Hi! I'm new to the Leerburg web board, so thought I'd introduce myself and my dogs! My husband Ron and I have been training and working dogs for a combined total of 35 years! He's much older than me, and therefore has more experience! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />
About 10 years ago Ron rescued a Giant that he called Zeus. This 14month old had known nothing but abuse his entire life and was on his way to "the needle". Zeus is a very large powerful male who has never forgotten his harsh start. He is dominant, and extremely aggressive with anyone but Ron and myself. Even though I can handle him for everyday tasks, I don't kid myself that he has a whole lot of respect for me! He has even challenged Ron on occasion. Anyway, Zeus was the reason we got interested in Giants. We have always been alot more impressed by a dog's working abilities over the "beauty queens" so when we went looking for breeding stock it was the European working lines we sought. Although Zeus is a magnificant specimen, his lines are helter skelter and it was hard to determine how much of his aggression was environmental and how much genetic. We have never bred him for those reasons. Many have said that we should have, however we are not ones to go along with the crowd.
Our first puppy Giant was a bitch we named Rein, her dam was Jeri vom Eichenbaum, and her sire Quin V Holderstock. Later we bought the three remaining Giants from Eichenbaum Kennels when David and Bonnie let the breed go. David was very ill and Bonnie had her hands full with caring from him and her Westies. We brought Kurt, Liebchen and Oberin home to what we hoped would be a great foundation for our kennel. I won't go into all the gory details, however our experiences with our giants have been tragic! We almost abandoned the breed all together, putting it down to sheer rotten luck! However, both Ron and I are extremely determined personality types, (yes, leads to MANY clashes! ) so we dug in our heels and tried again! Each litter we produce gets better than the one before! Our last litter is amazing! We have four of the pups local and train with them weekly. The entire litter are alligators! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />
Anyway, if you would like more details about our lines and future plans, you are welcome to email me privately! Since we also breed Dobermanns, I will be posting a similar message on that board!
I look forward to reading more about other's experiences with our great breed!
Tammy!
email: ourpassion@leidenschaftkennels.com