This blog feature amusing and heartwarming stories about our late Leonberger dog Bronco, as well as other Leonbergers. It also has a lot of information about the Leonberger breed, the history, care, training, Leonberger organizations, etc. I also wrote a Leonberger book, which I am featuring in the sidebar.
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.
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 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.
This is a Leonberger blog but sometimes I post about other things, especially if it concerns me personally. Today November 1st is National Author Day so I thought that since I am originally from Sweden that I would post a poem by a celebrated Swedish 19th century author and poet by the name Viktor Rydberg. The poem is “Tomten” (the Tomte) published in 1881.
A Tomte is a type of small magical people, or gnomes, related to Vitter folk. There are many Tomtar (Tomte in plural), and traditionally each farmhouse had a Tomte who might secretly help the farmers with their tasks, warn them of danger, and protect the animals. They are friendly and is the inspiration behind the Swedish version of Santa Claus, which is therefore a bit different from the Disney version of Santa Claus that has become so popular.
For one thing, the Disney version of Santa Claus flies around on a reindeer sled and delivers all the presents to all the good kids around the world. Therefore, he needs to move faster than the speed of light, which a Tomte does not need to do. The Tomte may bring you gifts for Christmas if you in return put out food for them, such as porridge.
An illustration of a Tomte. Shutterstock ID: 2060057882 by PLIMPLUM.
Tomten is a beautiful long poem and every line is rhymed, which is impressive. At first, I took the Swedish poem, and I just dropped it into Google Translate hoping it would translate into English. This was a disaster. Poems are notoriously difficult to translate. First of all, you lose the rhymes, and for this poem the rhymes add a lot to the atmosphere and feeling of the poem.
Secondly, you may lose some of the beautiful language and the special choices of words that create the right atmosphere. For example, Google Translated Tomte to Santa, which is not quite right. Normally, when you think about Santa you think about the Walt Disney version of Santa and this poem was written 20 years before Walt Disney was born, and the Tomte as depicted is very different from Santa Claus. Add to that the fact that a lot of the words were just plainly mistranslated and wrong. Part of the reason for that was that the poem is written in old fashioned Swedish, which Google Translate cannot handle (but I can). Thirdly, due to the different sentence structure, syntax, and grammar of different languages you lose some of the rhythm. In summary, Google Translate butchered the poem and turned it into nonsense.
However, I translated the poem into English myself, with some help from Google Translate. Unlike Google Translate, I know what the author is saying, and I can read old Swedish without problems. Naturally, all the rhymes are gone, but I think I succeeded in preserving some of the beauty of the descriptions of the Tomte and the environment. Another thing that was preserved was the philosophical context of the poem. This poem raises some existential dimensions. Tomten is an immortal creature, and he is deeply puzzled by the fact that people come into existence as babies, they live, get old and then they disappear again. Generations come, generations go, one after another, but the Tomte lives on, and he cannot figure out this mysterious puzzle no matter how long he thinks about it. Obviously, he cares about the people who come and go. He wants to know.
Anyway, below is my translation of the poem. The poem should be read slowly and with thoughtful emphasis. Not all the sentences are proper English because I wanted to preserve some of the poetic nature of the stanzas. Again, in the Swedish original all the lines rhyme. For example, the word “hard” is “hård”, and “house” is “gård”, the word “roofs” is “taken”, and “awake” is “vaken”.
My Translation of Tomten
The cold of the midwinter night is hard, the stars sparkle and twinkle. Everyone sleeps in their house deep in the midnight hour. The moon wanders its silent course, the snow shines white on pine and fir, the snow shines white on the roofs. Only the Tomte is awake.
Standing there so gray by the barn door, gray against the white drift, watching, like many winters before, up against the disk of the moon, looking towards the forest, where spruce and fir draws its dark wall around the yard, pondering, although without success, over a strange riddle.
He runs his hand through beard and hair, shakes head and hood “no, this riddle is too difficult, no, I cannot guess this” he banishes the thought, as he usually does, so he can attend to his tasks, and go about his business.
He goes to the storage and the tool house, he feels all the locks the cows dream by the light of the moon summer dreams in the booth; forgetful of harness and whip and empty Pålle (a horse) in the stable also has a dream: the manger he leans over filled with fragrant clover;
He goes to the fence for the lambs and sheep, see how they sleep in there; goes to the hens, where the rooster stands proud of his highest stick; Karo in the dog bed with straw feels good, wakes up and wags its tail slightly, Karo his elf knows, they are good friends.
The Tomte tiptoes at last to see the family he holds so dear, for long and well he has known that they hold his diligence in honor; he tiptoes to the children’s chamber and approach to see the sweet little ones, let no one doubt it: they are his greatest happiness.
Thus, he has seen them, father and son, through so many generations in deep sleep as children; but from where did they come down here? Generation soon followed generation, they flourished, aged, and then went — but where? The insolvable riddle to his mind has thus returned!
The Tomte walks to the loft of the barn: there he has a home and stronghold high up in the scent of the hay, near the swallow’s nest; now the swallow’s nest is empty, but when spring comes with leaves and flowers she will probably be back followed by her close mate.
Then she always has something to chirp about of her many travel memories, nothing, however, about the riddle, which moves in the Tomte’s mind. Through a gap in the barn wall the moon shines on the Tomte’s beard, the streak on the beard shines, The Tomte broods and ponder.
Quiet is the forest and all the heath, life out there is frozen, only from a distance of the falls of the rapids can be heard very slowly the noise. The Tomte listens and, half in a dream, seems to hear the flow of time, wondering where it will go, wondering, where the source must be.
The cold of the midwinter night is hard, the stars sparkle and twinkle. Everyone sleeps in their house well into the morning hours. The moon lowers its silent course, the snow shines white on pine and fir, the snow shines white on the roofs. Only Santa is awake.
Tomte I generated with the help of ChatGPT
The Original Poem Tomten
Midvinternattens köld är hård, stjärnorna gnistra och glimma. Alla sova i enslig gård djupt under midnattstimma. Månen vandrar sin tysta ban, snön lyser vit på fur och gran, snön lyser vit på taken. Endast tomten är vaken.
Står där så grå vid ladgårdsdörr, grå mot den vita driva, tittar, som många vintrar förr, upp emot månens skiva, tittar mot skogen, där gran och fur drar kring gården sin dunkla mur, grubblar, fast ej det lär båta, över en underlig gåta.
För sin hand genom skägg och hår, skakar huvud och hätta — »nej, den gåtan är alltför svår, nej, jag gissar ej detta» — slår, som han plägar, inom kort slika spörjande tankar bort, går att ordna och pyssla, går att sköta sin syssla.
Går till visthus och redskapshus, känner på alla låsen — korna drömma vid månens ljus sommardrömmar i båsen; glömsk av sele och pisk och töm Pålle i stallet har ock en dröm: krubban han lutar över fylls av doftande klöver; —
Går till stängslet för lamm och får, ser, hur de sova där inne; går till hönsen, där tuppen står stolt på sin högsta pinne; Karo i hundbots halm mår gott, vaknar och viftar svansen smått, Karo sin tomte känner, de äro gode vänner.
Tomten smyger sig sist att se husbondfolket det kära, länge och väl han märkt, att de hålla hans flit i ära; barnens kammar han sen på tå nalkas att se de söta små, ingen må det förtycka: det är hans största lycka.
Så har han sett dem, far och son, ren genom många leder slumra som barn; men varifrån kommo de väl hit neder? Släkte följde på släkte snart, blomstrade, åldrades, gick — men vart? Gåtan, som icke låter gissa sig, kom så åter!
Tomten vandrar till ladans loft: där har han bo och fäste högt på skullen i höets doft, nära vid svalans näste; nu är väl svalans boning tom, men till våren med blad och blom kommer hon nog tillbaka, följd av sin näpna maka.
Då har hon alltid att kvittra om månget ett färdeminne, intet likväl om gåtan, som rör sig i tomtens sinne. Genom en springa i ladans vägg lyser månen på gubbens skägg, strimman på skägget blänker, tomten grubblar och tänker.
Tyst är skogen och nejden all, livet där ute är fruset, blott från fjärran av forsens fall höres helt sakta bruset. Tomten lyssnar och, halvt i dröm, tycker sig höra tidens ström, undrar, varthän den skall fara, undrar, var källan må vara.
Midvinternattens köld är hård, stjärnorna gnistra och glimma. Alla sova i enslig gård gott intill morgontimma. Månen sänker sin tysta ban, snön lyser vit på fur och gran, snön lyser vit på taken. Endast tomten är vaken.
The cold of the midwinter night is hard, the stars sparkle and twinkle. Everyone sleeps in their house well into the morning hours. The moon lowers its silent course, the snow shines white on pine and fir, the snow shines white on the roofs. Only Santa is awake.
My wife and I recently became grandparents to newborn Baby Jack. We visited my son, his wife and their baby the past week. That is why I have not been as active with blogs lately. It was wonderful to see them and meet the baby. He is a very healthy baby.
The Wikman family in Baltimore. Jack is the little guy in the middle.
Below is photo collage featuring baby Jack. My wife and I are in the photos too.
On Tuesday we visited Maryland Zoo. I have also included some animal photos.
Just a few minutes before I saw Esther Chilton’s writing prompt “club” I received my annual invoice for our family membership in the Leonberger Club of America. What a great reminder to pay my bill and create a post about the Leonberger Club of America. We haven’t had a Leonberger since the summer of 2020 when our Leonberger Bronco, or Le Bronco von der Löwenhöhle passed away. However, we’ve kept our membership because I love their LeoLetter magazine, I know some people, I have this blog, and I wrote a book about our Leonberger and the Leonberger breed after the passing of Bronco (see the side bar on the right or click here for more information).
The Leonberger Club of America
I can add that the Leonberger Club of America, LCA for short, is the official national parent club for the Leonberger breed in the United States (and Canada). It was founded in 1985. Its mission is to preserve and promote the health, temperament, and original type of the Leonberger through education, events, performance programs, and social engagement. The American Kennel Club (AKC) recognizes the LCA as the official Leonberger breed club in the United States.
The Leonberger Club of America make sure that the Leonberger dogs are protected. You are about as likely to find a Leonberger at Petland/Puppy-Mill as you are finding an Elephant for sale there. You typically buy/get a Leonberger dog from an LCA certified Leonberger breeder or from the Leonberger Rescue Pals, and if you don’t that might be a problem. Leonberger breeders interview prospective Leonberger owners and make sure they are a good fit. If you are found to have mistreated a dog in the past, turned one into a shelter, or sold one on an auction, you cannot buy a Leonberger. The breeders are also required to take back the dog if it does not work out. To see the transcript from our Leonberger interview, click here.
We bought our Leonberger Bronco (Le Bronco von der Löwenhöhle) in 2007 from Julie Schaffert, a certified LCA breeder since 1992. This is a photo of him at three months old.
There are only about 3,000 Leonbergers in North America and about 2,000 Leonbergers in the United States but the Leonberger Club of America has more than 1,000 members. They publish the Leo-Letter, a quarterly Leonberger magazine. So, the Leonberger Club of America has a very prominent place among Leonberger owners. Click here to see a summary of the Leonberger Breed Standard.
Leonbergers have a long history in North America and the United States—despite the fact that until 1985, there were only seventeen Leonbergers known to be living in the United States. See: Lusby, Leonberger, page 15.
Leonberger, Special Rare-Breed Edition, A Comprehensive Owners Guide, Madeline Lusby
In the 1870s, Leonbergers were brought to Newfoundland to invigorate the stock of Newfoundland dogs. Around the same time, two Leonbergers named Caesar and Sultan were purchased from Heinrich Essig’s kennel (founder of the Leonberger breed) and transported across the ocean to join the Wellesley-Sterling theater company in the United States as the stars of their productions. Then in 1879, Caesar and Sultan visited President Ulysses S. Grant, who called them the largest and most magnificent dogs he had ever seen and presented them with gold medals. During the years between World War I and World War II, a New Jersey family, the Wolfs, opened their home as a temporary refuge for Jews fleeing Germany: they also imported Leonbergers. Unfortunately, this introduction of the breed into the United States did not last, and it would be another fifty years before the Leonberger appeared in America again.
Leonberger, A comprehensive guide to the lion king of breeds, Caroline Bliss-Isberg
During the late 1970s and the 1980s, a few families—Waltraut and Klaus Zieher, Brian Peters, Manfred and Sylvia Kaufmann, Keri Campbell and Melanie Brown, and Mary and Reiner Decher brought Leonbergers to the United States. The Dechers had started a breeding program and were looking for a mate for their first dam, Viona. By chance their neighbor discovered through a newsletter that there was another Leonberger in the United States, and that led to the families’ finding and connecting with one another. I should add that the Dechers were careful to conform to the German breeding regulations and performed hip X-rays that they then submitted to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA). Viona became the first OFA-certified Leonberger in America.
See: Bliss-Isberg, Leonberger, page 152.
On Saturday, November 2, 1985, eight of these Leonberger enthusiasts met at a hotel in Denver, Colorado, to found the Leonberger Club of America (LCA). This group of founders, which has since been dubbed the Denver Eight, appointed a registrar, formulated a breeding acceptability checklist, and instituted various policies, including the requirement that OFA certification is mandatory for breeding. LCA membership grew: it held social gatherings, began publishing LeoLetter, and imported an increasing number of dogs. Now the LCA has thousands of members across the country, and Leonbergers receive high ratings on health tests relative to other large breeds. For example, in 2000, the OFA reported that only 14.6 percent of Leonbergers tested positive for hip dysplasia, compared to 47 percent of Saint Bernards.
Founding of the Leonberger Health Foundation International
Another important historical event was the founding of the Leonberger Health Foundation International (LHFI), in 2000 (it was just called the Leonberger Health Foundation back then). According to its website, the organization was founded by Waltraut Zieher and other memers of the LCA’s health, education, and research committee to “facilitate the solicitation and distribution of donations given to support health related breed-specific research.” The LHFI also administers a program that collects DNA samples from Leonbergers to share with universities and research institutions, and of course it administers the Grey Muzzle Award (long living Leonbergers). Our Leonberger Bronco was a recipient of the Grey Muzzle Award, and we provided them with his DNA.
Bronco’s Grey Muzzle Award, which he received for being an unusually long lived Leonberger.
LHFI’s global biobank contains DNA samples from more than nine thousand Leonbergers. Among the organization’s notable achievements are the eradication of Addison’s disease among Leonbergers and the raising of nearly half a million dollars for research into conditions that affect canine health, including osteosarcoma, hemangiosarcoma, glaucoma, cardiac diseases, thyroid diseases, and neurological disorders. Its research also supports healthful longevity and aging as well as population diversity. Another success is the fact that since 2011, no Leonbergers with two copies of the LPN1 gene mutation (which causes Leonberger polyneuropathy) have been recorded in LHFI’s biobank. LHFI is one of my favorite charities.
The Dog Wars of America
The end of the twentieth century marked not only the end of the Cold War but also the beginning of what I call the Dog Wars of America. In 1985, the American Kennel Club (AKC) registry comprised one-third of the world’s known dog breeds. But the AKC had recognized only a few new breeds since 1887—a period of ninety-eight years. So, the organization decided to change that policy, but this did not always go smoothly. The members of rare-breed clubs often did not want to be part of the AKC. For example, the Australian Shepherd Club of America (ASCA) was very reluctant to join, so a relatively small splinter group, the United States Australian Shepherd Association, was formed and designated the official member club of the AKC, which was not welcome news to the ASCA. The border collie is another example. Charles Krauthammer, the late political columnist, called the AKC the politburo of American dog breeding.
See: Bliss-Isberg, Leonberger, page 159.
Similarly, in 2003, a new Leonberger club was formed—the Leonberger Club of the United States—with the goal of becoming the Leonberger member club of the AKC. This essentially forced the LCA’s hand, so they applied for membership in the AKC, a process that took years to complete. But ultimately the AKC approved the LCA as members in 2010: Leonbergers would officially become part of the Working Group. Fortunately, 90 percent of LCA breeders agreed to continue following LCA regulations regardless of whether the club would remain independent or become part of the AKC. Also fortunately, AKC membership afforded more opportunities for Leonbergers to participate in dog shows, which is important to many owners.
See: Bliss-Isberg, Leonberger, page 187
For more information on the history of the Leonberger starting in 1830’s click here.
On the left our Leonberger Bronco at three months old. On the right Bronco as an unusually old Leonberger at almost 13.Bronco our Leonberger is giving me a kiss. He is about one year old and not yet fully grown.Seven Leonbergers by the beach. Photo by Jen O’Keefe.
This is going to be a short blog post. First, I would like to make an announcement. My wife and I became grandparents for the first time a little bit less than a week ago. The baby’s name is Jack.
This post is about a dog’s prayer, which I with permission is borrowing from fellow blogger pensitivity101. This post is also related to one of my previous posts : Promises To My Dog.
A dog’s prayer – anonymous author
A Dog’s Prayer
I am typing out the prayer in case it is hard to read the text in the picture.
Before humans die, they write their last Will & Testament, give their home & all they have, to those they leave behind. If, with my paws, I could do the same, this is what I’d ask…
To a poor and lonely stray I’d give:
My happy home
My bowl & cozy bed, soft pillows and all my toys
The lap, which I loved so much
The hand that stroked my fur & the sweet voice which spoke my name
I’d Will to the sad, scared shelter dog, the place I had in my human’s loving heart, of which there seemed no bounds.
So, when I die, please do not say, “I will never have a pet again, for the loss and pain is more than I can stand”.
Instead, go find an unloved dog, one whose life has held no joy or hope and give MY place to HIM.
This is a Leonberger blog, but I also post about other topics including book reviews of books that I love and want to promote. With this post I would like to promote a beautiful poetry book full of wisdom, Celebrating Poetry by Cindy Georgakas.
Below is an overview of the two formats of Celebrating Poetry by Cindy Georgakas
Paperback – Publisher : Literary Revelations LLC (November 16, 2024), ASIN : B0DNCRS8W8, ISBN-13 : 979-8991332538, 183 pages, Item Weight : 11.8 ounces, dimensions : 6 x 0.42 x 9 inches, it cost $6.99 on US Amazon. Click here to order it from Amazon.com.
Kindle – Publisher : Literary Revelations LLC (November 15, 2024), ASIN : B0DNBPC4GP, ISBN-13 : 979-8991332521, 183 pages. It is currently $0.99 on Amazon.com. Click here to order it from Amazon.com.
Front cover of Celebrating Poetry by Cindy Georgakas. Click on the image to go to the Amazon page for the paperback version of the book.
Amazon’s Description of Celebrating Poetry by Cindy Georgakas
Cindy Georgakas is not just a wellness therapist; she is a beacon of hope and creativity through her exceptional poetry. Celebrating the profound impact of her written words, we find that her beautiful verses resonate deeply with those who seek to overcome obstacles in their lives. Each poem serves as a reminder that it’s possible to celebrate success, regain trust in yourself, and ultimately embrace love and happiness. The spirituality of the book is of a religious quality.
In a world where many feel lost or disconnected, Cindy Georgakas offers not only words but also a chance for readers to reconnect with their inner selves and rediscover joy amidst adversity. Embrace the opportunity to explore her work; you may find that within each line lies the key to your own healing journey.
This book is best read as a companion guide to another book by the author; Re-Create and Celebrate. However, as I understand this collection of conversational poems can easily be read stand-alone, which is what I did (the paperback). The book is a collection of motivational poems grouped into 4 steps; Trusting your path, From darkness to light, Ignite insight, and Celebrate. Each step features an introduction of words of wisdom related to life and explaining the purpose of the section.
The poems express thoughts, reflections, wisdom, personal experiences, love, and life lessons. The poems are beautiful and offer hope, comfort, encouragement and deeper meaning. They celebrate nature and the beauty of life. The book is also well organized and offers a flowing and delightful reading experience. The book features thousands of pearls but I would like to mention a couple.
On page 123: I place my shells on my bedside with the ashes and small bones of my grandmother and remember her crooked teeth, her one blue eye and one brown, her wrinkles and I smile, remembering it never mattered how she looked but how she made me feel.
On page 169: I guess we’ll all have to take that chance and see because no matter how much I care and love you, I just must be me and so do you.
Back cover of Celebrating Poetry by Cindy Georgakas. Click on the image to go to the Amazon page for the Kindle version of the book.
About the Author of Celebrating Poetry
Cindy is a San Francisco native and currently lives nestled in the trees in a small community with her husband. She is a health and wellness professional, a certified life coach, personal trainer, yoga/meditation teacher, and bodyworker. She draws inspiration from her clients, friends, four children, 4 legged furry kids and nature.
Her new book Celebrating Poetry is a #1 New Top Release on Amazon. It is a companion guide to her book, Re-Create & Celebrate: 7 Steps to Live the Life of Your Dreams, has over 41 5 Star Reviews. She was voted Author of the Month on Spillwords Press in April 2023 and Publication of the Month on Spillwords in October 2022.
She is a co-author of #1 Amazon Bestseller, Wounds I Healed: The Poetry of Strong Women, #1 Best Seller of Hidden In Childhood: A Poetry Anthology and is also a Treasured Contributor to MastecadoresUsa.
You can read more of Cindy’s work at Unique Times by Cindy Georgakas
We just came back from a trip to Baltimore. Our oldest son and his wife are having a baby, a son, due in September. He will be our first grandchild. On Saturday they held a baby shower. That is Saturday yesterday or two days ago depending on your time zone. Our son and his wife had organized a barbeque for about forty people. It was what they called a Baby-Q. They have a smoker and had smoked brisket throughout Friday-Saturday night.
I was talking to our daughter-in-law’s mother when she mentioned a recent chance encounter with a Leonberger. It was at her mother’s nursing home. I can add that Leonbergers are great therapy dogs because of their calm temper, friendly disposition, intelligence and trainability. They are therefore frequently found at hospitals, nursing homes, and similar places.
Our daughter-in-law’s mother is on the left and her mother is on the right. She gave me permission to use this photo. The Leonberger is in the middle front.
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.
Speaking about Leonberger chance encounters, one very unexpected Leonberger encounter happened to us at the top of a mountain in northern Sweden. My wife, my daughter, my brother and his wife and children were hiking/climbing up to the top of a mountain in the high coast region of northern Sweden. This is a coastal region of Sweden that is quite mountainous and feature fjords, like in Norway. This is the region where I was born and where I grew up. The name of the mountain was Skule Berget, or Skull Mountain. We did it for the adventure, the views, and to visit a famous cave. Below is the view from the top of Skull Mountain in the High Coast.
View from the top of Skule Berget.
At the top of the mountain, we met a man who had brought his dog, and it was not just any kind of dog, it was a female Leonberger Named Amie. The owner told us that Amie was nine years old, which is old for a Leonberger. It was quite a hike to the top of the mountain so the dog must have been in good shape despite her age. Well, the man we too were in good shape too. You can read about our Skull Mountain adventure here.
As soon as we them, we shouted, “look a Leonberger”, and Amie started wagging her tail and running towards us. She obviously loved attention. Her owner let us pet her and take a few photos of her. Amie was very playful; she rolled around and wanted to be petted. She was very friendly. She reminded us of our late Leonberger Bronco, but being a female, she was a little bit smaller and more feminine looking. Below, are a couple of photos of Amie.
Amie at the top of Skule Berget.Amie was playful but very well behaved.
About the book The Life and Times of Le Bronco von der Löwenhöhle
Finally, I would like to mention that I am currently is running a promotion for my book “The Life and Times of Le Bronco von der Löwenhöhle, Stories and Tips from Thirteen Years with a Leonberger”. It is to celebrate Bronco’s birthday and his memory. I should say the book features the amusing adventures of our Leonberger Bronco and his dog friends, and information on how to train and care for Leonbergers and other large breeds, as well as breed history, breed standard, Leonberger organizations, and a resource guide. I can add that all photos and illustrations are in color.
The price of the Kindle version of my book is now only $2.99 and the price of the paperback version is 17.95 (normal prize is $19.95). You can read more about the promotion here. I will keep the promotion going for a few more days.
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.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.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 location for the book Amazon in Canada.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
This is a Leonberger blog, but I also post book reviews of books that I love and want to promote but are not about Leonbergers. With this post I would like to promote a truly wonderful poetry book that also feature a lot of photos, art, information and links to videos about African wildlife. This book is a masterpiece just like this wonderful book from the same author: Lion Scream.
Below is an overview of the two formats of Burning Butterflies: Poetry About Southern African Flora and Fauna Paperback – April 22, 2025, by Robbie Cheadle
Paperback – Independently published April 22, 2025, ASIN : B0F2VCXZZV, ISBN-13 : 979-8315273431, 92 pages, Item Weight : 6.7 ounces, dimensions : 6 x 0.22 x 9 inches, it cost $12.50 on US Amazon. Click here to order it from Amazon.com.
Kindle – Publication date : April 22, 2025, ASIN : B0F2SDF2GW, 94 pages. It is currently $5.99 on Amazon.com and free with Kindle unlimited. Click here to order it from Amazon.com.
Front cover of Burning Butterflies. Click on the image to go to the Amazon page for the paperback version of the book.
Amazon’s Description of Burning Butterflies
Butterflies are interpreted, inter alia, as symbols of transformation and change, hope and rebirth, spirituality, the soul, creativity, nature, beauty, and resurrection. Faced with the annihilation of much of the planet’s forests, wetlands, and other habitats for wildlife, all the wonderful things that butterflies symbolise are gradually being destroyed.
This book celebrates Southern African flora and fauna, while acknowledging the threats it faces.
This is another masterpiece from author, poet, artist, wildlife photographer and naturalist Robbie Cheadle. I bought both the paper version and the kindle version. I prefer reading a real paper book, but it was easier to view all the beautiful YouTube videos using the Kindle. With only the paperback I would have to type in the url. The book features hundreds of beautiful poems, more than 90 colors photos and paintings, other kinds of art, dozens of YouTube videos and informational links. The focus is on African wildlife.
The author touches on important subjects such as the threats to wildlife and our planet from human development, climate change, and trophy hunting. The author’s love for wildlife and nature shines through in her poems, in her art, in her photos, and videos. More than anything I think this book is a beautiful tribute to the natural world. You also learn about African wildlife and various animals. I found it interesting that there are no bears in Africa. The last bear in Africa, an Atlas bear was killed in Morocco in 1870. Did you know that cheetah cubs have whitish fuzzy back that look like the back of honey badgers, a fierce animal. It is believed that it protects them.
The author is using the Butterfly as a symbol of transformation. She also expresses a special love for elephants. They are magnificent and intelligent animals. I felt that this book has so much to offer in terms of beauty, symbolism, art and wisdom. I highly recommend this book.
Back cover of Burning Butterflies. Click on the image to go to the Amazon page for the Kindle version of the book.
About the Author of Burning Butterflies
South African author, photographer, and artist, Robbie Cheadle, has written and illustrated seventeen children’s books, illustrated a further three children’s books, and written and illustrated four poetry books. Her work has also appeared in poetry and short story anthologies.
Robbie also has two novels and a collection of short stories published under the name of Roberta Eaton Cheadle and has horror, paranormal, and fantasy short stories featured in several anthologies under this name.
Robbie’s blog includes recipes, fondant and cake artwork, poetry, and book reviews.
Leonberger Life 