Hannelore has been asking me to visit her in Pennsylvania for a long time. I have wanted to do it. I have intended to do it. Last week, the thought persisted. I called and said I had some time off coming up. The weather would not yet be wintry. Could I visit? And, oh, could I bring my four dogs?
Yes. And yes. : )
I arrived Sunday early evening and was originally going to stay one night. We were having such a good visit that I stayed another night and left early this evening.
Hannelore Heller, 86, is the grand dame of standard longhaired dachshunds in the US. One would be hard-pressed to find pedigrees of American-bred standard longhairs that do not hark back to the renowned and enduring prefix of Hannelore and Joseph Heller, "Han-Jo's", established 1959.
I met Joe and Hannelore in the early '70s when I was a teenager and Hannelore was showing dogs, mostly dachshunds, professionally. As they also lived in the midwest, I saw them at shows fairly regularly. For several years, Joe had a dog supply business that he vended at the shows and he occasionally hired me to help him. Hannelore showed and bred a number of standard longhairs that became, literally, pillars of the breed.
In more recent years, Hannelore bred miniature smooths, followed by miniature longhairs. She co-owns her beautiful home, kennel facilities, and acreage with Sue Hauser of Lone Pine miniature wirehairs. Hannelore has four dogs, Sue has four dogs, and I have four dogs. Four must be the magic number.
Sue and Hannelore hosted my dogs and I with awesome hospitality! We enjoyed such a relaxing visit. For hours, the three of us talked dogs, politics, and dog politics. We went through files of photos, looked at some pedigrees, watched a few videos, and relished great food and drink, all accompanied by lovely Christmas music. Wow.
The time passed much too quickly.
Thank you, Hannelore! Thank you, Sue!
I only regret that I did not take MANY more photos. I will rectify that next time.
Yes. And yes. : )
I arrived Sunday early evening and was originally going to stay one night. We were having such a good visit that I stayed another night and left early this evening.
Hannelore Heller, 86, is the grand dame of standard longhaired dachshunds in the US. One would be hard-pressed to find pedigrees of American-bred standard longhairs that do not hark back to the renowned and enduring prefix of Hannelore and Joseph Heller, "Han-Jo's", established 1959.
I met Joe and Hannelore in the early '70s when I was a teenager and Hannelore was showing dogs, mostly dachshunds, professionally. As they also lived in the midwest, I saw them at shows fairly regularly. For several years, Joe had a dog supply business that he vended at the shows and he occasionally hired me to help him. Hannelore showed and bred a number of standard longhairs that became, literally, pillars of the breed.
In more recent years, Hannelore bred miniature smooths, followed by miniature longhairs. She co-owns her beautiful home, kennel facilities, and acreage with Sue Hauser of Lone Pine miniature wirehairs. Hannelore has four dogs, Sue has four dogs, and I have four dogs. Four must be the magic number.
Sue and Hannelore hosted my dogs and I with awesome hospitality! We enjoyed such a relaxing visit. For hours, the three of us talked dogs, politics, and dog politics. We went through files of photos, looked at some pedigrees, watched a few videos, and relished great food and drink, all accompanied by lovely Christmas music. Wow.
The time passed much too quickly.
Thank you, Hannelore! Thank you, Sue!
I only regret that I did not take MANY more photos. I will rectify that next time.
Bountiful Beautiful Breakfast Buffet
