Big Paws Only Dog Forums

Hi, to serve people in any kind of way is what a "real leonberger" (with the typical desired character) suits most. Leos have been known as rescue dogs (now a bit too giant, too heavy - but very good in tracing work), in Italy Leos are trained together with Newfies in water rescue, they make good "kindergarden dogs", and as leos usually (if well socialized from puppy hood) LOVE people of any gender and age, they make good "service dogs for disabled people, for children, for the elderly people".
you should EXPOSE already your puppy to as many various situations as possible - and always reassure the pup and each POSITIVE reaction. I don't know who easy or not easy it is at your place, to take a dog

e.g. to supermarket, to restaurant, to kindergarden, to school etc. etc. etc.

I anyway know (as my very first own leo was attending the rescue-dog-traning-course) that this is the way we are doing it - strange surface (which glitters and makes noise), noisy places, other animals (horses, cats and what could come along in everydays' life), the vacuum cleaner, the tumbler, the washmashine, loud music, all the stuff used for working in household and repairing things - everything.... as if familiar with as many things and situations as possible, the leonberger is a relatively "easy-to-be-trained" breed (as the majority just wants to PLEASE their humans).
A selfconfident but not overly dominant character would suit best for a service dog.

if you email me privately (leotrio@leotrio.de) I could give you a link to a script about "how to train your leo-pup in daily life" (with text and pictures).

Good luck and ENJOY the company of a Leonberger !

Edith & leos