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Savannah Dark Patience 26th April 1993 - 2nd August 2004 |
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| Bessie will always hold a special place in our hearts. She was our first dog and we learnt so much from her. Bessie was and always remained leader of the pack in her own non-confronting way and enjoyed being with us wherever we went and whatever we did. Bessie particularly loved her holidays with us camped in the bush and her trips to our local off-lead park. Bessie was to have one litter which produced 4 boys, including our Leonardo, and was a wonderful mum to them all. She was remarkably healthy till 2003, when aged 10 years, was diagnosed with lymphosarcoma. We chose to give her chemotherapy which she tolerated really well. I can remember taking food down to her at the vet where she stayed during the procedure as she didn't like their dry food, after enjoying a raw diet! Bessie continued to enjoy her life for a futher 12 months. Remarkably she had no return of the cancer. In mid 2004, she began to deteriorate and we realised her time was near and she had one last trip to the bush with Marshall in July. She had lived a long and full life and was aged 11 years and 4 months when we said our final goodbyes. |
| These are some of my favourite photos of Bessie. She is sitting in our front yard; on a camping trip with a young Leonardo; and again on a trip to the bush in 2004; and with Mitta, Konig, Duke and Tamsin. |
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Bernerpark Da Vinci 16th April 1997 - 23rd January 2006 |  |
| Leonardo was a pup from Bessie's only litter of 4 boys. Although not always an easy boy with some temperament issues, he got on well with the other dogs and he loved us and we loved him. We did get over a number of his problems with obedience training. He knew his place in the pack and was content to be there. Leonardo was remarkably healthy until January 2006 when he began to have issues with incontinence. A CTT scan and other tests revealed he had a cancerous tumour in his kidneys. As he no longer had quality of life we made the decision to let him go to be reunited with his mum. We were with him when he was euthanased, aged 8 years and 8 months. |
| The photos below show just what a handsome boy Leonardo was with lovely expression and beautiful markings. He is pictured as a young pup; standing in our yard; sitting with Konig and relaxed on his rug the day before we said our last goodbyes. |
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Hochspitz Mitta Mitta 5th July 2002- 29th January 2007 |
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| Mitta held a very special place in our family. She was a daughter from the second litter from Konig, our first Leo and even managed to share a birthday with her dad. Mitta was confident by nature and had the typical loving Leonberger temperament. She became female leader of our dog family after we lost Bessie. Like most Leonbergers she was happiest when she was with us. We were very excited when Mitta, shown by Jenny, became an Australian Champion in 2005. These photos of our beutiful Mitta were taken at the Rare Breeds Championship show in 2004; with Jenny at a Leo get-together; in the show ring in Albury; a lovely head shot; and enjoying a walk in Ruffey Lake Park in August 2006. |
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| Mitta had two litter of puppies. Her first litter was born on the 14th August 2004. She was mated with Basso and had 9 puppies. The photo below on the left was taken when the pups were just four days old. You can find more photos of Mitta's now 6 year old pups on the Gold Mine Litter page. Her second litter was with Guyli. Mitta's puppies were born on the 19th January 2007. The photo below on the right show the boys having a feed. You can see pictures of her pups from this litter on the Golden Litter page. |
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| It broke our hearts when we lost our beautiful Mitta due to Black Mastitis, at just 4 and a half years old and only 10 days after her pups were born. We take some consolation in the knowledge that Mitta lives on through Mimi and all her other progeny, whom we know are much loved and bring great joy to their owners just like Mitta did for us. |
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Robinhill Curet 26th July 1994 - 26th July 2007 |
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| Duke, our Anatolian Shepherd, came to us in October of 1994. Eddie, his breeder, felt he was best suited to being a "pet" rather than a "working" dog per se. Duke loved people and being with them rather than working as a flock protector as his parents did. Whilst Duke adored people, we had to be ever vigilant of him around other animals as his instinct to guard and protect was strong. He was more independent by nature than any of our other dogs and became undisputed pack leader after we lost Bessie. Duke really enjoyed his daily walks, meeting people, his holidays with us in the bush where he protected our campsite, and being at home with us. Duke was relatively healthy, although as a younster he did give us a couple of scares. It was suspected that he may have had mast cell tumors, but this proved not to be the case, and had an episode of bloat which resolved itself without need for emergency treatment. In August 2006 Duke began experiencing epileptic fits. We took him for a CT scan which revealed that he had a brain tumour and we realised that his days with us were numbered. Duke seemingly had other ideas about this and he continued to amaze us with his will to live! Medication controlled the fits and apart from being a bit slower on his walks he continued to enjoy life. Sadly, Duke deteriorated rapidly almost a year later and he no longer had the dignity nor quality of life he deserved. We said our last farewells to Duke, on the 26th July 2007, his 13th birthday. |
| Duke is pictured below jumping up to say hello to Marshall; lying relaxed in our local park; sitting in our yard with Leonardoand relaxed in our garden with Jenny in 2006. |
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Aust Ch.Aust Ch Rabascy-Rabascy v.d. Kleinen Seen 8th January 2001 - 22nd December 2009 |
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| Basso was born in Germany, then spent 6 months in France before arriving in Australia. Basso upon his release from quarantine became the much loved addition to Jac and Trent's family. He had many adventures with them, including going away on holidays with them and his Bernese buddy Scout, playing in the water when and wherever he could, and just being their constant companion.He also got along well with Jac and Trent's cats. Trent also showed Basso who did well in the show ring gaining his Aust Champion title in June 2004. It was with great sadness that we learnt of the sudden passing of Basso whilst Jac and Trent were away on holidays. We are so grateful to them both for their continuing care and love of him. Jac said he was a wonderful dog, and in our eyes, they were his wonderful mum and dad. |
| Pictured below are Trent with Basso and Scout on a trip to the snowfields in 2003; realaxed on the bench with Jac at the 2003 Adelaide Royal; with Trent at the Rare Breeds Championship show where he took Intermediate in Show ; and splashing through the waves at Altona beach. |
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| Basso sired 2 litters,our Gold Mines Litter with Mitta in August 2004 and Tina's Luvalion's Camelot litter with Cliquot (Aust Ch. Hochspitz Veuve Cliquot)in October 2004. Pictured below is a photo taken in December 2004 of Basso, Mitta and 3 of their 12 week old pups; and one of Cliquot with 6 of her and Basso's pups. |
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Aust Ch Lejonklippans Piri Piri 4th August 2004- 4th April 2010 |
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| Guyli came to us from Lejonklippans Kennels in Sweden in November 2004 and spent a month in quarantine. Upon his release from quarantine Guyli joined Meagan's family of Chanel, her Pyrenean Mountain Dog and Shaq who became his Leo mate. He fitted into her family really well and soon became her much loved boy. He enjoyed going out on walks and particularly loved the water being a great swimmer. Meagan also enjoyed showing and it was soon evident that they both shone in the show ring. He obtained his Australian Championship title in March 2006 and in June 2007 Guyli was awarded best Intermediate in Group 6 and Runner-Up in Group and then went on to take out best Intermediate in Show! He won Best of Breed at the 2006, 2007 and 2009 Royal Melbourne Show and was Runner-Up Best of Breed in 2008. In January 2009 he won his second in group awards being best Open dog and Runner-Up In Group 6 and later that year in December won Best Open in Show. |
| These photos show a young Guyli in the car with his new friends Shaq and Chanel; on a walk with Meagan and Shaq in parklands in 2006; enjoying a swim in the dam; with Meagan in Moe; and a photo taken in 2009 after winning Best of Breed at the Royal Melbourne Show. |
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| Guyli sired 2 litters,our Golden Litter with Mitta in January 2007 and Kathy's Arkolowe Cocktails litter with Xari (Aust Ch. Simtara Golden Kiwi) in October 2008. Pictured below is a photo taken of Guyli and and his son Murphy taken at the 2009 Royal Melbourne Show and; and with some ofhi and Xari's pups taken in December 2009. We know that Guyli continues to live on on through Mimi and all his other progeny from both Mitta and Xari, all of whom are much loved and bring great joy to their owners, just as Guyli did for us. |
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| It was with a very heavy heart that we learned from Meagan of Guyli's sudden passing due to bloat. We will be forever indebted to Meagan for the love and care she gave to Guyli. I think the above photo of Meagan with Guyli typifies the special bond they shared. |
