About Us

 

The Coffey family have been involved with showing and breeding Beagles since 1984. Then, Doug Coffey was the main instigator and showperson in the family. Leanne was only 8 years old and had an interest in showing the Beagles in Beagle Club of NSW junior handler classes. This interest grew and Leanne now shows and controls the breeding program of both Toonhund and Beagelee Beagles.

At first Doug began the Toonhund prefix. As time went on Doug particularly liked the Beagles being bred by Lesley Funnell (now Hiltz) of the famous Torbay kennel and Liz Whitcher (now Rosbach) of Manahound in Victoria. Our breeding program continues to breed with these lines, especially with Liz Rosbach who now lives in the USA and continues to breed her beautiful Manahound Beagles.

One of these bitches purchased, Manahound Touch oSpring proved to be a wonderful bitch for us when we bred her to Ch & Nz Ch Clarion Cloak (a Manahound Matchpoint son) to produce Toonhund Spring Bonnet who is behind all the Beagles that we now own. This bitch has produced 2 of our big winners Toonhund Spring Amber who was Runner Up Best in Show at the 3rd Beagle National and Ch Toonhund Spring Colours who was Best of Breed at the 95 Sydney Royal Easter Show. Spring Amber likewise is instrumental in our Kennel producing, Ch Toonhund Spring Tune, Ch Toonhund Cagney and Toonhund Spring Sonata.

Beagelee began in 1998 when Leanne imported Manahound Scenter Piece in whelp to a successful stud dog in the USA - Am Ch Shaws Sprirt of the Chase. This litter produced a wonderful litter of 7 puppies born in Sydney Quarantine. From this litter Ch Beagelee Made in America has went on to win 2 Specialty Best in Shows and her brother Beagelee Air America was used to produce Ch Toonhund Cagney. Cagney is a combination of the early Toonhund and imported Beagelee lines. James became a top winner for us, but is now retired. He unfortunately became sterile, but we are lucky to have 2 of his children Finnish Spirit and Finest Blend to breed on with.

 

In 2000 Leanne made the trip over to Denmark for the Very Special Show and met up with Eeva Resko of the world famous Daragoj Beagles. We are now fortunate to own Ch Daragoj Golden Design and then later import Nz Ch Daragoj Personal Agenda. These 2 girls have produced our most successful Beagles, Beagelee Finnish Spirit, Finest Blend and As Good as it Gets who is now doing very well in the USA. Finnish Spirit has become a major winner for us and in 2006 became the 2nd Beagelee Grand Champion. The first Beagelee to receive a Grand title was Beagelee Golden Touch owned by Russell Walker who is a daughter of Ch Goldenbelle Quaestor and Manahound Scenter Piece.

 

The Beagelee Beagles today are noted for their showmanship and far reaching side gaits. We always try to keep Beagles that have excellent round bone, driving movement and wonderful temperaments.

 

In 2006 Leanne has introduced some more new imports into our Kennel. We currently have a litter by Am Ch Springfield N Skyline Big Shot and early 2007, semen will arrive from 3 Daragoj males.

 

We are fortunate to know many wonderful Beagle breeders over the world and their help and wisdom has been instrumental in breeding the dogs we have today. A special thank you to Liz Rosbach and Eeva Resko for allowing me to import their wonderful Beagles and for your ongoing friendship and support.

 

And the most special person at Beagelee is our mum, Jan Coffey. Without her our Beagles wouldn’t be what they are today. Jan gives love to all of our Beagles and rares our puppies and adults. She is truly an angel and the most wonderful person.

 

Leanne is now an ANKC licensed Hound Judge (all Hound breeds).

 

 

 

Below : Where we live

 Our Beagles love to run all of our property and swim in the dam.

Beagelee will take another exciting turn in 2008 with the partnership and marriage of Leanne and Christophe. Christophe Duval began showing and breeding at the age of 12 in France, starting with Fox Terriers. He has also shown and prepared Wire Fox Terriers. His grooming skills are excellent as he has taken the time to learn from the best. Christophe will come to Australia with his Norfolks and Wire Fox Terriers.  Christophe’s real passion is for Wire Fox Terriers and we hope to breed a very high standard with our 3 imports from the Chelines Kennel in Spain.

Like Leanne, Christophe is very determined to produce quality dogs. Both have the same eye and interest in the same gene pool. They also share the same passion in travelling and generally like to talk about dogs all the time! The Beagelee story to continue in 2008 :)

A new partnership