Welcome to Loweherz Leonbergers
and Ex-Racehorses

Dick Pursglove- The "go to" man

Firstly, I would like to introduce myself, my name is Tanya Pursglove and I am from a small village, out in the sticks, in North East Derbyshire, United Kingdom.

I have been around dogs for my entire life, dogs of all breeds, of all shapes and of all purposes. Animals have played a huge part of my life, and helped mould me into the person I am today, but dogs in particular played a huge role.

As a small child, dogs and the breeding of dogs was a normal occurrence. My Grandfather, Richard (or Dick as he was known) was the general "go to" man of our local town, a typical Derbyshire Miner. He never moved more than a mile from the area in which he was born and escaped World War II conscription due to his involvement in the Coal Mines. My Grandparents house and garden was a menagerie of all kinds of animals, from dogs to chickens, from goats to horses, rabbits to canaries. If you wanted anything, Dick was the man you went to. If Dick didn't have what you were looking for, you can bet your bottom dollar, he knew a man that did. The phrase "Going to see a man about a dog" was created for my Grandfather.

My Grandfather was heavily involved with working dogs. He had many Parson Russell terriers over the years, gundogs of all sizes and sighthounds. He was also involved with horses. Both of these aspects greatly influenced my love of these animals. He is the man that introduced me to the world of dog ownership, exhibiting and breeding. From Day 1 I was born into the "dog way of life".

I have worked as a Canine Midwife (Midwoof) and as a stud handler, and now offer my services as a mentor to new breeders and experienced breeders alike. People contact me from all over the country to gain advice with all aspects of breeding; from studs that won't perform, to bitches that won't be mated or conceive, from birth canal obstructions to fading puppy. If by chance I don't have the answer, I know someone who will. In this respect, I am very much like my Grandfather (a "go to" gal).

I learnt about exhibiting different breeds as I grew up. Like I mentioned above, I come from a family where dog showing, working and breeding are second nature. Dogs are in my blood. As a child my life revolved around terriers, toys and sighthounds but as I grew, I became involved with Standard Poodles and English Setters and gradually my interest grew to the Leonberger.

I had seen Leonbergers in and out the show ring for a while and they had always caught my eye, but it was when I finally met one in the flesh, away from the show scene, that's when I knew this was the breed for me. I was out walking my friends Great Danes when 2 red and black, heavily coated Leos came bounding towards us. Naturally, being used to big dogs, I didn't flinch, but I think if we were anybody else I would have dropped to the floor. I got talking to the gentleman who owned by them and he shed a little bit more light on their background. That was it, I was in love.

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I began to research heavily into the breed; I looked at their history, temperament, health concerns etc. I studied the breed standard inside out, until it was etched onto the inside of my eyelids. I sat at ringside and got talking to breeders. I bought catalogues at shows so that I could identify each dog and see which dogs were having success in the ring. I found the lines that I liked.

This is when I sought help from another Leo owner/ exhibitor/ breeder, who knew of a Manorguard bitch who was due to whelp a litter shortly. This bitch was Manorguard Bewitched, who got the Bitch Challenge Certificate, Reserve Best of Breed and Best Opposite Sex at Crufts 2006. The bitch (Tia) belonged to Helen Sawyer of the Ammolitegold Kennel, Kings Lynn, Norfolk. She had been mated to Dajean Special Edition For Leovanna (Logan), whose sire was another famous Manorguard dog, Manorguard Limited Edition (Eddie).

I contacted Helen and was placed on the waiting list. I visited the puppies at 5 weeks and had 3rd pick of litter. I stacked the puppies and evaluated them and I decided that it would be a little (or should I say big) boy that would be coming home with me in a couple of weeks time.

At 7 ½ weeks old I went to fetch my new puppy, he was named McCartney, and the rest, they say, is history.