In recent news at the annual Westminster dog show, Dario the Leonberger failed miserably to obey his owner; however, he put the less-known Leonberger dog breed on the map. He was supposed to trot by his handler’s side and act on his best behavior, but like any growing and hungry dog, he attacked his handler’s pocket in the pursuit of food.
Dario latched his jaws onto the pocket and refused to let go, horrifying the handler and entertaining the audience. Personally, I find him to be a smart, ambitious dog with clear priorities (treats, of course). Watching this epic failure of dog obedience led me to reflect on my very own occasionally obedient, enormous Leonberger dog.
My family used to think our yellow lab was a big dog. One year ago, we found ourselves intrigued by a Leonberger puppy for sale that, at eight weeks old, already had paws the size of an adult dog. As puppies are obviously irresistible, we went home with a small bundle of fluff in our arms. With food, water, and plenty of love, she has grown to be an absolute giant. The size of her frame matches her heart. She is the most loving, cuddly creature I’ve ever encountered. A quick note to future large breed dog owners: carry your puppy around as much as you can for the first couple weeks. At their rapid growth rate, being able to scoop your pup up won’t last long.
My Leonberger, Hildie, is the definition of a gentle giant. She underestimates her own size and identifies herself as a lap dog, even though she weighs in at a whopping 120 lbs. She is way too comfortable curling up in anyone’s lap even though she’s potentially crushing their crucial limbs. I’d most closely compare her to a teddy bear come to life. Hildie uses her endearing appearance to her advantage; she knows that she is cute and she knows everyone thinks she’s cute. We tried to teach her the “paw” command as a trick, but she took the praise to her head and now constantly slaps us with a large paw in hopes of a good head scratch. She’ll walk up to people and place her large, oven-mitt sized paw in their lap, indicating her desire for attention which she, or course, receives constantly.
If anyone is looking for a furry companion and has room in their house for a dog the size of three, a Leonburger is the way to go. Hildie is practical for many reasons, including the fact that she doubles as both a blanket and pillow. She shows her affection through kisses and is generous to give them even when you’re taking a nap on the couch with no desire to be licked in the face. How sweet.
As with any intriguing large breed dog, Leonbergers are an inevitable social connection. People find it impossible to pass by her without ogling, hugging, and taking pictures with her. If you own a Leonberger and suspect that your pet has more friends than you, remain calm. This is natural. Hildie receives celebrity-like attention and has more friends than most humans ever will; the children that live across the street wave to her every morning as if she could respond. Her mild disposition allows her to be trustworthy and gentle with people of all ages, including little kids who get right up in her fuzzy face and tug on her velvet ears.
In essence, I think Leonburgers make the ideal companion. I’ve noticed that mine leads a perfectly balanced lifestyle. Despite a less than agile appearance, Hildie happily hikes for hours and carries great endurance under all of that fur. That being said, she appreciates coming home and pigging out on a huge amount of kibble, followed by flopping down on the floor and napping. On the subject of sleep, Leonburgers strangely prefer to sleep upside down in the most contorted positions imaginable. Nevertheless, she ultimately embodies everyone’s ideal lifestyle. If you’re on the pursuit for a massive dog with the sweetest temperament, I highly recommend a Leonburger and can speak from personal experience on the joy she brings.
(Seen above: Hildie peacefully sleeping)