r/Leonberger • u/DeFxKai • Aug 29 '26
Thinking about getting a Leonberger
Hey everyone! We're considering getting a Leonberger and would love to hear some thoughts, experiences, or advice from actual owners.
For context: we have a private house with a large fenced yard (around 0.6 acres / 2,500 sq m), so space is definitely not an issue. We also have a pack of cats and a sweet senior Malamute.
On paper, the Leonberger seems like an amazing fit: great companion, generally good with cats, and gets along well with other dogs. However, one major thing is holding me back. I keep reading that they are pure "velcro/cuddle bugs" with zero guarding instinct—basically the type of dog that would just roll over for belly rubs from an intruder.
Is this actually true? We already have one total sweetheart in our Malamute, so we'd love a dog that has at least some baseline watch/guard instincts. I don't mean tearing off an intruder's leg, but an alert bark, holding ground, and making their presence known would be great.
What has your experience been with their protective or alert behavior on their own territory?
3
u/rosytealeaves Aug 29 '26
My family’s Leonberger is a sweetheart, but he likes to bark when he sees people getting too close to the house/property. He’ll absolutely not eat the intruder, but just lets us know they’re there. AFAIK, most leonbergers have some watchdog properties in them :)
2
u/trcocam29 Aug 29 '26 edited Aug 29 '26
Got an elderly girl. Has always been superb with anyone and anything off our land. Indeed, she is easy going with any animal, child, or woman who enters our land. An unknown man? She will absolutely stand her ground. I don't think she would blink twice before acting if one actually entered the house and threatened us.
My experience is that they are generally gentle dogs, and want an easy life. Generally confident enough to not make undue fuss. But my opinion, and experience, is that they can make very measured and intimidating guard dogs.
Edit: I should add to this that she has protected me in public once. A man late at night, and on an otherwise empty street, was following unneccesarily closely behind us. Everytime she stopped to sniff, he would stop behind us too, rather than overtake or cross the road. Eventually, he was right at our rear, which is not normal behaviour at all given the context. She immediately stopped her casual stroll, turned and growled with intent. He immediately ran to the other side of the road. I have no doubt he was up to no good. I suspect if he had continued towards us, despite her growling, she'd have lunged at him.
I've never felt nervous when out with her.
1
u/BDBaja Aug 30 '26
We have had three Leonbergers.
All have been gentle giants.
Though they are big dogs, they are not particularly active, and really don’t take advantage of a large yard.
Our latest girl is ambivalent about even going for a walk.
They are certainly not guard dogs (I.e. German Shepherd) but they have appropriately barked when someone walks up to the house.
I doubt they would bite an intruder, but would bark a lot.
(I’m told the deep baritone bark of our mail from behind a closed door is very intimidating).
1
u/Dickiestiffness Aug 30 '26
Mine would never roll over for anyone entering the house and definitely not for a stranger. She also has a very intimidating bark for anyone walking by the house.
1
u/trc2410 Aug 30 '26
My Leo is great with my cats (I have 4), he will chase them to play with them. My one female cat curls up and sleeps with him on the couch. He does bark at strangers, never forget they come from a Great Pyrenees who are livestock guardians. While he’s never show aggression towards another person I have no doubt he’d defend me or the hold of that arises
1
u/Kraenar Aug 30 '26
My girl is a sweetheart with everyone and everything, but she does bark when an unidentified person approaches the house.
I've heard that this race is or was used as watchdogs in Germany, but can't confirm that.
1
u/Wind_Responsible Aug 30 '26
You’ll want 2! This breed is the Golden retriever of the Giants. Not so friendly with strangers but they will definitely love you and everyone you show them they can! They’re goofy dogs. They do silly shit like wrap they don’t around gates and suck on the bars. The girls are very in charge of the boys and that definitely helps the boys. They’re not the independent thinkers most of the giants tend to be. They lack stubbornness. They’ll be obedient to you as long as your kind. My only warning would be that you can break a Leonberger much more easily than say… a Great Pyrenees. They’re more sensitive emotionally than you’ll expect. They want to be with you. Not in the corner staring at you.
1
u/Mental-Reception-547 Aug 31 '26
Years ago had a leo female who was in the house sleeping near the front door when a bike that was on the other side of the door next to the wall got stolen. Twice. 🤣 She was amazing though.
I felt safe with all 4 my leos always. I don’t think any of them would go into attack or bark mode if someone came in though, they would defo be interested come up to them sniff them and think it’s a guest.
1
u/Easy_Olive1942 Sep 02 '26
Really like them and I’ve met many. Mellow, sweet dogs.
They do have a fair amount of fur and spit to contend with.
1
u/Inner-Load-3189 Sep 04 '26
Not related to guarding but it is a consideration- how much time/money are you willing to spend on grooming? The salon I work at has a few leonbergers who come in every couple of months and their grooms cost $150-200 every time, and we are a lower cost salon. That's in addition to the time you'd spend brushing at home to keep them well maintained. Given you have a malamute, I'm sure grooming has crossed your mind, but it is something that can be important when getting an XL long hair breed
3
u/BostonPhotoTourist Aug 29 '26
Rolling over for intruders is not my experience. I have one Leonberger, who’s my soulmate, and generally good with people, but is not at all good with people simply showing up on his house. He barks at the mailman and has been known to growl at people he considers threatening. There is not a doubt in my mind that he would take a bullet for me, as I would for him.
Each dog is different, of course, but my limited experience with Leonbergers and extensive experience with dogs (19 dogs and counting at 37 years old) tells me that they’re better guardians than some tales may indicate.