In loving Memory of Teddy sen.

I had to wait, to be patient, a long....long....long time
until the dream of my first "own" Leonberger came true.

The decision for the Leonberger was - for me - quite easy
since I knew the breed quite well from my childhood ......
deep down in my memory I had the picture of a very gently, very tall dog ....best friend to children ....
- and I went in touch with the DCLH at the end of 1984 to get a breeders list.

At this time it was quite different from today

"a few breeders on the list which had puppies, a few which maybe would expect some .....
and one had to go on an applicants list"
- from my point of view this was a good thing because one had to be sure of the decision,
one had enough time to prepare the home and the life for the new member of the family ....

and maybe people have felt more responsible in their decision for a dog .....
- but times changed, that's the way life is ...... -
- many things are better today - but did everything change to the better ?!

photo taken 04-88 at the age of 3 yrs.

Sire: Attila v. Karlsbrunnen
Dam: Esti v. Haumbachtal
Born: May 8,1985
Died: Feb. 9,1994
due to Heart disease

the following photos enable you participate the various phases
of his unfortunately too short life .....

I will never forget him but I am now able to remember him without pain .......
the consolation after his death was given to me by another TEDDY
(related bloodlines, Teddy sen. Mom is the over-grand-mother mother's side of TEDDY).

07-06-85: 1st day in the new home ......
"curious & very selfconfident"
- just like a Leo-Puppy should be....

July 6, 85

first day in the new home

07-06-85: "..we promised to each other
love & friendship ....
lasting a dog's life long..."

"Leos love water...a bit is o.k...."

"...but more water is even better...."

"...I promise to be a good boy....
please give me the treat
you promised to me..."

"...I try to please you ...
because I trust in you...."
07-85

"12-85 - a youngster ...willing to share
his bone with his cat-friend Max...."

"05-05-86: "How fast the 1st year went by.....
I celebrate my 1st birthday.."

12-86 " I like it comfortable......"

"autumn 86: A tpyical Teenager"

05-87: "I tell you all my secrets...."

05-08-1988 =3rd birthday

08-88: "private obedience training
in a mixed group"

04-89: "after we moved...I found soon
new dog-friends to play with ...."

late summer 91: "seniors (?) on a bench"

07-93: "the last vacation with the whole family"

12-31-93: "the last photo...."

It was very very hard for me to lose him...
and since 9/91 the first signs of heart disease were found I was
always worrying about his health......
praying that the day X wouldn't come too soon ....
with a good & some months quite expensive health care he reached
8 years, 9 months, 1 day.....
- he enjoyed his life by playing with his toys and other dogs
- almost until the last day -

he died naturally by falling asleep and never wake up ......
- afterwards I understand that I have to be grateful
that he left me this "natural" way

I was in a terrible shape after he died.....
he was barried in the garden ....
it took me hours to say a final "good bye" - to let him go....
- and he took a piece of my heart of my emotions
I have for the breed with him ....
because he was my "first own Leo"
....and he will always be in my memory .....

It was a Leo again who helped me to
pass through this very hard period .....
a Leo again to replace what I lost .....

- and one of my goals conc. the breed,
one of my claims to the breeders is
to do everything possible to extend
the average life-span of this "lovely giants" !

some more pictures might be added, unfortunately not all qualify to go online....