Leonberger History: WW1 & WW2 Near Extinction

World War I saw the survival of a mere five Leonbergers, a number that dwindled further during World War II. These noble giants were employed to haul ammunition carts during the wars, a noble act that sadly led to their near extinction. The revival of the breed is attributed to the relentless efforts of Karl Stadelmann and Otto Josenhans. Today's Leonbergers can trace their lineage back to the eight resilient dogs that endured the aftermath of World War II. [Source: Wikipedia][^28^][^29^][^25^].