Vinzenz Del Penon De Ifach

July 26, 2017 to July 27, 2023

We lost our beautiful Bear suddenly. Our hearts were broken.

Forever in our Hearts

Bear was just one of those dogs that you noticed. Not because of his size—or really, not only because of his size…at 10 months old, he was already 192lbs. By 5 years old, he was up to 261lbs. But while he was a big dog, even by mastiff standards, it was the size of his heart that was noticed.

He loved.

Deeply, with all 261lbs of him, and with everyone. It was there in his eyes while he watched the world around him, always seeming to have a smile on his face as though he had a private joke he found pleasing as he watched the world.

He loved.

People, kids, friends and strangers alike. I had never seen Bear so much as grumble at a person and he was always happy to share his time and his attention with everyone who greeted him.

He loved.

Dogs and other animals. His friends were counted across species from other dogs, such as his big sister, Maggie, who will miss him so much, to the littlest of breeds. To horses of all sizes that he happily went around on a regular basis.

He was loved.

By us, at Hazelwood Kennels, who loved when he came for a visit. He would find his spot on our couch and in our hearts and fill a big part of our world.

He loved to chase cats, but at my house, he knew the cats weren’t for chasing and his last time with me, I found him curled on the couch with me, Charlie between his giant paws as he sucked on Charlie and the silly old cat licked his muzzle clean…best friends at their final meeting.

I was one of his favorite people, probably because, as his mom said, I was the “fun mom.” But he lit up when he saw me, excited that I was there and letting me know that we both missed each other. But his most favorite person of all was his mom, Kelly.

He was loved.

By his family who cherished him completely. Especially his mom who missed him every time he came to see me and waited for him to return. Who spent all of her time with him, her boy, her constant companion who travelled everywhere he could with her and who looked for her every time he was in the ring. Just as I know Kelly is looking for him right now. Her heart in every way.

He was loved.

By everyone who met him, everyone who saw my posts about him. By the world in general.

He was the best example of the breed from his temperament to his stature. He made families happy, was a little bit racist in his dislike of brindle females, which we often joked about. But he loved those redheads and produced amazing puppies, including our first pup to ever compete at Westminster.

The love of Bear’s life, besides his mom, was Daisy. When Bear started showing, he always looked for the exit. But when we’d bring Daisy, he’d be excited to go. In fact, his mom often let him know that Daisy would be there and he’d go from being stubborn, and not moving, to jumping into the truck happy to head to something where Daisy would be. We know that Daisy will be greeting him at the rainbow bridge and showing him around.

But we wish that he was here with us, enjoying the sunshine, laying on the dock as he watched the boats pass by. Or giving his goofy little play pouts as he ran on his side on the floor. Or sat, stubbornly, refusing to get into the car…if Bear decided he wasn’t going to do something, there really was no moving him. He spent one day on the campaign. It took 6 people to get him to load into the handler’s vehicle and his mom had to turn around to go and pick him up. And I remember my husband taking him for a walk only to find, at the end, that Bear wasn’t ready to climb into the car and go home. After over a half hour of trying to move him, Bear finally decided it was too hot to stay out and hopped in.

His stubbornness was as endearing as his smile and gave us so much to laugh about as Kelly and I shared many of those moments when Bear would refuse to climb into the car and two women would struggle to lift his giant weight in.

And he left a giant imprint on our hearts and we will be forever blessed to have had him in our life. Our little German, our giant teddy bear, the best of mastiffs that we’ve ever loved.

He shone in the ring and had so many accomplishments.

• Winning Best Puppy in Group at his very first show.
• Being the #1 Mastiff Puppy in Canada in 2018.
• #14 Mastiff in Canada 2019
• #4 Mastiff in Canada 2020
• #7 Mastiff in Canada 2022
• And is currently the #4 Mastiff in Canada in 2023

He won Best in Limited Show and, all of this, with very limited showing.

He was only 8 points from his Grand Champion Bronze. Not bad for a dog that really could care less about the ring and just loved being with his people.

As a stud dog, he is the sire of our Tulip and Amelia and he has placed his stamp on all of his puppies from his looks to his temperament.

And his puppies have gone on to break records in Trick Dog titling, with Tulip and Amelia both training for more performance titles to show that Bear’s genes was more than just a pretty face. Through his kids, he earned his last title with his Trick Dog Register of Merit. The 5th mastiff in the world to hold that title.

He is one of our foundation dogs, forever shaping who we are at Hazelwood Kennels and we only hope that we continue to forge ahead as stubbornly, and with the gentle happiness that only Bear could personify.

We will miss you Bear.

Our hearts and thoughts go out to Kelly and her family at this time. We know how much his loss is hurting.

And you were and will always be loved.

Run Free Sweet Boy.

Bear earned his Grand Championship April 17, 2022 and ended the year as the #7 Mastiff in Canada for 2022.

He was the #4 Mastiff in Canada for 2020!

Baron is available for stud services to approved females. Please contact me for information or to discuss a service.

This beautiful boy was imported from Del Penon De Ifach in Germany. We are so happy to have him with our kennel and he is definitely a star. At his first show, he took Best Puppy in Group for the Working Group. His temperament is very laid back and he just loves to be with his family. Baron spends his time between here and his other home where he resides with another Hazelwood Kennel's mastiff, a beautiful girl from our first litter.

In 2020, Baron won his championship over 2 weekends! In addition, he became Canada's Number 1 Mastiff! To say that we are incredibly proud of this boy is an understatement. His laid back temperament, love of everything, including horses, and his funny side make him truly shows why mastiffs are the king of dogs. He loves to spend his time sleeping and hanging out at the barn with his mom.

On February 29, 2020, Baron won Best in Specialty Show and earning points toward his Grand Championship. Look for him in the show ring over the upcoming year.

Baron is part of the Mastiff Diversity Study created by UC Davis. This will assist us with our breeding goals to breed diverse and healthy mastiffs.

For more information on the study, visit their website at https://vgl.ucdavis.edu/canine-genetic-diversity/english-mastiff or to order diversity tests for your purebred, registered mastiff, select the canine genetic test on their order page. You can click on the order tests right from their site.