Tag: Le Bronco von der Löwenhöhle

Becoming a First-Time Leonberger Owner

Our Leonberger puppy is wearing a red scarf and looking straight into the camera.
Our Leonberger Le Bronco von der Löwenhöhle (Bronco for short) at the age of three months.
Our Leonberger Bronco is standing on our leather sofa and he is giving me a hug.
Me Thomas Wikman with our Leonberger Bronco when he was about one years old.
An old looking Leonberger lying in the grass and looking into the camera.
Our Leonberger Bronco soon to be 13 years old. Leonbergers are large dogs and don’t live as long as small dogs. The typically live 8 to 10 years. However, our Bronco reached the age of 13. He was loving, protective, and brave. The small dogs loved him.

This is a guest post written by Ryan Goodchild. He emailed me asking me if he could publish this post regarding becoming a first time Leonberger Owner . I said yes. See his post below.

Becoming a First-Time Leonberger Owner: What You Need to Know

Owning a Leonberger isn’t just about bringing home a dog—it’s about welcoming a gentle, giant-hearted companion whose loyalty and calm strength will shape your days for years to come. These majestic dogs, known for their intelligence and deep affection, can be both a joy and a challenge for first-time pet owners. This guide will help you understand what to expect and how to set yourself—and your Leonberger—up for success.

Ten Leonberger puppies sitting on a sofa. They are brown with black face masks. An adult Leonberger is lying in front of them.
Ten Leonberger puppies with mama. Shutterstock-ID: 561107650 by Akbudak Rimma.
Six Leonbergers with celebration hats are looking straight into the camera.
Six Leonbergers celebrating a birthday celebration. Photo by Jen O’Keefe.

Quick Essentials This Article Looks At

  • Leonbergers are massive—males can exceed 170 pounds; space and structure are non-negotiable.
  • Early socialization and consistent training are critical to keep their size from becoming a liability.
  • Expect heavy shedding, especially during seasonal “blowouts.”
  • They thrive on human interaction and suffer if left alone for long periods.
  • Regular vet care, high-quality food, and joint supplements can prevent costly long-term health issues.
Big fluffy Leonberger sitting in the grass on a hill.
Mature big Leonberger Stock Photo ID:731020957  by Peter Josto.

Understanding the Leonberger Temperament

Leonbergers are affectionate, patient, and famously good with children. Originally bred as family and working companions, they balance strength with serenity. However, their intelligence means they need mental stimulation and clear boundaries; without it, boredom can lead to destructive behavior.

A Few Core Traits to Remember:
  • Gentle yet strong: They rarely display aggression but need confident leadership.
  • Social by nature: Isolation leads to stress and behavioral issues.
  • Sensitive to tone: Harsh correction will break trust—positive reinforcement works best.
The photo shows our mini-Australian Shepherd biting Bronco’s tail and pulling on it as Bronco is trying to ignore him.
Our rambunctious Rollo mini-Australian Shepherd is biting Bronco’s tail. One time Rollo swung in his tail as if it was a swing. Bronco was very patient.

Health and Nutrition at a Glance

Leonbergers grow rapidly and live, on average, 8–9 years. Their size makes them prone to joint, heart, and bone issues, so proactive care is crucial.

Here’s a snapshot of what to focus on:

ConcernWhat to WatchPreventive Actions
Hip & Elbow DysplasiaLimping, stiffnessKeep weight balanced, feed joint-support diets
Bloat (Gastric Torsion)Restlessness, distended bellyFeed smaller meals, avoid heavy exercise after eating
Heart ConditionsFatigue, coughingAnnual cardiac exams
Cancer (esp. bone)Sudden lameness or painRegular vet visits and early screening
Photo of a Leonberger standing in the snow. There is a wintry forest in the background.
A healthy Leonberger. Shutter Stock Photo ID:705193912 by Anna Krivitskaya.

Creating a Home That Fits a Leonberger

A small apartment won’t do—Leonbergers need space to stretch, play, and move freely. A secure, fenced yard is ideal. Indoors, they’ll happily curl up near you, but their size means you’ll need to Leonberger-proof your space.

How to Prepare Your Home:
  • Create a soft resting area to protect joints.
  • Secure gates and doors—they can easily push through flimsy barriers.
  • Keep breakables out of tail range.
  • Use large, non-slip bowls for food and water.
A big Leonberger splayed across a big wide red leather sofa.
Our Leonberger Bronco sleeping on our big red leather sofa.

Grooming and Maintenance: Managing the “Fur-nado”

Leonbergers have a double coat that requires regular maintenance. Weekly brushing helps, but during shedding season, daily sessions are best. Baths every 6–8 weeks will keep their coat clean and odor-free.

Grooming Checklist

Before shedding season hits, stock up on these essentials:

  • Undercoat rake and slicker brush
  • High-velocity dryer (optional but effective)
  • Gentle dog shampoo and conditioner
  • Nail clippers and ear-cleaning solution

Keeping up with grooming not only reduces hair around the house but also strengthens your bond with your dog.

A pretty dark-haired Caucasian girl in a plaid shirt hugs her cute Leonberger dog. The concept is friendship and loyalty.
A woman and her Leonberger dog. Asset id: 1741753382 by Elena Podrezenko

How to Keep Your Pet Records Organized

First-time owners often underestimate the amount of documentation involved—vaccination records, microchip details, adoption papers, and vet receipts. To make things easier, convert documents to PDF and store them digitally.

Using a reliable online tool lets you organize every file in one place, ensuring quick access during vet visits or emergencies.

Creating a labeled folder for your Leonberger’s records—medical, training, and nutrition—will save time and prevent misplaced paperwork later.

Training Your Leonberger: Building a Confident Giant

Leonbergers are highly trainable but easily bored by repetition. Their size makes obedience a must—start early, keep sessions short, and make them engaging. Reward-based methods build trust faster than dominance-based tactics.

Quick Training Guide:

  • Start with basics: Sit, stay, come, down.
  • Socialize early: Introduce new sights, people, and other pets gradually.
  • Teach calm leash behavior: Their strength can easily overwhelm a novice handler.
  • Practice recall: A reliable recall can prevent accidents.

Leonbergers are eager to please and thrive when training feels like teamwork rather than command and control.

The First-Year Readiness Checklist

Owning a Leonberger for the first time is as rewarding as it is demanding. Before bringing one home, make sure you can check most of these boxes:

How-To Checklist: Your First-Year Essentials
  • Register with a trusted veterinarian
  • Choose a large-breed-specific diet and feeding schedule
  • Create a grooming calendar and stick to it
  • Enroll in an obedience or puppy class
  • Invest in sturdy leashes, harnesses, and feeding equipment
  • Begin socialization within the first 3 months
  • Keep vaccination and health records digitally organized
The photo shows a young blond woman running with a Leonberger in a leash. There are tents and other people in the background.
RONNEBY, SWEDEN – JULY 05, 2014: Blekinge Kennelklubb international dog show. A Leonberger dog and a female handler running in a show ring. Asset id: 204221011 by Imfoto

“Big-Paw” Questions: FAQ for Future Leonberger Owners

Here are some of the most common concerns new owners have—answered clearly and concisely.

The New Owner’s FAQ: “From Puppy to Gentle Giant”

1. How much exercise does a Leonberger need?
At least an hour a day of moderate activity is ideal. Puppies should avoid high-impact exercise until growth plates close (around 18 months) to protect joints.

2. Are Leonbergers good with other pets?
Yes. They’re naturally tolerant, but early introductions and supervised interactions are important, especially with smaller animals they could accidentally knock over.

3. How expensive are they to maintain?
Expect higher costs than smaller breeds. Quality food, grooming, and vet care can average $2,000–$3,000 annually—not including emergencies or travel crates.

4. Do they drool?
Some do, especially after drinking water. Keep absorbent towels handy near their bowls or favorite resting spots.

5. What should I look for in a breeder or adoption center?
Choose one that conducts health testing for hips, eyes, and heart, and offers transparency about lineage. Ethical breeders prioritize temperament and health over appearance.

6. Can Leonbergers live in warm climates?
Yes, but with precautions—limit outdoor activity in high heat, provide ample shade and water, and avoid midday walks.

Building a Lifelong Bond

Becoming a Leonberger owner means embracing responsibility and reward in equal measure. These dogs will fill your home with love, hair, and joy—often in that order. Plan carefully, train consistently, and nurture their gentle nature with patience and respect. The more you invest in understanding your Leonberger, the more they’ll return in loyalty and affection that few breeds can match.

Whether this is your first pet or your first giant breed, remember: structure and affection go hand-in-hand. With preparation and heart, your Leonberger won’t just live with you—they’ll thrive because of you.

Five Leonbergers wearing patriotic hats lying on grass by a lake.
This photo was provided by Jen O’Keefe, Urgent Animal Care of Arlington. From left to right; Obi, Delfi, Aslan, Gryphon, Digory.

Dogs Are Family

Esther’s writing prompt: December 24th: Family

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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

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

Two Great Book Reviews on World Animal Day

This post is to highlight a post by Lauren Scott featuring two exceptionally well written as well as supportive reviews of Jacquie Murrays book Endangered Species and my book The Life and Times of Le Bronco von der Löwenhöhle. I would also like to remind everyone that today is World Animal Day. Please visit her post, I reblogged it below.

Visit Lauren Scott’s Post (had issues with Reblog).

Naturally I would also like to mention my review of Lauren’s wonderful book King Copper: Our dog’s life in poetry. Click here to see it

The front cover features the title and author, a big photo of Copper and a pumpkin.
Front cover of King Copper: Our dog’s life in poetry by Lauren Scott. Click here, or on the image to go to the Amazon page for the paperback version of the book.

Promises To My Dog

Esther’s writing prompt: 17th September : Promises

Click here or here to join in.

Dogs are domesticated wolves. To survive in our human society, they need to be taken care of. We often get them as puppies and all they know is how to live with people. When you get a dog, this is a lifetime commitment. Despite this fact a lot of people buying puppies bring them to shelters and many irresponsible breeders bring unsold puppies to shelters. In addition, 7% to 20% of dogs adopted from shelters are returned to the shelters, mostly due to behavioral issues or owners’ unrealistic expectations. Dogs who were returned for behavioral issues were also more likely to be euthanized.

Some dog owners don’t even bother to turn their dog into a shelter, they just abandon them. In the U.S., approximately 3.1 million dogs enter shelters each year. Many of these are abandoned, the offspring of abandoned dogs, or lost pets. In the U.S., about 60% of dogs entering shelters are strays. As a side note, abandoning a dog is illegal in almost every US state, including Texas where I live. We dog owners need to do better. We have responsibilities towards our dogs, to feed them, raise them, train them, exercise them, take care of them, and continue to shelter them when they get old and sick.

The Leonberger community has taken significant steps towards protecting Leonberger dogs from abuse and abandonment. First, the Leonberger Club of America certifies responsible breeders and work to prevent dogs from ending up with backyard breeders and puppy mills. Breeders are required to take back and care for a dog if it does not work out. All prospective Leonberger owners are interviewed and must sign a contract dictating how they should treat the dog. If they find out that you have mistreated a dog or failed to take care of a dog you cannot buy a Leonberger. To see the transcript for our Leonberger interview click here.

12 Promises to my Dog

  • Dear fur angel, I promise to feed you properly.
  • Dear fur angel, I promise to protect you from toxic foods such as raisins, grapes, chocolate, xylitol, birch sugar, onion and garlic.
  • Dear fur angel, I promise to protect you from toxic plants, dangerous household items and animals.
  • Dear fur angel, I promise to keep one or more water bowls always filled with fresh and clean water for you.
  • Dear fur angel, I promise to comfortably shelter you.
  • Dear fur angel, I promise to train you and care for your physical and emotional needs.
  • Dear fur angel, I promise to walk you every day (on days when this is possible).
  • Dear fur angel, I promise to take care of all your veterinary needs.
  • Dear fur angel, I promise to play with you, pet you, and throw balls.
  • Dear fur angel, I promise to never abandon you.
  • Dear fur angel, I promise to be there for you when you cross the rainbow bridge.
  • Dear fur angel, I promise to love you forever.

Puppy Versus Old Dog Photos

Below are some photos of our dogs. Except for the first photo, which is a photo of our Labrador Baylor and German Shepherd Baby at an advanced age, the photos are arranged so that the first is photo of the dog as a puppy followed by a photo of the same dog at an advanced age. I should say that we got Baylor and Baby when they already were adults and we don’t have puppy photos of them. What happened was that family members of ours had got them from a shelter and when those family members later needed to move, we offered to take care of them.

Both dogs are laying on their stomach. Baylor, a yellow Labrador, is on the left and Baby a brown and black German Shepherd is on the right.
Our Labrador Baylor, left, and our German Shepherd Baby, right. Both dogs are at an advanced age. I should add that Baylor was partially a mix. He was three quarters Labrador and one quarter Rhodesian Ridgeback.
Our Leonberger Bronco Puppy is sitting looking into the camera and wearing a red scarf.
Our Leonberger Le Bronco von der Löwenhöhle at three months old.
Our Leonberger Puppy is sitting looking into the camera and wearing a scarf. It is a black and white picture.
Our Leonberger Bronco at three months old.
Our Leonberger is standing on the left. My wife is standing on the right and holding the Grey Muzzle Award diploma.
Our Leonberger Bronco received the Grey Muzzle Award for longevity at age 12. Leonbergers typically live 8-10 years. It was the Leonberger Health foundation International that gave him the award. My wife is holding the Grey Muzzle Award diploma.
Our soon 13 year old Leonberger Bronco is lying on the lawn in front of our house. He is looking into the camera.
Our soon 13 year old Leonberger Bronco.
Ryu our Japanese Chin is dancing with our daughter. He is looking into the camera. It looks like he is laughing.
Our Japanese Chin puppy Ryu loved to sing and dance when. Well, howl and dance.
Ryu our Japanese Chin is sitting and looking serious.
Ryu is old in this picture. He has an illness, and he is more serious.
Daisy, our pug, is in our son’s arms. He is wearing a red shirt.
Our pug Daisy in our younger son’s arms. She is a puppy in this picture. People typically assumed that Ryu was the female and Daisy the male, but it was the other way around.
Our pug Daisy, is wearing a pink party hat and she is eating a Pup Cake.
Daisy’s 15th birthday. She is getting old. She is having a Pup Cake.
Our mini-Australian Shepherd Rollo puppy is looking into the camera. He is white and dark brown.
Our mini-Australian Shepherd Rollo as a puppy.
Our mini-Australian Shepherd Rollo is sitting in a black and pink pet stroller.
Our mini-Australian Shepherd Rollo is grown up but not yet old. Here he is sitting in Daisy’s stroller. Strange noises such as ducks quacking used to scare him and then he wanted to sit in her stroller.

Leonbergers Are Kind Dogs

Esther’s writing prompt: 13th August : Kind

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Leonbergers Are Kind

What kind of dog is a Leonberger? Well, a Leonberger is a kind dog. If you don’t know what a Leonberger is; it is a big fluffy, fun and friendly family dog originating in Germany. It was registered as a new breed in 1846 in the town of Leonberg by a prominent businessman named Heinrich Essig. Allegedly Essig used Saint Bernards but also Newfoundland Dogs, and allegedly Great Pyrenees (or Pyrenean mastiffs) to create a breed that was big, muscular, and looked like a lion. However, what he strived for the most was to create a friendly, confident and predictable family dog. These characteristics make the Leonberger a perfect therapy dog, and his majestic and fluffy appearance does not hurt. Leonbergers also have a great sense of smell, they are great at pulling heavy carts, and they have webbed feet (from the Newfoundland dogs) and they are great swimmers. You can read about the history of the Leonberger here.

On the left is bear cub looking Leonberger puppy wearing a red scarf/ On the right is a tired old Leonberger lying in the grass. He is looking straight into the camera
On the left our Leonberger Bronco is three months old. On the right is our Leonberger Bronco when he was old almost 13 years old.
Our Leonberger Bronco is bigger than my wife and she is barely visible behind him.
Our Leonberger Bronco is sitting in my wife Claudia’s lap. He was slightly overweight in this picture, 167 pounds, or 76 kilograms. His ideal weight is 140 pounds.

Bronco Our 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 our Pug 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.

Our Leonberger Bronco is standing in the kitchen. There’s a broken gingerbread house on the floor. Our Pug Daisy is setting next to Bronco and the broken gingerbread house.
On another occasion Bronco stole our gingerbread house. As you can see in the picture, he shared that with Daisy as well.

Bronco Alerts Us to an Insulin Shock

We had a Labrador called Baylor who had diabetes. One late evening Bronco started barking while looking at Baylor, then he intently looked at us, then he turned his head toward Baylor and started barking again. He did this a few times—not aggressively, but to get our attention. It became clear that Bronco wanted us to look at Baylor. I examined Baylor but saw nothing wrong at first. Then I looked again. This time I saw that his back legs were shaking slightly. It quickly got worse. His gait became wobbly, then within perhaps fifteen seconds he fainted. He had gone into insulin shock. We rushed him to the emergency clinic, where fortunately the doctors were able to revive him.

Bronco detected a problem with Baylor before we could see anything wrong. His warnings gave us that little bit of extra time we needed to save Baylor’s life. I still wonder what it was that Bronco noticed. You can read more about this incident here.

Bronco’s Hamster Rescue Operation

We used to have hamsters. On several occasions the hamsters escaped their cage but luckily our Leonberger Bronco found the hamsters for us. As I mentioned Leonbergers have good sense of smell. One day my wife found Bronco walking around with puffy cheeks. There were hamsters in his mouth. Long story short, he was not trying to eat them, he was saving them, and the hamsters were fine. You can read more about this incident here.

Our Leonberger Bronco with puffy cheeks
Hamsters in Bronco’s cheeks. Illustration by Naomi Rosenblatt.

Bronco Saves Daisy’s Life

On another occasion, Bronco did something else amazing for our Pug 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 Claudia’s parents’ house, just leaving, 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.

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.

Rachel is sitting down on her knees while petting our black and white mini-Australian Shepherd Rollo and our Pug Daisy.
Just as our daughter Rachel protects Rollo and Daisy, Bronco protected the smaller dogs, sometimes at his own peril.

A Therapy Leonberger Called Scout

As I mentioned, Leonbergers are great therapy dogs and are often used in hospitals. Below is a video about a Leonberger called Scout by CBC news in Canada. This Leonberger is helping residents at Hamilton mental health hospital. He was bred by Concorde Ridge Leonbergers. They have a website and a blog which I follow. You visit my post about Scout here. The 8-minute video is shown on the website below.

https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/1.6835161

Leonberger Guiness World Record

With this post I just wanted to highlight a fun Leonberger YouTube video regarding a Leonberger who succeeded in creating a new Guiness World Record on the Britain Got Talent show. If you don’t know what a Leonberger is; it is a big fluffy, fun and friendly family dog originating in Germany. It was registered as a new breed in 1846 in the town of Leonberger by a prominent businessman named Heinrich Essig. Leonbergers are related to Saint Bernards, Newfoundland Dogs, and allegedly Great Pyrenees (or Pyrenean mastiffs). You can read about the history of the Leonberger here. I am sorry I realized now that the page is full of typos. I have to fix that at some point.

At the end of this page, I put a fun YouTube video of Leonberger named Hagrid who created a new Guiness World Record. Since I created my Leonberger history page when I had just launched this blog in 2022 and had very few followers many people may have missed the Hagrid movie, so here it is. I can add that I have also added some photos of our late Leonberger Bronco at the end of this post.

Leonberger Hagrid

Photos of Le Bronco von der Löwenhöhle

A Leonberger puppy wearing a red scarf.
Bronco our Leonberger at three months old.
My wife is sitting on a red sofa. Our Leonberger Bronco is sitting in her lap and she practically disappearing behind him.
Bronco the lapdog. He is sitting in my wife’s lap, all 167 pounds of him.
A big fluffy brown dog lying in the grass
Le Bronco von der Löwenhöhle or Bronco as we called him.
On the left our Leonberger Bronco. On the right our Pug Daisy. Both are looking into the camera.
Our late Leonberger Bronco and his sister, the pug Daisy.
On the left a large Leonberger sniffing a small mini-Australian puppy on the right.
A new puppy arrives, Rollo, a mini-Australian Shepherd. Hello Rollo!
On the left is a black and white mini-Australian Shepherd biting the tail of a Leonberger who is on the right.
As Rollo got older, he liked to tease Bronco. He pulled and even swung in Bronco’s tail. He also walked over him and sat on him. Bronco was very patient.

Promotion Of the Life and Times of Le Bronco Von Der Lowenhohle

BUY HERE

Our late Leonberger Bronco’s birthday was on July 3rd and therefore I am holding a promotion. The price of the Kindle version of my book “The Life and Times of Le Bronco von der Löwenhöhle” is now only $2.99 and the price of the paperback version is 17.95 (normal prize is $19.95). I will keep that price until Jul 31st. The prices in all other countries, Canada, the UK, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Australia, etc., are lowered by the same amount. Below is some information about my book as well as four reviews from four different countries.

The gold and beige book cover features the face of our Leonberger Bronco and the text "The Life and Times of Le Bronco von der Löwenhöhle. Stories and Tips from Thirteen Years with a Leonberger."
This is the front cover of the book “The Life and Times of Le Bronco von der Löwenhöhle”. Click here or on the image to go to the United States Amazon location for the paperback version of the book.

Advance Praise for the book

A wonderful tribute to the author’s beloved Bronco. The stories are heartwarming as well as informative—a true glimpse into life with a Leonberger. The adorable illustrations are icing on the cake.” —D’Nae Wilson, President, Leonberger Health Foundation International
“A lovely tribute to Bronco, with lots of resources for general Leonberger information.” —Julie Schaffert, Leonberger Club of America breeder since 1992

Amazon’s description of : The Life and Times of Le Bronco von der Löwenhöhle: Stories and Tips from Thirteen Years with a Leonberger by Thomas Wikman

If you’re thinking of getting a Leonberger, or if you’ve already owned one and know how rewarding the experience can be, you’ll want to read the story of Le Bronco von der Löwenhöhle, called Bronco, who came into the lives of the Wikman family of Dallas, Texas, in 2007. Bronco, a recipient of the Leonberger Health Foundation International’s Grey Muzzle Award, lived an unusually long life for a Leonberger—almost thirteen years. His human family is convinced that what helped him exceed his breed’s normal life expectancy was his brave and loving heart.

Here you’ll read about some of Bronco’s amazing feats: the night he scared away a prowler; the day he performed a hamster search and rescue; the time he stumped the Geek Squad; and the late night he snuck into the kitchen and ate a two-pound bag of dog treats, a box of pastries, a loaf of bread, a grilled chicken, and a Key lime pie, all in one sitting. You’ll also read about his unflappable calm during a north Texas tornado and his stoicism as he endured health challenges in his later years.

In addition to entertaining stories, these pages contain a wealth of practical guidance, including

  • a history of the Leonberger breed;
  • advice for the care of very large dogs;
  • breed-specific health and genetic information;
  • training and feeding tips;
  • suggestions for finding a breeder;
  • the official breed standard; and
  • an extensive resource guide.

Bronco’s fearlessness, tolerance, and affectionate nature warmed the hearts of everyone who met him, and his sometimes uncanny adventures with his human and canine companions will bring a smile to the face of every dog lover.

The author is donating the proceeds from the sale of this book to the Leonberger Health Foundation International

Thomas Wikman is a retired automation, robotics, and software engineer and inveterate dog lover who emigrated from Sweden to the United States, where he and his wife raised three children. Their cherished Leonberger, Bronco, crossed the Rainbow Bridge in 2020. The Wikmans live in Dallas, Texas, with their two dogs—a pug and a miniature Australian shepherd.

The back cover in gold and beige features a photo of a Leonberger in a snowy forest and an introduction to the book.
This is the back cover of the book “The Life and Times of Le Bronco von der Löwenhöhle”. Click here or on the image to go to the Amazon.com location for the kindle version of the book.

Review from Amazon.com by Pete Springer

The Story of One Family’s Love for Their Leonberger

Having been around big dogs my entire life, I was very much looking forward to reading about Bronco, a large breed of dog known as a Leonberger. Thomas Wikman has penned a wonderful memoir about his family’s 12+ year journey with Bronco. As I read this story, I realized this was no ordinary breed or dog. Bronco and the rest of the Wikmans’ dogs become like family members. The part of the story I enjoyed the most were the engaging and entertaining anecdotal stories. Wikman gives a very honest account and describes the wonderful parts and challenges of owning a Leoberger. It was fascinating how the smaller dogs quickly accepted Bronco into the fold and became pals.

In addition, the author includes lots of general information about Leonbergers including the extensive process involved adopting one of these dogs. I learned too much to describe here, but Wikman doesn’t miss anything from their history, diet, disposition, health challenges and quirks. It’s obvious how much research and energy went into writing this comprehensive book. I was thoroughly impressed and learned a great deal about these loving giants. I would recommend this book for anyone who loves dogs.

Review from Amazon in Canada by Brenda Saito

A must read for any Leonberger owner or anyone considering a Leonberger

We became Leonberger human parents in October 2022. We knew very little about the breed so I searched online. I found a reference to Thomas Wikman’s book and was instantly intrigued given that the book was a personal experience of life with a Leonberger. This book has proven to be the best book about Leonbergers that I have purchased and I have purchased quite a few.

The Life and Times of Le Bronco von der Lowenhohle is a heartwarming story of Bronco’s life with the Wikman family and their other canines. This book also contains a wealth of well researched and experienced information about Leonbergers, both good and bad. Also the bonus in this book is at the back where Thomas Wikman has included 2 Appendices which provided me with the Leonberger database and a Resources and References section.

This book has helped my family through the first amazing year with our male Leonberger, Hachi. We look forward to many more years with him and we keep Thomas Wikman’s book near by for any help we may need.

A young Leonberger is lying down on the floor and there is a book leaning on his side.
Photo that the reviewer submitted with the review. It is a Leonberger with the book The Life and Times of Le Bronco von der Löwenhöhle: Stories and Tips from Thirteen Years with a Leonberger by Thomas Wikman.

Review from Amazon in Sweden by Anders Pikas

Heartwarming story about a great dog and his family

It was a joy to follow the life of a Leonberger with a fascinating personality, and episodes with the other dogs and people in the same family.

Review from Amazon in the UK by Annika

Heartwarming & funny stories plus facts galore about Leonbergers! Excellent!

Maybe I should start this book review by clarifying that I’ve never owned a dog! I do like them and enjoy their presence when visiting family and friends. So why did I pick up this book about Bronco, a Leonberger, which is one of the world’s biggest dogs?

What I do love is stories and Thomas Wikman’s book is a terrific series of stories about one of the most affectionate, friendliest and gentle giant of personalities – Bronco. He just happens to be a massive dog, sometimes even mistaken for a bear!

The author is a natural storyteller and his fluid conversational writing style pulls the reader immediately into his family world and their dogs (yes, there are more than Bronco!) A family who care deeply for each other and their pets. It’s a book about character, perseverance, enjoying life to the full, of kindness and of giving. A book that encompasses love and warmth.

‘The Life and Times of Le Bronco von der Löwenhöhle’ is a terrific combination of storytelling of the life of Bronco along with factual expert information.

The book explores how Bronco came to the family (there is drama in that alone!), with hilarious and laugh-out-loud tales of his antics as well as some of his heroic deeds. Bronco was a superhero as he rescued two escaped hamsters — by putting them in the cheeks of his mouth! Luckily quick thinking Claudia, Thomas’s wife, performed CPR and they recovered. There were a few hilarious incidents when Bronco proved just too strong on the lead then on one occasion he successfully scared away a nighttime prowler as well as saving the life of another family dog. Bronco was a gifted escape artist and the scientist Thomas, not seeing any way this was possible, decided the dog had discovered ‘quantum tunnelling’.

The book is also a detailed and superlative reference and resource book for any owners or prospective owners of Leonbergers. The information includes the history of this rare and unusual breed, medical conditions etc in separate chapters as well as information panels regarding their care, diet, etc. Even as a non-dog owner, I found these all interesting and always enjoy learning something new. For example, Leonbergers were a favoured breed for many of the royal courts in Europe at one time and it was mind-boggling to read that after World War Two there were only eight Leonbergers left in the whole world. The medical conditions include many I recognise from human diseases and illness and not something I would associate with dogs. My learning curve was steep when reading these facts.

The numerous photos of Bronco (and some of the other dogs) are adorable and I was smitten with the captivating and beautiful illustrations which are interspersed throughout the book and these capture many of the humorous moments perfectly.

The addition of a small quiz was a welcome surprise and even this non-dog owner didn’t disgrace herself — although not quite acing it!

Just as Bronco becomes an integral part of the family he also became an important member of the local community. At one stage he proved too popular with the football players’ at the daughter’s local matches. Poor Bronco was asked to leave as the players attention was not on the game. The sense of community extended to the Leonberger groups around the globe and the Leonberger Health Foundation International awarded him the treasured Grey Muzzle Award, which is given to any Leonberger aged 12 by which time Bronco was a veritable canine centurion.

The chapters regarding Bronco’s failing health are particularly poignant and moving. By now the Bronco had won a place in my heart and I was tear-eyed as I read of these difficult times for him and the family.

‘The Life and Times of Le Bronco von der Löwenhöhle’ is a gem of a book which shines bright with humour, love and positive energy, the stories carrying the reader away with them while the expert facts are fascinating and informative. A book I highly recommend.

Finally, it should be noted that the author is donating his proceeds from book sales to the Leonberger Health Foundation International, an organisation that supports research aimed at improving the health of large dogs.

Again, these are the endorsements for the book by some very prominent members of the Leonberger community. Click here or on the image to go to the Barnes and Noble location for the book.

Getting My Book in Other Places

You can also get my book in many other places including Amazon in every country where Amazon exists, for example Canada, and other bookstores such as Chapters Indigo, Apple, etc. To see a list of the options visit my Book Page by clicking here.

The Life and Times of Le Bronco Von Der Lowenhohle is on Smorgasbord Today

Please go and check it out. Thank you so much Sally

Smorgasbord Book Promotions 2025 – Share an Excerpt from one of your published book #Doglovers – The Life and Times of Le Bronco von der Löwenhöhle: Stories and Tips from Thirteen Years with a Leonberger by Thomas Wikman

The Life and Times of Le Bronco Von Der Lowenhohle

I started this blog three years ago to spread the word about my, at the time, upcoming book “The Life and Times of Le Bronco von der Löwenhöhle”. To celebrate the three-year anniversary of my blog I decided to have a little promotion for my book. The price for paperback version of the book is normally $19.95 but Amazon lowered the price to $17.95 several months ago and I cannot set it back. My guess is that some store somewhere is selling it for $17.95. They have a lowest price policy. Instead of complaining about that I decided to roll with it and to lower the price of the Kindle version as well, to only $2.99. I will keep that price until April 1st. The prices in all other countries, Canada, the UK, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Australia, etc., are lowered by the same amount.

Before I continue, I would like to highlight a few important facts about my book.

  • The book is about our late Leonberger dog Bronco von der Löwenhöhle and his crazy and amusing adventures and his heroic deeds.
  • Bronco saved the lives of other dogs and protected out neighborhood.
  • In the book there is information about Leonberger dogs, the breed standard(s), history, Leonberger organizations, training and care, and health.
  • The book has lots of photos, illustrations and it is in color.
  • All proceeds are donated to the Leonberger Health Foundation International
  • It is a book for all dog lovers not just Leonberger lovers. It is intended to be both fun and educational.
The gold and beige book cover features the face of our Leonberger Bronco and the text "The Life and Times of Le Bronco von der Löwenhöhle. Stories and Tips from Thirteen Years with a Leonberger."
This is the front cover of the book “The Life and Times of Le Bronco von der Löwenhöhle”. Click here or on the image to go to the United States Amazon location for the paperback version of the book.
The back cover in gold and beige features a photo of a Leonberger in a snowy forest and an introduction to the book.
This is the back cover of the book “The Life and Times of Le Bronco von der Löwenhöhle”. Click here or on the image to go to the Amazon.com location for the kindle version of the book.
The endorsements say “A wonderful tribute to the author's beloved Bronco. The stories are heartwarming as well as informative - a true glimpse into life with a Leonberger. D'Nae Wilson, President, Leonberger Health Foundation International.” and “A lovely tribute to Bronco, with lots of resources for general Leonberger information. Julie Schaffert, LCA breeder since 1992.”
These are the endorsements for the book. Click here or on the image to go to the Barnes and Noble location for the book.

Canadian Leonbergers with my Book

A Leonberger is lying on the floor, and my book is leaning against the dog.
Hachi a Canadian Leonberger featured with my book. He was one year old when this photo was taken by Brenda Saito and her husband. Click here or on the photo to visit the paperback version for the book on Canadian Amazon.
Photo of a Leonberger lying on a leather sofa with my book leaning towards his chest.
A Canadian Leonberger called Mak with my book. Photo by Debbie Ireland. Click here<<Link-5>> or on the photo to visit the page for the book on Chapters Indigo.

Getting My Book in Other Places

You can also get my book in many other places including Amazon in every country where Amazon exists, Chapters Indigo, Apple, etc. To see most of the options visit my Book Page by clicking here.

A Leonberger Story

The book features a lot of stories about Bronco as well as other dogs. Below is one short story.

Bronco’s Hamster Search and Rescue

Back when Bronco our Leonberger was young, the kids had pet hamsters—Moldova and Montenegro. The hamsters escaped from their cages sometimes, but Bronco usually helped us find them whenever they did. Claudia would tell him, “Bronco, find the hamsters,” and he would go around the house sniffing until he found them. One time he found them in the linen closet; another time he found them on a shelf in the living room.

On one occasion, a friend of David trusted us with his two hamsters while he and his family went on vacation. A couple of days later, Claudia noticed that the two hamsters were missing from their cage. The next thing she noticed was that Bronco’s cheeks looked puffy, so she said, “Bronco, drop it!” Out came the two hamsters, both unconscious.

An illustration of a Leonbergers face with puffy cheeks.
Cheeks full of hamsters (illustration by Naomi Rosenblatt)

In a panic, Claudia started performing CPR on the unconscious hamsters. She put one hamster at a time in her hand and gently compressed each tiny chest using the finger of the other hand. Fortunately, one hamster revived right away. The CPR didn’t seem to be working on the other hamster, but Claudia put both of them back in their cage, and soon the second hamster also woke up. We decided to keep the incident to ourselves. Hamsters don’t squeal.

Illustration of a hamster lying in woman hand. The hamster is receiving CPR from the finger on the woman’s second hand.
Hamster CPR (illustration by Naomi Rosenblatt)

The question is, Did Bronco try to eat the hamsters? Or did he simply find them and pick them up, intending to alert us to their presence? I’ve asked several people this question, including some who know Leonbergers well. The answer they give is that he tried to save them from whatever danger he thought they might have been in. If he wanted to eat them, they say, he would have tried chewing them. But clearly, he didn’t.

The hamsters may have felt differently about the situation and may have fainted from the shock. Who knows? Bronco was a hero on many occasions, but this time, perhaps, he was a hamster superhero.

Eventually our own hamsters died, but that didn’t end Bronco’s interest in them. When the first hamster died, we held a funeral. We put the hamster in a shoe box, said goodbye, put some flowers in the box, and buried it in the backyard underneath some bushes. But when we turned our backs, Bronco was there, digging under the bushes. Perhaps he thought he could save the hamster. So, we called Bronco off and tried again: this time I dug a deeper hole and put a wide rock over the shoe box before covering it. Now Bronco couldn’t dig up the hamster. When the second hamster died, I had learned my lesson and did the same thing.

Important Note : I am going on a ski vacation early tomorrow morning and I will take a one-week break from blogging as well as a break from reading other people’s blogs. I will try to catch up when I get back.