers. The growth of males is in the range of 72-80 cm, females - 65-75 cm.

Beautiful breed: Tibetan Mastiff .

Character leonbergerov

Dogs of this breed are noble and powerful. With the right upbringing, these are big nannies - big, warm, able to always stand up to protect and support at the first steps. They are fairly balanced, have “angelic” patience and are by nature slightly phlegmatic. And this is preserved in them, even if there is complete confusion around, unnerving representatives of other breeds.

They coexist well with their purebred relatives, however, when hormonal surges, females and males try to keep apart. Leonberger canceled watchman, they do not cast their votes simply and do not disturb the owners for trifles. Their dimensions and bass barking frighten all detractors and do not allow them to carry out the "evil deed." Since their ancestors - guard dogs - the protection of their territory is at the level of instinct. But if the owner with all his appearance showed that the person who came is a guest, the dog will rise to greet him.

In order for a pet to become an excellent watchdog or family companion, it must get used to people from a puppyhood age. To do this, it is necessary to socialize early, to train.

Since many owners of leonbergers at one time made a mistake by isolating puppies before the full course of vaccines (they were afraid of being infected with parvovirus), they often received a mentally disturbed dog. The dogs were timid, indecisive, and over the years they showed uncontrollable aggression. This confirms the fact that pets of this breed, especially babies 1-4 months, need to meet with people, visit new places and be in different, atypical situations.

Leonberger - huge dogs, terrifying people with only one of its kind. A manifestation of fear and aggression of strangers contributes to the launch of protective instincts in the dog. A dog can hurt, even just by jumping on a person, and it does not matter whether it will be from evil or because of great joy. All this suggests that when taking an animal of this size into a house, the owner must take obligations to complete special courses of socialization and obedience with him.

How to care for Leonberger

Caring for these giants requires exactly the same as for representatives of other similar breeds. It is necessary to take care that at puppy age the pet received not too high load, since in large dogs the muscular and ligamentous apparatus develop more slowly than the weight gains. If the baby is overfed and does not enrich the food with calcium and other necessary elements, his or her limbs may twist and the bone will form incorrectly.

Since leonberger has a very rich coat, it needs regular care. It is necessary to purchase special combs, pogderki and once a week to comb the wool , paying more attention to towing. This will avoid the formation of tangles. In addition, during this procedure, you can inspect a pet for parasites and foreign components, for example, spines stuck in the hair, burdock, etc.

It is necessary to bathe the dog , if necessary, using special detergents . It is advisable to rinse wool with air conditioning, it will further facilitate the care of her. Pet ears should be regularly inspected, and if excess sulfur and dust accumulate in them, it is necessary to remove them. With heavy discharge in the ears should be worried, as this is a sure sign of the inflammatory process. Also eyes are subject to survey, congestions in corners are also removed.

Large dogs need long active runs. It is necessary to find a deserted place where it would be possible to lower the pet off the leash and give it the opportunity to run freely. For crowded places, the leonberger must have full ammunition, always including a muzzle.

The ideal content for such a colorful animal is the house territory, as it will not be enough for an ordinary apartment. Also, owners should accept the fact that these dogs love water and should not even be discouraged from their desire to swim in the pond, as it will be very difficult to keep them.

Read also about Canoe Corso , Newfoundland or Bernese Mountain Dog .

Photo of leonberger

Video about leonberger

The cost and purchase of a Leonberger puppy

Representatives of this breed are quite expensive, even puppies of a low class. The average initial price is 30000-35000 rubles. It is not recommended to buy cheaper puppies from questionable breeders, as there is a possibility of further manifestation of genetic ailments and any defects.

Leonbergers are domestic lions who need a firm hand and a responsible host, representing what can happen if this giant is not raised. With the right approach, the family will be protected and guarded day and night, and this dog will be ready to give their lives for their families.

Kennels of Leonberger

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