Author: thomasstigwikman

My name is Thomas Wikman. I am a software/robotics engineer with a background in physics. I am currently retired. I took early retirement. I am a dog lover, and especially a Leonberger lover, a home brewer, craft beer enthusiast, I’m learning French, and I am an avid reader. I live in Dallas, Texas, but I am originally from Sweden. I am married to Claudia, and we have three children. I have two blogs. The first feature the crazy adventures of our Leonberger Le Bronco von der Löwenhöhle as well as information on Leonbergers. The second blog, superfactful, feature information and facts I think are very interesting. With this blog I would like to create a list of facts that are accepted as true among the experts of the field and yet disputed amongst the public or highly surprising. These facts are special and in lieu of a better word I call them super-facts.

Scandinavian Folklore Guest Post on LatinosUSA

Robbie Cheadle posted my guest post on Scandinavian Folklore on LatinosUSA a wonderful online magazine/blog featuring poetry, stories and all kinds of interesting content from around the world. She also included a wonderful review of my Leonberger book Le Life and Times of Le Bronco von der Löwenhöhle.

Classic Books and Poems – Myths, Legends, Poems, and Books: Scandinavian Folklore with Thomas Wikman Part 1

A New Beginning Opening a Pet Treat Bakery

This is a guest post written by Ryan Goodchild. He emailed me asking me if he could publish this post regarding opening a Pet Treat Bakery . I said yes. See his post below.

Our mini Australian Shepherd Rollo is looking at a pupcake in front of him. He is wearing a blue party hat.
Our mini Australian Shepherd Rollo loves pupcakes (cupcakes for dogs). We bought it at a pet treat bakery.
It is also a Response to Esther’s writing prompt: December 31, 2025: New Beginnings

Opening a Pet Treat Bakery could certainly be a New Beginning. Click here or here to join in Esthers prompt.

Image: Freepik

Opening a Pet Treat Bakery: A Step-By-Step Business Guide

Opening a pet treat bakery means turning a love of animals into a food-based business with real operational demands. This venture blends culinary care, compliance, branding, and sales into one compact operation. Done right, it can become a loyal, repeat-driven business with strong word-of-mouth momentum.

Quick Takeaways

  • Start with a narrow product focus so you can control quality, costs, and compliance.
  • Treat regulations as a design constraint, not an afterthought.
  • Your brand story matters almost as much as your recipes.
  • Distribution decisions will shape your margins more than ingredient costs.

Starting With a Clear Vision

Most pet treat bakeries fail by trying to do too much too early. Decide whether you are specializing in dog treats, cat treats, or a specific niche like grain-free, dental chews, or celebration cakes. Your ingredient list, pricing, and even packaging flow from this first decision. A tight focus also makes it easier to explain your value to retailers and customers.

Understanding Food Safety and Legal Requirements

Pet food is regulated differently than human food, but it is still regulated. In the U.S., this typically involves state-level registration, labeling rules, and adherence to basic manufacturing standards. Some states require inspections or proof of safe production processes. Call your state agriculture department early so compliance shapes your setup instead of delaying your launch.

Enhancing Business Skills with an Online Degree

Many founders realize quickly that baking skill alone is not enough. Formal business education can help you understand pricing, cash flow, and long-term planning without learning the hard way. A bachelor of business administration program builds confidence in areas like accounting, communications, and management, which directly affect whether your bakery survives its first few years. Flexible online programs allow you to keep working while sharpening these skills, making it easier to balance learning with real-world operations.

Pricing and Cost Control

This table shows common cost categories and what to watch for as you price your treats.

Cost CategoryWhat To MonitorWhy It Matters
IngredientsSupplier consistencyImpacts quality and margins
PackagingDurability and labelingAffects compliance and branding
LaborBatch efficiencyDetermines scalability
DistributionShipping or wholesale cutsDirectly hits profit per unit

Quick Steps to Launch Your Pet Treat Bakery

Follow these steps to move from idea to first sale:

Marketing Without Overstretching

Pet owners respond to trust and transparency. Share ingredient sourcing, show how treats are made, and encourage reviews from early customers. Local partnerships with groomers or pet boutiques often convert better than broad advertising. Consistent storytelling builds familiarity and repeat purchases.

FAQs for Future Pet Treat Bakery Owners

Before making final commitments, these questions often come up.

How much startup capital do I realistically need?

Most small pet treat bakeries launch with modest budgets by starting home-based or renting shared kitchens. Your biggest early costs are compliance, packaging, and initial inventory. Planning for six months of operating runway reduces stress.

Can I operate from home?

This depends on local and state regulations governing pet food production. Some states allow home kitchens with registration, while others require commercial facilities. Always verify before investing in equipment.

How long do pet treats last?

Shelf life varies by recipe, moisture level, and preservatives used. Many baked treats last several months when stored properly. Clear expiration dating builds buyer confidence.

Should I sell direct-to-consumer or wholesale?

Direct sales offer higher margins but require more marketing effort. Wholesale moves volume faster but reduces per-unit profit. Many bakeries start direct, then add selective wholesale partners.

When should I expand my product line?

Expansion makes sense once your core products sell consistently and operations are stable. Adding too many items too early increases complexity and waste. Let customer demand guide growth.

Conclusion

Opening a pet treat bakery is equal parts creativity and discipline. Success comes from pairing safe, appealing products with clear systems and realistic pricing. Start small, learn fast, and build trust with pet owners at every step. With focus and patience, a niche bakery can grow into a durable, well-loved brand.

Photo of our mini-Australian Shepherd being sitting on a leather sofa and looking at a pupcake.
Rollo our mini-Australian Shepherd and a pupcake on a table. This pupcake was bought at a local pet treat bakery. They also have cupcakes for people, but it is important to keep them separate.

My Other Responses to Esther’s Prompts

Would you like to Open a Pet Treat Bakery?

New Beginnings in 2026

Esther’s writing prompt: December 31, 2025: New Beginnings

Click here or here  to join in.

I’ve stopped making New Year Resolutions. According to Psychology Today 80-90% of New Year Resolutions fail. However, I still have goals and wishes for the new year. Instead of making promises I try to make changes at my own pace. One of them is that I’ve started using the Peloton bike that we bought for my wife. Another is trying to adapt to my new role as a grandfather. Our first grandchild Jack was born at the end of September 2024. Yet another new beginning is that I want to focus slightly more on my relatively new blog superfactful that I started in August of 2024. In 2024 I posted 25 super facts and in 2025 I posted 53. I also made 64 other kinds of posts on this blog. I am hoping to one day to have collected 200 super facts. My hope is that I will post 80 super facts in 2026. Let’s see how far I get.

New Beginnings the Peloton Bike

My wife and I bought a Peloton bike a couple of months ago. It was my wife who was the most interested in it but lately I’ve been trying it out as well. I found that this is an excellent way of getting some exercise. A Peloton bike is an internet-connected stationary exercise bike featuring a large touchscreen that streams live fitness classes led by instructors. You select your level, time and your instructor and press start.

The photo shows a black bike with a large touchscreen.
Our Peloton bike. The large touch screen is on the right in the photo compared to the rest of the bike.

I usually pick the same class as my wife does. It is the beginners class with Emma. You follow her instructions and you increase/decrease the speed and resistance. Emma does the same thing as you do, you follow her, she is encouraging and she plays great music for you as you do the exercises. It is almost like having your personal trainer. I know these are prerecorded classes but yesterday when my speed / cadence dropped below the goal, Emma told me, “Let’s try to keep the cadence above 80”. This happened twice giving me the feeling that the class was live. It is an entertaining way of exercising that I hope I will continue doing throughout 2026. Perhaps not every day, but I want to do it often. It is a new beginning for me, a new exercise beginning.

A woman in an exercise outfit is looking straight ahead out from a touchscreen also featuring numbers and information.
Emma is looking out from the touch screen, telling you what to do.

New Beginnings Our First Grandchild

Our oldest son Jacob and his wife Ashley live in Baltimore, Maryland, and their son Jack is three months old. We’ve visited a few times, and we are soon going back there, and they (Jacob, Ashley and Jack) are coming to visit us in February. Being a grandfather is a new role for me that I am going to have to learn. It is a New Beginning for me. You can read more about our latest trip to Baltimore here.

Ashley is holding 3 months old Jack and they are both smiling big.
Jack with his mother Ashley
My wife Claudia is holding Jack, and she is holding a bottle of milk for him.
My wife Claudia is feeding Jack
A photo of the three of us sitting in the sofa. Baby Jack is sitting on the right. He is wearing a Pajamas.
My wife Claudia is on the left; I am in the middle and Jack is on the right.

New Beginnings for Super Facts

In August of 2024 I started a second blog, superfactful. The goal of this blog is to create a list of facts that are important, not trivia, and that are known to be true and yet surprising, mind-blowing, shocking or disputed by large segments of the public. I am avoiding click bait and focusing on facts that will challenge the reader as well myself in a way that provides growth. Below are a few examples.

The Speed of Light In Vacuum Is a Universal Constant

Superfact 4 :

The speed of light in vacuum is the same for all observers regardless of their speed and the direction in which they are going. It is always c = 299,792,458 meters per second. If you try to catch up to a light beam and travel close to the speed of light the speed of the light beam will still be c = 299,792,458 meters per second compared to you. This is possible because time and space don’t behave like we expect.

The picture shows two people Alan and Amy. Alan is on the ground. Amy is flying by Alan in a rocket speeding left. Both Alan and Amy are pointing lasers to the left.
In this picture Amy is traveling past Alan in a rocket. Both have a laser. Both measure the speed of both laser beams to be c = 299,792,458 meters per second.

Global Warming is Happening and is Caused by us

Superfact 25: Global warming or if you call it Climate Change or Climate Disruption is happening, and it is happening very fast, and we also know that it is caused by us primarily as a result of our burning of fossil fuels. There is a long-standing scientific consensus on these two facts because the evidence is conclusive. Check the evidence below.

Hockey stick curve going back 1,000 years. The recent uptick in global temperature is very sharp and very sudden.
The so-called hockey stick curve depicting the last 1,000 years. The blue line is the first hockey stick curve ever created (by Michael Mann). He used proxy measurements such as tree rings, green-dots 30-year average, red temperature measurements. This graph is taken from this page.

Infinities Come in Different Sizes

Super fact 67 : Infinities come in different sizes. Some infinities are larger than others. In fact, it is possible to create an infinite number of different-sized infinities. Some infinities are countable and others are uncountable.

A neon infinity metaverse symbol. 3D illustration.
Infinity Asset id: 2118543950 by Sahara Prince

There are 78 super facts so far. I am hoping that my increased focus on this blog will lead to another 80 this year. It will be a New Beginning. To see a list of the 78 super facts and the next 72 I’ve planned click here.

My Other Responses to Esther’s Prompts

May you all have a great 2026 and a New Beginning

Dogs Are Family

Esther’s writing prompt: December 24th: Family

Click here or here  to join in.

With this post I wanted to remind everyone that dogs are family, and we should not forget that during the holidays, you should give them extra cuddles and some presents and let them participate in the festivities if possible.

Our Latest Trip to Baltimore

First, I wanted to say a few words about the latest addition to our family, our first grandson Jack. Our oldest son Jacob and his wife Ashley live in Baltimore, Maryland, and their son Jack is three months old. We’ve visited him a few times since his birth and these pictures are from our latest visit about a week ago. Jack is a healthy and happy baby who does a lot of cooing. See the photos below and the short video.

A photo of a three months old baby sitting in the corner of a sofa.
Jack in the sofa. Three months old.
A photo of the three of us sitting in the sofa. Baby Jack is sitting on the right. He is wearing a Pajamas.
My wife Claudia is on the left, I am in the middle and Jack is on the right.

Our Dogs Are Family

I did not grow up with dogs, and I was not even particularly fond of them, and then when we got our first family dog, the yellow Labrador Baylor, I really got to know and love dogs, and it changed my life. Now, I think I love dogs more than people. Well, at least I have learned that dogs are wonderful people. They always come with us to gatherings whenever possible and they got along very well. Our latest dog Rollo loved his sister Daisy and his big brother Bronco but he has a hard time tolerating any other dogs.

My wife, opening the trunk of our red van as Baylor, our Labrador is preparing to jump.
My wife Claudia and our first family dog the Labrador Baylor. This was back in the day. Our niece gave us Baylor because she was going to college. In turn she had gotten him from a shelter. He was a mix, one quarter Rhodesian Ridgeback and three quarters Yellow Labrador. He was able to jump up into the trunk of our van. Baylor was my first dog (not my wife’s first dog), and he taught me a lot about being a dog parent.
The photo shows a yellow labrador swimming in the middle of an Olympic sized pool.
Our Labrador Baylor is swimming in Claudia’s parents pool. He loved swimming, and he loved that pool and swam in it a lot.
A dark brown and black German Shepherd walking around in a dog park.
Our German Shepherd Baby at the dog park.
Two dogs looking into the camera. An old yellow Labrador on the left and the dark brown and black German Shepherd on the right.
Our Labrador Baylor and our German Shepherd Baby. Baylor was older in this picture. We had just gotten our Leonberger Bronco.
The photo shows a Leonberger puppy wearing a red scarf. He is looking into the camera.
This is our Leonberger Bronco (Le Bronco von der Löwenhöhle) at three months old.
Three dogs sitting on the floor, a Leonberger, a Japanese Chin and a Pug.
Our Leonberger Bronco (Le Bronco von der Löwenhöhle), our Japanese Chin Ryu, and our Pug Daisy in the front right.
Three dogs running. On the left and unknown dog, in the middle a yellow Lab and on the right a Japanese Chin.
At the White Rock Lake dog park. Baylor our Labrador in the middle. He was old in this photo. Our Japanese Chin Ryu on the right.
The photo shows a Pug in the front left and a black and white Japanese Chin in the back to the right.
Our Pug Daisy and our Japanese Chin Ryu.
Our Japanese Chin Ryu is licking our beige pug Daisy’s ear. She is sitting in front of a vent.
Our Pug Daisy often sat in front of vents when she was cold. Daisy and our Japanese Chin Ryu were very close, like a couple. Daisy was obviously grieving when Ryu died, from cancer a bit early at only ten years old. Bronco was grieving as well.
Daisy our beige pug is lying over the back of our beige leather sofa.
Daisy is exhausted after doing nothing for a whole day.
The photos show a cage containing two dogs, a black and white mini-Australian Shepherd and an English Bulldog.
In December of 2018 we picked up our mini-Australian Shepherd Rollo. His friend was an English Bulldog.
The photo shows a mini-Australian Shepherd puppy on the floor and behind him is our big Leonberger Bronco.
Our Leonberger Bronco is welcoming Rollo.
The photo shows a young mini-Australian Shepherd puppy and beige pug on a black spotted blanket.
Our pug Daisy and Rollo are saying hello.
The photo shows a dark brown and white mini-Australian Shepherd puppy sitting on a beige tile floor.
Our mini-Australian Shepherd puppy Rollo at 3 months old.
The photos show a mini-Australian Shepherd puppy play fully lying on his side in front of our Leonberger Bronco.
Our mini-Australian Shepherd puppy Rollo and our Leonberger Bronco.
The photo shows a mini-Australian Shepherd standing on a chair and having his front paws on the table.
Our mini-Australian Shepherd Rollo at the table on his seventh birthday. This is a more recent picture, from October of this year.

My Other Responses to Esther’s Prompts

Happy Holidays Everyone

Moving With Your Dog to a New State

This is a guest post written by Ryan Goodchild. He emailed me asking me if he could publish his post regarding moving with dogs on my blog . I said yes. See below.

Our black and white Japanese Chin Ryu is sitting next to our Pug Daisy in a red suitcase.
Moving and travelling can be a challenge to dogs.

Ryan Goodchild’s Post on Moving with Your Dog to a New State:  A Real-World Guide for a Calm Transition

Moving is a big deal, and if you have a dog, it’s a whole new level of logistics and emotion. Dogs don’t understand the concept of relocation. They just know something’s changing. Your goal is to make that change feel safe, predictable, and full of the familiar.

What You’ll Learn

  • How to prepare your dog before, during, and after a move
  • What records and updates you’ll need
  • How to digitize your dog’s important documents
  • Ways to reduce stress, for both of you
  • A quick, clear checklist to keep everything on track

Prepare Your Dog for Change

Start weeks before moving day. Dogs pick up on routine changes quickly — packing, new smells, boxes everywhere. Keep walks and meals on schedule, even as your home shifts around them.

Schedule a vet visit about a month before the move. Request updated vaccination records, refill any medications, and ask for a general health certificate if you’ll be crossing state lines. This document isn’t always mandatory, but it can be helpful for emergencies or travel checks.

Keep Your Dog’s Records Safe and Organized

When you relocate, having instant access to your dog’s medical and identification records can save a lot of stress. Scan everything, like vaccination forms, microchip details, prescriptions, and your vet’s contact information, so you have them in one place.

Save the files as PDFs; they’re reliable, portable, and open on almost any device. For convenience, you can merge multiple records into one clean file with this tool. Keeping these essentials organized means you’re always ready for a vet visit, emergency, or boarding request in your new area.

Travel Day: Stay Calm, Stay Simple

Moving days are hectic, and dogs sense your energy. Your best strategy is calm consistency.

Pack a “dog go-bag” with:

  • Food and collapsible bowls
  • Waste bags and cleaning wipes
  • Favorite toy or blanket
  • Leash, collar, and updated ID tags
  • Any medications and first-aid essentials

Keep familiar scents around. Let your dog travel with a favorite blanket or worn T-shirt of yours, it’s grounding. If you’re driving, stop regularly for short walks and hydration. If you’re flying, check your airline’s pet policy early, as rules and kennel sizes vary widely.

The Essential Dog-Move Checklist

Before leaving your old home, run through this list:

  • Health Check: Vet visit completed and records in hand.
  • Microchip Update: Your new contact information is registered.
  • ID Tag: Updated phone number visible and legible.
  • Supplies Packed: Food, leash, bowls, medication, and comfort items.
  • Digital Records: All key documents saved and backed up.
  • Travel Plan: Rest stops or flight arrangements confirmed.
  • New Vet Contact: A clinic selected near your new address.

Rebuild Routine in a New Environment

Once you arrive, recreate normalcy fast. Set up your dog’s bed and feeding area before unpacking your own boxes. Use familiar commands, toys, and walking times to reestablish their rhythm. Dogs rely on patterns to feel secure; the more you replicate their old schedule, the quicker they’ll adapt.

Take short exploratory walks so your dog can get used to local scents and sounds. If they seem hesitant, don’t rush it. Let them lead the pace; confidence builds gradually through repetition.

Dog Transition Timeline at a Glance

StageFocusGoal
3–4 weeks before moveVet visit, ID updatesHealth & paperwork ready
1–2 weeks before movePacking acclimationReduce anxiety around change
Moving dayCalm, consistent energySafe and comfortable travel
ArrivalEstablish feeding/sleeping areasCreate familiarity fast
First weekDaily walks, local vet visitBuild new routine & comfort

Support Your Dog’s Emotional Adjustment

Some dogs sail through moves; others struggle. Signs of stress can include pacing, panting, whining, or hiding. Keep things calm and predictable. Set up a quiet area where they can retreat when the new space feels overwhelming.

Just as important: manage your own stress. Dogs take emotional cues from you — if you’re tense, they will be too. A calm tone, gentle reassurance, and unhurried movements go a long way. When you’re relaxed and consistent, your dog begins to trust that the new home is safe.

If your pet is struggling, spend extra time together doing things they love — a walk, gentle grooming, or simply sitting nearby. These small rituals of connection reinforce safety and stability more powerfully than any special training tool ever could.

FAQs

Q: How long does it take a dog to adjust after a move?
Typically one to three weeks. The key is routine — same feeding times, same walking windows, same tone of reassurance.

Q: Should my dog stay with me during the move?
If possible, yes, but if the environment will be chaotic, arrange for them to stay with a trusted friend until moving day is over.

Q: What should I do if my dog stops eating after the move?
Offer familiar food and limit new treats until they settle. Keep mealtimes quiet and predictable.

Q: How can I tell if my dog is too anxious?
Look for excessive panting, hiding, or destructive chewing These are normal short-term reactions, but contact your vet if they persist.

Final Thoughts: Familiar Love in a New Place

Moving with your dog isn’t about perfection, it’s about patience. Dogs care less about where they live than who they live with. By maintaining structure, reassurance, and calm energy, you’ll help them feel safe no matter the ZIP code.

Eventually, the boxes will be unpacked, the walks will feel routine again, and your dog will nap in a new sunbeam, proof that home isn’t a destination. It’s a feeling you build together.

Leonbergers Giving Gifts to Pugs

Esther’s writing prompt: 17th December : Giving

Click here or here  to join in.

Dogs give gifts and do nice things for people and other dogs. In this post I am describing three occasions when our late Leonberger Bronco gave our Pug Daisy gifts.

Leonberger Shares a Gingerbread House

Our Leonberger dog Bronco (his full name was Le Bronco von der Löwenhöhle) was an expert counter surfer, which is why we installed a pet gate to the entrance of our kitchen. Bronco knew how to open gates if they were not locked, so you had to make sure that you did not just close the gate but lock it. However, one December day I forgot to lock the gate. That was the day our daughter had made a gingerbread house and left it on the kitchen counter. Guess who ate half the gingerbread house? Guess who ate some of the other half? Bronco shared some with Daisy. He was always very generous. The photo below is what I saw when I got home that day.

A pug on the left, and Leonberger dog on the right. There are pieces of a gingerbread house on the floor. There is an open gate in the background.
The open gate behind Daisy and Bronco permitted their gingerbread-house raid.

Leonberger Shares a Baked Potato

I believe dogs have empathy, and sometimes they want to share—at least Bronco did. There was a time when we were in our home eating take-out food and Bronco stole one of our dinners, including meat, vegetables, and a baked potato. He started eating the meat, then he glanced at Daisy, who was sitting in the middle of the floor looking sad. Immediately he took the baked potato in his mouth and carried it over to her and dropped it right at her feet. I was going to get mad at him for stealing, but when I saw his kindhearted and unselfish act, I let it be.

Daisy our pug is sitting in front of a vent.
Daisy our Pug was sitting there looking sad, but she got a baked potato with bacon and butter. I should say that the photo is from another occasion when she sat in front of the vent because she was cold. But it is close enough.

Leonberger Saves our Pug Daisy’s Life

On another occasion, Bronco did something else amazing for Daisy. Despite having issues with his paws—this was around the time he was being treated for squamous cell carcinoma—he saved Daisy from an attacking German shepherd who was running loose.

We were at my wife Claudia’s parents’ house, just leaving, standing on their driveway, when one of their neighbors came out to drop some garbage in the trash can at the end of her driveway. With her was a young, probably adolescent, German shepherd, and he was not on a leash. As we were standing on the porch, I suddenly saw the shepherd flying through the bushes, his teeth bared. He quickly charged us—viciously.

First, he went for Daisy, but Bronco got between them to protect her. Essentially, Bronco saved her life. The shepherd bit his leg in return. Bronco was almost twelve when this happened, and he was not as strong as he used to be. A German shepherd would have been an easy opponent for Bronco just a few years earlier, but at that point he was old, and he did not need the extra stress.

I kicked the German shepherd in the stomach, and he ran off. Bronco’s legs were weak—he had recently had a toe operation, and his walking was unsteady—so seeing the shepherd going for the leg on which he had had his operation was very upsetting. The shepherd could have bitten me, of course, and I could have been severely injured, but I didn’t care. I was defending my dogs—who were all on a leash, by the way. If the shepherd had bitten me, the owner could have been criminally charged, and there could have been a lawsuit

The owner of the shepherd came over to apologize, but I cursed at her. Maybe I shouldn’t have, but she had a vicious and dangerous dog, and she intentionally let him run loose. In the end, though, there were no major injuries. Bronco’s leg was slightly hurt, but overall, he was fine. These days, whenever we talk about this incident, I jokingly refer to the neighbor dog as Cujo. I should say that we’ve had a German Shepherd who was a sweetheart, so this is story is in no way an attempt to disparage German Shepherds. They are typically wonderful dogs as well.

In conclusion, this third example was an example of Bronco giving up his safety and potential health to protect our Pug Daisy.

The photo shows our Leonberger Bronco standing in the backyard as a sun ray is shining down over his head.
Bronco was a hero saving Daisy’s life.

My Other Responses to Esther’s Prompts

Respect your Dog

Esther’s writing prompt: 10th December : Respect

Click here or here  to join in.

Dogs are living conscious beings, and they should not be mistreated, hurt or treated disrespectfully. For example, don’t allow kids to play rough with dogs or take their food. Do not hit them. Do not push their face towards the feces when they have an accident inside the house. There is a widespread false misconception that you should. Again, respect your dog.

Do not keep them outside for a long time in the heat or cold. Do not abandon them, especially not to the wild where they will not survive. When your dog gets old, slow and boring, take care of it. You can get a new puppy but do not ever replace an old dog with a puppy. Doing so is cruel and immoral. Dogs deserve your respect.

This may be self-evident to most dog owners. However, I have seen people do these things to dogs and worse, so it bears repeating.

Do not let kids or Puppies Pull a Dog’s Tail

Playing with a dog is, of course, fine. They love running after balls and other toys and having fun in the backyard, playing with kids and other dogs. However, having their tail pulled is not their version of fun and it can cause a dog to bite. I am guilty of this myself. When I was a kid, I pulled the tail of my uncle’s dog and I almost got bitten. When our mini-Australian Shepherd Rollo was still a puppy he sometimes pestered our Leonberger Bronco by pulling his tail and even dangling in it like a swing. We did not allow this, but accidents happened. Luckily Bronco was very patient with Rollo, and he let us know when there was tail biting mischief under way so that we could remove Rollo.

The photo shows a mini-Australian Shepherd biting a Leonberger’s tail.
Rollo, our mini-Australian Shepherd, frequently bit our Leonberger Bronco’s tail, and he even swung in it like a swing. He climbed all over Bronco. Bronco was very patient with him. Naturally, we did not allow this, but accidents happened.

Do not let kids ride big dogs

Do not allow children to ride big dogs like a horse. This could cause severe spinal injuries to the dog because their backs aren’t built for weight. The dog may also bite the kid to defend itself.

A small boy is sitting on the back of a big Leonberger dog. A red X is drawn across the picture, and it features the text Don’t in red.
Don’t allow. This is very dangerous to the dog as well as the kid as the dog may bite. The dog in the picture is a Leonberger. This image was generated with the help of AI/ChatGPT.

Dogs Get Lonely

Don’t leave dogs alone for extended periods of time. Dogs need to potty, they need interaction, they get lonely and anxious. It is typically fine to leave an adult dog at home for a couple of hours but much longer than that could be a problem. If the dog goes potty on the floor when home alone for a long time, well that is not the dog’s fault. You clean it up and apologize to the dog.

A dark brown and white Australian Shepherd is looking out the window of a brick house.
A lonely Australian Shepherd looking out the window. This image was generated with the help of AI/ChatGPT.
Rollo our dark brown and white mini-Australian Shepherd is standing in front of the window looking out. You can see the reflection of me and the rest of the neighborhood in the window, obscuring Rollo a bit.
Rollo is looking out the window. We don’t leave him for very long but when we do he sits and looks out the window. You can see the reflection of me taking the photo and of the neighborhood in the window.

It is a little bit better when dogs have the company of each other.

A pug and a mini-Australian Shepherd are standing on the sofa looking out the window. The joke goes: Daisy says : Rollo do you want to hear a joke? Rollo says OK. Daisy says Knock! Knock! They both start barking like crazy.
Daisy’s and Rollo’s knock knock joke.

Hugs May not be Welcome

Perhaps surprisingly most dogs find hugs uncomfortable and stressful because they restrict their natural “flight” instinct and make them feel threatened, even though humans see it as affection. Our Leonberger gave us Leonberger hugs, meaning he leaned on us, or pressed his body against us, but like most dogs he probably did not like human arms around his body. If you put your arms around a dog they may start licking their lips, yawning, or even trying to get away. These are stress signals. If they lick your face in this situation, it is not likely to be a kiss, but attempted appeasement. Essentially, the dog wants to please you, but he is wondering why you are mean by giving him a hug without his consent.

The picture shows a Leonberger dog looking forward as boy on his right is hugging the dog and putting his arm around him.
Hugs may not be welcome. Watch for lip licking and other stress signals when kids do this. Perhaps ask the kid not to squeeze the dog with his arms. This image was generated with the help of AI/ChatGPT.

In the picture below our Leonberger Bronco is reaching out to me to give me a hug, as I entered the room, but maybe I should not have put my arm around him. I should say Bronco was a very tolerant dog.

Bronco is standing on our red leather sofa giving me hug and a kiss.
Bronco our Leonberger is giving me a kiss, or is it? He is about one year old and not yet fully grown.

To learn more about the complex question of dog hugs you can watch the 8 minute video below.

In summary, Respect Your Dog

To visit a related post, Promises To My Dog, click here.

I Promise Not to Post AI Generated Comments

Esther’s writing prompt: December 3 : Promise

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This post is not about Leonbergers but about a phenomenon that seems to be spreading like wildfire in the blogosphere, AI generated comments. If you are a blogger that has been blogging lately, I am sure you have seen them. Well written, seemingly creative, flattering and detailed comments that give the impression that the commentor, who appears to be an extremely articulate writer, has read your post really well and understood it, and has spent a long time perfecting the comment. Unfortunately, he/she didn’t write anything and has probably not even looked at your post. He/she might have, in a very short time, generated hundreds of comments automatically for hundreds of blogs he/she has never looked at and knows nothing about.

When I started getting the AI generated comments I was really flattered at first. Someone really took the time to read my often lengthy and complicated posts and not only understood them well but loved them for all the right reasons. As the Devil in the Devil’s advocate said, “vanity is my favorite sin”. However, I eventually realized that these comments were inauthentic. I still say thank you when I get an elaborate and flattering comment that does not look genuine or seems to be too good to be true. First of all, it is difficult to know for sure whether the comment is AI-generated and secondly, they did make some effort even though it was minimum. I don’t know if that is right or wrong of me.

To generate an AI-comment you can, for example, use a website such as Postiz. You copy and paste the content of a blog post into the edit box “Original Post Content”, then select the tone, for example, “friendly”, and then you press the button. Then copy and paste the comment in the blog.

There are many other tools for generating comments, blog posts, and other content including HyperwriteAI, which also can make the content sound genuine using your writing-persona. It trains the AI to mimic your unique writing style (you provide examples) ensuring the output sounds like you.

My Murder Moose Example

I am not going to post examples without the consent of the non-authors, so I am giving my own example based on my recent post “What are your Favorite Animals Not Murder Moose Anymore“. I used Postiz, which generated the following comment for me.

Wow, that’s such a cool journey from the Murder Moose to loving dogs!

I love how you turned your childhood memories into a drawing.

And writing a book about Leonbergers is amazing!

Dogs really do bring so much joy and companionship.

Rollo sounds like a great buddy too!

Below is the drawing that Postiz is referring to:

A moose with big antlers and giant sharp teeth.
The murder moose in my second grade story. The picture was generated by ChatGPT.

I posted an AI-generated comment above, which makes it seem like I already broken my promise not to post AI generated  comments. However, the comment was not posted in anyone’s comment section but here in my post for illustration purposes. What I promise is to not post AI generated  comments on anyone’s blog post without telling them it is an AI generated  comment, unlike a lot of bloggers. The picture above is also AI generated but I am stating that it is.

In my opinion, leaving AI generated comments on people’s posts without telling them it is AI generated is dishonest and the same is true when someone posts an AI generated blog post without mentioning that it is AI generated.

The Death of Internet

AI generated comments, bots posting comments, bots arguing with people in the comment sections, bots arguing with other bots in the comment sections, and bots “clicking” massive amounts of reactions (like, love, angry, laughter, etc.). Not to mention the spread of deep fakes These are phenomena spreading like wildfire.

Not all AI generated comments and comments by bots are innocent flattery. Bots frequently spread false information, false narratives, division and anger. AI generated comments and bots are ruining the comment sections in various ways. Before you get into a lengthy argument with someone on internet, here is some expert help to determine whether you are arguing with a bot, or not. On my second blog I posted about the fact that “more than half of Internet Traffic is Bots”. Most of the bot traffic is malicious by the way.

A picture of giant computer screen with a red warning triangle containing an exclamation mark. Underneath the triangle is the text “System Hacked”
Warning of a system hacked. Virus, cyber-attack, malware concept. Asset id: 1916985977 by Sashkin

This makes me wonder if the internet is dying. With that I am not referring to the Dead Internet Conspiracy Theory that claims that Internet is already dead and entirely governed by bots that are controlling us. I am referring to something more realistic, that our internet experience is ruined first by people using AI generated content (comments, posts, etc.) without telling readers, and secondly by bots. Is Internet losing its authenticity and value?

And to reiterate, I promise not to post AI-generated comments on people’s blogs.

Adventures with a Dragon in Mandoreum

This is a Leonberger blog but sometimes I post about books that are not about Leonbergers but that are books that I love and want to promote. This is another one of those. I recently read “The Secret Dragon” Paperback – by Esther Moonstomp. It is a children’s book I bought for the children of friends of ours. Below is an overview of the two formats for the book.

  • Paperback –  Publisher : Troubador Publishing (July 4, 2025), ISBN-10 : 1836283881, ISBN-13 : 978-1836283881, 72 pages, Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 3.81 ounces, dimensions ‏ : 5.83 x 0.2 x 8.27 inches, it cost $7.70on US Amazon. Click here to order it from Amazon.com.
  • Kindle – Publisher : Troubador Publishing Ltd (July 28, 2025), ASIN : B0FCMZ6LMW, ISBN-13 : 978-1836288800, 38 pages. It is currently 3.99 on Amazon.com and free with Kindle Unlimited. Click here to order it from Amazon.com.
The title and author name and an illustration of a girl holding a small green dragon.
Front cover of The Secret Dragon by Esther Moonstomp. Click here or the picture to visit the Amazon.com page for the paperback version of the book.

Amazon’s description of the book

When Saffy discovers a dragon statue at the bottom of her garden, her boring summer holiday becomes full of excitement. The statue is a real dragon called Lily.

She’s from the magical world of Mandoreum, a place that’s in danger and in need of Saffy’s help.

There are clues to solve, a wicked witch to battle and secrets to be kept at all costs. Will Saffy be able to save Mandoreum before it’s too late?

This is my five-star review for The Secret Dragon

A Friendly Dragon and the Magical Land of Mandoreum

I remember when I was a kid and we were asked to tell the class about our summer vacation as we returned to class. It was not fun when you hadn’t done much or gone anywhere but many other kids had done amazing things. In this story Saffy is having a boring summer holiday. They have not gone anywhere, and the weather is bad. This is when she discovers a statue of a dragon in her garden. The dragon, named Lily, comes alive and so begins a magical adventure. Lily participates in the rescue of a magical land called Mandoreum and fights a mean witch. She ends up having a spectacular summer adventure.

I think the themes of the book, magic, witches and a friendly harmless dragon is something that children would like. The description of the fantasyland Mandoreum is special and intriguing. The story is very imaginative, action packed and I believe it is a fun story for children. The book is well written, and it is a good story. I bought this book for the children of friends of ours, but I read it myself first. We have a two months old grandson, but he is still a little bit young for this book. This book is excellent for reading out loud to children, and for young readers. I highly recommend this sweet and fun book.

The Amazon description of the book and a witches hat at the bottom.
Back cover of The Secret Dragon by Esther Moonstomp. Click here or the picture to visit the Amazon.com page for the Kindle version of the book.

Click here to visit the author’s website

What are your favorite animals Not Murder Moose Anymore

When I was in second grade, I liked horror stories, and my favorite animal was the Murder Moose. The Murder Moose was a big Moose with big teeth, and it went around killing people in my village in northern Sweden where I lived. In school I wrote my first story about the Murder Moose, and I made a drawing. My story and my drawing are unfortunately lost but with the help of ChatGPT I made another drawing based on my memories from my childhood’s Murder Moose. I should say that at the time I knew nothing about Dinosaurs yet, otherwise my favorite animal might have been Dinosaurs.

Daily writing prompt
What are your favorite animals?
View all responses
A moose with big antlers and giant sharp teeth.
The murder moose in my second grade story. The picture was generated by ChatGPT.

As an adult my perspective has changed. Now I love dogs. I have a dog, Rollo, and have owned many dogs, something that I never had a chance to do as a kid. I love dogs very much and I am especially fond of Leonberger dogs. I wrote a book about Leonbergers and our late Leonberger dog Bronco, or Le Bronco von der Löwenhöhle to be precise. The title of the book is “The Life and Times of Le Bronco von der Löwenhöhle, Stories and Tips from Thirteen Years with a Leonberger”.

On the left there is a color photo of our Leonberger as a puppy. He is wearing a scarf. On the right he is big, old and gray and lying in the grass looking into the camera.
On the left our Leonberger Bronco is three months old. On the right Bronco as an unusually old Leonberger at almost 13.
Bronco is standing on our red leather sofa giving me hug and a kiss.
Bronco our Leonberger is giving me a kiss. He is about one year old and not yet fully grown.
Old black and white photo showing a man holding a Leonberger with a leash.
Bronco’s direct ancestor on the male side Leo von der Sagmuhle in Germany about 100 years ago (18 generations). The Worldwide Independent Leonberger Database keeps track of all registered Leonbergers, making ancestry research for Leonberger dogs easy.
Claudia my wife sitting in a red sofa with our very big dog in her lap.
Our Leonberger Bronco sitting in my wife’s lap. He was 167 pounds at the time.
A Leonberger is lying on the floor, and my book is leaning against the dog.
Hachi a one-year-old Canadian Leonberger with my Leonberger book. The owner and photographer are Brenda Saito and her husband.

However, the first dogs we had as a family was our Labrador Baylor and German Shepherd Baby. I should say that Baylor was not a purebred Labrador, he was one quarter Rhodesian Ridgeback.

Our yellow Lab Baylor is sitting on the left. Our brown-black German Shepherd Baby is sitting on the right.
Our Labrador Baylor and German Shepherd Baby. They were both rescues.

One of the reasons I love dogs is that they are very social and often quite intelligent. They provide companionship, they are loving, loyal, fun, innocent, playful and they can also provide protection whether it is physically or just because of their barking, which alerts us to the presence of strangers. Add to that the fact that you need to take them for daily walks, which will keep you healthy as well.

Bronco, Baylor, and Baby were not our only dogs. Below are various photos of our dogs.

Our pug Daisy is on the lawn on the left. Our Leonberger Bronco is standing on the right.
Our Leonberger Bronco and our Pug Daisy
Our daughter 9 years old is holding the paws of our Japanese Chin Ryu. Ryu is standing on his back legs, and it looks like he is laughing.
Our Japanese Chin Ryu with our daughter who was 9 years old at the time.
Our Japanese Chin Ryu is sitting on the wood floor.
Our Japanese Chin Ryu.
Our pug Daisy is lying on her back on the gravel. There is also a toy duck.
Our pug Daisy loved to sunbath even when it was hot. Here she is catching some rays while lying on our old backyard porch, which had gravel.
Our Leonberger Bronco is lying on the floor. Our mini-Australian Shepherd Rollo is lying on his side wanting to be petted.
Our Leonberger Bronco and our mini-Australian Shepherd Rollo.
Rachel kneeling on the floor and petting our mini-Australian Shepherd Rollo who is on the left as well as our pug Daisy who is on the right.

Our daughter with our pug Daisy and our mini-Australian Shepherd Rollo.
There is text above the wolf on the left that says “Canis Lupus, the grey wolf is a fearsome and courageous hunter in nature.”. There is a text above Rollo on the right that says “Canis Lupus familiaris, the dog, a close relative of the grey wolf, is sometimes less brave. This specimen prefers to sit in a stroller when he hears strange sounds.”
A gray wolf on the left. Our mini-Australian Shepherd Rollo sitting in a stroller on the right. Whenever there was a sound that scared him, such as quacking ducks, or someone banging on something, he wanted to sit in Daisy’s stroller.

Leonberger Photo Posts