They will not tolerate any commercial trade of Leonberger dogs. The very strict breeding guidelines and the diligent oversight of the national Leonberger Clubs have been successful to date in preserving the general health of the breed. However, there are special medical problems, most of which are associated with giant breeds in general, that every breeder, owner, and potential owner should be aware of. Hip dysplasia is unfortunately found in almost all breeds, especially the larger ones. The Leonberger is no exception.
Severity covers a wide range from slight abnormality to very severe dislocation.
Dysplastic dogs are born with normal hip joints which undergo changes as the dogs mature. Although the cause is hereditary, the disease can be made worse by environmental factors such as rapid growth, overfeeding and excessive exercise. Keeping the incidence of the disease to a minimum depends on accurate X-ray diagnosis, accurate breeding records and strict breeding regulatins that allow only the best proven sires and dams to breed. The Breeding Committees of the various national Leonberger clubs have been extremely diligent in education and enforcement of breeding regulations designed to minimize dysplasia in Leos. Different countries have different scales for reporting the results of veterinary examination of X-rays.