Wasserhund Leonbergers

Hovis, Leah & Katie

These are the first three Leonbergers I owned. On the right is Hovis, Simbasden Sweet William, my clown prince. He helped me through a very dark time in my life with his daft antics. Next to him is Katie, Rikandan Catherine Douglas my lovely show girl who gave me a lot of fun in the show ring, and Leah, Manorguard Forever Young, my much loved little lady who broke my and my son Ian's hearts when she had to be put to sleep. All of them are waiting for me at the Rainbow Bridge.

Simbasden Sweet William - Hovis - came to live with us in January 1994. He was bred by Jenny Kennish of the Kinghern Kennels, and he and his brother Troy were two of the biggest examples of the breed around at this time. Their sire was Garrick Haardrad and their dam was Kinghern Sun Bear of Simbasden.  He was shown with moderate success in the Utility Group at this time as Leonbergers were not then in the Working Group. He went Best of Breed and Best Puppy at Darlington Championship Show at 10 months of age, and was Reserve Best Dog to Manorguard Adam at Darlington Championship Show, and Reserve Best Dog at the Welsh Championship Show. He won Best in Show at Workington Open Show.  Unfortunately, I lost Hovis at 7 years and 3 months old.

Manorguard Forever Young - Leah - came to live with me in January 1996. Her sire was Sund Stamm's Design of Golden Art at Manorguard, and her mother was Manorguard Amy. She was bred by John Feehan. Leah did not like the show ring so was not shown much at all. She got Reserve Best Bitch at the British Utility Breeds Championship Show, but was not shown much after that. I was so proud of her achievements that day as she was not a happy little girl in the show ring. I lost Leah at 7 years and 6 months old. She was my little lady and it broke my heart to have to let her go to the Rainbow Bridge.

Rikandan Catherine Douglas - named after my mother as the money she left me in her will paid for her!!!! Katie's sire was Everest Dutch Lord of Pelgrims Ring at Rikandan and her dam was Watchbury Eleonora Inger of Rikandan. She came to live with me in October 1998. Katie's breeders were Belle and Trevor Pattrick. Katie was a real show girl, gaining 5 Best Bitch awards at Championship Level - 3 of them with Best of Breed, and winning 5 Reserve Best Bitch awards. She loved showing and everyone and everything was her friend. Unfortunately, I lost Katie on 24th December 2004 to liver cancer. That was the most tremendous shock of my life.