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LEONBERGER |
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Mayor Heinrich
Essig created the Leonberger in the 1840s to honor his German town. He
wanted to produce a noble dog close in appearance to the lion in the Leonberg
town crest. The monks at St. Bernard cooperated and encouraged him by
sending some dogs for use in his breeding experiments. This proved to
have a twofold benefit as the breeding program at the monastery had suffered
severe setbacks from distemper outbreaks, as well as decreased vigor due
to prolonged inbreeding. Some of Herr Essig's crosses were returned later
to the monastery and incorporated into the monks' breeding program.
In the 1840s,
Essig began by crossing a Land-seer Newfoundland with a St. Bernard, then
backcrossed to a Great Pyrenees. The results were large, strong dogs that
quickly gained popularity as working animals and a leonine status symbol
for the city of Leonberg and surrounding estates.
It is probable
another solid-colored dog was incorporated into the base stock, as the
Land-seer and Saint are both particolored, and major white markings
on the Leonberger are now undesirable. Conjecture has pointed to German
or Austrian scenthounds, Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs or Kuvaszok contributing
to the formation of the modern Leonberger.
The Leonberger
displayed attributes from his progenitors: affection for people, great
size, working aptitude, majestic appearance and, from the Newfoundland,
his love for water. These qualities attracted attention from German
breeders and from Austria's Empress Elizabeth, who quickly acquired
one. There followed a parade of illustrious owners: the Prince of Wales,
the King of Belgium, a Russian czar, Chancellor Otto Furst von Bismarck,
Emperor Napoleon III, German composer Richard Wagner and Italian patriot
Giuseppe Garibaldi.
The World
Wars were devastating to the Leonberger. With owners barely able to
obtain food for themselves and their families, feeding giant animals
was out of the question. Breeders fled or were killed, leaving the dogs
to fend for themselves and, in some instances, the animals themselves
were slain. At the end of WWI, only five dogs remained, and these were
carefully nurtured and bred from until WWII, when the devastation struck
again, leaving but eight Leonbergers to be found. Five litters were
bred in 1945, resulting in 22 puppies. The following year, only 17 puppies
survived. According to a present owner, it has taken 25 years to re-establish
the breed.
While still
considered a rare breed, the Leonberger is gaining ground and serves
as a rescue dog and family watchdog, as well as companion. These dogs
enjoy water—playing with it, being in it, or just lying in a child's
wading pool, if there is no alternative. They even blow bubbles in
their water bowls! The "Gentle Lion" is fascinated by and
genial with small creatures—dogs, other animals and especially children.
Most, given a choice, would prefer to be with children over anything
else. Give them kids and a pool and they are in dog heaven! They will
stand and watch for hours beside a playpen in utter contentment.
Due to the
dogs' size and strength, owners stress the importance of human companionship
and the need for early training, or you'll find yourself telling a
new version of the old joke: Where does a 150-pound Leonberger sleep?
. . . Anywhere he wants!
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