GENERAL APPEARANCE

The Leonberger is a calm, non-aggressive, large, muscular, and elegant dog with a proud head carriage. He has a balanced rectangular build and is distinguished by a black mask and double coat. Adult males, in particular, are large and strong and carry a lion-like mane on the neck and chest. A dog or bitch should be easily discernable as such. For its size, the Leonberger is light on its feet and graceful in motion. The Leonberger must always be shown naturally, with no alterations of coat, except for neatening of feet.

True to his original purpose as a family and farm dog, today’s Leonberger excels at a wide variety of tasks, the most important of which is a reliable and friendly family companion. The Leonberger is vigilant, obedient and confident in all situations. He exudes good-natured alertness, depicting his intelligence and vigor.

SIZE, PROPORTION, SUBSTANCE

Size: Measured at the withers, the male is 28 to 31.5 inches in height (30 inches preferred), and the female is 25.5 inches to 29.5 inches (27.5 inches preferred). Weight is in proportion to the overall size and structure. If proportion, substance, and balance are present, a slight deviation above standard is tolerated. Under height is a severe fault. The minimum height does not apply to any Leonberger under 12 months of age. Proportion: The Leonberger has a rectangular and balanced build. Desired proportion of height at withers to length of body is 9 to 10. Height is measured at the withers; body length is measured from point of shoulder to point of buttocks. The depth of chest is ideally 50 percent of the height at withers. The angulation of front and rear quarters is in balance. Overall balance and proportion are equally as important as size.
Substance: Bone is substantial and in proportion to size of body, medium to heavy, with sufficient muscle to support frame.

Severe Fault – Size - Under height.
Fault – Substance - Lack of bone or substance, or the opposite, overly heavy and massive.

HEAD

The head is deeper than it is broad. The ratio of length of muzzle to length of skull is about 1 to 1. Skin is close fitting with no wrinkles. Cheeks are only slightly developed. Males have a strong masculine head without being blocky, whereas female heads express femininity.
Expression/Mask: A good-natured expression is required. Face is covered with a black mask that extends up and over the eyes. A lesser mask is acceptable, but not desirable.
Eyes: Dark brown is preferred over light. Eyes are medium size, almond shaped, neither deep-set nor protruding, neither too close together nor too wide apart. Eyelids are close fitting, not showing any haw. The white of the eye not reddened.
Ears: When alert, ears are level with top of skull and set slightly forward. Ears are of medium size, fleshy, hanging flat and close to the head, triangular and pendant. Tip of ears are level with inside corners of the mouth.
Skull: As seen from the front and in profile, skull is slightly arched. Back skull is slightly longer than wide. Width of back skull is only slightly broader than it is at the eyes.
Stop: Clearly recognizable and moderately defined.
Muzzle: Rather long, never running to a point, nasal bridge of even breadth, slightly arched (Roman nose), never dipped. The jaw should remain broad and strong between the canines.
Planes: As seen from the side, the planes of muzzle and skull are parallel.
Nose: Large with clearly outlined nostrils, always black.
Lips: Flews should be black in color, close fitting, with corners of lips closed, dry. Some de-pigmentation due to aging is acceptable. Drooling or wet mouth is a severe fault.
Teeth/Bite: Complete dentition of 42 teeth (20 upper, 22 lower), strong, correctly placed, meeting in a correct scissors bite, lower incisors touching inside of upper incisors. Missing M3s are permissible. A level bite is accepted. Dropped lower incisors, in an otherwise normal bite, are not indicative of a skeletal malocclusion and should be considered only a minor deviation. One or more missing teeth, other than M3s is a fault so severe as to remove from consideration.
Severe Fault - Lips - Drooling or wet mouth. Teeth/Bite - Missing teeth other than M3s.
Disqualification - Eyes - Entropion or ectropion eyelids. Teeth/Bite - Overshot, undershot (when incisors do not touch or mesh); wry mouth

NECK, TOPLINE, BODY

Neck: Muscular, well set on shoulders, long enough for a proud head carriage, blends smoothly into withers. No dewlap.
Topline: Withers set above a firm level back. Rump not overbuilt.
Body: Chest, broad, roomy, and deep, reaching at least to the level of the elbows, pro-sternum easily felt. Fore and rear quarters well muscled. Ribs: Well-sprung, oval.
Underline: Only slightly tucked up.
Loin: Broad, strong and well muscled.
Croup: Broad, relatively long, gently sloped, flowing smoothly into root of tail. A short, level croup is a fault.
Tail: While standing relaxed, tail hangs straight down with the last vertebrae reaching to or below the hock. In movement, tail is ideally carried no higher than the level of the back, with a curve up at the end permitted. An exuberant tail carriage, though higher than ideal, should not be confused with an incorrectly placed tail.

Fault – Short, level croup.
Severe Fault - Tail consistently curled over the back, making a wheel.

FOREQUARTERS

Shoulder Angulation: Well laid-back and well muscled, the shoulder meets the upper arm at approximately a right angle (90-degrees) allowing for excellent reach. Shoulder and upper arm, rather long and about equal in length.
Elbows: Close to body, neither in nor out when standing or gaiting.
Forelegs: Well-boned, muscular, straight and parallel to each other.
Pasterns: Strong, firm and straight when viewed from front, slightly sloping when viewed from side.
Dewclaws: Usually present.
Feet: Turn neither in nor out, rounded, tight, toes well arched (cat foot), pads always black.

HINDQUARTERS

Angulation: In balance with forequarters. The rear assembly is powerful, muscular and well-boned.
Legs: Viewed from the rear, the legs are straight and parallel, with stifles and paws turned neither in nor out, placed widely enough apart to match a properly built body.
Thighs: Upper and lower of equal length, slanting and strongly muscled.
Stifles: Angle clearly defined.
Hocks: Strong, moderately angled and well-let down.
Dewclaws: Rear dewclaws may be present.
Feet: Turned neither in nor out, but may be slightly elongated compared to forefeet. Toes arched, pads always black.

COAT

Leonbergers have a medium to long, water resistant, double coat on the body and short fine hair on the muzzle and front of limbs. Outer coat is medium-soft to coarse and lies flat. It is straight, with some wave permitted. Mature males carry a mane, which extends over neck and chest. The undercoat is soft and dense, although it may be less so in summer months or warmer climates. In spite of the double coat, the outline of the body should always be recognizable. Leonbergers have distinct feathering on backside of forelegs and ample feathering on breeches. Tail is very well furnished. Females are less likely to carry a coat as long as males and this disparity must not be a consideration when judged against the male.

Leonbergers are presented naturally and untrimmed. No scissoring is allowed with the exception of trimming excess hair on toes for neatness. Any other trimming or shaping of the coat is penalized to the extent that it is effectively eliminated from competition.

Fault – Parted or curly coat.

COLOR

Coat colors are lion-yellow, golden to red and red-brown, also sand colored (cream, pale yellow) and all combinations thereof, always with a black mask. All colors may have black tips (some with long black tips) on the outer coat. All coat colors are accompanied by a lighter colored undercoat and feathering which blends well with the dominant body color.  A small stripe or white patch on the chest, and some white on toes is acceptable. 

Disqualification - Any coat color other than those listed; white extending to pasterns; or, white on chest exceeding 5 inches in width.

GAIT

The Leonberger has a ground-covering, even and balanced gait. The stride is powerful, easy, free and elastic, with good reach and strong drive giving the impression of effortless power. In motion, the Leonberger maintains a level topline.

Viewed from the front and from behind, forelegs and hind legs travel straight. As the dog’s speed increases, the legs tend to converge toward the centerline. Essential to sound movement is the balance of correct front and rear assemblies and anatomically correct overall structure.

TEMPERAMENT

The friendly, gentle character and even temperament of the Leonberger is of utmost importance for fulfilling his role as a family companion. He is self-assured and calm, with a steady, playful demeanor. He is willing to please and possesses a good capacity for learning. The Leonberger shows a marked friendliness towards children and is at ease in all situations, never showing fear, shyness or aggression.

FAULTS

Any deviation from these specifications is a fault. In determining whether a fault is minor, serious, or major, these two factors should be used as a guide:
Deviation - The extent to which it deviates from the standard;
and Impact - The extent to which such deviation would actually affect the Leonberger’s ability to fulfill its role as a family companion or multi-purpose working dog.

DISQUALIFICATIONS

• Eyes - Entropion or ectropion eyelids

• Teeth/Bite – Overshot, undershot (when incisors do not touch or mesh); wry mouth

• Color - Coat colors other than those listed, white extending to pasterns; or, on chest, that exceeds 5 inches in width