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By Cindra Grooming Products — USA-Made Professional Grooming Essentials
The Leonberger was bred to resemble the lion on its hometown coat of arms — a German giant breed with a magnificent mane, gentle disposition, and one of the densest double coats in the dog world. That coat is genuinely demanding: this is a breed where grooming becomes a regular hobby, not an occasional chore.
The Leonberger has a medium-long, weather-resistant double coat that should be presented untrimmed and untouched by scissors. The outer coat is straight or slightly wavy with a texture ranging from medium-soft to rough; beneath it sits a very dense undercoat. Males carry a pronounced mane that develops at two to three years of age, giving the breed its lion-like profile; females have a less dramatic but still substantial coat. Colors range from lion-yellow and golden to red and red-brown, with a defining black facial mask. Feathering appears on the chest, stomach, legs, and tail. This is one of the densest coats in the working group — the volume of hair this breed produces is genuinely significant.
The Leonberger is a true gentle giant — self-assured, attentive, lively, and deeply friendly toward people. They are calm, patient, and gentle with children, often described as goofy and affectionate family companions. Intelligent and generally easy to train, Leonbergers want to please but can become stubborn if training is delayed. They form strong bonds with their entire family and are not well suited to being left alone for long periods. This breed needs an owner with a sense of humor, tolerance for their size and antics, and the time commitment that comes with this much coat.
| Problem | Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Matting behind ears, around the mane, and at the rump | High-friction or high-density areas; infrequent brushing | Line brush these zones weekly minimum with an undercoat rake; comb through with a steel comb; never let mats sit — they tighten quickly in this dense coat |
| Coat-wide matting after a bath | Bathing over existing mats; water sets and tightens tangles | Always brush and de-mat completely before bathing; water and existing mats together create dense, difficult tangles |
| Intense seasonal shedding | Twice-yearly undercoat blow (spring and fall); lasts 3–6 weeks | Brush daily during coat blow with an undercoat rake; a deshedding bath with thorough blow-out significantly reduces volume |
| Dry, brittle coat that mats easily | Under-conditioning; harsh products; infrequent moisture | Always use Moisture Plus Conditioner after every bath; consider Reconstructor monthly |
| Damp coat takes hours to dry, risking hot spots | Dense undercoat traps moisture | Use a high-velocity dryer to fully dry to the skin; never crate a damp Leonberger |
Brush at least twice a week using a slicker brush followed by an undercoat rake or grooming rake — a basic brush will not reach this coat’s dense undercoat. Start with the undercoat using a slicker, working to the skin, then switch to a grooming rake for the longer outer hairs. Pay special attention to behind the ears, around the mane, under the legs, and around the rump — these areas mat first and fastest. During coat blow season, increase to daily brushing.
Bathe every other week to monthly. Always brush completely before bathing — water on existing mats creates dense tangles. Wet the coat thoroughly (the water-resistant undercoat resists saturation), lather with Moisturizing Shampoo, and rinse completely — leftover shampoo in this dense a coat causes skin irritation. Follow every bath with Moisture Plus Conditioner. Pat the coat dry rather than rubbing vigorously, then finish with a high-velocity dryer to fully dry to the skin — air drying leaves moisture trapped in the undercoat for hours.
The AKC standard calls for the coat to be presented untrimmed. Tidy only the feet for cleanliness; the mane, feathering, and body coat are left completely natural.
The Leonberger sheds heavily year-round and undergoes two dramatic coat blows annually — typically spring and fall — lasting three to six weeks each. This is one of the heaviest-shedding breeds in the Working Group. Daily brushing during coat blow, an undercoat rake used consistently, and deshedding baths are essential management tools. Owners should expect ongoing investment in grooming tools and home cleaning equipment.
| Feature | Puppy | Adult |
|---|---|---|
| Coat texture | Softer, fluffier puppy coat; adult coat density develops over years | Dense double coat; the signature mane appears at 2–3 years of age |
| Mane development | Not present in puppies | Develops fully at 2–3 years (more pronounced in males) |
| Grooming priority | Establish twice-weekly brushing routine early; this giant breed grows fast and needs handling tolerance built early | Twice-weekly brushing minimum; daily during coat blow |
| Task | Normal Period | Coat Blow Season |
|---|---|---|
| Brushing | 2x weekly | Daily |
| Bath | Every 2–4 weeks | Every 2 weeks (deshedding baths) |
| Nail trim | Every 3–4 weeks | Every 3–4 weeks |
| Ear check | Weekly | Weekly |
The Leonberger’s mane-framed silhouette demands a serious coat-care routine — and the right products make the difference. Cindra’s Moisturizing Shampoo and Moisture Plus Conditioner keep this dense double coat hydrated and mat-resistant through every coat blow season. Made in the USA since 1982.
Used the texturizing shampoo on my Border Collie puppy and I loved it! Rinses nicely, smells okay, coat feels really nice after drying. Other shampoos over-soften which isn't correct for the breed. The texturizing shampoo is just right!
really nice product for my gsd!
love this sprayer and it's pretty to look at!
Washed a dirty puppy and the cleansing shampoo got him *literally* squeaky clean. First time using a cleansing shampoo and I was impressed. I'm not a fan of the scent, but I cant argue with the results.
