The Majestic Leonberger

With a lineage steeped in history, the Leonberger breed has captured the hearts of dog lovers around the world. Originating in Germany, these gentle giants were bred for their impressive size, strength, and friendly disposition. Their unique blend of loyalty, intelligence, and playful spirit makes them not just pets, but cherished family members. Discover why the Leonberger is more than just a breed; it's a legacy of love and companionship.

Gentle Giants

Leonbergers are known for their impressive size and strength, but their gentle temperament makes them perfect family companions. With a friendly disposition, they are great with children and other pets, embodying the ideal balance of power and affection.

Striking Appearance

With their luxurious, water-resistant coats and distinctive lion-like mane, Leonbergers are truly a sight to behold. Their majestic stature, combined with expressive eyes and a proud gait, makes them stand out in any setting.

History of the

Leonberger Breed

The early history of the Leonberger breed revolves around Heinrich

Essig (1809-1887) a successful businessman, politician, alderman

and prominent citizen of Leonberg, a town outside Stuttgart in southern Germany. A well-

known animal trader, he bred and sold many dogs over a period of 50 years. His dogs were

known throughout Europe for their stable, affable temperaments, soundness, vigor, aesthetic

balance, harmonic proportions and imposing size. They were exported by Essig to the United

States, Canada and as far away as Japan. At Essig’s death, his nephew took over the breeding

of the dogs and refined the Leonberger, creating a breed that was consistently representative

of the tawny colored, black masked dogs that characterize the Leonberger today. Albert Kull,

president of one of the early breed clubs was also a popular artist with an eye for detail. He

developed the first Leonberger standard in 1895, forming the foundation for all subsequent

Leonberger standards. Kull’s work did much to establish the credibility of the breed, helping the

Leonberger to flourish.

During WWI, the Leonberger was all but obliterated, but in 1922 two businessmen from

Leonberg, Karl Stadelmann and Otto Josenhans, revived the breed. Through their breeding

cooperative, enough dogs were produced to provide foundation stock to several new kennels.

Stadelmann created the first Leonberger Studbook, which continues uninterrupted to this day.

Despite the devastation of WWII, Leonbergers were bred and shown in Reich-sponsored events.

In 1948, the current German Leonberger Club replaced the club that had represented the breed

throughout the era. Under the guidance of Robert Beutelspacher, the first modern standard and

breeding regulations were written for the breed. In 1975, the German Club brought Leonberger

breed clubs from the major European nations together and founded the International Union of

Leonberger Clubs.

The Leonberger Club of America was founded in 1985 to protect and promote the breed in

North America. The LCA was granted associate membership in the International Leonberger

Union in 1990 and became a full member in 1996. The Union now meets annually in Leonberg

with other clubs from around the world to discuss the health and future of the breed.

A carefully managed breeding program with rigorous breeding regulations and an independent

Registry was maintained by the LCA from 1985 to 2007 when the breed was accepted into the

AKC, with full recognition as part of the AKC Working Group coming in 2010.

The Standard contained in this book was originally approved by the AKC Board of Directors in

October 2009, with updates approved in 2016. It is the official AKC Standard for the Leonberger

breed and has been written following AKC guidelines, while maintaining the breed’s true-to-

type look as defined in its land of origin.