My name is Brandon vom Löwengarten, but I'm called "Luis".
On August 12 th , 2005 Rahel Schale and Cookie (Skjaergaardens Crunchy Macadamia Nut) made their way from the north of Germany down to Rheinland. My daddy Niklas vom Löwengarten was there ready, steady waiting for his Norwegian bride slowly loosing his patience as time went by. His folk already informed him about the good news. The welcome was stormy and passionate but the actual marriage happened not before August 13 th .
Everybody was enjoying to see that my mom's shape got rounder and rounder in the following weeks. The day before the great event took place, I mean when my mom gave birth to me, the guys from Rheinland visited the north in order to participate in the action. Until today they still carry on telling the tales about this long night.
My mom had a lot to do with the litter because I have 9 sisters and 2 brothers. But although it was the first time for her she did an excellent job. My brothers, sisters and I did our best to generate as much stress as possible in family Schales' house and even energized the adult Leos.
On December 8 th I was the first one who made his way into a new family. I was 8 weeks old and my daddy and his folk wanted to care for my former education/training (hihi).
It didn't take a long time to feel at home with my new family.
Suddenly the smooth and relaxed life was over here. Guess why?
Before my attendance my family together with Janosch, daddy Niklas and the two cats really lived a life of ease. That was all over now!
I got on their nerves!!
Seems that they did not really remember the times when Janosch and Niklas were puppies. But I was able to shake up their minds. You can be sure: Now they remember!!
But at the age of 8.5 weeks they started their revenge and sent me first time to a puppy school. After my first shock I was used to that and I have been having a lot of fun. I've got a lot of friends and together we're playing some nice games. You won't believe but we also learn something. That's a good mixture but after finishing I'm really tired. The other day I heard somebody saying "Luis seems to be a smart guy". You can imagine my folk were very proud of this and me as well.
I'm now 16 weeks old and everybody was used to me. Now they say that they don't want to miss me anymore.
They think I don't hear these conversations, but I'm clever enough to catch it all.
To be continued .
Update September 2006
In the meantime I'm now 11 months old and I'm progressing to become a real dog. As time goes by I wanted to get back because some might be curious what has happened to me in the last months.
It was beginning of May when we organised a puppy meeting at home in Duisburg. We had 5 of my brothers and sisters and some adult dogs as well. That was great but I wasn't fully able to engage on playing with the others as I was a bit handicapped by growing too fast.
My biggest pleasure as a Leo of course is swimming. My folks always say they have never seen a dog so mad of water. They can hardly stop me once we come close to a lake or river. I could stand for hours in the water but this isn't really possible to my biggest regret.
In June/July we were on vacations in Norway and Sweden. That was exactly the right place for me to be with lots of water and wood. We were travelling with our caravan and I really enjoyed the taste of freedom. I could hear that my master and his mistress gave me tribute because of my good behaviour during the trip.
My dad Niklas and Janosch were already fairly experienced on travelling as they have seen many places but for me it was my first trip. I really enjoyed it.
On the last day on our way back we were on an exhibition in Sweden. This was my first time in the ring for competition. It was outside and the weather was nice. Again I had big fun with all the other dogs I met.
As I'm always open for meeting new people this was really a fun event and the jury female was also very friendly.
My folks were glad that I won the price out of 3 participants. Unfortunately I wasn't able to join the circle of honour because otherwise we would have missed the ferry boat. What a pitty I would have enjoyed this. Now I´m going to a junior dog school on a regular basis.
But life isn't always only fun. We regret a big loss in our family.
My dad had a surgery on August 22 nd because he swallowed a ball which was then residing in his stomach. Even though this surgery went well he suddenly died on an embolism on the 24 th of August without any indication in advance.
I miss him so much because we really liked each other and he often played and romped with me. Janosch who is now aged 9.5 years is not really keen anymore on these activities. But at least he's still healthy and fit und I can learn many good things from him.
Now I hope that I can ease my folks´ grief a bit. Of course I'll never be able to substitute my dad but I do my best to cheer them up.
Update November 2007
Another year has gone by, and I´d like to say hello again. Just like every other year this one had it´s up´s and downs.
In between I have been to some shows and my owners are pretty impressed with my resuld. Going to a show for me always meens „partytime „ and gives me the oportunty to show my friendly and happy temperament. For my owner going to a show meens hard work because he is used to my fathers calm and relaxed temperament.
In June I spent a wonderfull Trecking-Holiday with Janosch and my owners in Swizerland. About two weeks after our Holiday it was very hot, temperatures over 30°C, and my mate´s
Janosch heart-circulation gave in.
On Juli 17. when our owner wanted to take us for our morningwalk, he found Janosch - just like sleeping peasefully. I layed myself next to him, he left us quietly while sleeping that night. We are all missing our „Odie „, and now I´m the only Leo in our house.
I´m still quiet a rascal, and so I hear quiet often „dont you ever grow up“, I have to give my best to show, that even the „funny Luis“ can be a good boy and do as he is told. Therefore I work hard on the trainingground and do my best to be obedient on our walks to get a lot of praise. But i can´t help beeing a very cheerful scamp who just wants to enjoy his youth. The real life will start early enough.
During the Teamtest in Septemer in Leonberg this year I gave my best and made the 5th place from 18 Leo´s taking part. And on Sunday I got a V 2 at the intermediate class. My people where realy proud about my resulds. In November there was a approval of breeding in Sottrum. We happly went there because we could combine it with a visit at our friend Regine Twellmeyer who lives close by. I convinced the board of examiners and got my approval of breeding. Now my owner and I work hard to pass the obidience-exam next year.
What do you think – aint this a lot of news. Of course I will keep you informed, when you are interested in my people and me.
Update August 2008
After a longer break, I´m signing on again.
It is quiet some time now that I´m the only Leo at the Becker house.
On July 17. Janosch was dead a whole year, and my father Niklas at August 24. even two years.
We miss them both and my people often talk about them.
In situations like this I try to cheer them up with my "jokes".
As I told you before, my owner and I were working hard for the Obedience-Exam (BH).
In March we went to Leonberg, to take part in the Club-Championship on March 29./30. 2008.
This was very exciting, but I think my owner was even more nervous then myself. On the first
day there was the BH/VT Exam´s, and I made the second place. But it was to get even better.
On the second day I made the first place in BH/Club and became Club-Champion 2008.My people were ecstatic, and I got a lot of praise - how I enjoyed this you may be able to imagine.
It realy was a great weekend, especially because the weather was playing along too.
Our holiday this year was very nice, we have been to Norway and Sweden. I always like it there,
because I like swimming very much and enjoy the many lakes. But I also liked our trecking-tours.
Our visit at Christina´s (Aldibara´s Kennel) in Norway was great. I enjoyed the company of
the nice Leo-girls. These Leo-girls are very routined swimmers because they escort Christina
on her daily canoe-tours. My owner wanted to try this, and so a got dressed in a lifevest.
You can admire me dressed like that on my photogalery. Even so I´m in very good condition,
I´m not as fit in swimming as Christina´s dogs. The canoeing-tour was great fun and the lifevest
didn´t bother me at all. I realy envy the girls because of having this joy nearly every day.
Shame that our home is not situated next to a lake.
Whatever, I had lots of fun during our holiday, an in the last days in Sweden I took part
in a exhibition in Tvååker. While walking in the ring a felt like joking around a bit,
but my owner wasn´t happy about that. The judge thought it was amusing and placed me 2. in the open class, I got one exellent and the ribbon for Champion-Quality.
So I "said" to my owner - See, the joking around wasn´t that bad at all.
I always think, when my owner is nervous during a show, I have to cheer him up a little bit.
Unfortunately - he thinks completly different in that case.
As a holidayending highlight we visited my Breeder for her Summerparty.
There were many Leo´s an for us dogs there were many special "Goodies".
And I heared great news there, my sisters Brooklyn and Beluga made me an uncle of several
puppies. That´s super don´t you think.
That´s all for now, I promise you´ll hear/read from me soon.
Update May 2010
It is a while since i last updated my report for you.
I just noticed that my buddy Bjarne wants to tell you all his news and so i thought best i join in.
I guess you allready know that our holiday in Switzerland was great, for Bjarne the youngster -
it was the first holiday at all and he had lots of fun.
Of course i took the chance to remind him that it was me taking him on this great trip and that he
best be grateful.
But that´s just me - happy and friendly all the time, allways willing to share fun and joy with my friends.
This year, just as in 2009, we have been to some exhibition-shows and i´ve heared that my owners
were very pleased about my presentations and the results i got.
Marion (my owner) praised me a lot and said that she is very happy about my friendly and attentive presentation in the show-ring. But beeing a Leo-Boy, very interested in almost
everything that is my normal behaviour - i just like to please everybody around me and don't
want to miss a thing.
I was born with this happy character and i think that is why im still a very playfull, open-minded boy - even so i'm 4 1/2 years of age.
My people quiete ofter say that i don´t even know what a bad mood is and that i´m allways good for a joke.
But no wonder, i´m having a great time - good food, long walks with a lot of different things
to do - and now i'm looking forward to the best time of year - swimmingtime.
There is nothing better than swimming, the best game of all. Once i start i don´t want to stop, i
even tend to use a loud bark to let my owners know that it is time to throw my ball.
My enthusiasm began when i was quiet young during a holiday in Norway and Sweden.
There were so many nice places to go swimming and since then im just water-crazy.
Well - everybody needs a Hobby - right !?
But enough for today - have a nice time and keep checking my (our) side, i´m sure there will be news again soon.
