Leonberger

Dog breeder form Leon berg, Germany, Heinrich Essig, was the first one who originally bred the Leonberger breed of dogs and thus the dog derives its name from him. These dogs were originally used for the purpose of protecting the livestock and also for the purpose of pulling loads in West Germany as well as other countries in Europe. These dogs were one of those breeds of dogs that were very seriously affected by the World War 1. It is said that only a hand full of 5 dogs of this breed were able to survive the war. Until the break out of World War 2, they were bred properly. However after the World War 2 broke out, their numbers reduced again and they almost reached the state of extinction. Again only a handful of dogs survived the war. However today the numbers of these dogs have raised gain, but it is said that all the dogs existing today, trace their ancestry to eight dogs that were able to survive the war.

These dogs are very large and extremely strong dogs. This is why they were used for the purpose of pulling loads. The most prominent feature of these dogs would be their characteristic black mask. These dogs have the main purpose of guarding live stock, tracking and obedience as well. These dogs are very versatile and this is proved by the fact that they have come out successful in many endeavors they are made to face. In Germany, their native country, these dogs are also used in search and rescue missions. They have also built up a pretty good reputation of being a very good water rescue dog.

Its toes are naturally webbed and this is the reason why they are great swimmers. The webbing helps them swim better and faster. These dogs are mild mannered, calm and friendly dogs. These dogs come in a variety of colors, some of them being, tawny or reddish brown. They may or may not have a black tipped hair on their outer coat. They may also have a little white patch on the tip on their paws. They have a water proof double coat. During the time of heavy shedding, they need to be regularly brushed and washed.

These dogs are very lively and loving and have a very sweet nature. These dogs usually tend to love everybody around them. They are also known to be steadfast, calm and stable. Their intelligence level is just extra ordinary and their love and loyalty for their family is unparalleled. These dogs have a very friendly personality and thus do very well with children. These dogs have a lot of patience and thus are suited well even for the obnoxious of all children. When they are faced with a very intense situation, these dogs choose to just walk away rather than show any aggression and pick a fight. As these dogs do not respond well when treated in harsh ways, they require a very calm and a friendly owner.