THEY lined up obediently to honour a founding father of their breed in this country.

Flanking the driveway of Basingstoke Crematorium on Monday, the giant Leonberger dogs formed a 32-strong guard of honour for Fred Inwood, who died aged 80 of kidney failure.

It was a fitting tribute to a man credited as setting up the Leonberger Club of Great Britain and helping to maintain the gene pool of the rare breed.

His widow Jenny, whom he married in November after a 25-year relationship, said: “He would have been amazed and amused at the response.”

Locally, Mr Inwood – who had a daughter, stepdaughter and stepson – was known through his Kinghern Kennels at his home at Kinghern, Silchester Road, Little London, and until last year he was president of Basingstoke Dog Training Club. But his reputation as a Leonberger breeder was global.

Friend Louise Baldwin, 40, from Romsey, flew back to attend the funeral from the World Dog Show in Denmark with her two dogs.

She said: “A lot of people at the World Dog Show were coming up to me and saying how sorry they were that he had died. He was known as Mr Leonburger.”

Mr Inwood’s career as a breeder came after a successful stint running a building firm in Surrey. He began breeding 37 years ago after doctors told him he had to give up his job for health reasons.

Not content with the easy life, he built his own house and boarding kennels. He then developed a life-long passion for Leonburgers and at one time had 13 at his home and hand-built carts that were pulled by the mighty pooches.