Leonberger University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland In the 1830s, Heinrich Essig, a dog breeder and seller and mayor of the town of Leonberg near Stuttgart in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, claimed to have created the Leonberger by crossing a female Landseer Newfoundland with a "barry" male from the Great St. Bernard Hospice and Monastery (which would later create the Saint Bernard breed). Later, according to Essig, a Pyrenean Mountain Dog was added, resulting in very large dogs with the long, white coats that were the fashion for the time, and pleasant temperament. The first dogs registered as Leonbergers were born in 1846 and
Drafting dog that could not be cured and were in danger of dying out completely. They were then cross bred with the Newfoundland which did not have the affection. The result gave the St. Bernard a long coat gene as well as the Black and Mahogany colors. The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, Bernese Mountain Dog, and Rottweiler have personalities that are closely matched. They were watchdogs so the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog and Rottweiler are cautious with strangers yet if socialized with them the dog will like them better. All dog breeds need early socialization and training. All breeds can be gentle