Including Your Leonberger in Your Wedding

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.

How to Include Your Leonberger in Your Wedding Day with Ease and Joy

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.

Leonberger dogs in field of purple flowers saying hello to each other. — Shutterstock asset id: Shutterstock 450770140 by everydoghasastory

Quick Summary: Leonberger-Friendly Wedding Planning

Plan a dog-friendly role that fits your Leonberger’s temperament, energy, and comfort in crowds.
Choose simple, theme-matching accessories that stay comfortable and safe for a large breed.
Confirm venue rules and set up a calm, shaded rest area with water and a trusted handler.
Prepare for photos by timing sessions well and using familiar cues for calm, cooperative portraits.

Pick Your Pup’s Role: Ring Bearer, Flower Dog, or Photo Star

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.

Match the role to your Leonberger’s comfort level: Start by choosing the easiest job your dog can succeed at, then upgrade only if practice is smooth. A confident, people-friendly Leo may love a short aisle walk, while a more sensitive dog might shine as a “photo star” during a calm pre-ceremony session. A simple gut-check is whether your dog can stay relaxed around applause, rustling fabric, and hugs; a pet’s personality should guide how “public” their role is.
Choose Leonberger-friendly wedding attire that won’t mat or overheat: For big-coated dogs, prioritize soft, wide straps and minimal layers: a lightweight bow tie on a breakaway collar, a bandana that sits above the shoulder coat, or a floral collar made with faux flowers and soft backing. Avoid tight elastic, scratchy tulle, or anything that compresses the ruff, those can tangle and create hot spots. Do a 10-minute dress rehearsal at home, then brush out the coat immediately after to prevent matting.
Try a harness-based ring bearer setup (safe and photogenic): Skip anything that dangles near paws or swings into the chest. Use a well-fitted Y-front harness and attach a small, closed pouch (or lightweight ring box) to the top strap so it stays stable; keep the real rings with your best human. Practice a 20–30 second “walk, stop, sit” routine in the harness so your Leonberger learns the exact aisle pace you want.
Make “flower dog” realistic with a basket-free plan: Many Leonbergers dislike carrying objects when excited, and baskets can bump the chest and restrict stride. Instead, attach a mini pouch of petals to the harness and have an attendant sprinkle petals just ahead of you, or cue your dog to “touch” a decorated sign at the aisle entrance for the same effect. This keeps the job simple while still delivering that flower-dog moment.
Plan a photo-star schedule that respects coat, drool, and downtime: Leonbergers often photograph best in shorter bursts: aim for two 5–8 minute sets, one before guests arrive and one at golden hour, rather than one long session. Pack a “quick reset kit” from your musts list: towel, drool cloth, slicker brush, water, and high-value treats. Ask your photographer for a few action prompts (walk toward the camera, sit-and-stay, “look” cue) so your dog isn’t stuck holding a pose too long.
Assign a dedicated handler and a clean exit route: Your dog should have one familiar adult who isn’t in the wedding party, someone who knows their cues, can spot stress signals, and can leave early without disrupting the flow. Rehearse the entrance and exit route once at the venue, including the potty spot and the quiet break space, so your Leonberger never has to “guess” what’s next.

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.

Puppy Leonberger in front of white background. The puppy is wearing flowers. — Leonberger puppy being the flower dog. Shutterstock Asset id: 2154719621 by cynoclub.

Wedding Day Q&A for Leonberger Parents

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.

Five Leonbergers wearing patriotic hats lying on grass by a lake. — This photo was provided by Jen O’Keefe, Urgent Animal Care of Arlington. From left to right; Obi, Delfi, Aslan, Gryphon, Digory.

Plan a Smooth Wedding Role for Your Leonberger

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.

Step 1: Choose one short “job” and rehearse it. Start with a single, easy role such as walking down the aisle with a handler, a quick greeting, or a photo cameo. Practice in 3 to 5-minute sessions in different places so your Leonberger learns the pattern, not just the location. End each run with a calm reward so the wedding task feels predictable and winnable.
Step 2: Run an outfit and gear test at home. Try the bandana, bow tie, harness, or leash during a normal walk, then check for rubbing under the front legs and around the ruff. Confirm your dog can pant freely, drink water, and lie down comfortably, since those are key stress relievers on a busy day. If anything causes scratching, head-shaking, or stiffness, simplify the outfit.
Step 3: Assign a dedicated pet-wrangler and share the schedule. Pick one person whose only responsibility is your dog, since you will be busy and emotions run high, and assign a pet handler who can advocate for breaks. Give them a simple timeline with arrival, potty, water, photos, ceremony, and your dog’s planned exit. Include your Leonberger’s “no thanks” signals so the handler can step away early, not after your dog is over threshold.
Step 4: Build large-dog safety protocols into every location change. Walk the exact routes your Leonberger will take, and remove slipping hazards like polished floors, loose rugs, and tight corners where guests may crowd in for petting. Confirm who opens doors, who holds the leash, and where your dog waits so nobody grabs the collar or leans over their head. Keep greetings brief and one-at-a-time to reduce jumping risk and prevent stress stacking.
Step 5: Schedule enrichment breaks to reset body and brain. Plan short “off-stage” pauses every 45 to 90 minutes for water, sniffing, and a chew or lick mat in a quiet spot. A few minutes of decompression lowers arousal and helps your Leonberger return to the group with better manners and a softer expression. If you can, arrive early so your dog can take a slow sniff-walk before the energy spikes.

When your Leonberger knows the routine and has real breaks, joy looks effortless and feels safe.

Creating Calm, Joyful Wedding Moments With Your Leonberger

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 Life and Times of Le Bronco Von Der Lowenhohle Featured on Smorgasbord Magazine

Please go and check it out. Thank you so much Sally.

Smorgasbord Book Promotions 2026 – Share an Excerpt – Boost one of your books – #Doglovers – The Life and Times of Le Bronco von der Löwenhöhle: Stories and Tips from Thirteen Years with a Leonberger by Thomas Wikman

National Love Your Pet Day

I was alerted to the existence of National Love Your Pet Day by this post. Because I was busy all day I did not get a chance to post anything until now. However, it is still National Love Your Pet Day here where I live.

National Love Your Pet Day is an annual observance dedicated to celebrating animals. With this post I just wanted to show some photos of our current dog the mini-Australian Shepherd Rollo and our past dogs the Labrador Baylor (mix ¼ Rhodesian Ridgeback), the German Shepherd Baby, our big Leonberger Bronco, or Le Bronco von der Löwenhöhle, our Japanese Chin Ryu and our Pug Daisy. We love(d) them all and will forever be in our hearts.

Photos of our Dogs

My wife, opening the trunk of our red van as Baylor, our Labrador is preparing to jump. — My wife Claudia and our first family dog the Labrador Baylor. This was back in the day. Our niece gave us Baylor because she was going to college. In turn she had gotten him from a shelter. He was a mix, one quarter Rhodesian Ridgeback and three quarters Yellow Labrador. He was able to jump up into the trunk of our van. Baylor was my first dog (not my wife’s first dog), and he taught me a lot about being a dog parent.

The photo shows a yellow labrador swimming in the middle of an Olympic sized pool. — Our Labrador Baylor is swimming in Claudia’s parents pool. He loved swimming, and he loved that pool and swam in it a lot.

A dark brown and black German Shepherd walking around in a dog park. — Our German Shepherd Baby at the dog park.

Two dogs looking into the camera. An old yellow Labrador on the left and the dark brown and black German Shepherd on the right. — Our Labrador Baylor and our German Shepherd Baby. Baylor was older in this picture. We had just gotten our Leonberger Bronco.

The photo shows a Leonberger puppy wearing a red scarf. He is looking into the camera. — This is our Leonberger Bronco (Le Bronco von der Löwenhöhle) at three months old.

Our Leonberger dog is standing on a red leather sofa, and he is leaning over to give me a hug. — Bronco our Leonberger dog was a very affectionate dog.

Three dogs sitting on the floor, a Leonberger, a Japanese Chin and a Pug. — Our Leonberger Bronco (Le Bronco von der Löwenhöhle), our Japanese Chin Ryu, and our Pug Daisy in the front right.

Three dogs running. On the left and unknown dog, in the middle a yellow Lab and on the right a Japanese Chin. — At the White Rock Lake dog park. Baylor our Labrador in the middle. He was old in this photo. Our Japanese Chin Ryu on the right.

The photo shows a Pug in the front left and a black and white Japanese Chin in the back to the right. — Our Pug Daisy and our Japanese Chin Ryu.

Our Japanese Chin Ryu is licking our beige pug Daisy’s ear. She is sitting in front of a vent. — Our Pug Daisy often sat in front of vents when she was cold. Daisy and our Japanese Chin Ryu were very close, like a couple. Daisy was obviously grieving when Ryu died, from cancer a bit early at only ten years old. Bronco was grieving as well.

Daisy our beige pug is lying over the back of our beige leather sofa. — Daisy is exhausted after doing nothing for a whole day.

A big Leonberger splayed across a big wide red leather sofa. — Our Leonberger Bronco sleeping on our big red leather sofa.

Our Leonberger dog Bronco is standing in front of me and looking straight into the camera. I am sitting down. — Our old Leonberger dog Bronco is coming up to me. Maybe it is dinner time.

The photos show a cage containing two dogs, a black and white mini-Australian Shepherd and an English Bulldog. — In December of 2018 we picked up our mini-Australian Shepherd Rollo. His friend was an English Bulldog.

The photo shows a mini-Australian Shepherd puppy on the floor and behind him is our big Leonberger Bronco. — Our Leonberger Bronco is welcoming Rollo.

The photo shows a young mini-Australian Shepherd puppy and beige pug on a black spotted blanket. — Our pug Daisy and Rollo are saying hello.

The photo shows a dark brown and white mini-Australian Shepherd puppy sitting on a beige tile floor. — Our mini-Australian Shepherd puppy Rollo at 3 months old.

The photos show a mini-Australian Shepherd puppy play fully lying on his side in front of our Leonberger Bronco. — Our mini-Australian Shepherd puppy Rollo and our Leonberger Bronco.

The photo shows a mini-Australian Shepherd standing on a chair and having his front paws on the table. — Our mini-Australian Shepherd Rollo at the table on his seventh birthday. This is a more recent picture, from October of this year.

Two Leonbergers standing next to each other and wearing party headwear typical for a carnival. — Digory and Obi two old sweetheart Leonbergers sending all of your pets their love and sending all of you their love as well. Photo by Jen O’Keefe a friend.

Love Your Pets Every Day

Feel free to add links to your posts about pets in the comments. There is a maximum of two links per comment (how it is set up) so if you want to post many links you need to spread it out over many comments. I am late so don’t worry your comment being late. Any day is fine.

Letting Your Dog Drive the Car

Esther’s writing prompt: February 11 : Drive

Click here or here to join in.

A photo of a Leonberger puppy wearing a red scarf. — This is a photo of our Leonberger Bronco when he was three months old.

On the left is our yellow Labrador Baylor and on the right is our brown and black German Shepherd. They are both lying down and looking into the camera. — Our Labrador Baylor and our German Shepherd Baby. Photo taken at the same time as the top photo above. However, we couldn’t get Bronco to sit still between Baylor and Baby.

Bronco is standing at the kitchen entrance, and our new little dark brown and white puppy is sitting in front of him. — In this photo our Leonberger dog Bronco is eleven and a half years old, and we had acquired a new puppy, a mini-Australian Shepherd by the name Rollo.

One thing all our dogs loved was going for a car ride. The big dogs loved sticking their heads out the window and feeling the wind in their faces. The little dogs loved going places. And they all loved looking at the passing scenery. Oh, the things you can see when you’re “ridin’ in the car, car,” as the Woody Guthrie song goes!

There were some sights that got the dogs especially excited. They would bark if they saw people working on roofs or riding bicycles, for example. They would become even more animated if we got close to a dog park or a McDonald’s drive-through window. (That might have been because sometimes we bought them snacks at the McDonald’s drive-through.)

One time when I was taking Bronco, Baylor, and Baby to the dog park, a car passing me slowed down and started driving right next to me. I looked over, slightly annoyed, and saw that the people in the car were pointing at us and laughing. I was thinking, “What is their problem?” Then I glanced back at the dogs and realized that we did look funny. Bronco was sitting in the front passenger seat with his head close to the roof, looking majestic. Baylor and Baby were sitting in their own seats in the back. They probably looked like human passengers from a distance, but as the people in the car got closer, they realized that the heads weren’t human heads but dogs’ heads and burst out laughing.

I can add that most of the time we put the dogs in the back of our van or SUV but since they preferred to sit on a seat like humans do, we started letting them sit on the seats. If you let them sit on the seats you need to attach them to the car seat latch using dog safety restraint (dog seat belt). Sometimes, the dogs wanted to drive but it is difficult to get a driver license for a dog in Texas. In the picture below Rollo did not really drive the car. I used that photo for an April 1^st joke.

Our mini-Australian Shepherd Rollo is driving a car. He is coming back from a visit to grandma and grandpa.

From Pete Springer (see comments) I got this YouTube video featuring 13 funny and cute Subaru commericals showing dogs driving cars.

My Other Responses to Esther’s Prompts

Prompt : Small : Small Microscopic Subatomic and Strings
Prompt : Kind : Leonbergers Are Kind Dogs
Prompt : Charge : Electric Charge is not the only type of Fundamental Charge
Prompt : Promises : Promises To My Dog
Prompt : Shade : A Total Solar Eclipse the Ultimate Moon Shade
Prompt : Money : Ten Money Facts
Prompt : Edge : The Edge of the Observable Universe is 46.5 billion Light Years Away
Prompt : Fish : Ten Amazing Fish Facts
Prompt : Promise : I Promise Not to Post AI Generated Comments
Prompt : Respect : Respect your Dog
Prompt : Giving : Leonbergers Giving Gifts to Pugs
Prompt : Family : Dogs Are Family
Prompt : Snow : Snow and Ice in Norrland
Prompt : Red : The Universe has a Redshift and its Increasing
Prompt: Shapes : Conic Sections are the Shapes that Shape Our World
Prompt: Flying : 10 Wind Blowing Facts About Birds

Is it difficult to get a dog driver license where you live ?

Caring for Aging Leonbergers

Photo of a Leonberger lying on a leather sofa with my book leaning towards his chest. — An old Canadian Leonberger called Mak with my book The Life and Times of Le Bronco von der Löwenhöhle. Photo by Debbie Ireland.

Like most very large dogs Leonbergers don’t live very long. Our Leonberger Bronco got his Grey-Muzzle award from the Leonberger Health Foundation International for reaching the age of 12 years old and thus giving hope for a longer life to all Leonbergers.

This is a guest post written by Ryan Goodchild. He emailed me asking me if he could publish this post regarding caring for aging Leonberger. I said yes. I am very grateful to Ryan for his contribution. I added the photos. See his post below.

Caring for Aging Leonbergers: Gentle Stewardship for a Noble Breed

Leonbergers are among the most majestic of dogs, gentle giants with deep eyes and a noble temperament. Yet as they age, their impressive size can make the journey into senior years more complex. Providing attentive, structured care can extend both their lifespan and their sense of ease.

Key Takeways

Large breeds like Leonbergers face an earlier onset of joint and heart issues; early detection matters.
Routine, low-impact exercise sustains mobility without strain.
Dietary adjustments can prevent unnecessary weight gain and inflammation.
Organized health tracking improves coordination with veterinarians.
Emotional stability and routine help aging Leonbergers thrive.

The photo shows an old Leonberger dog lying on green grass. He is looking into the camera. — Bronco our Leonberger dog is taking a rest during a walk. He is twelve and a half years old.

Movement, Moderation, and Mindful Play

As Leonbergers age, mobility becomes one of the first visible signs of change. These dogs are stoic by nature, and they’ll often mask discomfort until it’s advanced. Structured daily activity, rather than long or sporadic walks, helps maintain joint lubrication and muscle tone. Before implementing the list below, remember: consistency outperforms intensity in senior dogs.

Short, frequent walks instead of long treks
Gentle swimming or hydrotherapy to maintain strength
Orthopedic support beds to reduce pressure on hips
Warm-ups and cool-downs before and after activity
Avoid stairs and slippery floors

A photo of our Leonberger lying on our green lawn. There are trees and bushes in the background. — Our Leonberger Bronco taking a resting in the grass in our backyard.

The Nutrition Shift: Balancing Strength and Weight

Proper nutrition is the most controllable lever for supporting your Leonberger’s aging body. Senior diets should favor lean protein, omega fatty acids, and joint-supportive ingredients like glucosamine and chondroitin. Maintaining a stable weight relieves stress on the joints and heart, critical in large breeds prone to orthopedic and cardiac issues.

Before introducing supplements or new foods, ask your vet for metabolic screening. Senior metabolism slows down, and caloric needs can drop by 20–30%.

Organized Health Tracking for Long-Term Comfort

Keeping your Leonberger’s medical and health information in one place transforms how you coordinate care, especially across multiple veterinarians or specialists. When you can easily review past test results, medication schedules, or dietary shifts, you reduce oversight risks and improve continuity of care. Centralized documentation also helps detect subtle changes over time, like gradual increases in kidney markers or weight fluctuations.

For this reason, an online PDF platform like this is worth a look.It offers practical tools to manage your pet’s documents in PDF form, and you can even convert, compress, edit, rotate, or reorder files. Keeping your records as PDFs ensures they’re universally accessible and easily shareable with any vet clinic.

Old Leonberger with a grey muzzle lying on the ground and looking into the camera. — Old Leonberger. Notice the gray muzzle. Stock Photo ID: 1844035084 by Daniel Lesk.

Create a Home Environment That Supports Aging

Leonbergers are emotional creatures, they notice routine disruptions and physical discomforts more than we realize. Making environmental adjustments will enhance both safety and serenity. Here’s a simple how-to checklist to start with:

➢ Schedule consistent feeding, exercise, and sleep times.

➢ Install nonslip rugs or mats along walking paths.

➢ Keep water bowls elevated to reduce neck strain.

➢ Adjust room temperatures; older dogs chill more easily.

➢Use gentle lighting to help those with fading vision.

➢ Offer mental enrichment through scent games or puzzle toys.

Early Detection Through Routine Screening

Veterinary visits every six months (instead of annually) are invaluable in the senior stage. They allow for the timely detection of thyroid imbalances, early arthritis, and cardiomyopathy, all common in Leonbergers. Blood pressure checks, urinalysis, and cardiac ultrasounds should be part of your preventive plan. Here’s a quick comparison of recommended tests for senior Leonbergers:

Test Type	Frequency	Purpose
Bloodwork & Urinalysis	Every 6 months	Detect organ stress or metabolic changes
Orthopedic Exam	Yearly	Identify joint deterioration early
Echocardiogram	Every 12–18 months	Screen for dilated cardiomyopathy
Dental Cleaning	Every 6–9 months	Prevent systemic inflammation
Weight & Body Condition	Monthly at home	Track obesity risk

A photo of our old Leonberger lying on the sidewalk. — Our Leonberger Bronco taking a break during a walk. He is old for a Leonberger. He is 12 years old and 10 months.

Emotional Presence: The Subtle Form of Care

Leonbergers thrive on companionship. As they age, separation anxiety or confusion can intensify, especially if cognitive decline begins. Maintain a calm household rhythm, avoid sudden relocations, and keep them close to family life. The reassurance of your presence often does more for their comfort than any supplement or therapy.

FAQ

How often should I adjust my Leonberger’s diet as they age?
Most dogs benefit from a nutritional review every 6–9 months, as caloric and protein needs change. Work with your vet to adjust based on body condition and lab values. Small, incremental changes prevent digestive upset and weight swings.
What’s the right exercise level for an elderly Leonberger?
Aim for multiple 10–15 minute walks daily and low-impact play. Overexertion accelerates joint wear, while too little activity causes stiffness and muscle loss. Observe recovery time after walks as your guide.
Can joint supplements really help?
Yes, glucosamine, MSM, and omega-3 fatty acids can reduce inflammation and pain when used consistently. Results may take 4–8 weeks, so track improvements patiently. Always choose vet-approved formulations designed for large breeds.
How do I recognize signs of cognitive decline?
Look for pacing, confusion, or nighttime restlessness. These signs can mimic anxiety but often stem from age-related cognitive dysfunction. Specialized diets and enrichment can help slow progression.
Is it okay to groom my senior Leonberger as before?
Grooming is still essential, but adjust for comfort. Shorter sessions with frequent breaks reduce fatigue and stress. Keep nails trimmed to prevent balance issues and discomfort.
When is it time to consider palliative or hospice care?
When daily mobility, appetite, and emotional engagement decline significantly despite treatment, it may be time to focus on comfort. A quality-of-life assessment from your vet can guide compassionate decisions. The goal shifts from curing to easing.

The photo shows the face of Leonberger lying down. — Closeup of old Leonberger Stock Photo ID: 1942925251 by Wirestock Creators.

Conclusion

Caring for an aging Leonberger is both an art and an act of devotion. It’s about more than prolonging life, it’s about enriching every moment your dog still wants to share. With consistent monitoring, gentle activity, and a serene home rhythm, your Leonberger can continue to live with grace, dignity, and the steady comfort of your presence.

Leonbergers Giving Gifts to Pugs

Esther’s writing prompt: 17th December : Giving

Click here or here to join in.

Dogs give gifts and do nice things for people and other dogs. In this post I am describing three occasions when our late Leonberger Bronco gave our Pug Daisy gifts.

Leonberger Shares a Gingerbread House

Our Leonberger dog Bronco (his full name was Le Bronco von der Löwenhöhle) was an expert counter surfer, which is why we installed a pet gate to the entrance of our kitchen. Bronco knew how to open gates if they were not locked, so you had to make sure that you did not just close the gate but lock it. However, one December day I forgot to lock the gate. That was the day our daughter had made a gingerbread house and left it on the kitchen counter. Guess who ate half the gingerbread house? Guess who ate some of the other half? Bronco shared some with Daisy. He was always very generous. The photo below is what I saw when I got home that day.

A pug on the left, and Leonberger dog on the right. There are pieces of a gingerbread house on the floor. There is an open gate in the background. — The open gate behind Daisy and Bronco permitted their gingerbread-house raid.

Leonberger Shares a Baked Potato

I believe dogs have empathy, and sometimes they want to share—at least Bronco did. There was a time when we were in our home eating take-out food and Bronco stole one of our dinners, including meat, vegetables, and a baked potato. He started eating the meat, then he glanced at Daisy, who was sitting in the middle of the floor looking sad. Immediately he took the baked potato in his mouth and carried it over to her and dropped it right at her feet. I was going to get mad at him for stealing, but when I saw his kindhearted and unselfish act, I let it be.

Daisy our pug is sitting in front of a vent. — Daisy our Pug was sitting there looking sad, but she got a baked potato with bacon and butter. I should say that the photo is from another occasion when she sat in front of the vent because she was cold. But it is close enough.

Leonberger Saves our Pug Daisy’s Life

On another occasion, Bronco did something else amazing for Daisy. Despite having issues with his paws—this was around the time he was being treated for squamous cell carcinoma—he saved Daisy from an attacking German shepherd who was running loose.

We were at my wife Claudia’s parents’ house, just leaving, standing on their driveway, when one of their neighbors came out to drop some garbage in the trash can at the end of her driveway. With her was a young, probably adolescent, German shepherd, and he was not on a leash. As we were standing on the porch, I suddenly saw the shepherd flying through the bushes, his teeth bared. He quickly charged us—viciously.

First, he went for Daisy, but Bronco got between them to protect her. Essentially, Bronco saved her life. The shepherd bit his leg in return. Bronco was almost twelve when this happened, and he was not as strong as he used to be. A German shepherd would have been an easy opponent for Bronco just a few years earlier, but at that point he was old, and he did not need the extra stress.

I kicked the German shepherd in the stomach, and he ran off. Bronco’s legs were weak—he had recently had a toe operation, and his walking was unsteady—so seeing the shepherd going for the leg on which he had had his operation was very upsetting. The shepherd could have bitten me, of course, and I could have been severely injured, but I didn’t care. I was defending my dogs—who were all on a leash, by the way. If the shepherd had bitten me, the owner could have been criminally charged, and there could have been a lawsuit

The owner of the shepherd came over to apologize, but I cursed at her. Maybe I shouldn’t have, but she had a vicious and dangerous dog, and she intentionally let him run loose. In the end, though, there were no major injuries. Bronco’s leg was slightly hurt, but overall, he was fine. These days, whenever we talk about this incident, I jokingly refer to the neighbor dog as Cujo. I should say that we’ve had a German Shepherd who was a sweetheart, so this is story is in no way an attempt to disparage German Shepherds. They are typically wonderful dogs as well.

In conclusion, this third example was an example of Bronco giving up his safety and potential health to protect our Pug Daisy.

The photo shows our Leonberger Bronco standing in the backyard as a sun ray is shining down over his head. — Bronco was a hero saving Daisy’s life.

My Other Responses to Esther’s Prompts

Prompt : Small : Small Microscopic Subatomic and Strings
Prompt : Kind : Leonbergers Are Kind Dogs
Prompt : Charge : Electric Charge is not the only type of Fundamental Charge
Prompt : Promises : Promises To My Dog
Prompt : Shade : A Total Solar Eclipse the Ultimate Moon Shade
Prompt : Money : Ten Money Facts
Prompt : Edge : The Edge of the Observable Universe is 46.5 billion Light Years Away
Prompt : Fish : Ten Amazing Fish Facts
Prompt : Promise : I Promise Not to Post AI Generated Comments
Prompt : Respect : Respect your Dog

Respect your Dog

Esther’s writing prompt: 10th December : Respect

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Dogs are living conscious beings, and they should not be mistreated, hurt or treated disrespectfully. For example, don’t allow kids to play rough with dogs or take their food. Do not hit them. Do not push their face towards the feces when they have an accident inside the house. There is a widespread false misconception that you should. Again, respect your dog.

Do not keep them outside for a long time in the heat or cold. Do not abandon them, especially not to the wild where they will not survive. When your dog gets old, slow and boring, take care of it. You can get a new puppy but do not ever replace an old dog with a puppy. Doing so is cruel and immoral. Dogs deserve your respect.

This may be self-evident to most dog owners. However, I have seen people do these things to dogs and worse, so it bears repeating.

Do not let kids or Puppies Pull a Dog’s Tail

Playing with a dog is, of course, fine. They love running after balls and other toys and having fun in the backyard, playing with kids and other dogs. However, having their tail pulled is not their version of fun and it can cause a dog to bite. I am guilty of this myself. When I was a kid, I pulled the tail of my uncle’s dog and I almost got bitten. When our mini-Australian Shepherd Rollo was still a puppy he sometimes pestered our Leonberger Bronco by pulling his tail and even dangling in it like a swing. We did not allow this, but accidents happened. Luckily Bronco was very patient with Rollo, and he let us know when there was tail biting mischief under way so that we could remove Rollo.

The photo shows a mini-Australian Shepherd biting a Leonberger’s tail. — Rollo, our mini-Australian Shepherd, frequently bit our Leonberger Bronco’s tail, and he even swung in it like a swing. He climbed all over Bronco. Bronco was very patient with him. Naturally, we did not allow this, but accidents happened.

Do not let kids ride big dogs

Do not allow children to ride big dogs like a horse. This could cause severe spinal injuries to the dog because their backs aren’t built for weight. The dog may also bite the kid to defend itself.

A small boy is sitting on the back of a big Leonberger dog. A red X is drawn across the picture, and it features the text Don’t in red. — Don’t allow. This is very dangerous to the dog as well as the kid as the dog may bite. The dog in the picture is a Leonberger. This image was generated with the help of AI/ChatGPT.

Dogs Get Lonely

Don’t leave dogs alone for extended periods of time. Dogs need to potty, they need interaction, they get lonely and anxious. It is typically fine to leave an adult dog at home for a couple of hours but much longer than that could be a problem. If the dog goes potty on the floor when home alone for a long time, well that is not the dog’s fault. You clean it up and apologize to the dog.

A dark brown and white Australian Shepherd is looking out the window of a brick house. — A lonely Australian Shepherd looking out the window. This image was generated with the help of AI/ChatGPT.

Rollo our dark brown and white mini-Australian Shepherd is standing in front of the window looking out. You can see the reflection of me and the rest of the neighborhood in the window, obscuring Rollo a bit. — Rollo is looking out the window. We don’t leave him for very long but when we do he sits and looks out the window. You can see the reflection of me taking the photo and of the neighborhood in the window.

It is a little bit better when dogs have the company of each other.

A pug and a mini-Australian Shepherd are standing on the sofa looking out the window. The joke goes: Daisy says : Rollo do you want to hear a joke? Rollo says OK. Daisy says Knock! Knock! They both start barking like crazy. — Daisy’s and Rollo’s knock knock joke.

Hugs May not be Welcome

Perhaps surprisingly most dogs find hugs uncomfortable and stressful because they restrict their natural “flight” instinct and make them feel threatened, even though humans see it as affection. Our Leonberger gave us Leonberger hugs, meaning he leaned on us, or pressed his body against us, but like most dogs he probably did not like human arms around his body. If you put your arms around a dog they may start licking their lips, yawning, or even trying to get away. These are stress signals. If they lick your face in this situation, it is not likely to be a kiss, but attempted appeasement. Essentially, the dog wants to please you, but he is wondering why you are mean by giving him a hug without his consent.

The picture shows a Leonberger dog looking forward as boy on his right is hugging the dog and putting his arm around him. — Hugs may not be welcome. Watch for lip licking and other stress signals when kids do this. Perhaps ask the kid not to squeeze the dog with his arms. This image was generated with the help of AI/ChatGPT.

In the picture below our Leonberger Bronco is reaching out to me to give me a hug, as I entered the room, but maybe I should not have put my arm around him. I should say Bronco was a very tolerant dog.

Bronco is standing on our red leather sofa giving me hug and a kiss. — Bronco our Leonberger is giving me a kiss, or is it? He is about one year old and not yet fully grown.

To learn more about the complex question of dog hugs you can watch the 8 minute video below.

In summary, Respect Your Dog

To visit a related post, Promises To My Dog, click here.

Another Leonberger Chance Encounter

I just received a couple of photos from our niece Jessica and her husband Eric. They live in Minnesota. They had encountered a Leonberger dog named Oliver, and they took a couple of photos. For those who do not know, Leonbergers are large family friendly dogs related to Saint Bernards. It is a rare breed, so you don’t see them very often. If you want to read more about this amazing breed, see the list of all my blog posts.

A Leonberger is standing in front of a wall with a fence in front of it. — A friendly Leonberger named Oliver. Photo by Jessica Sardas.

A Leonberger is standing in front of a wall with a fence in front of it. Next to him is another large black dog — A friendly Leonberger named Oliver. Photo by Jessica Sardas.

Other Leonberger Chance Encounters

Another amazing Leonberger chance encounter happened when we visited my native country Sweden. We had hiked up a mountain in the high coast region (that’s where I grew up) called the Skule Berget, or Skull Mountain in English. The elevation of the hike was nearly 1,000 feet. Guess what we found at the summit besides the red cabin restaurant selling waffles to the brave souls who managed to finish the hike? A Leonberger named Amie. We took some photos of Amie. I hope she got some waffles too. You can read more about our adventure here.

A photo of the Leonberger Amie standing on top of a wooden bench on top of the mountain. — Amie at the top of Skule Berget.

Another chance encounter was when our daughter-in-law’s mother had a chance encounter with a Leonberger at her mother’s nursing home. Leonberger dogs are big but friendly, trusting, calm, confident, and very trainable, making them perfect therapy dogs. They are therefore often used as therapy dogs at hospitals, nursing homes and mental institutions. You can read more about this encounter here.

Two women behind a large Leonberger. The woman on the left is an elderly woman sitting in a wheelchair. — Our daughter-in-law’s mother is on the left and her mother is on the right. She gave me permission to use this photo. The Leonberger is in the middle front.

A Therapy Leonberger Called Scout

Speaking about therapy dogs. Below is a video about a Leonberger called Scout by CBC news in Canada. This Leonberger is helping residents at Hamilton mental health hospital. He was bred by Concorde Ridge Leonbergers. They have a website and a blog which I follow. You can visit my post about Scout here. The 1-minute video is shown on the website below.

https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/1.6835161

About the book The Life and Times of Le Bronco von der Löwenhöhle

Finally, I would like to mention that I wrote a book about our late Leonberger Bronco, or Le Bronco von der Löwenhöhle. The title of the book is “The Life and Times of Le Bronco von der Löwenhöhle, Stories and Tips from Thirteen Years with a Leonberger”. The book features the amusing adventures of our Leonberger Bronco and his dog friends, as well as information on how to train and care for Leonbergers and other large breeds, their breed history, breed standard, Leonberger organizations, and an extensive resource guide at the end. I can add that all photos and illustrations are in color. The price of the paperback version is 17.95 (normal prize is $19.95) and the price of the Kindle version is $4.95 All proceeds go to the Leonberger Health Foundation International, an organization that works to improve the health and longevity of Leonbergers and other large dog breeds.

The gold and beige book cover features the face of our Leonberger Bronco and the text "The Life and Times of Le Bronco von der Löwenhöhle. Stories and Tips from Thirteen Years with a Leonberger." — This is the front cover of the book “The Life and Times of Le Bronco von der Löwenhöhle”. Click here or on the image to go to the United States Amazon location for the paperback version of the book.

The back cover in gold and beige features a photo of a Leonberger in a snowy forest and an introduction to the book. — This is the back cover of the book “The Life and Times of Le Bronco von der Löwenhöhle”. Click here or on the image to go to the Amazon.com location for the kindle version of the book.

The endorsements say “A wonderful tribute to the author's beloved Bronco. The stories are heartwarming as well as informative - a true glimpse into life with a Leonberger. D'Nae Wilson, President, Leonberger Health Foundation International.” and “A lovely tribute to Bronco, with lots of resources for general Leonberger information. Julie Schaffert, LCA breeder since 1992.” — Again, these are the endorsements for the book by some very prominent members of the Leonberger community. Click here or on the image to go to the location for the book Amazon in Canada.

Leonbergers Are Kind Dogs

Esther’s writing prompt: 13th August : Kind

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Leonbergers Are Kind

What kind of dog is a Leonberger? Well, a Leonberger is a kind dog. If you don’t know what a Leonberger is; it is a big fluffy, fun and friendly family dog originating in Germany. It was registered as a new breed in 1846 in the town of Leonberg by a prominent businessman named Heinrich Essig. Allegedly Essig used Saint Bernards but also Newfoundland Dogs, and allegedly Great Pyrenees (or Pyrenean mastiffs) to create a breed that was big, muscular, and looked like a lion. However, what he strived for the most was to create a friendly, confident and predictable family dog. These characteristics make the Leonberger a perfect therapy dog, and his majestic and fluffy appearance does not hurt. Leonbergers also have a great sense of smell, they are great at pulling heavy carts, and they have webbed feet (from the Newfoundland dogs) and they are great swimmers. You can read about the history of the Leonberger here.

On the left is bear cub looking Leonberger puppy wearing a red scarf/ On the right is a tired old Leonberger lying in the grass. He is looking straight into the camera — On the left our Leonberger Bronco is three months old. On the right is our Leonberger Bronco when he was old almost 13 years old.

Our Leonberger Bronco is bigger than my wife and she is barely visible behind him. — Our Leonberger Bronco is sitting in my wife Claudia’s lap. He was slightly overweight in this picture, 167 pounds, or 76 kilograms. His ideal weight is 140 pounds.

Bronco Our Leonberger Shares a Baked Potato

I believe dogs have empathy, and sometimes they want to share—at least Bronco did. There was a time when we were in our home eating take-out food and Bronco stole one of our dinners, including meat, vegetables, and a baked potato. He started eating the meat, then he glanced at our Pug Daisy, who was sitting in the middle of the floor looking sad. Immediately he took the baked potato in his mouth and carried it over to her and dropped it right at her feet. I was going to get mad at him for stealing, but when I saw his kindhearted and unselfish act, I let it be.

Our Leonberger Bronco is standing in the kitchen. There’s a broken gingerbread house on the floor. Our Pug Daisy is setting next to Bronco and the broken gingerbread house. — On another occasion Bronco stole our gingerbread house. As you can see in the picture, he shared that with Daisy as well.

Bronco Alerts Us to an Insulin Shock

We had a Labrador called Baylor who had diabetes. One late evening Bronco started barking while looking at Baylor, then he intently looked at us, then he turned his head toward Baylor and started barking again. He did this a few times—not aggressively, but to get our attention. It became clear that Bronco wanted us to look at Baylor. I examined Baylor but saw nothing wrong at first. Then I looked again. This time I saw that his back legs were shaking slightly. It quickly got worse. His gait became wobbly, then within perhaps fifteen seconds he fainted. He had gone into insulin shock. We rushed him to the emergency clinic, where fortunately the doctors were able to revive him.

Bronco detected a problem with Baylor before we could see anything wrong. His warnings gave us that little bit of extra time we needed to save Baylor’s life. I still wonder what it was that Bronco noticed. You can read more about this incident here.

Bronco’s Hamster Rescue Operation

We used to have hamsters. On several occasions the hamsters escaped their cage but luckily our Leonberger Bronco found the hamsters for us. As I mentioned Leonbergers have good sense of smell. One day my wife found Bronco walking around with puffy cheeks. There were hamsters in his mouth. Long story short, he was not trying to eat them, he was saving them, and the hamsters were fine. You can read more about this incident here.

Our Leonberger Bronco with puffy cheeks — Hamsters in Bronco’s cheeks. Illustration by Naomi Rosenblatt.

Bronco Saves Daisy’s Life

On another occasion, Bronco did something else amazing for our Pug Daisy. Despite having issues with his paws—this was around the time he was being treated for squamous cell carcinoma—he saved Daisy from an attacking German shepherd who was running loose.

We were at Claudia’s parents’ house, just leaving, when one of their neighbors came out to drop some garbage in the trash can at the end of her driveway. With her was a young, probably adolescent, German shepherd, and he was not on a leash. As we were standing on the porch, I suddenly saw the shepherd flying through the bushes, his teeth bared. He quickly charged us—viciously.

Rachel is sitting down on her knees while petting our black and white mini-Australian Shepherd Rollo and our Pug Daisy. — Just as our daughter Rachel protects Rollo and Daisy, Bronco protected the smaller dogs, sometimes at his own peril.

A Therapy Leonberger Called Scout

As I mentioned, Leonbergers are great therapy dogs and are often used in hospitals. Below is a video about a Leonberger called Scout by CBC news in Canada. This Leonberger is helping residents at Hamilton mental health hospital. He was bred by Concorde Ridge Leonbergers. They have a website and a blog which I follow. You visit my post about Scout here. The 8-minute video is shown on the website below.

https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/1.6835161

Leonberger Guiness World Record

With this post I just wanted to highlight a fun Leonberger YouTube video regarding a Leonberger who succeeded in creating a new Guiness World Record on the Britain Got Talent show. If you don’t know what a Leonberger is; it is a big fluffy, fun and friendly family dog originating in Germany. It was registered as a new breed in 1846 in the town of Leonberger by a prominent businessman named Heinrich Essig. Leonbergers are related to Saint Bernards, Newfoundland Dogs, and allegedly Great Pyrenees (or Pyrenean mastiffs). You can read about the history of the Leonberger here. I am sorry I realized now that the page is full of typos. I have to fix that at some point.

At the end of this page, I put a fun YouTube video of Leonberger named Hagrid who created a new Guiness World Record. Since I created my Leonberger history page when I had just launched this blog in 2022 and had very few followers many people may have missed the Hagrid movie, so here it is. I can add that I have also added some photos of our late Leonberger Bronco at the end of this post.