Site Created By:

Lee Gray 2009

South East & Anglia Leonberger Society

Big Active Dogs Weekend

This event is the highlight of our events calendar. It has been running for over 12 years.  All profit is split between SEALS Leonberger Welfare and the Blue Cross, who sponsor our rosettes.  It started out as a weekend fun and activity event but has now turned into a week’s holiday for some of us!  It is held at the Stonham Barns complex near Stowmarket in Suffolk.  The event is always held on the weekend after the August Bank Holiday.  Camping and caravanning is on the rally field at Stonham Barns Caravan Park and we have reduced club rates from the Wednesday before the event to the Wednesday after.  There is also not the usual restriction on the number of dogs you can bring.  There are electric hook-ups, toilets and showers, washing machine & washing-up room, and a small shop. 

The main event takes place in the grounds of the Pet Dog Training Centre on the Stonham Barns site. The Saturday is mainly a social day but there will be the chance to take SEALS Companion Dog Assessments and Leonberger Working Assessments.  There will also be some human games including a Tug of War!  At about 4pm the bbqs go on and everyone can enjoy cooking and eating on the field.  Please bring you own food.  This is followed by the evening activities, the fun quiz – definitely not serious – and then the karaoke.

Sunday brings the big competitions day.  There will be competitions in agility, Draught work, search, a scurry run, Judge’s Choice show, fun show classes, egg retrieve, perhaps some doggy country dancing and more.  Do as much or as little as you choose.  There will be a raffle and an auction.  This year we have been donated a cart to auction.  All donations of raffle prizes and auction items gratefully accepted.

If you decide to stay longer you can enjoy the rest of the Stonham Barns complex.  It is home to the Birds of Prey centre.  There is also a golf course, golf driving range and crazy golf; fishing lakes, restaurant and plenty of craft shops.  There are also plenty of places to visit in the area – Framlingham Castle, Needham Lake and the excellent Suffolk coastline to name but a few!