We would like to take a moment to introduce ourselves and welcome you to Tsavo Leonbergers. We have designed this web site to share two of the things we are most passionate about: Leonbergers and Africa.

We met and instantly fell in love with the Leonberger breed in 2000, when we met our first Leo Love, a ten-week fur ball Leo puppy. Immediately the Leonberger bug bit us. It was at that moment we knew this was the perfect breed for us. It would only be a matter of time before we would have our own Leonberger. With much determination we searched for our first Leonberger puppy. We were extremely fortunate to find our first girl, Zoe, from Lebenslust Kennels in Washington State. When she arrived to her new home in Chardon, Ohio our lives were forever changed. In December of 2003, we brought home our second girl, Laysa, and she is truly a joy. She is the sweet daughter of our first Leo Love, Bo. We later fell in love with Kyla, our third Leo, and decided to bring her home to our family in 2004. In the fall of 2005, we were blessed with a litter of 14 healthy and strong Leonberger puppies. Our dream was to have a Zoe puppy, and that is why we now have Skye, from our first breeding. Skye is daughter to Zoe, who is truly our baby. We affectionately call our Leos, "the Girls".

My husband, my father, the Girls, and myself, live on five wooded acres in the Snow Belt capitol (AKA Leo heaven) of northeast Ohio. Our lives are very busy with all kinds of dog activities which include obedience, conformation, therapy work, Rally-O, agility, and a lot of just romping around and having fun. We are active members in several dog clubs that promote this incredible breed. As Leo enthusiasts and breeders, we are passionate and dedicated to the improvement and betterment of the Leonberger. If you don't already know, you will soon discover the Leonberger is a very special breed.

Another love of ours is Africa. We discovered the splendid world of Africa during a 1999 trip to South Africa, which included time in Cape Town and a true Safari excursion. Africa is a remarkable and diverse land full of amazing scenery, people, cultures, and of course, wildlife. I returned to Africa in 2006 and spent the month of April in Kenya involved in medical research. During this stay, we visited both Masai Mara and Tsavo National Park and witnessed Tsavo’s immense beauty first hand. This is where the remarkable story of the Tsavo lions unfolds, hence our namesake, Tsavo Leonbergers. I was truly an awesome experience! Similar to the Leonberger, Africa is grand, beautiful, and a sensation that we must protect. We hope you enjoy our web site that combines our love for the Leonberger and our enthusiasm for the world of Africa.

Lara, Gary, and the Girls.