What does each club give for Height at the withers in the Leonberger?

FCI, Male: 72–80 cm; AKC, Male: 71.1–80 cm; UKC, Male: 72.4–80 cm; KC, Male: 72–80 cm; CKC, Male: 72–80 cm; FCI, Female: 65–75 cm; AKC, Female: 64.8–74.9 cm; UKC, Female: 66–73.7 cm; KC, Female: 65–75 cm; CKC, Female: 65–75 cm.

Leonberger breed standards compared

Each column is one club's published standard. An empty cell means the club says nothing on that point in our records.

Clubs compared: FCI, AKC, UKC, KC, CKC.

Size

Size
Measure	FCI	AKC	UKC	KC	CKC
Height at the withers, male	72–80 cm	71.1–80 cm	72.4–80 cm	72–80 cm	72–80 cm
Height at the withers, female	65–75 cm	64.8–74.9 cm	66–73.7 cm	65–75 cm	65–75 cm
Height to length	0.9	0.9	No ruling	0.9	0.9
Skull to muzzle	1	1	1	1	1

Conformation

Conformation
Form	FCI	AKC	UKC	KC	CKC
BiteScissors bite	Standard (“perfect, regular and complete scissor bite”)	Standard (“meeting in a correct scissors bite”)	Standard (“meeting in a scissors bite”)	Standard (“perfect, regular and complete scissor bite”)	Standard (“meeting in a scissors bite”)
BiteLevel bite	Alternate (“Pincer bite is accepted”)	Alternate (“A level bite is accepted”)	No ruling	Alternate (“level bite tolerated”)	Alternate (“A level bite is acceptable but not desired”)
BiteOvershot	Disqualifying (“Over- or undershot or other faults in mouth”)	No ruling	Disqualifying (“Disqualifications: Overshot or undershot bite”)	No ruling	Disqualifying (“Undershot or overshot mouth, or wry bite”)
BiteUndershot	Disqualifying (“Over- or undershot or other faults in mouth”)	No ruling	Disqualifying (“Disqualifications: Overshot or undershot bite”)	No ruling	Disqualifying (“Undershot or overshot mouth, or wry bite”)
BiteWry mouth	No ruling	No ruling	No ruling	No ruling	Disqualifying (“Undershot or overshot mouth, or wry bite”)
DentitionFull dentition	Standard (“42 sound teeth according to the dentition formula”)	Standard (“Complete dentition of 42 teeth”)	Standard (“forty-two strong, white teeth”)	Standard (“with complete dentition”)	Standard (“Complete dentition, strong, correctly placed”)
DentitionMissing teeth	Disqualifying (“Absence of teeth (with the exception of M3)”)	Disqualifying (“More than one missing tooth other than M3s”)	Disqualifying (“Missing teeth except M3”)	No ruling	No ruling
Ear carriageDrop (pendant)	Standard (“pendant, of medium size, hanging close to the head”)	Standard (“hanging flat and close to the head”)	Standard (“medium sized drop ears are set high and close to the head”)	Standard (“pendant, medium sized, hanging close to the side of the head”)	Standard (“hanging flat and close to the head”)
Ear setHigh	Standard (“Set on high and not far back”)	No ruling	Standard (“drop ears are set high”)	Standard (“Set on high and not too far back”)	No ruling
Eye shapeOval	Standard (“medium size, oval”)	Standard (“oval to almond shaped”)	Standard (“oval in shape”)	Standard (“Oval in shape with kind expression”)	Standard (“oval to almond-shaped”)
Eye shapeAlmond	No ruling	Alternate (“oval to almond shaped”)	No ruling	No ruling	Alternate (“oval to almond-shaped”)
Eye shapeRound	No ruling	No ruling	Fault (“Fault: Round eyes”)	No ruling	No ruling
StopModerate	Standard (“Clearly recognisable but moderately defined”)	Standard (“Clearly recognizable and moderately defined”)	No ruling	Standard (“Medium stop”)	Standard (“Clearly recognizable and moderately defined”)
Facial profileRoman (convex)	Standard (“rather slightly arched (roman nose)”)	Alternate (“level or slightly arched (Roman nose)”)	Standard (“slightly arched (Roman nose)”)	Standard (“slightly arched (roman nose)”)	Alternate (“can be slightly arched (Roman nose) or level”)
Facial profileStraight	No ruling	Alternate (“level or slightly arched (Roman nose)”)	No ruling	No ruling	Alternate (“slightly arched (Roman nose) or level”)
Facial profileDished (concave)	Fault (“nasal bridge ... never dipped”)	Fault (“never dipped”)	Fault (“The foreface is never concave”)	No ruling	Fault (“but never dipped”)
Muzzle shapeTapered	No ruling	No ruling	No ruling	Standard (“muzzle moderately tapered but never snipey”)	No ruling
Muzzle shapeSnipy	No ruling	No ruling	No ruling	Fault (“never snipey”)	No ruling
ToplineLevel	No ruling	Standard (“Withers set above a firm level back”)	No ruling	No ruling	Standard (“Withers set above a firm level back”)
Tail carriageLow (hanging)	Standard (“while standing, it hangs down straight”)	Standard (“tail hangs straight down”)	Standard (“When in repose, the tail hangs down straight”)	No ruling	No ruling
Tail carriageCurled over the back	Disqualifying (“Distinct ring tail or too highly curled up tail”)	Fault (“tail curled over back at all times, whether standing or in motion”)	Disqualifying (“Tail consistently curled over the back like a wheel”)	No ruling	No ruling
Tail carriageRing	Disqualifying (“Distinct ring tail or too highly curled up tail”)	No ruling	No ruling	Fault (“Never forming a ring”)	No ruling
Tail lengthLong	No ruling	Standard (“last vertebrae reaching to or below the hock”)	Standard (“It reaches to the hock joint”)	Standard (“reaching at least to hock”)	No ruling
Tail lengthShort	No ruling	No ruling	Fault (“Tail too short”)	No ruling	No ruling
Tail setHigh	No ruling	No ruling	Fault (“Faults: Too high or low set tail”)	No ruling	No ruling
Tail setLow	No ruling	No ruling	Fault (“Faults: Too high or low set tail”)	No ruling	No ruling
FeetCat foot	Standard (“rounded, tight, toes well arched”)	Standard (“rounded, tight, toes wel[l arched]”)	Standard (“The feet are rounded and tight with well arched toes”)	Standard (“Tight and rounded with well-arched toes”)	Standard (“toes well arched (cat-foot)”)
Front dewclawsPresent	No ruling	Alternate (“Dewclaws: Usually present”)	No ruling	No ruling	Alternate (“Dewclaws: Usually present”)
HocksCow-hocked	Disqualifying (“Severe anatomical faults (i.e. pronounced cow hocks”)	No ruling	Fault (“Faults: Lack of angulation at stifle or hock. Cow hocks”)	No ruling	No ruling
Neck lengthLong	Standard (“Somewhat long rather than stocky”)	No ruling	Standard (“The neck is rather long and not thick”)	No ruling	No ruling
Neck lengthShort	No ruling	No ruling	Fault (“Fault: Too short in neck”)	No ruling	No ruling
DewlapNone (clean throat)	Standard (“without throatiness or dewlap”)	Standard (“No dewlap”)	Standard (“free of throatiness or dewlap”)	Standard (“no dewlap”)	Standard (“No dewlap”)
ChestBroad	Standard (“Chest: Broad, deep”)	Standard (“Chest is broad, roomy, and deep”)	Standard (“is broad but not barrel in shape”)	Standard (“Chest broad, deep”)	No ruling
ChestDeep	Standard (“Chest: Broad, deep”)	Standard (“Chest is broad, roomy, and deep”)	No ruling	Standard (“Chest broad, deep”)	No ruling
ChestBarrel	Fault (“Not too barrel shaped, more oval”)	No ruling	Fault (“broad but not barrel in shape”)	Fault (“Oval, not barrel chested”)	No ruling

Markings

Markings
Marking	FCI	AKC	UKC	KC	CKC
Mask	Standard (“black mask”)	Standard (“Face is covered with a full black mask”)	Standard (“all with a black mask”)	Standard (“always with a black mask”)	Standard (“Face is covered with a full black mask”)
Chest patch	Alternate (“A small white patch or stripe on the chest”)	Alternate (“A small, unobtrusive stripe or white patch on the chest”)	Alternate (“A small white patch or stripe on the chest”)	Alternate (“A small white patch or stripe on the chest”)	Alternate (“A small stripe or patch of white on the chest”)
Socks	Alternate (“white hairs on the toes are tolerated”)	Alternate (“some white hairs on toes is tolerated”)	Alternate (“white hairs on the toes, are permitted”)	Alternate (“white hair on the toes tolerated”)	Alternate (“some white on the toes is allowed”)

Leonberger colors and patterns

What each club's breed standard says about every Leonberger color and pattern. Point at a ruling to see the club's own wording.

Breed standards describe the Leonberger in White, Brown, Red, Yellow, and Sandy. Standard patterns: Sable.

Coat: rulings by club
Color or pattern	FCI	AKC	UKC	KC	KUSA
White	Standard (“A small white patch or stripe on the chest and white hairs on the toes are tolerated”)	Standard (“A small, unobtrusive stripe or white patch on the chest ... is tolerated”)	Standard (“A small white patch or stripe on the chest, and white hairs on the toes, are permitted”)	Standard (“A small white patch or stripe on the chest and white hair on the toes tolerated”)	Standard (“A small white patch or stripe on the chest and white hairs on the toes are tolerated”)
Brown	Standard (“reddish brown”)	Standard (“Reddish Brown”)	Standard (“reddish brown”)	Standard (“reddish brown”)	Standard (“reddish brown”)
Red	Standard (“red”)	Standard (“Red”)	Standard (“red”)	Standard (“red”)	Standard (“red”)
Yellow	Standard (“Lion yellow”)	Standard (“Yellow”)	Standard (“Lion yellow”)	Standard (“Lion gold”)	Standard (“Lion yellow”)
Sandy	Standard (“sandy (pale yellow, cream coloured)”)	Standard (“Sandy”)	Standard (“sandy”)	Standard (“sandy (fawn or cream)”)	Standard (“sandy (pale yellow, cream coloured)”)
Black	Disqualifying (“Faulty colours (... black and tan; black ...)”)	Disqualifying (“black must not be the basic color”)	Disqualifying (“Off colors, such as ... black and tan”)	Not recognized (“Black must not dominate basic colour”)	Disqualifying (“Faulty colours (... black and tan; black ...)”)
Silver	Disqualifying (“Faulty colours (... silver ...)”)	Disqualifying	Disqualifying (“Off colors, such as ... silver”)	Not recognized	Disqualifying (“Faulty colours (... silver ...)”)
Liver	Disqualifying (“Faulty colours (brown with brown nose and brown pads ...)”)	Disqualifying	Disqualifying (“Off colors, such as brown (liver) with brown nose and foot pads”)	Not recognized	Disqualifying (“Faulty colours (brown with brown nose and brown pads ...)”)
Patterns
Sable	Standard (“Black hair tips are permitted”)	Standard (“All colors may have black tips (some with long black tips)”)	Standard (“Black hair tips are permitted”)	Standard (“Black hair tips are permitted”)	Standard (“Black hair tips are permitted”)
Agouti	Disqualifying (“Faulty colours (... wild-coat colour)”)	No ruling	No ruling	Not recognized	Disqualifying (“Faulty colours (... wild-coat colour)”)
Tan point	Disqualifying (“Faulty colours (... black and tan ...)”)	No ruling	Disqualifying (“Off colors, such as ... black and tan”)	Not recognized	Disqualifying (“Faulty colours (... black and tan ...)”)

Eyes: rulings by club
Color or pattern	FCI	AKC	UKC	KC	KUSA
Brown	Standard (“Light brown to as dark brown as possible”)	No ruling	Standard (“light to dark brown in color”)	Standard (“Medium to dark brown”)	Standard (“Light brown to as dark brown as possible”)
Dark brown	Standard (“as dark brown as possible”)	Standard (“Dark brown is preferred”)	Standard (“dark brown preferred”)	Standard (“Medium to dark brown”)	Standard (“as dark brown as possible”)
Light brown	Standard (“Light brown to as dark brown as possible”)	Standard (“Dark brown is preferred over light brown”)	Standard (“light to dark brown in color, with dark brown preferred”)	No ruling	Standard (“Light brown to as dark brown as possible”)
Blue	No ruling	No ruling	Disqualifying (“wall eyes”)	No ruling	No ruling
Yellow	Disqualifying (“Eyes without any brown”)	No ruling	Disqualifying (“Yellow (without any trace of brown pigment)”)	No ruling	Disqualifying (“Eyes without any brown”)

Nose: rulings by club
Color or pattern	FCI	AKC	UKC	KC	KUSA
Black	Standard (“Black”)	Standard (“always black”)	Standard (“Must be black”)	Standard (“Nose black”)	Standard (“Black”)
Liver	Disqualifying (“Brown nose leather”)	No ruling	Disqualifying (“Brown nose, which occurs in liver-colored dogs”)	No ruling	Disqualifying (“Brown nose leather”)

What the rulings mean

Standard: Described by the club's breed standard.
Disqualifying: The club's breed standard disqualifies an animal of this color or pattern.
Not recognized: The club does not accept this color or pattern for the breed.

Color changes

How a Leonberger's colors can change over its life.

Whitechanges toRoan
Coat · With age · from 2 weeks
Blackchanges toSnow nose
Nose · With the season · can change back
Blackchanges toPink
Nose · With the season · can change back

Sources

Each ruling comes from the club's published breed standard or color list.

Published standards

Back to the Leonberger guide Grooming styles for the Leonberger