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| What's it like living with a Leonberger? So what is living with a Leonberger like? Like other breeds, they have specific needs in order to live a happy, healthy life. They are very family oriented and do not do well as totally outside dogs. They grow quickly. When you get your puppy at 8 weeks he’ll weigh around 20 lbs. By 8 mos. he may be hitting 100 lbs. That means genetics, proper diet and proper exercise are critical to becoming a structurally sound adult. You don’t need 10 acres to own a Leo, but they are not a good choice for a smaller home or small suburban backyard. An acre minimum can meet their exercise needs. Walks don't count as exercise, just socialization. This is not a sedate breed like a Newf. An under-exercised or bored Leonberger will become destructive and can do an unbelievable amount of damage to your home. Walks are important for socialization, but your Leo needs to be able to stretch out and run full out so it can develop muscle memory. Just running in a circle, as in a small yard, will never develop the reach and drive the dog is meant to have. Dog parks are not a great choice as they are “Petri dishes of disease”, as our vet describes them, when the puppies are young their soft cartilage and loose joints can be easily hurt running with larger and older dogs, and an un-neutered teenager is going to get into trouble if you turn him loose in a dog park. Muscle memory comes with running experience, and is crucial to a sound, skeletal structure. Leos are great family dogs if they are taught to have manners and get enough exercise. If you want a high scoring, precise, robatic breed like the Shelties and the Goldens, this isn't what you are looking for. They train easily but are sensitive and also get bored with repetition. Expect good manners and basic obedience - no jumping, sitting and lying down, staying, coming 90% of the time but don't expect exactness and love of pleasing you you would get with a performance breed because you will be disappointed. Most are quite tolerant of children if introduced properly to them as puppies. A Leo puppy may not be appropriate for very small children due to the puppy’s sheer exuberance and strength combined with a it's lack of common sense in conjunction with the large size! No matter how sweet, no dog should ever be left unsupervised with children. An older, more settled dog may be a better bet for little ones and also for senior citizens. All puppies are time consuming, act like puppies, and may get lost in the shuffle of a busy household. You’ll need to start behavior training when you get your puppy home. Be sure you have the time for formal training and socialization as they are critical to a controlled and steady temperament in an adult. A new puppy needs as much constant attention as a baby does for the first few months. Although they get big quickly, Leos are physically and mentally a slow maturing breed (about 3 years) and if left to their own devices before they are mature, they are quite capable of digging up down spouts, dismantling firewood piles, taking molding off of doorways and eating remote controls! They are large and energetic dogs, capable of destroying things in a large and energetic way if they do not get appropriate physical and mental stimulation. Living with a Leo means the humans have to be pack leaders, not littermates. They are not a good choice for a first time dog owner. Living with a Leo also means, like its forebears, the dog will wander unless you have an appropriate sized enclosed yard. Tying a dog is never an option. A Leo can hang its head over a 4’ fence; 5'-6’ is more appropriate. I’m not a proponent of invisible fences for a variety of reasons but, if you are in a situation that does not allow traditional fencing, you might consider planting a small hedge right outside of the invisible fence for a visual boundary and to prevent teasing by people walking past. It will not contain an intact male if there is a bitch in season within three miles and an intact female will not be safe for six weeks out of the year if she is outside alone in that type of enclosure, and your dog can be stolen easily. If you have less than an acre of securely fenced property and you are not committed to taking your dog running daily, in good weather and bad, you might want to consider a smaller, less active breed. We do not sell puppies to homes without appropriate fencing. Living with a Leo means owning a natural watchdog if they have been properly socialized off of your property and are well exercised. Most are discriminating barkers if they are not bored or left alone too long. While Leos are social, some Leos prefer to stick with their own pack and some mature Leos will not get along with strange adult dogs coming into their home turf. Their roots are flock guardians and those roots tell them that strange dogs could be wolves. They are not programmed to invite them in for tea! Intact males and females may also not appreciate same sex intact dogs. Their attitude towards humans though is usually very sociable and tolerant. There will be a lot of work and patience on your part in order for him to develop into a controlled, confident, well-mannered adult. Although they may look like teddy bears, they are not. Leos are not a “just add water,” breed. They are smart and need consistent and loving leadership.
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| 18900 Chamberlain Rd. Grafton, OH 44044 | 440-926-2801 | cherrywoodleos@yahoo.com |