The Leonberger is a German breed created in the mid 19th century by a breeder named Heinrich Essing, who was trying to create a dog that resembled a lion. By crossing the Newfoundland, the St. Bernard and the Great Pyrenees, Essing successfully created this majestic dog that was once favored by royal families. Leonbergers are large dogs with long, thick coats, gentle eyes and slightly domed heads. In Europe during the two World Wars, the breed was almost lost due to a lack of sufficient food necessary for feeding these massive animals. By 1945 only a few Leonbergers remained in Europe but several German breeders gathered the few remaining dogs and re-established the breed. Today, Leonbergers are gaining in popularity in Europe and the United States.