Have you ever heard of a Leonberger? Bred to look like a lion by the citizens of Leonberg, Germany, the Leonberger is quickly growing in popularity around the world. The best records indicate the Leonberger was declared in 1846 as a legitimate breed by entrepreneurial dog owner/trader Heinrich Essig. It is said that Essig paid much attention to marketing and vision when it came to trading canines, but lacked a knack for keeping in touch with the details. Obviously these days marketers have slews of programs and methodologies for tracking information and data related to the products and services they promote, but back in the day people like Essig just had to wing it!
The Leonberger is thought to have come about by the cross breeding of many large dogs including the St. Bernard, Pyrenean Mountain, and Landseer dogs. Dog-enthusiasts familiar with these dogs will understand that the combination of these breeds would yield a dog that is white, black, or brown. Well, it is obvious, due to the signature golden brown color of the Leonberger today, that other breeds were involved in the creation of the eventual Leonberger.
Regardless of the confusion as to how the Leonberger breed came about, its history is quite fascinating. Because of Essig's marketing skill, and his family's support in training and maintaining his kennel, the early Leonbergers became very popular and were shipped all around the world to high-paying dog enthusiasts. Reports claim Leonbergers were prizes of royalty and were pets of "Empress Elizabeth of Austria, the Prince of Wales, Emperor Napoleon II, Garibaldi, the King of Belgium, Bismarck, King Umberto of Italy, and the Czar of Russia. They were exported as far away as the United States, England, Newfoundland, and Japan to the wealthy who desired large fashionable dogs." http://www.leonbergerclubofamerica.com/breedhistory.aspx
The Leonberger is thought to have come about by the cross breeding of many large dogs including the St. Bernard, Pyrenean Mountain, and Landseer dogs. Dog-enthusiasts familiar with these dogs will understand that the combination of these breeds would yield a dog that is white, black, or brown. Well, it is obvious, due to the signature golden brown color of the Leonberger today, that other breeds were involved in the creation of the eventual Leonberger.
Regardless of the confusion as to how the Leonberger breed came about, its history is quite fascinating. Because of Essig's marketing skill, and his family's support in training and maintaining his kennel, the early Leonbergers became very popular and were shipped all around the world to high-paying dog enthusiasts. Reports claim Leonbergers were prizes of royalty and were pets of "Empress Elizabeth of Austria, the Prince of Wales, Emperor Napoleon II, Garibaldi, the King of Belgium, Bismarck, King Umberto of Italy, and the Czar of Russia. They were exported as far away as the United States, England, Newfoundland, and Japan to the wealthy who desired large fashionable dogs." http://www.leonbergerclubofamerica.com/breedhistory.aspx
The Leonberger is truly an extraordinary breed. Throughout the years it has almost become extinct twice, the most dangerous time being that of WWI when two men, Herr Stadelmann and Herr Otto Josenhans, scoured Germany for Leonbergers and found only 25. Of the 25, only 5 were suitable for breeding. From these 5 the breed developed into what it was today. Leonberger clubs and organization have fostered the lifeblood of the breed, including the most prominent Deutsche Club für Leonberger Hunde. From this and other organizations specific breed characteristics have been nailed down in order to ensure the unmuddied continuation of the breed.
Today Leonberger clubs are all over the world and owners get together exclusively to meet and let their dogs "do their thang". To read more about Leonbergers visit http://www.leonbergerclubofamerica.com/ . There you can learn all about this wonderful dog breed and how it is growing in popularity.
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