Our ideas on breeding Leonbergers

In general

Good breeders are people who like dogs. They care for their well-being and feel responsible for them as fellow creatures. They may favour one particular breed and endeavour to

a.       a.       learn as much about this breed as they possibly can

b.       b.      live together with one, two  or several canine individuals

c.        c.      breed from them by having a litter from time to time having planned the parentage very carefully

with the aim of improving the quality of the breed in the true sense of the word: preserving what we know to be good and trying to improve.

The breed

Keeping a Leonberger means nothing more for us than having a family dog that lives in and with the family as a fully accepted member (and not outside alone in a kennel no matter how large the garden or yard may be). In our estimation and experience it is only in this way that a Leonberger can develop its true character and the qualities for which the breed is famous and well-loved.

A Leonberger makes an ideal family pet thanks to its generous and loving nature towards humans whether they be babies or senior citizens and its ability to get along well with other house pets.

It is essential therefore that  your Leonberger should get used to family life as early as possible (including noise levels!)

Unfortunately like all purebred canines our lovable giants are also susceptible sometimes to certain ailments and illnesses. Before thinking of breeding therefore, they should always undergo all the recommended health tests.

The following tests are to our mind absolutely necessary:

 HD and ED-Xray as well as T3-T4-blood tests to make sure the thyroid gland is functioning as it should.

The following tests would be ideal:

HD-ED-Xrays, T3-T4-Test (possibly a complete blood examination), testing the heart (ultrasonic or Xray) as well as eye tests (for entropion, ectropion, cataract) and a possible examination of the nervous system (proper function of all nervous reflexes).

While these tests cannot guarantee healthy offspring, they do make it far more likely.

Whereas it would be too much of a risk to give any kind of guarantee – we are after all not clairvoyants – being in a position to prove that the parents have undergone these tests successfully  is a wise and sensible move.

Since the Leonberger, being one of the giant breeds, requires time to reach full maturity,  breeding should never be considered until the age of two years. And should any dog need more time, then it should of course be granted to them.

No female should have more than three litters in her lifetime. This we consider responsible and the best way to ensure birth without complications and a healthy litter of puppies afterwards. Should problems occur such as weak contractions or lack of maternal instinct, then in our opinion the bitch should not be used for any further breeding.

 It is very important that enough time be left between litters  (around 18 months – even if the litter was a small one). Having one litter per year is  - at least in our opinion - enough, since all the preparations (health tests, choice of sire, collecting information on the future owners of the puppies etc.) take a considerable amount of time and we would like to enjoy the puppies together with their mother and get to know the future owners’ families better.  6 months are soon past.

We plan our litters so that they are born in the period between the end of March and the end of August and can leave us by the beginning of November at the latest. During winter it could probably be difficult for us to arrange all those things necessary for the socialisation process (visits to kindergarten, schools etc.). Rearing puppies in spring and summer on the other hand means that we conform well with nature. 

New owners for puppies – finding the right people is easily one of the most difficult tasks of all! It would be ideal if we could get to know them in advance well before the puppies are born.

It is our fundamental aim to find the best possible and longest lasting relationships for our puppies. So we would like to ask all prospective new owners to complete our questionnaire. This will help enormously in making sure we find the right combinations!

Anyone who is not prepared to spare the time to help us in this way or is not willing to answer our questions – would – we have to say it – do better looking elsewhere.

Our puppies are given to their future owners at the age of 8 – 9 weeks together with