Want to talk about your pet subject?*If you would like to feature (with your pet) in a forthcoming edition of this regular column, please contact Colleen Morgan at Colleen@MoodieDavittReport.com |
The Moodie Davitt Report is delighted to bring you the latest edition in our Pet-sonality Profile column, in association with Tito’s Handmade Vodka.
In this regular fun feature, we discover more about travel retail pet-sonalities, their back stories, traits and habits, as well as offering some insights into their owners. Each pet-sonality is also painted digitally by pets and equine artist Sami Moodie.
In this edition we meet SEVA IBP* Managing Director of Duty Free and Travel Retail Laura Klingeman and her “big puppy”, a 65kg Boerboel named Lev.
Name and nickname: His name is Lev, which means lion, heart or courage. He’s also known as Big Puppy.
Breed: Lev is a Boerboel, a South African mastiff. The name translates to ‘farmer’s dog’.
How old? Lev turned three on Christmas Day (25 December).
How did you meet? My husband Steven and I met Lev through a Boerboel breeder. We’d gone to see the litter a couple of times and each and every time Lev came running to us. He was the cheekiest of them all and very venturous.
For us, that meant Lev was (and is) highly trainable and wanted to learn.
Love at first sight? On yes, definitely. The colour of his fur is brindle, with black stripes on a light-brown base, so he was already a bit exceptional. And then he has four big white paws and the best puppy eyes out there.
Quirky habits? His favourite surface is the sand. The moment his paws touch sand, our 65kg Lev starts running and hopping around like a bunny.
Funniest and/or nicest moment? When bringing my first-born son Joah home, I was a little hesitant in introducing him to Lev. But, of course, Lev proved me wrong. He showed so much love and kindness towards the baby, who now has the biggest bodyguard imaginable.
Lev loves to run after geese; not to catch them, he seems to love making them fly off. One time a baby goose was a bit slower, and the mum decided to stand in front of her baby and honk at Lev, who came running back to us like a scared puppy.
When Steven and I were planning our wedding, we wanted Lev to be there, to be part of it. So, we ordered some funny dog accessories for our very important guest. As you can imagine all the tie-bows appeared to be way too small.
Favourite trick? And treat? Lev loves to play hide and seek with cheese – his favourite treat – alongside a big, dried pig’s ear.
He loves to play with other dogs. However, not all dogs want to play with him. Whenever there are small dogs he wants to play with, he lays on the ground, so that hopefully they find him less scary.
Social media account? Lev is featured on Instagram: lev_the_brindle_boerboel, although unfortunately we haven’t updated the account for quite a while now.
If Lev could talk what would his first words be? Easy. Can I please be on the couch and cuddle with you?
Favourite airport/airline: Lev has never travelled in an airplane; however, he loves to come with me to the office and get cuddles and attention from the team.
Being there quite regularly, Lev starts guarding the office as his second home. One day I had a meeting in a different room and the mixologist came to our office as well. Lev had never met him previously so, quite simply, the poor man was not able to enter the building. We laughed and sorted the situation quite quickly.
Anything else we should know? Boerboels are very strong and powerful dogs, raised to protect the family by all means.
At the same time, they are very much family dogs and Lev is very playful, sociable and affectionate.
*SEVA IBP is part of the SEVA Group, specialising in travel retail in Europe and Latin America, with strong brand collaborations including Bacardi Martini, Diageo, Edrington, Ferrero, Mast-Jägermeister and Moët Hennessy.
Click here for our introductory story on the Duty Free Unleashed partnership with Tito’s Handmade Vodka. The independent vodka brand from Austin, Texas, has had a close connection with the welfare of dogs since its founding by Bert ‘Tito’ Beveridge in 1997.
The company has always been committed to rescuing and protecting the animals that have come into the lives of its people, and has even created a programme, Vodka for Dog People, to help that come to life.
Note: Through this new column, Tito’s Handmade Vodka and The Moodie Davitt Report are partnering to promote the work of brokenbiscuits.org, a disabled animal charity. As the world’s first disabled animal centre, its work includes:
- Providing equipment to families
- Offering homes to paraplegic, deaf, blind and disabled animals
- An education programme of visiting schools and universities
- Working alongside rescue centres, rehabbers and veterinary professionals
- Caring for stray and surrendered disabled animals
To support the work of Broken Biscuits, you can donate via this link or find out more via the youtube channel.
Previously on Pet-sonality Profile
Meet Jeff Butler and Rosie and Rascal
Meet Hannah Tan-Gillies and Charlie
Meet Daniel Levin and Garfield
Meet Denz van der List and Jazz
Meet Tankred Stachelhaus and Pepina
Maitreyi Karanth’s Shaggy (and Demi) dog story
Meet Jilly Brocklebank and Sadie
Meet Alex Thompson and Chester
Meet Sinéad El Sibai and Guinness
Meet Bronwyn Clementson and Harvey
Meet Jeff Bond and his four-legged friends
Meet Pauline Prescott’s Daisy and Digger
Meet Julio Cesar Magaña Ortiz and Hope
Meet Barry Geoghegan, Milly and Jess
Meet Duke and Lindsay Hitzeroth
