Leonberger Breed Magazine - Showsight

A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO OWNING A LEONBERGER

BY SHANNON WHITE

W hat are Leonbergers like to live with? Back in the days before the Internet put the whole world at our fingertips, the process of learn- ing about a breed of dog was a different adventure than it is now. Nowadays, a simple Internet search will yield literally millions of hits about Leonbergers. Finding information about a Leonberger these days is so much easier than it was when I first started looking into the breed that the chances of getting inaccurate or misleading information is also much higher. So, what are Leonbergers actually like to live with? This is a very good question. The AKC website and the Leonberger Club of America’s website both have very good basic information about Leon- bergers, including a good description of their size and general temperament, and various health issues to keep in mind when considering the breed. My goal with this article is to address in a bit more detail some of the important considerations to keep in mind if you are thinking of adding a Leonberger to your home. My goal is to make you aware of the details you might not see in an advertisement—the nitty gritty of this big, hairy, enthusiastic, and athletic breed that I love so much. Ask any longtime Leonberger owner and you will likely hear a fair amount of not-so-glowing details sprinkled in with the wonderful aspects. This is because, while we love and adore our breed, we also know it is not for everyone. And we know it is important for people just starting their inquiries to hear a bal- anced representation. We hear questions like, “Are they good with children?” and “How are they with other dogs?” These are understandable questions, but Leonbergers are complex living creatures, not factory-stamped, totally-predictable machines. Also, some of the terminology used to describe a dog might vary quite a bit from person to person. So, let’s get down to the basics. In general, Leonbergers tend to be fond of children, and they tend to get along well with other dogs, cats, etc., in gen- eral. Another example is that they are easy to train. Well, yes and no. The Leonberger comes from flock guardian ancestry, which typically tend to think for themselves and make deci- sions based on the situation. The Leonberger is not as indepen- dent and/or aloof as many flock guardian breeds, and they do tend to be more extroverted. Most of them are very confident and outgoing, and friendly. Most of them do learn new skills very quickly, and their lack of specialized purpose in their cre- ation makes them quite versatile. But they may well respond to training with a bit of, “I hear what you’re saying, but what about this instead?”

256 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, MAY 2022

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