 |
Online : |
3 |
|
Counter : |
2364 |
|
 |
|
 |
The FCI Leonberger standard
|
 |
|
|
| LEONBERGER |
|
Date of publication of the valid original standard: 04.01.1996
Utilization: Watch, Companion and Family Dog |
| FCI-Standard # 145 / 19.08.1996 / GB |
| |
|
|
| Origin :
Germany |
|
|
| Classification FCI : |
| Group 2 Pinscher and Schnauzer, Molossian
and Swiss Mountain and Cattle Dogs
Section 2.2 Molossian, Mountain Dogs. Without Working Trial |
| |
| Brief historical summary : |
At the end of the thirties, beginning of the forties of the 19th century, Heinrich Essig, town Councillor in Leonberg near Stuttgart, crossed a black and white Newfoundland bitch with a so-called "Barry" male from the monastery hospice Grand St. Bernhard. Later a Pyrenean Mountain Dog was added. The Result were very large dogs with predominantly long, white coats. Essig's aim was for a lion-like dog. The lion is the animal pictured in the Leonberger coat of arms. The first dogs called "real" Leonbergers were born in 1846. They combined the excellent qualities of the breeds from which they stemmed.
Only a short time later, many of the dogs were sold from Leonberg as status symbols all over the world. At the end of the 19th century, the Leonberger was kept in Baden-Wuerttemberg as the preferred farm dog. His watch and draft abilities were much praised.
In both World Wars and in the needy post war times, the number of breeding stock reduced dramatically. Today the Leonberger is an excellent family dog which fulfills all the demands of modern life. |
| |
| General appearance : |
| Due to his original use, the Leonberger is a strong muscular, yet elegant dog. He is distinguished by his balanced body type and confident calmness, yet lively temperament. Males, in particular, are powerful and strong. |
|
| Important proportions
: |
|
Height at the withers to length of body: 9
to 10. Depth of chest is nearly 50% of height at withers.
|
|
| Behaviour/temperament : |
|
As a family dog, the Leonberger is an agreeable
partner for present day dwelling and living conditions,
who can be taken anywhere without difficulty and is
distinguished by his marked friendliness towards children.
He is neither shy nor aggressive. As a companion, he
is agreeable, obedient and fearless in all situations of life.
The following are particular requirements of steady temperament:
Self assurance and superior
composure.
Medium temperament (including playfulness).
Willing to be submissive.
Good capacity for learning and remembering.
Not sensitive to noise.
|
| Head : |
|
On the whole deeper
than long and elongated rather than stocky. Proportion of
muzzle to skull region about 1 to 1. Skin close fitting all
over, no wrinkles.
|
|
| Cranial region : |
|
Skull :
In profile and seen from front, slightly arched. In balance with body and limbs, it is strong but not heavy. The black part of
the skull is not substantially broader than near the eyes. Stop : Clearly recognisable but
moderately defined.
|
| Facial region : |
|
Nose : black. Muzzle : Rather long,
never running to a point; nasal bridge of even breadth, never
dipped, rather slightly arched (roman nose). Lips :
Close fitting, black, corner of lips
closed. Jaws/Teeth : Strong jaws with perfect,
regular and complete scissor bit, in which the upper teeth
close over the lower without any gap and the teeth are placed
vertically in the jaw, with 42 healthy teeth, according to
usual tooth formula (missing M3 tolerated). Pincer bite is
tolerated; no constriction of canines in lower
jaw. Cheeks : Only moderately
developed. Eyes : Light brown to as dark brown as
possible, medium size, oval, neither deep set, nor protruding,
neither too close together nor too wide apart. Eyelids close
fitting, not showing any conjunctiva. The white of the eye
(the visible part of the sclera) not reddened. Ears :
Set on high and not far back, pendant, medium size,
hanging close to head, fleshy. |
|
| Neck : |
|
Flowing without break to the withers in a
slight curve. Long rather than stocky, without throatiness or
dewlap. |
|
| Body: |
|
Withers : Pronounced, specially
in males. Back : Firm, straight,
broad. Loins : Broad, strong, well
muscled. Rump : Broad, relatively long, gently
rounded, flowing to merge with tail set on; not in any way
overbuilt. Chest : Broad, deep, reaching at
least to height of elbows. Not too barrel shaped, more
oval. Lower profile : Only lightly tucked up.
|
|
| Tail : |
|
Very well
furnished; while standing, it hangs down straight; also in
movement it is only slightly curved and preferably should
not be carried above the prolongation of the topline.
|
|
| Limbs : |
| Very strong, specially in males.
|
|
| Forequarters : |
|
Legs : Straight, parallel and not too
close. Shoulder/Upper arm : Long, sloping, forming
a not too blunt angle, well muscled; elbows close
fitting. Pastern : Strong, firm; straight, seen
from front. Almost vertical seen from
side. Forefeet : Straight position
(turning neither in nor out), rounded, tight, toes well
arched; black pads.
|
|
| Hindquarters : |
|
Legs : Position when seen from
rear, not too close, parallel. Hocks and feet :
Turned neither in nor out. Dewclaws: Must be
removed. Pelvis : Slanting
position. Upper thigh : Rather long, slanting,
well muscled. Upper and lower thigh form a distinct
angle. Hocks : Strong, distinct angle between
lower thigh and rear pastern. Feet : Standing
straight, only slightly longish. Toes arched, pads black.
|
|
| Movement : |
Ground covering even movement in all
gaits. Extending well in front, and good drive from
hindquarters. Seen from front and behind limbs move in a
straight line when walking or trotting.
|
|
Coat |
| Hair : |
|
Medium soft to coarse, profusely long,
close fitting, never with a parting, letting the form of the
whole body be seen despite the thick undercoat. Straight,
slight wave still permitted; forming a mane on neck and chest,
specially in males; distinct feathering on front legs and
ample breeches on hind legs. |
|
| Colour : |
|
Lion yellow, red, reddish brown, also
sandy (fawn colour, cream colour) and all combinations in
between, always with a black mask. Black hair tips are
permitted; black must however not determine the dog's basic colour. Lightening up of the basic colour on the underside
of the tail, the mane, feathering on front legs and breeches
on hind legs must no be so pronounced as to interfere with
the harmony of the main colour. A small white patch or
stripe on chest and white hair on toes will be tolerated.
|
|
| SIZE : |
| Height at withers : |
| Dogs (male) : 72 to 80 cm (recommended average 76 cm) |
| Bitches : 65 to 75 cm (recommended average 70 cm) |
| Faults : |
|
Any departure from the foregoing points
should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which
the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to
its degree |
|
| Disqualifying faults : |
- Shy and aggressive dogs.
- Severe anatomical faults (i.e. pronounced cow hocks,
pronounced roach back, bad swayback; front feet turning
out extremely. Totally insufficient angulation of shoulder,
elbow, stifle or hock joints.
- Brown nose leather.
- Very strong lack of pigment in
lips.
- Absence of teeth (with the exception of M3). Over-
or undershot or other faults in mouth.
- Eyes without any
brown.
- Entropion, ectropion.
- Distinct ring tail or too highly curled up tail.
-
Brown pads.
- Cords or strong curls.
- Faulty colours (brown
with brown nose and brown pads; black and tan; black;
silver; wild-coat colour).
- Complete lack of mask.
-
Too much white (reaching from toes onto pasterns), white
on chest larger than palm of hand, white in other places).
|
N.B. : Male animals
should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into
the scrotum.
|
|
 |
|
  |
© Copyright
Kujan 2000-2010, vsechna prava vyhrazena
|
|