Bali arrived in Norway--very lucky that we changed the date from the 15th to the 14th or the eruption of the volcano in Iceland would have cancelled her flight. I think I can safely say that Bali was pleased to meet her new owners, Linda and Kathrine, and she spent her first couple of days with Linda and Ronny. She took her Tigger with her and looks so relaxed in the car on her long journey from Stavanger to Bergen, with 2 ferry crossings. What a big day that was for her. I think she will be very happy in Norway.

Her brother, Cudos, is on his own now and has moved into the house with us. He hasn't stopped using his voice for the last 2 days, but he croaks a bit now. He has been travelling around with the dogs in the van and spent a lovely afternoon up at Carols' yesterday--running in and out of the container as if he did it every day. He went to visit my friends at the kennels this morning and joined their dogs in the kitchen while we had a cuppa. He was quite surprised to meet dogs which weren't Belgians but soon made himself at home pulling a net of lemons out of their veg rack.

Another beautiful warm, sunny day and Barbara and I went for a walk with the dogs. Hard to believe that Ziggy the Collie is almost 11yrs old now, the same age as Bunny (Gwashleas Rigmarole at Bonvivant) pictured at the bottom here.

Chatter and Cruz went on a photo shoot up the field and posed on the straw bale--taking five and rolling around on top of the bale--almost falling off! Then they played hide and seek round the bale before going home for a cool drink.

A really nice week with Claire and Gaston visiting from Belgium. The Malinois puppies had their first outing in the sunshine with mum, Chiraze, and had a great time. Bali is off to Norway on Wednesday this week to Kennel Nadjarah where she will be showing and doing agility with Linda and Kathrine. Biper and Chiraze returned with Claire and Gaston to Belgium on Friday just leaving the 2 pups here.

My Mum has been recruited to train Caper on his retrieve and he is very good with her and is careful not to bounce all over her.

It was cold on Saturday when I went to Newark, having volunteered to do stay stewarding and scent decoy, met lots of friends and socialised Caper and Ziva. They both enjoyed the experience and mugged everyone they could. I came home to thaw out!

Today, Barbara and I took Sam, Zig the collie and Cerise to play in the field and they had a great time. Soli the Laekenois is on holiday and posed beautifully for me to take some photos.
It wouldbe nice to think that it will remain sunny for the rest of the week and today the wind had dropped making it so nice to be outside with the dogs.

A really busy couple of weeks with the BSDA of GB club open show where Cello was BOB and BVet in Breed, Sam was RBD and Res BOB and Deepha BOppSex in Malinois. Remy was BD and BoppSex, Elle won her class, and Cerise was 2nd in Open Bitch. It was a good day out and great to see Gerry and Steve again. Charli the Laekenois puppy came along and took everything in his stride. Penny Draper was there doing her heelwork to music and here is her Yorn daughter Secret doing her stuff!

Some really good training sessions with Cello, Cruz and Caper last week.

Ruger went to his new home with Gill and Simon and has settled in well--the only problem being a bit of sheep worrying (see photo).

This weekend was the Contest of Champions at Heathrow where the Belgians were out in force(Malinois, Tervueren and Groenendael ) and all showed well. All went out in the first round but they looked great. Ann took Deepha and thoroughly enjoyed herself.

Lots of visitors this weekend which was nice. Solli has come for a holiday while Christines' bitches are in season and she took one of the Laeken bitches back for some socialising. Still got pups left here from that litter, all bitches, great characters and very outgoing.

Gaston and Claire arrive wednesday for a few days :) then we are on countdown for Bali to go off to Linda and Kathrine in Norway next week.

Well Crufts is over for another year and we did very well.

Cruz (Bonvivant Tete a Tete) a Cliche son, took his 2nd CC, Cougar(Ch. Bonvivant Esprit) was RDCC and Chatter (Ch. Bonvivant Nochotte) RBCC.Chic (Bonvivant Ysatis), owned by myself and Terry Donovan was BP, thankyou Jacqui for handling Cruz and Chic for me.
Congratulations to Marianne and John Brett for their 3rd and crowning CC and BOB with Sabrefield Zimply Zuper
bred by Liz Richardson.

In Groenendael Psyche (Delark Secret Love of Bonvivant) was 4th in a very strong Open Bitch class, ably handled by Brittany Winfrow.

In Laekenois Jo with Pudsey(Bonvivant Vif***) was BD and Martin with Antar(Bonvivant Vos for Brighu***) RBD, and Yvonnes' lovely Bree(Bonvivant Vivace***), RBB. Well done to Debbie and Paul with Ghiana for BB and BOB.
The week has flown by with training for Cello, Cruz and Caper. Jacki Snooks came and collected her Laekenois puppy Charli, and Gill and Simon came to see their new Malinois puppy, Ruger.

A lovely weekend with Martin and Ann staying,lots of catching up to do and spent a great Sunday with friends, Barbara, Wendy and another Wendy, photographing dogs and having lunch together.

Pictures feature Cruz,the Malinois puppies with their new toys and Antar (father to the Laekenois litter) and his brother, Brissie.

The Laekenois pups have had an exhausting day out in the paddock, they had lots of visitors too. Barbara and John came over to kindly do some repair work on the kennel and some grooming. Tired and hungry the Laekenois were glad to come in to bed and I think they will be sleeping extremely well tonight.

The Malinois pups are still indoors and have been playing and sleeping. So nice to have a sunny day again even if it was a bit cold.

Fantastic news from Jo with Keisha and David with Rusty that they are going to the Belgian Shepherd World Championships! Four Malinois (2 are Andy and Helen Browns' ) have got on the team!!!

Crufts in only 4 days!!! so a lot of work to do to get everyone looking their best.

Good Luck to everyone--see you there!

A nice bit of sunshine and the Laekenois puppies enjoyed their first taste of freedom out in the field.

Another week gone and the pups are really feeling their feet now. The Malinois are up on their feet and will soon need the run of the whole puppy pen. They are beginning to get their little characters.

The Laekenois are a cheeky bunch and today the sun was shining and they could come out to play. They are really livewires and try to beat you out of the run door when you make your escape from their sharp teeth. Very outgoing and inquisitive.

News from Guernsey that Venus flew to Jersey for the Dog of the Year competition and Limited Members show. She was 1st in AVNSC Ltd members class,1st Yearling class and 1st Ltd Members under Peter Bailey and then was pulled out 7th in the Best Yearling in Show class under Carol Woods. Brilliant news and her photo will hopefully be in Our Dogs 12th March edition.

Some good training last week with Cello, Cruz and Caper and we had an obedience show yesterday at Newark. We did training rounds and Cello was on a real high--he, or should I say I, was much better in his Beginners round once he had settled. Cruz worked really well too and this was his first Open Obedience show with all the distractions so I was really pleased.

Crufts is looming and this bad weather has really put paid to the dogs being as fit as I would like, and some are threatening to come in season or blow their coats. Breeders Stakes Finals is on the Friday so we will be there 2 days. David and Rusty are running in the Agility Champ class on the Sunday so fingers and toes crossed for that 3rd Ticket.

Deepha and Ann have been invited to the Contest of Champions in March.

Riley, with Diane and Martin, has been winning again in agility and hopefully I will get some photos of him with his trophies to post on here soon.

The weather has been horrific with torrential rain so that everywhere is thick mud again,roll on a nice summer!!!!!