Im looking for owners/breeders who can help me.
Ive been told leos can be hard to train, and cant often be let of lead, because if they see people, they run off to play, obviously a giant dog like the leo cant be quite frightening, and this is a very strong dog!

so can they be let off lead?
How hard are they to train?

                                               

Missie

Don't know a great deal about these dogs, but do know that they are used in water work and carting (think that's the correct term).  I would have thought that to do either of these things they must be able to come of lead (in the case of water work) and be quite trainable.  Might need lots of work at it though - as I say, I am not an expert.  Someone may come along soon with more knowledge of them.

Fiona

All dogs of whatever breed may run off to play with others unless you train them not to!

A man in my village has two leonbergers and I have never seen them on a lead - not always a good thing near roads .  Obviously he must have put a lot of work into their training and I used to see him every friday at obedience classes when I took my mums dog.  I think it is a case of what you put in :)

If it helps I know someone who has a leonberger who gained her "gold" obedience award at 15 months old. With training they can be obedient :-) And she is lovely, I thinks she is a dog that goes to hospitals as a pat dog.

Hi Guest,
Leos can be trained quite well on or off the lead. We had no problem on holiday with people on the beach, or other dogs come to that.

Are you the same Missie who posted the original question as a guest?

Hi jackyjat, Was that question for me,I post under missie but I am not the guest who asked the question, I had to look twice when I answered!
           
Dee

hi everyone
i have a 14 month old male leo,they can be trained be take longer than the average breed to train.They can also be very stubborn.It is better to start all training as soon as you get them and stick to it because they grow big and fast. My pup was equal to a boxer at 5 months old. 

Hi, they have been trained and used as guide dogs by GDBA, I think that speaks for itself. 

They are a beautiful breed and are a working dog and as able to be trained as any other working dog, but make sure that you buy from a good source that have health tested their stock.

Dont know who's told you taht guest!

Ive met a working Guide Dog Leo....... if thats not trainable then i dont know what is!

Em

Leonbergers haven't proved very successful Guide dogs as a whole, think there are only 4 nationwide.  But it's an entirely different type of training to normal obedience training anyway! :)

there have been a few that have reached ahigh level in obedience, angela white (author training etc) has them

hi
i have a 9 week old leo. he already knows many tasks. he is not yet aloud out as he is to young.  althouh when he is old enougth we will let him off. it has been very easy to teach Harvey. so in answer to your question yes they can be let of the lead ans they are very easy to train.

At nine weeks you are the most,important thing to your puppy.it may not be as easy in a few months time I have leos and they are no harder to train than most dogs. But they are not easy! to train.

There is a six month old Leo in our training group and he is doing really well, he is also let off lead when we do outdoor puppy walks and his recalls are great even when he is playing.  Never kept one myself but certain breeds (as most of us know) do have their instincts and this can prove very difficult to compete with....I know, I have a 9 month old sighthound who suddenly thinks she's miss. independent!!!!!!! :D
Sarah