Joy:  Can’t wait to see all the old friends and meet some new ones
Anxiety:  Oh, the logistics of it all!  Traveling from coast to coast to coast can be so exhausting
Confidence:  This will be another successful event and people will walk away happy once again!
Regret:  Wish I could bring my dogs but that’s just too far and too messy of a travel schedule
Glee:  can’t wait to spend some time in San Fran as well
Hunger:  My first stop will be a Mexican restaurant
Fear:  That it will rain on my parade

I’ve started my preparations for the trip in a few weeks.  We’ve never held the event in Sacramento and I love the fact that we don’t repeat locations [or even states] often. Travel gets to be a bear and with the Belgian Malinois population being fairly low, it causes some of these events to be large regionals but hey, that’s the one benefit/drawback to not having an American Top 40 dog.  It sort of makes for a very comfy and intimate affair.  Plus that leaves MUCH more beer and food to go around.

I’ve attended other Nationals [The Collie Nationals being the largest] and it doesn’t have the same family reunion/class reunion type of atmosphere.  You recognize some folks, you are surprised at others, and there is always a new “freshman” who’s joined the crowd.  I’ve got my Malinois gear lined up and not so surprisingly, all my favorite clothes are from Beauty of the Beast!  Camera is cleaned up, batteries are on charge stand-by, and laptop backpack is, well, packed.

As Liz Lemon would say “I want to go to there”…..or for my 80′s hipsters:  A little LL Cool J and “Going back to Cali”

Going back to Cali, stylin, profilin
Growlin, and smilin, while in the sun…..

I’m going back to Cali, shakin ‘em, bakin ‘em
Takin ‘em to spots they never before hung……

….annnnndddd, I’m out.

Bobby

A dog touches heaven……

do all dogs go to heaven?
if a question is so pondered
one must determine if hell exists
as an alternative destination

if hell is to exist
sin must be a possibility
in the hearts of those
who are called man’s best friend

but can evilness exist in an animal
who smiles when he does not feel well
can it be present when
a tail wag is a matter of instinct
much like breathing

could you believe any vices
would dwell in the heart
of one
who’s eyes reflect the soul
who’s kisses can wipe away
the day’s drudgery and pains

such questions…….

i believe in a heaven
i remain steadfast in my belief
that dog’s are angels on earth
i believe that there is a destination
just over the rainbow bridge
for dogs to run, jump, and bark
to their hearts content

my answers……

do all dogs go to heaven?

yes

I see Fataah Ewe, Jane Boswell, April Albert, and Wyndee Arneson.  I joined a Rottie group in Italy.  A bulldog dude in the UK asked to be my friend. An artist in California is going to paint my dog for the Nationals.

Kelley Hoffman’s latest album deserves a look or two [Especially of Griffey at the BasqueLaine National Pastime].
I’ve seen Serge’s new baby girl.  She’s a beauty.  Julie Marco’s puppy Cowboy from my C Litter is coming along nicely.

I used to think that Belg-L was the most awesome way to introduce non-Belgian people to Belgian people. Or to get a Belgian person re-aquainted to Belgian people. We share stories, gripes, and anecdotes.  Tales of shows past, triumphs in trials and sorrow for lost ones are sprinkled within each new day’s email.  We sometimes get a little rabid when it comes to certain subjects of choice but that’s the right of the free world.  Malinois4fun allowed us to be very breed specific and tout how great our variety was over the others

Then, I found facebook.  I have over 300 “friends” and counting. I have seen their profiles, understood their answers in quizzes, and have gotten to know folks a little better.  Lurking has a whole new twist. I now know what my Belg-L and Malinois4Fun friends look like.  And who I should avoid at shows……

Does this make us a closer community?  Maybe.
Will I probably have to do a double take when I see someone at a show?  Most definitely.
And when someone says “I read your stuff on Belg-L and we’re friends on facebook” will I smile?  For sure.

I’m not sure if its for everyone – it does take a little more effort to stay up to date but Belgian social networking has just jumped a level.
I’m going to use the heck out of it when the Nationals roll around.  I can iPhone show images to Flickr which will update facebook instantly. My dog-by-dog Tweets will be added to my statuses within milliseconds.  BOB or HIT will be posted faster than a speeding Belgian going after a ball or treat!  facebook has been life changing and has given me another media avenue.

My name on facebook is Bobby Arellano.  Ask me to be a friend – I never say no.

Bobby
delriokennels.com
delriofoto.com

and they come........

* This is a re-run of an original post from April 6, 2007. I thought it best described my life with the B litter and as they turn two years old, I know they have turned into wonderful adults.  I have added their call names to each description below*

Morning Rant: What will become of the wee bairns?

The pup-peronis are now four weeks and change. In another month, they will be going off to their new homes……what will become of the wee bairns?

Questions that keep me up at night:

* Will they meet that special someone and have a family through artificial insemination just as they were conceived?
* Will the boys meet a nice girl or fall for the first bitch in heat?
* Will the girls do the right thing and not have sex until both parties have had their health checks?
* Will they be lured into the vain world of conformation showing? [by the way, the answer for the pup I'm keeping is YES]
* Will they be responsible adults and vote for the right things in life? [read: http://dogpolitics.com]
* Will they stop pissing their bed and learn to go outside?
* What about that gulping of food – will they learn table manners?
* Will they stop biting others in the face, ears, and butts?
* Can they shake the stigma of being called “little German Shepherds”?

I want these pups to have a job. I believe its the only thing that will keep them out of trouble. I can tell they aren’t going to just lay around the house waiting for daddy and mummy to come home from work.

* Paisley Girl will probably be the one to take up smoking first. She’ll be the one to invite the neighborhood boys over and show them her underwear. She’ll go on to star in reality television show, cut a record, do some modeling, and then pop on YouTube in a scandalous video of her coupling with a Greyhound and a Rhodesian Ridgeback.  [Brooklyn]
* Soul Patch Boy will be in a band and play sports. Dumb Jock? I think so. He’ll end up being the first professional agility athlete, do endorsements, and then end up being disgraced for failing a urine test that will turn up some hybrid Kelp-joint-eye supplement. [Bruce]
* Polka Dot Girl is definitely your beautiful but quirky girl. That would make her an ACTRESS. She’ll end up with some equally famous actor and be splashed all over the tabloids with a name that will be the combination of hers and her lover’s i.e. Bennifer, Brangelina, TomKat…….  [Bebe]
* Black Boy is softer and beautiful. Male model? Is there such a thing as an intelligent model? Can dogs come out of the closet? He’ll end up living in Manhattan and throwing outrageously popular dinner parties in his exquisitely decorated loft. [Jackson]
* Orange Stripe Girl will end up being the front for a rock band. Attractive, kind of nutty, tons of talent – yet never turn your back on her. She’ll end up experimenting with drugs and then abruptly quit the band to become a “soccer mom” and have to drive the kids to herding practice. [Thai]
* Beige Boy will head off to Yale, get his doctorate in Ancient Egyptian History and end up making less than nothing as a high school teacher but be happy. He’ll drive a 15 year old Volvo and never comb his hair.[Stanley]

Ahhhh….what’s a daddy to do?
Regards

Bobby

each day I pick up a new life nugget in the complex and surprising depth i find in the connections with the dogs that are in my household.

take a moment and think of the pets you have owned or do own – whether laying by your side or chasing rabbits on the other side of the bridge.
you love each and every one of them, huh? but in a different way, yeah?

and the depth in which we care for them also can be divided into a kaleidoscope of emotions.
this unique interaction between ourselves and our dogs is in itself precious as we share, change and grow as people.
thankfully our pets always have that love to give – they have already reached the end of the road in terms of the amount of love they can provide us.
they are just waiting for us to catch up.

i relish waking each morning to my puppy’s new antics – i miss the other pups from the litter but i bask in the satisfaction of knowing that they are greeting their owners the same way!
and the letters i’ve received back expands my understanding of how a young soul, captured in a small package, can polish another facet on the face of life

i’ve recently been brought back to earth with the health scare of my Thai.
now, a scratch, a thrown ball, or a bucket of water provided means just a bit more.
i won’t say that i will not sometimes take things for granted – it happens.  i’m only human.
but i know my furry loved ones will remind me by a tail wag, a brown eyed look, or a gentle licked kiss.

i’m embarking on a new project that will allow me to share even more of how we experience our dogs.

i hope to fill a space that i believe that exists even though we certainly can fill it, together.

stay tuned

Bobby

I met Miss Abby a few years ago at a American Belgian Malinois Club National Specialty.  She was entered in the Veteran’s Class [conformation] with her owner Donna.

Veteran’s Class is our opportunity to celebrate those dogs who have come, done, and are now “retired” but still make the scene to show others they still have it and what it meant to “have it”.

Sometimes, the vets are *patient* canines and take their time to make it around the ring.  Applause is spontaneous as we envision our younger dogs’ futures in the dogs being celebrated in front of us. It was a warm day so all the Belgian Malinois were feeling great. Everyone was feeling very appreciative.  Its like watching an All-Star sporting event in which they bring out the legends from the past. If you know your history, its wonderful to see these dogs again. If you don’t know the dogs, your heart still goes out to them as they make their jaunt.

And then came ABBBBBBY!!!  She bounded, she pranced, and she strutted her stuff. We went from feeling congratulatory and maybe a bit sympathetic to the “old girls and boys” to being overjoyed at the sight of Miss Abby!  Applause turned into smiles and then to laughs. It was inspirational to see Abby tell the world that she wasn’t *really* a veteran and that this was her show – just TRY to take it from her!  The photos are fairly tame compared to what happened – but when you are laughing and clapping, its hard to take pictures at the same time 

A dog’s life can closely resemble our own.  Is it something we convey on them because we want their lives to parallel and intertwine with ours? We [the collective home sapiens and Canis familiaris] are born, there is a nursing period, we potty train, we go through adolescents, we have accomplishments through trials and tests, we both grow old and have aches and pains, we take meds to relieve us, and when we pass we are eulogized [even cremated and buried].

Is that a dog’s life?  Not too bad from my viewpoint.  But sometimes a dog’s life might not be quite as well rounded as that. Sometimes our dog’s have issues, just as we do, that restrict the fullness that life can provide. Asia, my Malinois pocket rocket, never realized there was a wonderful world to experience.

This past weekend, I attended a remembrance for a friend who loved our dogs as much as anyone outside our family could. She owned a kennel and we sometimes think she built the facility for us alone <smile>. Brenda was courageous and tough but every bit the Southern lady. Cancer is nasty and can sometimes change people. Brenda, to us, remained the same – and that was for our benefit. It was a precious gift she gave to us.

She helped foster Malinois rescues and one of them even went to live with her daughter. She was able to connect with our Malinois Asia as no ‘outsider’ was able to. Asia just didn’t trust anyone, but she loved Brenda.  She felt safe and in turn, we felt safe. Another gift unexpected but much appreciated.

I met a lot of people at the remembrance but I couldn’t really relate any stories with them. To them, technically, I was a client and customer. To my privilege, I was a friend. How could I explain the joy I felt when Brenda tells me that she was able to give Asia a rub and a scratch?  Or that Asia followed her around the kennels?  Or that Asia would come to her when called?  These are very small things in a dog’s life, but to me, they were accomplishments of a high magnitude.

Brenda will be missed. She was a rare individual and I can’t quite ever imagine her family getting over losing her but Angela and I rejoice in the fact that we were able to share a short time in her life.
She is now taking care of Asia as she always did.  I believe that.

A dog’s life doesn’t necessarily end with death….as long as there is someone to look out for them.

Bobby

And you discover that you are a out of your favorite beverage.  Do you miss a play?  Do you run back and forth to the reefer during the commercial?

Nope – you get your highly intelligient Belgian to get it for you – Click for vid!

On the shelf:  Small World Coffee‘s Rocket Blend from Ken and Ann – Yo, Yo, Yo Philly People and their lovely Talli [Dazzle Green].  I trade pups for beans!
In the wings: Beans from Intelligensia – an Itzamna, Guatemala yellow and red bourbon bean grown at 1500-1700 meters.  This is some serious stuff and I’m afraid to drink it.  I might see ghosts or something.

Ok, so on to the serious ssshhhtuff:

Do you remember how our parents used to scold us by using our full names?  Do you ever get pissed at your dog and do the same?
“Dang it Allee Sablee Bangkok del Rio!  You get out of the trash right now!”
OR   “Tango with Balderlo du Baiser Orageux, you stop chewing that shoe right now!”
Somehow it just does not seem to work as well.

Or remember when your parents would make you eat everything on the plate? We feed raw and it wouldn’t be the same to direct them with a stern “Stop pushing that pork neck around your bowl.  You can’t hide it from me.  I see it under that yogurt and pumpkin puree! I don’t care if you don’t like the smell of the mackeral!”

What about the have and have not talks?
“Don’t you complain about that 8 year old crate!  I know there are dogs out there who don’t even have a crate!  They have to sleep outside.  And what is wrong with that collar? So what if it’s last year’s fashion?  I’m sorry but we can’t always shop at PetsMart or PetCo.  Buying off the internet is just as good”

And hanging out with the wrong crowd?
“I don’t care if they are cool.  That Rhodesian can’t even do an obedience routine.  And the entire lot of Bulldogs does nothing but fart!  They’ll never amount to anything! And don’t even get me started on the Parsons.  They can change their name but I still think they’re on crack – all that jumping around all the time”

What about the dangers of bad language?
“What?? What??? Did you say something? What did you growl?  I heard that, mister!  You might not think I keep up with all that doggy slang but I watch Animal Planet.  I know what you  mean when you say ‘The bitch is in heat’!”

And keeping up appearances?
“Now behave yourself.  You don’t need to sniff every female in the building.  And that judge does NOT smell like mothballs.  Just stand still – don’t you dare cringe.  And stop tucking your tail!”

Time to go to sleep…..We completely overhauled our website today, took the pups downtown [forgot my memory card so no pictures], and watched the Eagles win.  Posted updated puppy names [finally settled on names for our dogs], added some agility fun day pics, and caught up with my Facebook page…….

Bobby

First of all, I get so proud when I see a service dog at work. Whether that is being a physical support, detecting its owner’s moods, or being the seeing eye dog, it is all great and you can’t help but be very appreciative canines are in our lives. But yesterday, I almost became unglued.

In the OC airport, I noticed a well dress older gentleman walking around with his Frenchie. I thought it sort of odd that a dog would be allowed loose, on a lead, near the boarding gate. Then I noticed it had a jacket on. This was a very well made jacket – it was embroidered and stitched very well [Yes, I notice those things]. And at times, the fellow would pick up the dog to cuddle it. Since I dig on a nice Frenchie, I was going to speak to the guy about his pooch. But it was during my approach that I noticed one other thing. On the side of the Frenchie’s “jacket” there was an embroidered “SERVICE DOG”. I almost lost it. This was NOT a service dog. It was someone’s pet and he was trying to screw the rules. This Frenchie was not attentive to its owner at all. It was running around like mad, jumping on people, and the guy even handed the dog off to someone who wanted to cuddle.

I’m a bit of a hypocrite because I have friends who have Malinois and they will wear a vest so they can ride in the passenger seating in flights but Belgians are real dogs! Ok, I’m a hypocrite and the guy was just doing what we would do for our own pets – make them as comfortable as possible. But I was still annoyed.

Next, in Dallas, I spotted a woman with a Bichon on a toy dog Flexi. Again, the dog is loose and running all over the place. This must be the acceptable norm but for me, the “norm” ended when the Bichon stopped, squatted and left a deposit in the middle of the walkway. Of course with folks getting off the plane, two or three people stepped in it before others started to realize there was a nice pile of feces where it should not have been. It wasn’t funny although the owner thought it was. Not cool. I couldn’t believe TWO incidences of rights abuse had occurred. Besides, I was grumpy. And ALL I could think about was how responsible dog owners will feel the pinch because of a select few abusers.

Isn’t this how some legislation gets its start? A few people get annoyed at a few dog owners then get together with others who share that annoyance and next thing you know Prop 12345 is being held for vote.

THE LAST STRAW: i land in Richmond, I’m glad to be home, and I’m making my way out of baggage. I pass a young family with two small dog crates. There is the lovely mother, the proud father and two very delighted young girls [around 8-10 years old]. The tots are hopping all around and making baby noises to the crate. I then overhear “Yes, we just had them flown in. And we couldn’t just have one so we bought two puppies from the litter. Yes, they are brother and sister. And each of the girls will have responsibility of their puppies….”

I almost stopped and offered my doggie card so that when they needed doggie behavioral advice that they would seek out someone’s help versus dumping the pups or giving them away. I didn’t though. That would have been way too pushy. Maybe I should have…….

Its been a rough week. I’m happy to see the pups and how much they have changed in just one week. They will soon be 7 weeks and I can only expect more puppy terrorism than what I witnessed last night. But that is for another blog post. Today is evaluation day! Temperament testing at 1130am and conformation evaluation #2 at 130pm. Then visitors tomorrow! Much to write about and photograph. Later, Mali-gator!

Bobby

Here’s a pic of a baby Terv…..fuzzy wuzzy

And this is one of my pride and joys….Brooklyn, sister to Thai.  She’s favors Asia quite a bit due to papa Socks.

And last but not least, another Laeken sighting!

Madame Judge examing her exhibitors

Animation portion of the exam!

More Animation!

Looking for the last contestant for this Price is Right!

Sire is CH No-How So Far Away "Bond", 2008 AOM winner, and the dam is AKC/UKC CH Tango with Balderlo du Baiser Orageux, TT, "Tami".  We expect lovely puppies, suitable for performance and conformation events.  Inquiries welcome…

Fingers are crossed that she is pregnant with some puppies.

Bobby