Country/Date of Origin: Leonberg, Germany/1850s
Arguably one of the oldest German pure breeds the Leonberger was created by Mayor Heinrich Essig of Leonberg in the mid 19th Century. An excellent water dog renown for its life saving capabilities the Leonberger is also a superb family dog. The breed nearly became extinct after the first and second World Wars if it were not for the devotion of a handful of people who kept the breed alive.