People often jokingly ask “Cru,” a 150-pound Leonberger, what kind of hamburger he is, a play on his name. You may have seen Cru competing at the 2024 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, presented by Purina Pro Plan and achieved double-star status. The Leo and his owner, Andrea Dadigan, were featured in a Fox Sports TV segment showcasing their therapy dog visits in Doylestown, Pennsylvania.
Giant-Sized Comfort Creature
Solid, sturdy, and lushly coated Cru (GCHB CH Water’s Edge A Grand Cru By Lowen, CGCA THD TKI ATT FITB NDD) and Dadigan spend multiple monthly sessions with Roxy Responders. These therapy dog teams regularly greets cancer and recovering stroke patients at the Doylestown Health Hospital, listens to students read at Buckingham Elementary School, and gives solace to children at family district court. They also help college students relieve stress during finals and provide comfort at different elementary and secondary schools affected by a traumatic event.
“When cancer patients see Cru enter their room, they light up and always ask to touch him,” says Dadigan, Roxy Responders’ Director. “While petting Cru, you can tell they’re not thinking about their cancer or chemo. This big dog makes all the difference.” While visiting stroke support groups with Cru, people tell Dadigan stories about their dogs. “Some patients might have difficulty using their hands, but their desire to touch Cru is strong. That’s the neat thing he does,” Dadigan says. This giant breed with a distinguishing black mask on an enormous head has immense benefits for bedridden and patients in wheelchairs. “He plops his head on their bed or lap, and they don’t have to bend over to reach him,” Dadigan says.
Walking into the hospital has one slight drawback for Leonberger and Dadigan. Their start time in a patient’s room might be 11:00 a.m., but visitors are drawn to Cru and insist upon a meet-and-greet with him in the lobby. “By the time everyone finishes asking the typical questions I always hear, such as, ‘How much does he eat?’ and ‘How much does he weigh?,’ ‘Can I ride him?’ and saying what a good boy he is; it’s 11:30, and we’re late, but we both love it.”
Cru and Dadigan schedule dependency court several times a month to visit with children whose parents are meeting with a judge for divorce, custody, drugs, or alcohol sessions. “Cru lies on the floor, and when the children pet and talk to him, they’re not thinking about what’s happening with their parents or at home,” Dadigan says. Sometimes, the kids don’t want to leave, while others may be too afraid of a big dog. Once, a judge sat with Cru, reassuring the kids the dog was safe. When counselors, lawyers, or social workers are in the courtroom, Cru helps them de-stress, too. “It’s these moments when I feel so proud of Cru and our work. I always leave with a smile on my face,” adds Dadigan.
Leo Love at First Sight
For Dadigan, getting involved in canine therapy and showing a Leo at Westminster was a Leonberger full-circle moment. It began when she turned on her television to watch the show in 2010.
“That’s where I saw my first Leonberger,” says Dadigan. The Leo debuted in the ring as a newly recognized AKC breed along with the Cane Corso and the Icelandic Sheepdog. “With males standing 31-l/2 inches tall with a lion-like mane and a reddish brown coat, I thought the Leonberger was the most majestic dog I had ever seen. When the announcer said the breed had an outstanding temperament, I knew I had to learn more about the breed,” she explains.
Her previous breeds were Labrador Retrievers. In 2012, Dadigan bought a Leo puppy named “Hansa” and participated in AKC Scent Work, coursing, obedience, and some therapy work. Hansa produced 12 puppies. “It was overwhelming, but I kept a male, ‘Lowen,’ CH Bryggeri’s Anglo Bavarian NDD CGC TKP FITB.” Lowen did water rescue training, carting, and canine therapy. After Lowen produced a litter, Dadigan chose Cru, who funnily enough, had a purple and gold collar.
Service Dog Devotion
“From the beginning, Cru always wanted to be with people, and I knew he would make a great therapy dog,” she recalls. “The calmest of my three Leos, Cru earned his AKC Therapy Dog certification in his first year.” A quiet dog for hospital visits but a little more spirited when spending time with school children, Dadigan thinks he’s the ideal therapy dog. “The first time kids see him walk into the classroom, they’re surprised and unaccustomed to seeing a dog that large,” she says. “Some are intimidated by his size, while others aren’t scared.”
During reading time, a few lucky kids will nab a spot to lie across him and use him as a pillow. Children who don’t like to read aloud will do it to have a seat next to the big furry dog. What’s Cru’s favorite book? Anything written by Dr. Seuss. “With all the fun rhyming words in the stories and the kids reading them in a silly sing-songy style, those ears perk right up.”
After a reading session, Cru needs a little rest. You wouldn’t think an hour-long floor session with a bunch of third-graders and Dr. Seuss would be exhausting, but even majestic Leonbergers who go to dog shows and work as therapy dogs sometimes need a break.