Leonberger

The Leonberger is Kennel Club registered and first appeared in Leonberg, Germany in 1846 when Herr Heinrich Essig attempted to create a dog that is similar in looks to a lion, which is a coat-of-arms animal of Leonberg. It is believed to be a cross between the Newfoundland, Saint Bernard and Pyrenean Mount Dog, which resulted in a huge dog with a long white coat and an even temperament. The Leonberger became a popular dog in several European royal households that included Napoleon II, Prince of Wales, Umberto I of Italy and Empress Elizabeth of Austria-Hungary.

Although Essig named and registered the first Leonberger, records suggest that a breed similar to Leonberger dogs have existed back in 1601 owned by the Metternich family. During World War I, there were only five Leonbergers left so two Leonberger enthusiasts, Stadelmann and Josenhans committed to reviving the breed through its breeding program, which was later taken over by the German government. Again, it almost went extinct during the World War II when the breed was utilised to pull ammunition carts, of which only eight dogs survived to contribute to the modern Leonbergers of today.

The Leonberger is a handsome and stunning working dog with a massive size of 120 to 170 pounds and 65 to 80 centimetres. Its distinct feature is its mane similar to that of a lion for which it was initially bred to resemble. Leonbergers have a well-proportioned head that is well-balanced to the rest of the body. They have a moderate stop and a nice black nose with a tapering muzzle. This impressive dog has medium-size, oval-shaped eyes that show a kind and intelligent expression. It has moderately large ears set high and often hanging close to the side of the head.

The Leonberger wears a double coat with a rough topcoat and soft, denser undercoat. Often the coat can have a slight wave, especially the chest and neck where an abundant hair is present resembling a lion's mane. The coat always comes with a black mask with main coat colours of yellowish brown, gold, red or reddish brown.

Leonbergers shed moderately and more twice a year. Its loads of fur will require a thorough brushing once a week. Bathing can be done as necessary.

Aside from coat care, other grooming aspects must not be disregarded. As with all dogs, brushing the teeth is necessary to prevent tooth and gum disease and bad breath. Ears should be thoroughly checked for any signs of infection such as redness, warmth and bad odour. Clean the ears with a vet-approved solution. Nails can be trimmed when you start hearing clicking sounds on the floorboards, which means they have grown too long.

Getting on well with children, the Leonberger has an unusual amount of patience. However, it is best to make sure playtime is well supervised to so the dog does not unnecessarily knock over toddlers. Its massive size can also be a bit scary to small children, so it is preferable to have the Leonberger around older children instead.

When it comes to other dogs, it gets on well with them especially when it has been well socialised at a young age. However, care must be taken when the Leonberger is around small animals as it will not hesitate to give chase.

• Senior and less active: up to 2525 calories daily
• Typical adults: up to 2840 calories daily
• Physically active/working dogs: up to 3150 calories daily

Owning a dog can be a bit financially challenging. Not only do you shell out money to buy a Leonberger puppy (£500 to £1,000), you also need to consider other costs in raising it properly. For instance, you need to avail of a pet insurance premium (£50 to £100 a month) to make sure you are financially able to provide health care for certain illnesses.

Food (£60 to £70 a month) is also a huge factor that can be a financial constraint since the Leonberger is not exactly a small dog. Other than those mentioned, veterinary care especially check-ups for preventive measures and other basic procedures will likely cost you £1,200 a year. In a rough estimate, a Leonberger is as much a financial commitment as it is an emotional one, which will set you back at least £110 a month. So if you're keen to buy a Leonberger, make sure you have the budget for at least 10 years.