Tonka

Hi, my name is Ann Bell and I live in Linwood, Renfrewshire. I have 2 grown up children who have given me 3 grandchildren between them, but thankfully they have now fled the nest.

I have owned Leonbergers since January 1994, but have owned and loved dogs all of my life, being born into a family who had dogs as family pets.

I first saw Leonbergers whilst watching Crufts Dog Show on the television in March 1993. I decided that this was the breed for me and contacted the then secretary of the Leonberger Club of Great Britain, Jenny Kennish, to find out more about these gentle giants. I owned a long haired German Shepherd at this time who was 12 years old, and wanted a different breed of dog when Jade went to the Rainbow Bridge, as I did not want to make comparisons with a dog of the same breed.

When I lost Jade in August 1993, I went to the Scottish Kennel Club Championship Show where I met Marion Shand with her 2 Rossnick Leonbergers - Rossnick Keepsake and Rossnick Justesse who were bred by Celia Peters. That was it, I was totally smitten, this was the breed for me. I have never wavered from my love of this breed, no matter what health difficulties I have encountered with any of the Leos I have owned.

I have owned 8 Leonbergers to date and shown 4 of them quite successfully.

I also own 2 Australian Shepherds in partnership with my sister Janette Newlands, 1 of which lives with me and the other lives with Janette. We have shown the Australian Shephers with some success but they are only lightly shown along with the Leonbergers.