LEONBERGER Official Canadian Kennel Club Breed Standard (1992 – currently under revisions)
Brief History – During the end of the 1830s and the early 1840s, Heinrich Essig, a City Councilman from the town of Leonberg, near Stuttgart, crossed a black and white Newfoundland bitch with a “Barry-Dog” from the Hospice of Saint Bernard. Later on a Pyrenean Mountain Dog was added to the breeding. The results were very large dogs with long predominately white coats Essig’s goal was to breed a lion-like dog; the lion being the animal on Leonberg’s coat-of-arms. The first dogs that were truly called “Leonbergers” were born in 1846. They combined the outstanding qualities of the original breeds. Within a short period of time, these dogs became status symbols from Leonberg and many were sold throughout the world. By the end of the 19th century the Leonbergers that remained in Baden-Würtemberg were mostly kept as farm dogs. Their watchdog and weight-pulling ability were highly esteemed. In both World Wars and during the misery of the postwar eras the numbers of breeding dogs were dramatically reduced. Today the Leonberger is an outstanding family dog ideally suited to contemporary lifestyles.
Origin – The Leonberger breed has existed since 1846. It is a loyal, intelligent, easy learning, weather-resisting and very child-loving dog. It is especially appropriate for watching larger premises such as farms, factories, villas as well as the whole family.
General Appearance – The Leonberger is a big, strong and muscular dog with well proportioned form and self-confident tranquillity, combined with a lively temperament.
Colour – Lion colour, yellowy gold to red-brown with a black (dark) mask. Dark to black hairtops are admissible. Sand-coloured specimens with dark hairtops occur as well. The absence of the black mask is allowed but not desirable. A small white star on the chest can be allowed, as well as light to white hair at the paw-tips. Light badger coloured tails are allowed. The collar at the throat, the fur of the forelegs, as well as the under side of the tail may be somewhat brighter, but should not disharmonize with the total colour.
Shoulder height – Males must have as least 72 cm and at most 80 cm of withers’ height, bitches at least 65 cm and at most 75 cm. The desirable average size is 76 cm for males and 70 for bitches.
Legs – No high legs; muscular and strong bones. The pads of the feet are always black.
Forelegs – Straight, normally posed, well-haired, paws well-closed, rather round. The paws are always interlinked by swimming webs (as a rule, the Leonberger likes water and is a very good swimmer). Elbows are close to the chest and stretch out slightly beyond the lower rim of the chest. The shoulders are slanting. The pads of the feet are always black.
Hindlegs – Strong, muscular thigh-bone and well pronounced knee-joint. Muscular spring-joints, well angled and not slanting. Bowlegs and knock-knees are serious faults. The hind claws must be removed painlessly in the earliest youth (14 days). The pads of the feet are always black.
Trunk – Slightly longer than the withers; height. Strong in the kidneys’ area. The chest is deep but not too tubby. A strong back is required.
Tail – Very richly haired (broom-tail), always held half-lowered, never too high or even rolled over the back.
Head and Neck – The upper head is slightly arched, not as high and as wide as with the St-Bernard dog. The jaws are not strongly developed, so that the back of the head does not seem essentially wider than the head is at the eyes. The head as a whole, is more compact towards the sides, so deeper than wider. Modest forehead. The back of the nose is equally large, always in one line, but rather slightly bowed (ram’s nose). The fore-nose is deep black and must never be brown. The same goes for the lips, which must be pigmented black; any other colour disqualifies. The skin of the head and face must be tight no folds in the forehead. The strong neck shows much nobility. The head is held proudly high. Neck-skin and lobes are faults.
Ears – Planted high, close to the head, falling.
Mouth – Moderately deep, rather equal, never ending pointed. Lips are close together, no open corners of the mouth, so that the saliva leaks out. Open corners of the mouth degrade. The teeth are strong and form a well closing, complete scissor-like denture.
Eyes – The eyes must be light to dark brown, the darker the better. Middle-sized with intelligent, good-natures expression. The eyelids close well and show no conjunctiva. The conjunctiva is white. “Bird of Prey” eyes, too small eyes (Bull Terrier) or too full eyes (French Bulldog) are not desirable and degrade.
Fur – Medium soft to hard, very long, lank, never parted and showing the form of the dog in spite of good under-hair. The fur is always lank, slightly curled hair is allowed, but locks or rolling hair are rejectable. At the throat and at the chest, the Leonberger has fancy manes.
Principal Faults – Bright eyes, “bird of prey” eyes. Much white (large white spot on the chest, white at the paws). Clearly rolling hair. Strongly curling tail. Very shy and malicious animals. Very incorrect position of the legs. Males without two visible testicles. Too prominent upper and lower teeth and other faulty dentures. The grown-dog has 42 teeth. Brown fore-nose, brown pads and brown lips.
Disqualifications – Brown pads on feet.
