Appearance

The Leonberger is a large and muscular dog. The body is well boned with a broad chest, a strong and level topline, straight and muscular legs and a low-set, long bushy tail. The broad head has a strong, square muzzle with a black mask, dark eyes and ears that hang close to the sides of the head. The water-resistant double coat consists of a soft and dense undercoat and a straight, close fitting topcoat. The coloring varies but tends to be reddish-brown or sandy.

History

By crossing several large breeds (like the Saint Bernard and the Newfoundland), a 19th-century German breeder named Heinrich Essig wanted to create a unique dog to promote his hometown of Leonberg. These big, beautiful canines became known as Leonbergers, and they became instantly popular with European and Russian royals.