Leonberger History Australia

The "First Studbook" refers to early exports to Australia - but even with the
help, generously offered by the Australian Kennel Club - nothing on this
"Early Leonberger History Australia"
could be traced back !

But due to the help, offered by my Australian email-friends Mandy and Peter Schelbach, Bluemooska Kennel, Queensland, Australia, I'm at least able to provide you with the "present Leonberger History of Australia"

The First Leo's had been imported by Ms. Alison Webb, Darwin 
- Northern Territory Australia.

From Norway - Lappleon Beatrix in 1989.
From Norway again - Arko's Best Choice av Lykseth in June 1990.
In May 1991 a litter - out of Arko x Beatrix (2 puppies) was born.
The bitch Beatrix was 5 months later bitten by a snake and died.
In June 1992 another bitch from Norway - Hope av Lykseth -
was imported.

Somewhat later (no data) a male from UK, named Sydney 
(pedigreename not given) was imported by Ms. Webb too.

The Schelbach-family imported in 1993 Rossnick Nutty Nora (UK),
meanwhile Australian Grand Champion
and in 1997 Jakamak Aristocrat (UK), Australian Champion.

There seems to be a "new" group of breeders - but I've right now
no further information on this.

Due to the "quarantine-rules" (dogs from Scandinavia and UK can
enter with only 14 dys. quarantine-time - others have to remain
up to 6 months in quarantine-kennels) the people most likely
are going to decide on "Scandinavian- or UK-bloodlines" - which
unfortunately minimizes diversity in the genetic pool (as all the
dogs in breeding-program are more or less related to each other).