Breed Priorities – Leonberger

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258 – June, 2026

 By Nikki Riggsbee

Heinrich Essig, a businessman and politician, developed the Leonberger in his home town of Leonberg, Germany, in the 19th century. It was developed primarily to be a companion and to resemble the image of a lion on the town’s crest. Essig claimed that different colored St. Bernards and a Pyrenean Mountain Dog were used to develop the Leonberger. Later, Essig’s nephew bred Leonbergers that were of tawny colors with black masks that are seen in the modern breed.

World War I nearly caused the extinction of the Leonberger in Germany. After the war, five individuals were used to revive the breed. Some reduced breeding continued during World War II. After that war, the German Leonberger club was formed, and a breed standard was written.

There was a record of Leonbergers in the United States after World War I, but none survived the depression. The breed arrived again from Germany in 1975-1985. In 2003, they began registration in AKC’s Foundation Stock Services, and started participation in Miscellaneous in 2008. In 2010, they joined the Working group with full recognition.

Thirty-one Leonberger experts were invited to take a survey on their priorities when evaluating the breed for conformation. Sixteen agreed to participate; one declined. Fourteen completed surveys were received. Those who contributed average more than thirty-one years in the breed. Ten of those are judges have been approved to do so for more than fourteen years on average. Several have judged the Leonberger national specialty and other breed specialties.

Leonberger Virtues

Click here to read the complete article
258 – June, 2026

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