I first came across a leonberger in 1996. While walking through the streets of Genoa, my attention was drawn by a huge, hairy dog with sweet expressions. I already owned a big dog, a pastore  maremmano abruzzese, with a tough character not at all easy to manage. I knew that my future choices would no longer be driven exclusively by the looks of the dog, but also by its character and personality. From this moment onwards my investigation to acquire major information and to see other leonberger dogs had begun. I would visit several dog exhibitions. Finally at the Milan International Exhibition I met Sabine Klippel and Mathias Schroder, two German breeders since over twenty years. Their dogs were really beautiful and the females were of big size, a most important characteristic on the top of my mind that I was hunting. Luckily many puppies were due shortly and I thus reserved a female. 

 went to Oberpolling, in Germany close to Monaco, to fetch her. Equipped with both camera and camcorder, I captured and documented the arrival of the so long attended new member of the family. The encounter was memorable and very emotional. I can remember that from outside the manor one could see a high fence that gave no appercu of the internal courtyard. When I crossed the boarder and was welcomed by Sabine and Mathias, I was immediately surrounded by fifteen friendly leonbergers of all ages.The most astonishing aspect that struck me was not only their overwhelming affectionate manifestations, but also the very little barking that was done eventhough the number of dogs was increasing. By now I could count over twenty puppies and adult dogs. After such a strong and pleasant experience, I left Oberpolling accompanied by my “little” Eliette. 

If you are looking for big sized affectionate and fluffy dogs, sociable with you and your friends, patient with children, trustworthy and silent guards and companions, in this case leonbergers are the type of dog you are looking for.