STOP PRESS!!!!!!!!!!

Deepha got her last 2 points at Open Shows today and has now gained her Show Certificate of Merit--the first Malinois to do so--I think Ann is making a habit of firsts this year !!!!! Congratulations Ann I'm so proud of you both !!

Saturday was the first day of Discover Dogs at Earls Court in London. I took Cruz,Brizo and Psyche along and met up with Karin and Iris and Martin. Karin had made a fabulous display board of Indi and Lowland Search Dog information. Karin took Indi and Yukon and they were brilliant, real ambassadors for the breed, meeting the general public, along with Cruz who would get a good job at Asda as a meet and greet employee. Martin took Antar and Zinka and were joined, periodically, by Brizo who was working the crowd and booth hopping along with Psyche. Cruz was especially good as he got almost sat on by a very enthusiastic young Guide Dog, and a terrier whose owner had no idea what her dog was doing at the end of a flexi lead. Children were duly washed and hugged and we had a lot of comments from people at how they always get a good welcome from the Belgians.

Caroline was there with Otto, Bonvivant Hazur, and was the only Belgian running in the Starters Agility Finals that day. He was just pipped to 2nd in the Jumping by a Kelpie, and was 4th in the Agility and overall 4th. Well Done Caroline, I know you were very nervous but you did us proud.

The booths all looked lovely, adorned with Belgian flags and beautiful photos and lovely Belgians of all four varieties.

What a tiring day, I don't know how people do both days or maybe I'm getting old. Thankfully I travelled with Jacqui and Sue, but it took us hours to get out of London. I have done"not a lot" today and the dogs were really tired too.

David, Candice, Grace and Alex volunteered to do Sunday and I can't wait to see the pics as they had leaflets, stickers and t-shirts made especially and were taking Kiah, Rusty and Tia.

Thankyou to all of you for volunteering, it is nice to see such enthusiasm and pride in your dogs, and putting something back into the breed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9jzT1rA440

video of Bonvivant Yvre in Estonia having a whale of a time in the shower.

I have been offline for a while but found lots to keep me busy!

Caper is now 5 weeks old and has had his first explore outside today. He is a very good puppy but has learnt how to get out of his playpen and is usually found asleep on a vetbed near Celine or eating (his favourite pastime). He is good during the night but then Celine opens the gate for him and he climbs up the duvet to wake me up. The photos start at 4 weeks where he was making himself comfy on the settee and watching a bit of TV (shades of his Great Grandma Cachet), He hasn't a spare bit of skin due to the full cream milk diet Celine is giving him. She plays nicely with him and he is quite the timewaster when he is pouncing on her tail or hanging off her ears. He is learning to come when called and does a little sit too--he is already enrolled on his first puppy course along with Cello and Cruz. Zippy loved obedience when he was a youngster so hopefully he will follow in his pawprints. He has had his collar on already and, although it makes him walk like a crab at times, he isn't too bad about it.He is definitely a character and, hopefully, will be of real use to the breed too when he grows up. I have started his little black book already :)) .

Midland Counties saturday and Remy had 3rd in PGDog, qualifying for Crufts. Elle won PB and was BPBitch Tervueren also qualifying her for Crufts.

Malinois was a good result for Bonvivant and for Cliche kids:-

BD BONVIVANT WHIZZ KID (MISS J CLIFFE)

RBD BONVIVANT TETE A TETE (MS J E RALPH)

BB BONVIVANT COUP DE FOUDRE AVEC ZODANTTA CSAU-EX TAN (MRS A BROWN)

RBB BONVIVANT SORCIERE (MISS L KIRK)

BOB BONVIVANT COUP DE FOUDRE AVEC ZODANTTA CSAU-EX TAN (MRS A BROWN)

BP BELSHAROSE OKLAHOMA (MRS D & MS A LLOYD & REEVES)

Well Done to Jackie with Speedy at his very first show, he was such a good boy. Nice to see Saffy, Dana and Reno again too.

Sunday was Cellos' first Open obedience show in PreBeginners and Beginners, just training rounds but he was a good boy and, despite the wind,really concentrated on his work and did some lovely heelwork and turns. He looked around, saw there were lots of collies, met lots of his obedience friends, and seemed to know that he wasn't at a breed show where he is normally way over the top! Lots of winter training now and hopefully he will compete properly next year. Having just celebrated his eighth birthday he is doing really well in his new career. He was glowing on Tuesday night at club so I think he feels one of the "in crowd" now Lol!!!

Apologies for not blogging for ages but there has so much to do before the winter here.

BSDA of GB results :-

Malinois-BD BVD,BVIB Ch Bonvivant Dewet,

BB and BOB Ch Bonvivant Nochotte,

RBB BVB Bonvivant Coup de Foudre avec Zodantta CSAU TAN.

PD B.Yazoo,

PB BPIB B.Ysatis.

Laekenois- RBB BVIB Van de Baarbeekhoeve Brizo for Bonvivant.

Tervueren- Bonvivant X-Elle 2nd PB.

NBSDC results:-

Tervueren- BD Delark Witchcraft

PB BPIB Bonvivant X-Elle

Malinois- BD BVD BVIB BOB Ch. Bonvivant Dewet

RBD PD Bonvivant Yazoo

BB RBOB Bonvivant Coup de Foudre avec Zodantta

RBB Ch. Bonvivant Nochotte

PB BPIB Bonvivant Ysatis

Laekenois-

BB BOB BVIB Van de Baarbeekhoeve Brizo for Bonvivant.

Celine had only one puppy, a male, which is growing extremely fast. He has his eyes open now and gets fatter every day.

The chickens are nearly all out in their new pens (old kennels) and I had 3 new hens for my birthday to add to the laying flock. The youngest of the chicks are now moved into the shed for the next few weeks, especially as it has turned so chilly at night, so they still need a heatlamp. Out of 11 Favarolles 5 are male, 5 female and 1 who knows as it looks like it might be a cross with something else. Photos to follow.

Off to Midland Counties on Saturday so Remy and Maisie have been to visit. They are enjoying their new life with Phil and Ollie. Some dogs just do so much better in a home environment so, although it was hard to see Remy leave home, he is just down the road and he visits regularly.

The amazing thing about Lincolnshire is the amount of sky--and the sunsets are really beautiful. If you painted them people would think you imagined them. Here is one I took last year at the wind farm and two I took tonight on the way back from a walk. Garth and I took the two Malinois pups for a walk on the stubble field--they don't go far so it is hard to get any shots. It was getting dark too so I didn't get many.--some had alien eyes but here are a couple. The nights are drawing in fast now. We haven't had any rain since July and the ground is really hard too.