This blog feature amusing and heartwarming stories about our late Leonberger dog Bronco, as well as other Leonbergers. It also has a lot of information about the Leonberger breed, the history, care, training, Leonberger organizations, etc. I also wrote a Leonberger book, which I am featuring in the sidebar.
“I’ll Be Waiting for You at the Rainbow Bridge” is a very heartwarming and touching story about loosing a pet written by Luisa Zambrotta. It really touched my heart and I want you all to read it.
The pictures below were drawn by Naomi Rosenblatt.
A professional content writer by the name of Ryan Goodchild contacted me about publishing a Leonberger related post on my Leonberger blog, which I am certainly happy to assist with. The title is “How to Include Your Leonberger in Your Wedding Day with Ease and Joy”. See the article article below. While Ryan did all the writing, I added photos of our Leonberger as well as a few Leonberger stock photos.
The photo tile above includes a photo of me and my wife cutting a wedding cake and a photo of our son and daughter in-laws wedding party. There are two photos of our Leonberger Bronco. One from when he was a three months old puppy and one from when he was 12 years old. There is a shutter stock photo ID:731020957 by Peter Josto, a photo of a woman and her Leonberger dog, asset id: 1741753382 by Elena Podrezenko, and a another photo showing a Leonberger puppy with flowers, asset id: 561113224 by Akbudak Rimma.
Leonberger owners planning to include dogs in weddings often feel pulled between the deep emotional bond with dogs and the reality of managing a gentle giant in a busy, unpredictable setting. Wedding festivities with pets can be loud, crowded, and full of unfamiliar smells and schedules, which can raise anxiety and create safety concerns for guests and for large dog breeds at events. Add shedding, heat tolerance, and stamina to the mix, and even well-trained dogs can struggle if expectations aren’t clear. With the right mindset, couples can protect comfort and health while making room for meaningful moments with their Leonberger.
Leonbergers can be surprisingly steady “wedding teammates” when their job matches their temperament, coat needs, and stamina. Use the musts you already planned, venue safety, a quiet break space, hydration, and a realistic timeline, to choose a role that feels joyful, not stressful.
When your dog’s role is simple, comfortable, and well-rehearsed, it’s easier to troubleshoot the real-life questions, like crowd anxiety, heat management, and what a truly pet-safe venue needs to have.
Got a few last-minute worries? You’re not alone.
Q: What are some safe and comfortable outfit ideas for dressing my Leonberger for a wedding?
A: Choose minimal, breathable pieces that will not pinch the ruff or trap heat, like a lightweight bandana or soft bow tie on a breakaway collar. Skip tight elastic, scratchy fabrics, and anything that rubs under the armpits. Do a short trial run, then brush the coat to prevent friction mats.
Q: How can I keep my Leonberger calm and happy during the busy wedding day?
A: Build predictability: a quiet retreat spot, regular water breaks, and a handler who can step out before your dog hits their limit. A fear-free approach focuses on helping your pet feel safe, predictable, and understood, which is exactly the goal on a high-energy day. Watch for early stress signals like yawning, lip-licking, or scanning the room, and take a quick decompression break.
Q: What are creative ways to include my Leonberger in wedding photos and invitations?
A: Plan a calm “portrait window” before guests arrive, then capture a second short session later when your dog is refreshed. For invitations and signage, use one clean photo and a simple icon version for small prints, then export everything into a single print-ready PDF using an image-to-PDF converter, including converting PNGs to PDFs online.
Q: How do I prepare the wedding venue to ensure it’s pet-friendly and suitable for my Leonberger?
A: Confirm shade or indoor cooling, a non-slip path, and a low-traffic potty area away from food service. Ask about noise peaks, crowd flow, and any off-limits rooms so your Leonberger is never surprised. Because pet anxiety claims nationwide are up 93% since 2019, it’s smart to plan for lower stimulation, not just “allowing dogs.”
Q: What support can help me plan, including my Leonberger in wedding festivities, without feeling overwhelmed?
A: Assign one dedicated dog handler and give them a simple checklist: arrival time, potty plan, water schedule, photo times, and an exit cue. Do one venue walk-through together, then keep your dog’s “job” short and winnable. If you’re making printed signs, batch your images and notes into one shared folder so decisions do not snowball.
A calm plan creates the joyful Leonberger memories you’ll actually want to relive.
Here’s how to move from plan to action.
This process helps you include your Leonberger in the celebration while protecting their comfort, body safety, and stress level. Because Leonbergers are powerful, sensitive, and heat-prone under that gorgeous coat, a few rehearsals and clear logistics prevent overwhelm for both dog and humans.
When your Leonberger knows the routine and has real breaks, joy looks effortless and feels safe.
Weddings are busy and sensory-rich, and it’s easy for a big-hearted Leonberger to get overwhelmed or under-managed in the excitement. A comfort-first plan, clear roles, thoughtful pacing, and responsible dog care at celebrations keep the day joyful while enhancing weddings with pets in a way that truly fits your dog. When that mindset leads, celebrating Leonbergers on special days becomes safer, smoother, and more meaningful, creating lasting memories with wedding dogs that everyone can cherish. Choose one job your Leonberger can enjoy, and let comfort set the pace. Pick one meaningful role your dog already excels at and commit to that single assignment for the day. That’s how the positive impacts of pets at weddings support connection and well-being long after the last dance.
The focus of this blog is Leonbergers but sometimes I post about books that are not about Leonbergers but that are books that I want to promote. I recently read a gripping book about life in England during World War II called “While the Bombs Fell” by Robbie Cheadle and Elsie Hancy Eaton. It is a book that is easy to read and appropriate for older children, young adults and adults alike. I bought the book on Amazon, I loved the book and I wrote a review for it.
As far as I know it exists only as a paperback on Amazon. Publisher : TSL Publications (August 3, 2018), ISBN-10 : 1912416433, ISBN-13 : 978-1912416431, 100 pages, Item Weight : 4.5 ounces, Dimensions : 5.83 x 0.23 x 8.27 inches, it cost $16.14 on US Amazon. Click here to order it from Amazon.com.
What was it like for children growing up in rural Suffolk during World War 2? Elsie and her family live in a small double-storey cottage in Bungay, Suffolk. Every night she lies awake listening anxiously for the sound of the German bomber planes. Often they come and the air raid siren sounds signalling that the family must leave their beds and venture out to the air raid shelter in the garden. Despite the war raging across the English channel, daily life continues with its highlights, such as Christmas and the traditional Boxing Day fox hunt, and its wary moments when Elsie learns the stories of Jack Frost and the ghostly and terrifying Black Shuck that haunts the coastline and countryside of East Anglia. Includes some authentic World War 2 recipes.
It is a short, gripping, beautifully written and easy to read book about the experiences of a little girl growing up in England during World War II.
This book tells the story of little Elise who lives with her family on a small farm in Bungay, Suffolk, England during World War II. Food and other products are rationed, there are shortages, lack of heating and electricity, and people struggle economically. At the same time the bombs are falling and there’s always the fear that you will be hit. The book tells us about the fear, about family life, the human connections, the animals, the daily life and various holiday celebrations, all from the perspective of a child. The book reads more like memoir than a novel, but it feels very real.
I grew up in Sweden, live in the US, and that is what I know. Therefore, I did not know much about the culture and how people live, or rather used to live, in WWII England. Therefore, by reading this book, I learned a lot about England, or the England of the past. It is obvious that the author is intimately familiar with past English culture and how it was living in England during this time. Elsie’s world was very different from what I know, and the times were very difficult, and you saw it all through Elsie’s eyes. Therefore, the book is very engaging. It is a reminder that life was very challenging for a lot of people during World War II.
I also really enjoyed reading about what they ate, the recipes, and the rose hips, the rosehip jam, and there were recipes at the end of the book. In Sweden rosehip and rosehip soup was a healthy staple food so I definitely recognized that. I remember rosehip soup with fondness. This book brings you into another world, it is very engaging, interesting, and eye opening, as well as an easy read. I highly recommend this beautiful little book.
I don’t have any information about Elsie Hancy Eaton. However, below is the information about Robbie Cheadle.
South African author, photographer, and artist, Robbie Cheadle, has written and illustrated seventeen children’s books, illustrated a further three children’s books, and written and illustrated four poetry books. Her work has also appeared in poetry and short story anthologies.
Robbie also has two novels and a collection of short stories published under the name of Roberta Eaton Cheadle and has horror, paranormal, and fantasy short stories featured in several anthologies under this name.
Robbie’s blog includes recipes, fondant and cake artwork, poetry, and book reviews.
Click here to visit is her Goodreads page
Click here to visit her TSL Publications Page.
Click here to visit is her Twitter account.
Click here to visit is her Facebook account.
These are her published books on Amazon.
Today is my birthday and we are spending it in Baltimore (don’t worry we have people watching house and dog etc.). Our son, his wife and their son Jack (our first grandchild) lives in Baltimore. Jack just turned six months. That is why I have not been very active in the blogosphere lately. Below are a few Leonberger Happy birthday photos.
Today we visited the Cherry Blossom at Fort McHenry National Monument. Fun fact: “The Star-Spangled Banner” was born as a poem written by Francis Scott Key on September 14, 1814, after witnessing the British bombardment of Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland. Below are some Baltimore photos.
A professional content writer by the name of Ryan Goodchild contacted me about publishing a Leonberger related post on my Leonberger blog, which I am certainly happy to assist with. The title is “Helping Your Leonberger Thrive Through Life’s Big Changes”. See the article article below. While Ryan did all the writing, I added photos of our Leonberger as well as a few Leonberger stock photos.
The photo tile above includes four photos of our Leonberger Bronco. One photo is from when he was three months old, in another photo he is about one year old and giving me a hug, and in one photo our mini-Australian Shepherd is biting his tail, and one photo of Bronco shows him standing in an open door. He is a bit agitated in that photo. There is also a photo of five Leonbergers celebrating fourth of July. That photo was taken by a friend Jen O’Keefe. Finally, there is a shutter stock photos ID:731020957 by Peter Josto.
Leonberger dog owners often notice that the hardest moments aren’t the big grooming days or the seasonal shedding, they’re the household transitions that quietly unsettle a steady dog. Moves, schedule shifts, new babies or roommates, travel, renovations, and changes in who handles care can disrupt pet routines that once felt automatic. When the rhythm changes, a Leonberger’s emotional well-being in dogs can wobble, showing up as clinginess, restlessness, or unexpected behavior that feels out of character. A clear plan helps keep life changes affecting pets from turning into long weeks of confusion.
Life changes can flip on a Leonberger’s stress response, even when nothing “bad” is happening. Since pet anxiety is real, the first clues are often small behavior shifts like pacing, shadowing you, or sudden sensitivity to noise.
Temperament matters, but it is not the whole story. Research suggests breed contributions were relatively small, so environment and routine changes can affect even the most steady Leo. Reading the stress signals early helps you respond with care instead of guessing.
Picture a week of packing, rearranged furniture, and fewer walks. Your Leonberger may skip meals, guard doorways, or get extra mouthy during brushing because their “normal” cues disappeared.
Big changes can flip on stress signals fast, clinginess, pacing, sudden barking, or “selective hearing.” These seven Leonberger-friendly strategies give your dog predictable anchors while you build confidence and calm.
When you combine routine anchors, calm reinforcement, and purposeful enrichment, you’re not just managing behaviors, you’re giving your Leo a clear plan for coping. These habits also make it simpler to troubleshoot tough moments like barking, regression in manners, or restlessness on your busiest days.
Q: How do major life changes like moving to a new home or welcoming a baby typically affect a Leonberger’s behavior and stress levels?
A: Many Leonbergers become more vigilant when their “normal” shifts, showing clinginess, restlessness, noise sensitivity, or a temporary drop in manners. Stress can also look like appetite changes or trouble settling, especially in a new layout with unfamiliar sounds. Keep expectations gentle for a few weeks and reward calm, quiet choices.
Q: What practical strategies can I use to maintain my Leonberger’s routine and comfort when my household schedule suddenly changes?
A: Protect a small, non negotiable trio: sleep, meals, and movement at roughly the same times daily. Prioritize enough exercise through steadier walks and low impact sniffing games rather than trying to “wear them out.” Add one consistent quiet spot where your Leo can decompress undisturbed.
Q: How can I recognize signs of emotional distress or anxiety in my Leonberger during periods of household transition?
A: Watch for patterns like pacing, panting when the room is cool, trembling, hiding, or shadowing you from room to room. You may also see more barking at small noises, accidents, or compulsive licking. If the signs persist beyond a couple of weeks or escalate, your veterinarian or a qualified behavior professional can help you rule out pain and build a plan.
Q: If I’m feeling overwhelmed by these life changes affecting my pet’s care, what resources or approaches can help me regain balance and clarity to support my Leonberger effectively?
A: Shrink the goal to a simple management plan you can repeat: protected sleep, a daily walk, and a reliable quiet space. Use a weekly “must do, nice to do” list so essentials happen even on chaotic days, and ask your vet for a realistic exercise and weight target for a giant breed. If you are juggling work and a major transition, consider an online healthcare degree as a flexible accredited education path that fits your schedule so life feels more stable overall.
This checklist turns good intentions into simple actions you can repeat on busy days. Use it to protect your Leonberger’s health, coat care, and emotional steadiness while your household shifts.
✔ Set fixed meals and potty times for the next 14 days.
✔ Create one quiet “do not disturb” rest zone with water nearby.
✔ Schedule two calm movement sessions daily, prioritizing sniffing and slow walking.
✔ Track appetite, stools, sleep, and new stress behaviors in a quick daily note.
✔ Keep grooming brief: brush hotspots, check ears, trim nails as tolerated.
✔ Confirm vet plan for weight, joints, and any new anxiety or pain signs.
Small steps, repeated daily, build confidence for both of you.
Big household shifts can leave even a steady Leonberger feeling uncertain, and that stress can spill into behavior and bonding. The way through is a calm, consistent mindset: prioritize emotional health support for pets with predictable rhythms, gentle observation, and patient reassurance. Over time, that steady care builds resilience and brings positive outcomes of care, more relaxation, easier transitions, and long-term pet well-being. Consistency is the kindest way to help a Leonberger feel safe through change. Pick one strategy from the checklist to start today, and lean on community support for dog owners when questions or worries pop up. That steady support doesn’t just solve today’s stress, it strengthens confidence and connection for every new chapter ahead.
The focus of this blog is Leonbergers but sometimes I post about books that are not about Leonbergers but that are books that I want to promote. This past week we were on a family vacation in New Orleans. We’ve been to New Orleans many times before but this time we focused on the supernatural, magic if you will, ghosts, vampires, voodoo, and pirates. In the evenings I read a fairly new book about vampires, Vermillion Highways by David Lee Summers and Lee Clark Zumpe. I bought the book on Amazon, I loved the book and I wrote a review for it.
As far as I know it exists only as a paperback on Amazon. Publisher : Hiraethsff (January 14, 2026), ASIN : B0GHDTMVZ3, ISBN-13 : 979-8295554971, 116 pages, Item Weight : 5.7 ounces, Dimensions : 6 x 0.24 x 9 inches, it cost $13.95 on US Amazon. Click here to order it from Amazon.com.
Two of the finest minds in the genres have combined their resources and imaginations to come up with some of the gothiest (and, sometimes, ) goofiest vampire short fiction this side of Transylvania. David Lee Summers, of Tales of the Talisman and Scarlet Order fame, and Lee Clark Zumpe, mild-mannered reporter for a daily metro-Floridian newspaper and author of the Lovecraftian anthology Whispers from the Intoxicating Abyss, take you on a journey through tales that fit everywhere between Type O positive and Type AB negative. Vermillion Highways is a must-read even if you don’t care for the suckers.
We just returned from a family trip to New Orleans. To make the trip extra interesting we had a theme for our trip, vampires and voodoo. Naturally we visited vampire themed places, and we drank blood (pretend blood). In addition, in the evenings I read this book.
Vermillion Highways is a short collection (114 pages) of 40 short stories about vampires written by two great authors with humor and vivid imaginations. Each author contributed 20 stories. Some stories are around 10 pages long, and some stories are not even half a page. The stories are sometimes scary but for the most part they are just entertaining, imaginative, fun and comical. They are good stories with surprises and odd twists. At first, I was questioning whether you can really write good stories that are that short, but you can. If done right the very-short story format, or the flash fiction format, works.
I appreciated the flexible and more realistic take on vampires in this book. If you don’t strictly adhere to the orthodox depiction of vampires, you can write better stories. In this book vampires can sustain themselves by drinking blood from blood bags, or from people without necessarily turning them into vampires. It is the desperate or mean vampires that attack and kill people. The sun is not good for vampires, but it does not make them burst into flames, and they don’t sparkle in the sunlight either. A little bit of sunlight is manageable, like for albinos. They also don’t turn into bats, they can’t fly, they are not purely evil, and crosses are not as effective against vampires as you may think. However, they can live for thousands of years, and they have some special magical powers, such as mind compulsion and great physical strength. I prefer it when vampires are depicted this way.
In summary, this vampire book may not be very scary, but it is an entertaining and fun read. I highly recommend this lighthearted, modern and easy to read vampire book.
The author information for Lee Clark Zumpe can be found here and the author information for David Lee Summers is below.
David Lee Summers is an author, editor and astronomer living somewhere between the western and final frontiers in Southern New Mexico. He is the author of twelve novels. His short stories and poems have appeared in numerous magazines including Cemetery Dance, Realms of Fantasy, Star*Line, and The Santa Clara Review.
David also edited Tales of the Talisman Magazine for ten years. When he’s not writing, he operates telescopes at Kitt Peak National Observatory.
Click here to visit his website
Click here to visit his blog
Click here to see one of my review for The Astronomer’s Crypt another of David Lee Summer’s books.
This is the book “Vermillion Highways” in the original and cheaper pdf format and this is the ePub format.
Click here or here to join in.
We just came home from a trip to New Orleans, which is truly a magical city. New Orleans is not very far from Dallas, where we live, and we’ve been to New Orleans several times. However, it was a fun family trip with a theme. The theme we chose for our trip was Magic, including Vampires, Voodoo/Hoodoo, ghosts, pirates and St. Patrick’s Day. We also went on a ghost tour. Below are some photos from the Voodoo Museum, and miscellaneous voodoo, witches, vampire and pirate stores.
Photo Tile with photos from the Voodoo Museum, a Hoodoo Queen, vampire art, pirate, and witch store.
We also ate at a restaurant that has a ghost. The Muriel’s Jackson Square restaurant is allegedly haunted by a ghost that sits in the chair. The ghost is a former owner by name of Pierre Antoine Lepardi Jourdan.
Voodoo is a religion blending African traditions with Catholicism. It is originating from enslaved people in Haiti and Louisiana. It focuses on serving spirits and honoring ancestors and connecting with nature. It is not black magic. However, I admit I’ve made fun of the so called voodoo dolls. Marie Catherine Laveau was one the most prominent practitioners of voodoo. She was born a free woman of color in New Orleans’s French Quarter, Louisiana, on September 10, 1801. We saw her house. Below are photos from the Voodoo Museum.
Photo Tile from the Voodoo Museum
We also did some vampire related things. New Orleans is often called the Transylvania of America. Author’s such as Anne Rice have brought attention to New Orleans and its vampire legends. I read a book with 40 short stories about vampires while we visited New Orleans. The book was Vermillion Highways by David Lee Summers and Lee Clark Zumpe. I will make a post about that book in a couple of days. We visited vampire stores and the famous Vampire Café. See the photos below.
Photo Tile from Vampire Café.
I should say that we did other things as well. We visited the aquarium, rainforest, and insectarium, which is quite impressive. We celebrated Saint Patrick’s Day, and we made a couple of visits to the famous Pat O’Brien’s Pub. We all had a good time.
Please go and check it out. Thank you so much Sally.
Today is the second time I participate in Linda Hill’s streams of consciousness. To read about the rules and participate click here. Today’s prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “review.” The first thing that came to my mind was the review wars on Amazon.
I’ve written several hundred reviews on Amazon, for software, computers, electronics, consumer products, movies and books. I was an Amazon Vine Voice for many years. Amazon Vine Voice is a program where Amazon reviewers receive free products from vendors in exchange for unbiased reviews. You must be invited by Amazon. However, as I was offered fewer expensive items, I got annoyed and I quit. My thinking was basically, if I don’t get a free TV or computer, I am not writing any reviews. I kind of regret that now. Free products are still free products.
There were and still are a lot of shady reviews and shady reviewer behavior on Amazon. This sometimes led to fights. I remember one prominent reviewer, Harriet Klausner. She was the #1 ranked reviewer on Amazon.com for many years and she held the #1 spot in the Amazon reviewer hall of fame at the time of her death. If you spent any significant time on Amazon as a reviewer, you know who Harriet Klausner is. I did a quick search for her as I was writing this, and I found the Wikipedia link for Harriet Klausner.
Harriet Klausner wrote 30,000+ book reviews in a relatively short time. I counted 20,000 reviews in just a few years. She loved every book and every book was intriguing to her. Almost every book was five stars. Then some people started accusing her of not really reading that many books, or for being biased. I admit I also had my doubts that someone could read thousands of books per year. Some people came to her defense while others claimed she was a fake. We may never know the truth, but the negativity spread.
People started accusing each other of faking reviews and fights broke out. Reviewer gangs were formed. They went around clicking the unhelpful button on other people’s reviews. One reviewer could get 3 helpful clicks the day after he published a review and then get 1,000 unhelpful clicks the day after. This affected the reviewer’s standing in the ranks. People were trying to improve their rankings, which back then were published next to the reviewers name, and fights broke out over the ranks. Amazon mostly put a stop to this by changing how the rank was calculated, hiding the reviewer rank well, and eventually removing the unhelpful button, as it was so widely misused.
Reviewer rank was a major cause for the Review Wars but the actions that Amazon took greatly improved the situation. However, there is still some really shady stuff happening on Amazon. For example, people writing negative reviews for books they have not read. In this case it is not reviewer rank that is the cause. People slam books they have not read because they don’t like the author, or they don’t like the topic. Sometimes, inauthentic reviewers can slam a book just because it is written by an independent author.
Topics like evolution, climate science, vaccines, religion and politics, offend some people and attract dishonest reviewers. Even a simple fact that is widely accepted by experts/scientists in the field can enrage some people. For that reason, books on these topics can get a lot of negative reviews from people who never bought the book, or if they did, they never gave the book a chance. This is often obvious to those among us who actually read the book.
Another related phenomenon are commentors who attack or argue with reviewers who have left a positive review for a book. This happened to me. I wrote a five star review for a climate science book I really liked, and this guy started leaving comments on my review in which he attacked the book and the author. He did not attack me, not directly, but he said disparaging things about the author. What was behind all this was that the author had sued a couple of people for one million dollars for defamation and people associated with the defendants attacked the author and the people who wrote positive reviews for the book (using fake names of course). Reading a bit about what was going on I found out that it was possible that I was arguing with one of the defendants, a Fox News host by the name of Mark Steyn.
Note: The author of the book in question won the one million dollar lawsuit in 2024 but the amount was reduced by a judge in 2025. I can add I ended up sitting next to Mark Steyn on a flight from Marseille to London. I was going to ask him if he had paid the one million dollars, but I said nothing. I moved next to my wife (empty seat) and another Fox News anchor took my seat.
Speaking about reviews, a piece of music that popped up in my head as I was writing this post is Naturträne (Nature’s Tear) a German PunkOpera song by Nina Hagen. Naturträne describes a woman who appears to be distraught over natural degradation (rattling exhaust pipes / Auspuffrohre knattern) and a lost love and her crushed soul. My high school German is rusty. You can say it is a very poetic but dark review of her life. For those who don’t know who Nina Hagen is, she is a former East German Opera singer, actress and musical artist who sings in the Punk-Opera genre and is known for her theatrical style.
She was able to make it to West Germany, and the song below was performed at Rock Palats in 1978. If you don’t know who Nina Hagen is (Europeans will know who it is) you are in for a shock. She depicts a distraught and crazy woman very well. However, it is bizarre but authentic.
Do you like Punk-Opera?
Sorry, that’s the question that popped up in my head right now.
A professional content writer specializing in animal healthcare and veterinary topics by the name of Emma Johnson contacted me about publishing veterinary information on my Leonberger blog, which I am certainly happy to assist with. Check out her article below. The article is focused on grooming and how to control shedding. Emma did all the writing I added pictures of our Leonberger, and photos provided by friends as well as a few Leonberger stock photos.
This photo tile includes three photos of our Leonberger Bronco. In one photo he is sitting in my wife’s lap, another photo is of our Pug Daisy and our Leonberger Bronco, and finally a photo of Bronco’s face. There is also a photo of six Leonbergers celebrating a birthday. That photo was taken by a friend Jen O’Keefe. Finally, there are two shutter stock photos ID:731020957 by Peter Josto and ID: 1957113277 by AnetaZabranska.
With these photos I wanted to illustrate that Leonbergers are big and furry.
Living with a Leonberger means living with fur. It ends up on the couch, in the car, and sometimes floating through the house like tumbleweed. Many owners brush occasionally and hope the shedding slows down, but it rarely works that way. Leonbergers have one of the densest double coats in the dog world, and without the right grooming approach, loose fur quickly gets out of control.
The good news is that Leonberger shedding can be managed. With the right brushing tools, a consistent grooming routine, proper bathing habits, and good nutrition, you can dramatically reduce the amount of hair around your home.
Leonbergers were originally bred as working dogs in the mountains of Europe. Their coat had to protect them from cold weather, snow, rain, and harsh terrain. That protective coat is still part of the breed today.
Because of this history, Leonbergers grow a thick double coat designed for insulation. The outer layer protects against moisture and dirt, while the inner coat traps warmth. When temperatures change, that undercoat naturally sheds to adjust to the environment.
This means shedding is not a problem you can eliminate. The goal is to manage it effectively so loose fur doesn’t build up in the coat or around the house.
Leonbergers are not the only dogs with protective double coats. Other large working breeds such as the Newfoundland, Saint Bernard, and Great Pyrenees were also developed for cold climates and demanding outdoor work. These breeds rely on dense insulating undercoats that protect them from harsh weather.
However, not all working breeds have coats this heavy. Dogs like the Belgian Malinois also have a double coat, but it is much shorter and lighter. Because of that difference, Malinois owners typically deal with far less grooming and undercoat buildup compared with Leonberger owners.
Leonbergers shed year-round, but the most intense shedding happens during seasonal transitions.
Most Leonbergers experience two major shedding periods:
During these periods, owners often notice large clumps of fur coming out during brushing. This is completely normal and is often referred to as coat blow season.
These cycles can last three to six weeks, depending on climate and individual genetics.
Many owners underestimate how often this breed needs grooming.
For most Leonbergers:
Regular grooming prevents loose fur from collecting in the undercoat and spreading through your home.
Consistency is more important than long grooming sessions. Ten minutes of brushing several times a week is often more effective than one long session once a month.
The right grooming tools make a major difference. Leonbergers have dense coats, and basic brushes often cannot reach the undercoat.
The most useful grooming tools include:
Each tool serves a specific purpose in removing loose fur while protecting the coat structure.
Using the wrong tools can break guard hairs or irritate the skin.
Both tools are essential, but they serve different roles.
Slicker brushes have fine wire bristles that remove surface tangles and loose hair from the outer coat. However, slicker brushes alone cannot reach the deeper undercoat.
Undercoat rakes are designed with longer teeth that penetrate through the outer coat. Using both tools together creates a balanced grooming routine.
Deshedding tools are especially useful during coat blow season.
These tools are designed to gently remove loose undercoat without cutting or damaging the outer coat.
When used correctly, deshedding tools can remove large amounts of loose fur in a single session.
However, they should not be overused. Excessive use can thin the coat too much and affect its natural insulation.
Most owners find that using a deshedding tool once per week during heavy shedding periods works well.
A structured brushing routine helps remove fur efficiently without stressing the dog.
Step 1: Work through the coat slowly, focusing on areas where undercoat builds up, such as behind the ears, chest, and hind legs.
Step 2: After loosening undercoat hair, switch to a slicker brush to remove remaining loose fur.
Step 3: Leonbergers commonly develop tangles around the neck, tail base, and legs.
Step 4: A wide-tooth comb helps confirm the coat is fully detangled.
This routine typically takes 15–25 minutes depending on coat condition.
Bathing plays a bigger role in shedding control than many owners realize.
Warm water and shampoo help loosen dead undercoat fur, making it easier to remove during brushing.
However, bathing too often can strip natural oils and cause dry skin.
Most Leonbergers do well with a bath every 6 to 8 weeks.
More frequent bathing may be needed if the dog spends a lot of time outdoors or swimming.
After bathing, always dry the coat thoroughly and brush again. Wet undercoat can trap loose hair and lead to matting if left unmanaged.
Coat health begins with nutrition.
Dogs that lack essential nutrients often develop dry skin, brittle fur, and excessive shedding.
A high-quality diet rich in protein and healthy fats supports stronger hair growth and healthier skin.
Ingredients that help maintain coat quality include:
For older dogs, switching to a specialized diet such as senior dog food can also support coat condition as metabolism changes with age.
Veterinary research presented at events like veterinary conferences 2026 has increasingly emphasized how diet influences skin and coat health in large working breeds.
During peak shedding periods, increase grooming frequency.
Helpful strategies include:
Many professional groomers use forced-air dryers to blow out loose undercoats after a bath. This method can remove large volumes of fur quickly.
Some Leonberger coats become too dense or matted for home grooming alone.
Professional groomers have specialized tools and equipment designed for heavy-coated breeds.
A professional grooming session may include:
Many owners schedule professional grooming every 3 to 4 months to keep the coat manageable.
If brushing becomes difficult or mats begin forming regularly, it may be time to involve a groomer.
Leonberger shedding is intense, but it does not have to overwhelm your home.With the right grooming tools, a consistent brushing routine, proper bathing habits, and strong nutrition, you can keep loose fur under control and maintain a healthy coat.
The key is consistency. When grooming becomes part of your weekly routine, shedding becomes far more manageable.
Leonbergers will always shed. But with the right care, that shedding becomes something you can handle without constantly battling fur around the house.
Another article by Emma Johnson is Leonberger Health Issues – A Veterinarian’s Guide to Preventive Medicine.
Leonberger Life 