Introduction
Unbelievable as it sounds, the Leonberger is a giant dog resulting from a mix of three dog breeds – Saint Bernard, Newfoundland and Great Pyrenees. The dog is as impressive as its lineage; it has a jumbo-sized build, looks of a lion and a set of skills that make it a force to be reckoned with. The dog breed was named after the city of Leonberger in Germany, which is where it originated. Aside from its remarkable size, the Leo, as it is fondly referred to, has high levels of intelligence and energy. Owning a Leo takes great commitment, plenty of socialization and consistent positive reinforcement. As a reward, you will get a loyal guard dog, a fun companion and a loving part of your family.
Leonberger Dog Names in Pop Culture
Given its not-so-popular status and the uncertainty of its history, Leonbergers are rarely used as a subject matter for various pop culture works. However, there are a few films wherein the Leo has had a major role or a feature. Undoubtedly the most renowned film to ever feature a Leonberger is the 1997 film Call of the Wild: Dog of the Yukon. This film was an adaptation of the classic adventure novel The Call of the Wild, by Jack London. This was the third version of the film based on the original novel.
The setting for the film was during the 1800s Gold Rush, when miners were in desperate need of big sled dogs. The film’s main character, a dog named Buck, was stolen from his California home and sold to be used as a sled dog in Yukon. His exposure into the harsh and wild environment causes him to become a feral and untamed dog. Moreover, Buck had to rely on his power and instincts in order to survive. He was constantly mistreated by his owners and even driven to exhaustion until he was found by a prospector, named John Thornton. The two form a connection and eventually, Thornton earns the trust and love of Buck.
After winning a sled-pulling contest with Buck’s help, Thornton was able to raise enough money to venture onto a “lost mine” in Indian territory. When he discovers the treasure, he ends up getting caught and killed by the natives. To avenge his master, Buck kills his Thornton’s attackers. Eventually, after grieving Thornton’s death, Buck decides to join the resident wolves and act as the “leader”.
Call of the Wild: Dog of the Yukon was dubbed by the critics as the best adaptation out of all three versions as it stayed true to the novel. One major difference between the novel and the film, however, was the Buck’s breed. In London’s novel, Buck was a mixed Scottish Shepherd/Saint Bernard breed while in the film, a Leonberger played the role of the Buck. The film was one of the first major exposures of the breed in a major movie.
Another more recent film involving a Leonberger was the made-for-TV special Grumpy Cat’s Worst Christmas Ever. The film’s plot revolves around the unlikely friendship between a grumpy cat living in a mall’s pet shop and a 12-year-old girl named Chrystal, who can understand and speak to the cat. The two also help each other out as one of the prized possessions of the pet shop, a Leonberger named Jojo, was stolen.
With help from these movies, the Leonberger has gradually become a more renowned breed in the United States.
Leonberger Dog Name Considerations
One of the exciting parts about owning a new dog, especially one like the Leonberger, is coming up with a name that will fit your dog well. Leos have many distinctive features, physical or not, that you can use as a basis for choosing a name. When coming face to face with a Leonberger, the first thing that one will notice is its huge, almost gigantic, build. Therefore, a cool name or term that symbolizes power and strength would be an awesome fit. A unique example would be the name “Zeus”, named after the ruler of the Olympian gods in Greek mythology.
Another source of inspiration for your dog’s name is its coat. The Leo has a majestic double coat (with a black melanistic mask) that comes in a variety of colors, including all sorts of color mixes such as red-brown, red, lion-yellow and sand. Some Leos may have a few patches or markings of other colors. You can use your Leo’s coat color to brainstorm for a name.
Some pet owners also opt to keep things authentic and choose a name based on their dog’s country of origin. In this case, the Leonberger was originally bred in Germany. So, it would be fitting to choose a unique and expressive German name or any reference to German culture as a name for your new Leo.
Male Leonberger Dog Names
Votes | Name | Vote |
---|---|---|
4 |
Otis
German name meaning “wealthy”
|
|
3 |
Bruin
Another term for a bear
|
|
2 |
Berlin
Capital city of Germany
|
|
2 |
Aldo
German name meaning “wise”
|
|
2 |
Bruno
Means “brown” in German; good for Leos with brownish/mahogany coat
|
|
2 |
Lycan
A kind of fictional werewolf
|
|
2 |
Kaiser
German name meaning “emperor”
|
|
1 |
Thor
God of thunder in Norse mythology
|
|
0 |
Beowulf
The hero in an Old English epic poem
|
|
0 |
Stein
German name meaning “stone”
|
|
0 |
Rusty
Affected by rust; good for reddish Leos
|
|
0 |
Klaus
German name meaning “people of victory”
|
|
0 |
Goliath
A gigantic character from the Bible
|
|
0 |
Ludwig
German name meaning “famous fighter”
|
|
0 |
Hund
Means “dog” in German
|
|
0 |
Barchen
Means “little bear” in German; funny name for a Leo
|
|
0 |
Hulk
A comic book character known for super-strength
|
|
-1 |
Gunther
German name meaning “bold warrior”
|
|
-1 |
Deutsch
Used to refer to someone from Germany
|
|
-2 |
Adalrik
German name meaning “noble friend”
|
|
-2 |
Dunkel
A dark German lager; good dark-colored Leos
|
|
-2 |
Herr
Means “mister” in German
|
|
-2 |
Siegfried
German name meaning “victorious peace”; can be shortened to Sieg
|
|
-2 |
Egon
Gaelic name meaning “fiery”
|
|
-2 |
Franz
German name meaning “free man”
|
|
-2 |
Dusseldorf
A German city known as an international business center; cool-sounding name for a Leo
|
|
-2 |
Bock
A bittersweet dark lager
|
|
-2 |
Prost
Means “cheers” in German
|
|
-2 |
Mayne
German name meaning “powerful”
|
|
-2 |
Stefan
Means “crown” in German
|
Female Leonberger Dog Names
Votes | Name | Vote |
---|---|---|
4 |
Puma
A member of the big cat family
|
|
4 |
Avalon
A legendary island in the Arthurian legend
|
|
4 |
Koa
A large tree from Hawaii
|
|
2 |
Ada
German name meaning “noble”
|
|
2 |
Millie
German name meaning “strength”
|
|
2 |
Leona
German name meaning “lioness”
|
|
1 |
Juno
A goddess in Roman mythology
|
|
1 |
Trudy
German name meaning “spear of strength”
|
|
1 |
Caroline
German name meaning “free”
|
|
1 |
Marlene
From Marlene Dietrich, a German Hollywood actress
|
|
1 |
Karin
German name meaning “pure”
|
|
0 |
Hilda
German name meaning “battle woman”
|
|
0 |
Sofie
German name meaning “wisdom”
|
|
0 |
Eryka
German name meaning “powerful”
|
|
0 |
Brezel
A kind of German pretzel
|
|
0 |
Hessia
A German state
|
|
0 |
Petra
German name meaning “rock”
|
|
0 |
Mina
German name meaning “resolute protector”
|
|
-1 |
Schatz
Means “jewel” in German, commonly used as a term of endearment
|
|
-1 |
Rhine
A famous river in Germany
|
|
-1 |
Isane
German name meaning “strong-willed”
|
|
-1 |
Bathilda
German name meaning “heroine”
|
|
-1 |
Harriet
German name meaning “home ruler”
|
|
-1 |
Kolsch
A kind of beer made in the city of Cologne
|
|
-1 |
Munich
A city in Germany
|
|
-1 |
Una
German name meaning “noble leader”
|
|
-1 |
Gertrud
German name meaning “beloved warrior”
|
|
-1 |
Elbe
A large river in Germany
|
|
-1 |
Marzen
A kind of malty lager
|
|
-1 |
Klum
From German supermodel Heidi Klum
|