I bought the paperback version of the book Leonberger Dog Information: Everything You Need To Know About Basic Leonberger Dog Paperback – November 16, 2022 by Bao Reives. It is a short book. The paperback version is 55 pages, the dimensions are 6 x 0.14 x 9 inches, and the weight is 4.8 ounces, ISBN 979-8364129697, and it currently costs $10.74 on Amazon in the US. The Kindle version is 110 pages, ASIN B0BMNBL7CV, and cost $5.44 and is written by Matthew Marrow. They are not linked on Amazon, so you have to search for the kindle version separately.
This is a strange Leonberger book. There’s a Labrador on the front page. The book is directed at a UK audience in some parts and an American audience in other parts. Yet it is otherwise a decent Leonberger book filled with Leonberger specific information and 16 black and white Leonberger photos. It is as if it was written by two different authors who have a good understanding of Leos, but the book designer screwed up massively. With 16 good Leonberger photos in the book, how did a Labrador end up on the front cover? How would you rate that?
A thought occurred to me that someone copied the content of two other Leonberger books, text, photos and all, and just mixed it all together. That would be bad and I am not sure it is even possible to do, so I am not assuming that.
Below I am posting my Amazon review of Leonberger Dog Information by Bao Reives. Click here to see my original Amazon review. BTW I gave the book three stars.
Short Leonberger Book with Some Good Information and Some Issues
Despite the photo of the Labrador on the cover of this book it is actually a Leonberger book. The book contains some good information on Leonberger care and training and where to get one and who should not get a Leonberger. I think it was good that the author pointed out that Leonbergers love to be with the family, are very large and energetic and need space, and therefore a Leonberger is not a good dog for someone living in an apartment. I also thought it was good that the author pointed out that you should find a breeder who is rigorous about genetic testing. The book contained 16 black and white photos of Leonbergers.
However, I also found a few problems with the book. Starting with the incorrect claims in the history section. The author claims that Heinrich Essig, the creator of the Leonberger breed, was the mayor of the town of Leonberg. He was a prominent citizen of Leonberg, a successful businessman, innkeeper, dog breeder, large-dog enthusiast, and town councilman, but he was not the mayor of Leonberg. It is claimed that only five Leonbergers survived World War I. It is true that World War I was tough on the breed, but it was not quite that bad. After the war, Karl Stadelmann and Otto Josenhans, worked hard to save the breed, and they were able to find twenty-five Leonbergers whose owners were willing to cooperate in reestablishing the breed. Of these, only five were suitable for breeding, which is different from saying that only five survived. In addition, the book claims that only eight Leonbergers survived World War II, which is even more incorrect.
The beginning of the book is written for readers in the UK, and later on it switches to North American readers (Leonberger Club of America), only to switch back to the UK again. It is if two different people wrote the book. Add the wrong dog breed on the cover and the somewhat funny book page design and I got the feeling that this book was put together haphazardly. It contains mostly good information, but it was not put together well, with the pieces perhaps originating from different sources. It is a quick read, it is not bad, but there are better Leonberger books out there. I give it three stars.
Leonberger Life 