The dogs at Twin Ponds Farm run a spectrum of temperament types despite them having the same general appearance:
- The Leonbergers are the super friendly, outgoing, people-oriented breed
- Leona, the Šarplaninac, holds the opposite end of the spectrum
- The Estrela Mountain Dog lies in the middle, being more independent and serious than the Leonbergers, but less so than the Šarplaninac.
Leonberger
The Leonberger was developed in the mid-1800’s in Germany. While their origins may include other working giant breeds, Leonbergers are, first and foremost beloved pets. The Leonbergers at Twin Ponds Farm live together with the serious livestock guardian dogs and will participate in any protective action, but they are along for the fun and excitement. They love nothing more than an afternoon on the couch watching movies or reading. Leonbergers typically mature in the 100-150 lb range. They have dense coats that require diligent thorough brushing. Like any of the giant breeds, they are not long-lived with life expectancy of 8-12 years.
Our Leonbergers are Teddy, Freya and Kerenza
We are proud to work with/for Kamenah Leonbergers.
We are currently planning litters with Kerenza in July and Freya in August.
Estrela Mountain Dog
At first blush, the Estrela Mountain Dog and the Leonberger might look like the same breed. Spend a little time with them and you will see large differences in the temperament and the more subtle difference in conformation. Estrela Mountain Dogs are a large, heavy-coated (there is a short haired variation too) livestock guardian breed from Portugal. They are very rare in the United States. They are calm, observant and fearless, leaping into action to protect their home, family and livestock. The Estrela Mountain Dog is an intelligent dog, and more independent that most breeds kept as pets. They are affectionate to their family in a “drive-by” way in that they seek attention for a few minutes and then are off to their next agenda item. The Estrela Mountain Dog needs something to watch over and is very diligent. At Twin Ponds Farm, it’s common for them to log more than 10 miles a night on their patrols. If you want a big hairy cuddle bug, you want a Leonberger. If you want a more independent dog who is still affectionate, then the Estrela may be for you.
Oh, and they bark. A lot. All night long.
Our Estrela Mountain Dogs are Cassiopeia (Cassie) and Lisboa das Terras D’Cister (Lisboa)
We are currently planning our first litter with Lisboa in June.
Šarplaninac
Leona is the different face in the pack at Twin Ponds Farm.
She is a Šarplaninac, a livestock guardian breed from the Balkan Mountains.
She is even more independent and selective about handing out affection than the Estrelas are.
We are so grateful to Shar Mountain Kennels for trusting us with this girl
