Owning and living with a Leonberger is a commitment that should not be taken lightly. Before you purchase your new Leonberger puppy, please take the time to research the breed thoroughly and be a responsible and educated buyer. Because Leonbergers are fast becoming a popular breed, it is now easier than ever to find a Leonberger puppy in Ireland. Little or no attention is being paid to the fact that this over breeding of the Leonberger in Ireland could see our wonderful breed end up in rehoming situations or, worse still, end up in puppy farms/mills.
All reputable breeders will have waiting lists and will never email or telephone newcomers in the hope of pushing them into taking a pup. Breeders should not ask you for a deposit to hold a puppy. A reputable breeder will point out all the drawbacks to owning a giant, powerful, hairy, forever hungry, wet, muddy, jumping, climbing, destroying, cheeky, attention seeking, costly, loving, huggable, adorable dog.
The Leonberger will need you to care for it for all of it's life. You cannot bin him when the novelty wears off. Do not feel you have wasted the breeder's time if you decide to pull out of a puppy waiting list. The words "time wasters" are words used only by desperate breeders. You have made a honest decision for yourself and the dog. The Leonberger is not a rare breed now and there are plenty puppies available all the time.
Beware of Leonberger breeders who sell their litters on the merits of the show wins of their dogs. This breed is still very scarce at championship shows, with the same few being shown. If you're looking for a Leonberger in Ireland a visit to a few Championship shows is recommended and results can be seen at http://www.dogshowentry.ie where you log on. Also there is no such thing as a show quality 8 week old pup. Being a member of ANY canine club is not a testament to a breeder's character.
I recommend you research, understand and accept the full financial and emotional liabilities that come along with owning a Leonberger before you buy a puppy. Your original purchase price will pale in comparison to the total cost of owning a giant breed over it’s lifetime. They eat more, they need extra large beds and vet bills will be higher than for a medium or small breed because the majority of medications are given on a "per weight" basis and your Leonberger will weigh between 35kgs and 75kgs. Giant pet insurance is now nearly E300 yearly and if you think this insurance cost is too high, then in my opinion, you cannot afford to keep a Leonberger. Do you have the money to keep a giant breed dog in the face of redundancy.
The Leonberger is called a gentle giant but, in truth, you will not see this until after 3 years of age and without proper training, patience and love you may never see that gentle giant. Unruly children and puppies is not a good recipe.
If you are houseproud, prefer your home to be very warm, lead a busy life, intend to start a family or move home, you're out at work all day, don't have time for obedience training or exercising your agile Leo or grooming a big heavy coated dog, don't have space for a giant dog sprawled across your floors, like to leave your possessions on the coffee table waiting to be swiped onto the floor by the tail of a Leo, don't like hair on your clothes, muddy floors, lots of extra towels for washing, slobber on your window panes, is your car big enough for an adult Leonberger, do you have a fence around your property at least 5 feet high, are you a lover of the perfect lawn (a running Leo will send sods of grass and earth 5 feet into the air behind them) then, perhaps, a Leonberger is not the ideal companion for you.
Leos are very social, love companionship and crave human attention and more than ANYTHING they will just want to be with you. It is cruel to kennel or tie up your Leo. With proper and gentle training and patience, your Leonberger will become a valued member of your family, a great companion as intimate as any human bond and a best friend for life. So, be alert, be warned and above all be happy with your new Leonberger puppy. Leonbergers are a pure joy and simply the best and they deserve only the best from us. Pictured above is Stormchaser Power of Love as a puppy.
