Swedish Vallhund vs Leonberger - Breed Comparison

Swedish Vallhund vs Leonberger - Breed ComparisonLeonberger is originated from Germany but Swedish Vallhund is originated from Sweden. Leonberger may grow 46 cm / 19 inches higher than Swedish Vallhund. Leonberger may weigh 63 kg / 139 pounds more than Swedish Vallhund. Leonberger may live 5 years less than Swedish Vallhund. Leonberger may have more litter size than Swedish Vallhund. Both Leonberger and Swedish Vallhund requires Moderate Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Working dog
Herding dogs
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Germany
Sweden
Height Male:
65 - 80 cm
25 - 32 inches
30 - 34 cm
11 - 14 inches
Height Female:
65 - 80 cm
25 - 32 inches
30 - 34 cm
11 - 14 inches
Weight Male:
40 - 77 kg
88 - 170 pounds
9 - 14 kg
19 - 31 pounds
Weight Female:
40 - 77 kg
88 - 170 pounds
9 - 14 kg
19 - 31 pounds
Life Span:
8 - 10 Years
12 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
6 - 14
4 - 10
Size:
Giant
Medium
Other Names:
Gentle Leo, Leo, Gentle Giant
Västgötaspets, Swedish cow dog
Colors Available:
sandy or yellowish, tan, Reddish-brown
Cream, grey, brown
Coat:
Thick double-coat - straight or wavy
Medium length, thick
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate Maintenance
Moderate Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
No
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

leonbergerHailing from Germany, and more specifically the city of Leonberg, the Leonberger is a giant dog breed.

A resident of Leonberg, Germany, was looking to develop a dog that resembled a lion and in 1846 it was announced that such a dog had been developed by crossing a Newfoundland, Saint Bernard and Pyrenean Mountain dog.

It was after 2010, when the Leonberger Club of America joined the American Kennel Club, that the strict breeding rules were no longer mandatory for all Leonbergers.

swedish vallhundKnown also as the Västgötaspets or Swedish cow dog, the Valhund hails from Sweden. It’s a herding dog, and was always a farm dog in that country.

It was in 1943 that the dog was first recognized as a breed by the Swedish Kennel Club. Only later, in 1996, did the American Kennel Club start registering the breed.

Description

leonberger puppy - descriptionAs a giant breed, the Leonberger stands at between 65cm and 80cm in height. He weighs a hefty 40 – 77kg both males and females.

These dogs are described as being dimorphic. It means that there is quite a difference in the looks of the males and females, with the male dogs being heftier and larger than the females.

The head of the dog is large, he has almond-shaped, dark brown eyes and the ears are medium sized and floppy. The tail is long and he has webbed feet which makes him a good swimmer too.

The thick, double coat can be straight or wavy and comes in different colors such as reddish-brown, tan, sandy or yellowish and the hairs can be tipped with black. He sheds quite a bit so will need regular brushing.

The Leonberger can have between 6 – 14 puppies and these puppies are like big, fat, cuddly, fluffy teddy bears. Don’t be tempted to just buy one because of his wonderful looks because they turn out to be huge dogs that eat a lot and the coat can take quite a bit of effort to keep groomed.

Temperament:

Fondly referred to as the Leo, this giant beautiful dog is social and in spite of his size, he should never be left alone in the backyard for long periods of time. He needs to come indoors from time to time to enjoy some interaction with his human family.

He is a family dog, and with training and socialization, he becomes a well-rounded, confident, obedient pet, quiet and content and sensitive to his owner’s moods.

Even though he becomes a great family pet, you need to think twice before you decide to own one of these large dogs as he can be costly to feed.

swedish vallhund puppy - descriptionLooking much like a cross between a Corgi and the German Shepherd, the Swedish Valhund is a medium sized dog that stands between 30 and 34cm in height and weighs between 9 and 14kg.

His medium length weather-resistant coat is available in wolf like shades – cream, grey, brown etc. The tail can be long or bobbed and the medium sized ears are held erect.

Temperament:

Intelligent, confident, independent, alert, playful and active, your Swedish Valhund promises to make a good family pet.

You'll need to be an active, outdoor type of family though, as he isn’t a couch potato type of dog, snoozing in front of the TV.

He wants to be up and about going on long walks or playing ball games that give him a good run. If he gets his fair share of exercise he can adapt to life in the city or the countryside.

He is intelligent too and will respond well to training and socialization.

He just loves his human family and wants to be constantly with them. He won’t do well if you just keep him locked outside away from everyone. He is social, alert innovative and entertaining as well as being a good guard dog.

Characteristics

leonberger dog - characteristicsDon’t be deceived by the looks of the big Leonberger because he isn’t aggressive, but quiet and calm. Large he may be, but he isn’t sluggish either and he will certainly require exercise such as a long, fairly lively walk every day.

They’re intelligent dogs too and respond well to socialization and training. He is a social dog and wants to enjoy plenty of interaction with his human family members.

These dogs are often used as rescue- and therapy dogs as they are so loving and sensitive. Give him lots of love and good care and you’re going to have the most wonderful pet that lives up to the saying – dogs are man’s best friend.

swedish vallhund dog - characteristicsYour Swedish Valhund is such a confident, independent dog and he promises to be a loving, faithful pet. He's also alert and will let you know if strangers are approaching his property.

He is a calm, easy going pet and is capable of adapting to quiet or noisy homes. He may be quite a strange looking dog, but he's got a whole lot of loving to give.

Health Problems

leonberger puppies - health problemsLeonbergers are strong, generally healthy dogs. It is said that very large dogs like this don’t live as long as smaller dogs and they also face more health issues. Orthopedic issues such as hip dysplasia are more common with large breeds.

Hip Dysplasia:

An orthopedic problem like this is a misalignment of a joint. This large dog also tends to develop elbow dysplasia too. Fortunately today, hip- and elbow dysplasia is controlled because of efforts of breeders to have their Leonbergers screened.

Nonetheless it is important to know about this ailment. The word ‘Dysplasia’ is referring to an abnormality of development. With both hip- and elbow dysplasia, there is abnormal development of the joints, and osteoarthritis can build up, causing lameness for your giant canine.

Cancer:

Cancer is sadly a leading cause of death in dogs over the age of 10 years. Lymphoma is a blood-related cancer – a tumor of the lymph nodes. Dogs can develop different forms of lymphoma. The warning signs are a lump or a wound that won’t heal, swelling in the bone and abnormal bleeding.

Luckily cancer is very treatable in dogs, but you need to get your dog to the vet as soon as possible.

swedish vallhund puppies - health problemsCapable of living a long, healthy life, the Swedish Valhund isn’t likely to fall victim to some of the many dog illnesses there are, and yet it is wise to be alert to some of them that he could get.

One of these is an hereditary eye disease known as retinopathy. Its where there is degeneration of the retinal photoreceptor cells. This eye disease can lead to blindness.  

You need to be careful with this pet of yours, because with his long back and short legs he can so easily hurt his back if he leaps off a bed or high chair.

Whenever you pick this dog up, always support his legs and back. Don’t pick them up without supporting both the front legs and the rear end.

Caring The Pet

leonberger dogs - caringThat long coat of the Leonberger is going to require some brushing at least twice a week. He is also a moderate shedder and you want to get rid of all that loose hair and to keep him looking well groomed.

Diet:

A proper, nutritious diet is an essential part of having healthy, happy dogs and if you’re unsure about how to feed your giant pet, speak to your veterinarian.

The best diet for dogs is always very debatable, but essentially it needs to be kept simple. Try and invest in the very best commercially manufactured dog food for large breeds. Every dog wants a tasty home-made morsel from time to time. Add in cooked chicken, brown rice as well as cooked or raw vegetables. Raw meat can also be added in from time to time.

You want to avoid feeding the Leonberger puppy a high protein diet as this encourages rapid growth and you want to avoid that.

swedish vallhund dogs - caringTry and feed your Swedish Valhund two meals a day instead of just one, so that he doesn’t gobble down his food too quickly.

Your dog can be prone to obesity, so you have to be careful with the way you feed him. Overfeeding a dog packs on extra weight and this puts strain on the joints.

Apart from the dry kibble that you feed him, try to include some tasty, nutritious homemade food such as boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta, sweet potatoes, carrots and spinach.

This can all be chopped up and added to his dry kibble. Some raw meat added to the diet can only be to his benefit. Remember to always ensure a bowl of fresh, cool water is available.

General Care:

Give his thick coat a brush twice a week to remove dead hair. Brushing also stimulates the sebaceous glands that produces oil which gives the coat is sheen.

Open his mouth and check for rotting teeth which can be painful for him.

Trim his nails because left long, they can hook onto things and rip the skin open.

Check inside the ears too for redness which could mean an ear infection.You get dog wipes that you can wipe the ear out with. There are always professional dog groomers who can do these chores for you if you don't want to.

See that his vaccines are up to date and that if he shows signs of illness, you get him to the vet.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Leonberger vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  2. Leonberger vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  3. Leonberger vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  4. Leonberger vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  5. Leonberger vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. Leonberger vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  7. Leonberger vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  8. Leonberger vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Leonberger vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. Leonberger vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  11. Leonberger vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  12. Leonberger vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  13. Leonberger vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  14. Leonberger vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  15. Leonberger vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  16. Leonberger vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  17. Leonberger vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  18. Leonberger vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  19. Leonberger vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  20. Leonberger vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  21. Leonberger vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  22. Leonberger vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  23. Leonberger vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  24. Leonberger vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  25. Leonberger vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. Swedish Vallhund vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Swedish Vallhund vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Swedish Vallhund vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Swedish Vallhund vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Swedish Vallhund vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Swedish Vallhund vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Swedish Vallhund vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Swedish Vallhund vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Swedish Vallhund vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Swedish Vallhund vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Swedish Vallhund vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Swedish Vallhund vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Swedish Vallhund vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Swedish Vallhund vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Swedish Vallhund vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Swedish Vallhund vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Swedish Vallhund vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Swedish Vallhund vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Swedish Vallhund vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Swedish Vallhund vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Swedish Vallhund vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Swedish Vallhund vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Swedish Vallhund vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Swedish Vallhund vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Swedish Vallhund vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison