Merry Christmas

from Rubin & Zeke

Micro Chips

Two relaxed boys each chewing a on a hide stick and ignoring the whizz bangs outside....


MICROCHIP TIME:

We took Zeke to be micro-chipped this evening. The vet, Andy, gave him another thorough examination and we are pleased to announce he could feel two testicles now, small but there!
After his exam we held him and distracted him whilst the vet got ready to inject him with the chip. We were prepared for a big yelp from Zeke, as he had made a fuss when Andy gave him his 2nd vaccination. Zeke surprised us all though... he never made a sound. He got a treat from Andy for that, some dog biscuits.

Puppy Training

Went to puppy training again tonight ( now week three) and was given the the KC Good Citizen Dog Scheme Puppy Foundation Assessment pack which includes an assessment diary. Pleased to say that Zeke has already achieved 3 of the 12 exercises needed and is well on the way to gaining his KCGCPFA award. He achieved

1. attentiveresponse to name
2. socialisation with an adult unknown to the puppy
3. take article away from the puppy

Zeke will be 4 months old this week, and will be starting to loose his puppy teeth, thank goodness, as they are very sharp and they hurt if he catches you, especially when playing with his favourite ball on a rope toy. Mum looked at his mouth today and says his mouth area is a bit warmer than normal, and he took ages eating his tripe, his bottom teeth were a bit wobbly too. So it wont be long until his new teeth start erupting.

BONFIRE NIGHT
There has been a bit of firework activity over the last few days, not as much as last year due to the 'credit crunch' no doubt. Last year they started at the end of October and continued at least 3 times a week until the new year. Zeke is not too bothered about the noises, although he does wonder why Arnold needs to try and get inside mum's skin when he hears them. Rubin is not too bothered about anything, but does like to sit in front of mum to 'protect her' from the noise - well he wouldn't like it if we thought he neede protecting now would he? George the schipperke on the other hand has to let everyone know that a firewortk is going off, by barking at them and standing in front of the window all night just to make sure he doesn't miss one.

Hopefully it will all be over in the next few days, and we will be able to relax until the new year.
NOT like last year when we came home to find that Arnold had eaten the living room door in as bid to get away from the noise. This year he will be encaged safely in a darkened room with the radio on the loudest hootenanny celebrations ( without sound effects) Zeke will also be in his cage too. Mum says she will not be going far this year.... more later

A walk in the park

Relaxing together after a run about.



Hurry up mum wants a photo of all of us!



We went to the park this morning with mum, dad and the big boys. Arnold the border collie is wondering why we are still on our leads - mum says it is so Zeke behaves for the photo.

Zeke's Ramblings....

Hi Zeke here, I went to enrole at the local dog training club today, I met a young lady of 7 months who said she was a Belgian Shepherd like me but she had a long coat on! She said she was Tervueren and I will be the third Belgian Shepherd at the club just now. I had lots of cuddles from all the people there and had a good look around. Alex says we are going back in a couple of days to meet lots of other puppies and learn how to be a good citizen. There were lots of balloons with 50 on them I didn't know they knew it was Alex's mum's birthday! Alex said it was their birthday too, fancy that the club being the same age as Alex's mum! Alex says her mum was a member of the club in 1968 over 40 years ago, and di you know what we met some people who knew her mum too. That's not all, we even saw a man that was there when Alex's mum was a girl like Alex!!!!!! He must be really old!!!!!

Zeke had his second innoculation on Friday so only a few more days until he can be released on the world.... He had a thorough health check from the vet and was very good on the table. I was glad that we decided not to have him mocrochipped at the same time because he did yelp a bit when the vaccination went into the skin this time.

He is progressing nicely with his clicker training adding a sit to his repertoire although still a bit random. He enjoys a pulling game and will play with anyone and has started his retrieve training.

Mums birthday yesterday and there were lots of visiters (well it's not everyday you are 5o!) Zeke took it in his stride and enjoyed the fuss.

Mum's friend Diane is more used to cuddling the Avidore Schipperkes but Zeke seemed to think she did a good job giving him a cuddle. The closest he got to the champagne was a drink in the outside bowl!

A visiting we will go

We went to visit grandad Robin this morning it was the first time in ages that a Malinois had been im his garden. Zeke loved it, but managed to stand still long enough for Robin to examin him!

Taken in his stride

Getting ready for the vet, taken with mums new camera - an early birthday present.
Zeke was really tired after his innoculation, and had a quick nap as soon as he got in.
He liked the smells and sounds of the vets, and particularly enjoyed looking at the Vet TV channel.

Zeke v the Vet

Zeke was 8 weeks old yesterday, and we have arranged for him to have his innoculations this afternoon.

Clicker Training begins

Alex has started to clicker train Zeke, starting with getting him to repond to his name/touch her hand for a reward. He is getting good at this now and will even interupt his activities to go to her when she calls.

First days

It is very hard work getting to know your new friends. A quick nap with Rubin in the afternoon
and Arnold in the evening whilst 'she' is on the computer is called for.

Welcome Zeke

We would like to introduce you to Zeke, the malinois formerly known as 'purple'. He is shown here just waking from his first nap after the journey home. The picture below shows what he is looking at, his uncle Rubin ( great uncle Rubin?) who was watching him sleep!



We were very grateful to Sonja who came and found us the second time we got lost on the way to her house, I think I shall have to take up my sister's offer of a SatNav for my birthday!!!!



Alex and Zeke at Sonja's, he never left her whilst we were finalizing who would come home with us, the other puppies all went out to play except 'purple'.



Sleeping in the car on the way home.

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Rubin taken for his ninth birthday on the 5th September 2009. When Zeke saw Rubin he became very excited obviously recognising him as a fellow malinois. Zeke was facinated with Arnold our BC and didn't quite know what to make of George the schipperke, mind you George has had his nose put out of joint a little, now he isn't the smallest dog in the house. For now any way.

... tomorrows only a day away!

As little orphan Annie says "tomorrow, tomorrow, I love ya tomorrow, is only a day a way"
Yes tomorrow is the day we go and fetch our new malinois puppy and today we went to the City of Birmingham championship dog show with the intent to get puppy food and bedding; oh and to watch the Schipperke judging. Sadly Barbara W did not get the third CC she needed to make up her new US import.

We went to Royal Canin for the puppy food, I was recommended Medium Junior food for the seven week old puppy, as the kibble was a better size - the starter kibble being for small breeds and baby puppies. The coffee could have been better today especially as hubby went along with me and I had enthiused about the coffee, he did not like it!

We got a good offer on bedding but I cannot remember the stans where we got it from, a big peice of Vetbed for £5, we are going to cut it in half.

Then we went to see our good friends Sharon and Joe McKenna at Essenjay Leather Supplies their website is www.essenjayleathersupplies.co.uk to get a collar for the puppy and to look at their new range of Kangaroo leather leads which now have some with beads on them. I am not too sure whether they will suit the puppy just yet, maybe when he is older!

One week to go ! What's in a name?

By this time next week we shall have our new malinois puppy as we are fetching him next Monday lunchtime.

We are waiting on someone to make a decision, however, before we know which puppy is coming home with us as we have second pick of the boys. Luckily we like the same two puppies so we will be happy with either, although we do have a 'soft spot' for the puppy known as (pka) purple, we also like orange.

(purple)


(orange)




Alex is still undecided on a name, Zeke is the latest offering; and as it is going to be her puppy she has the ultimate decision in the name. But whatever his (call) name he will ultimately be known as a different name too as all our dogs have had nicknames as well as their 'proper' name and they respond to either. Rubin answers to his name and also to 'Mooose' ( gained from resembling a moose sans antlers) whilst Arnold the border collie answers to his name and also his nickname of Ski. However the most amazing thing is that the dogs also know each others' nicknames e.g. call Ski and Rubin will turn and look at Arnold, and vice versa!

OMG WE SAW THE PUPPIES

We went to see the puppies today, but on the way stopped over in Alsager for lunch and a climb up Mow Cop to see the folly up there. Here is Alex and Mark climbing up to the top.

.
Then we went to see the puppies but wouldn't you believe it my camera gave up just as I was going to take photos. Luckily Alex had her phone and came to the rescue, but being a phone-cam they are a bit pixely. When we got there the puppies had just had their lunch too, so they were a bit sleepy. Yellow girl looks angelic here but soon had a chomp on my toes.




As did Turquoise boy.


Here he is sleeping like butter would melt in his mouth.


Purple boy was quite active. He enjoyed playing with the ball, and being a model.....




Looks like Purple has a new MYSpace image here.

Friday is the day !

I have been in contact with Sonja and we are going to see the puppies on Friday afternoon. I was at college near Sonja's home and so I am going to take the opportunity to show Mark and Alex around and maybe buy them lunch. I fancy a "Mere Torpedo Butty" - I know, I know, after 20 odd years the chances of finding my old friendly pub still standing is slim, never mind the food. But it is the thought that counts. I will show them around Alsager and they will like it. Anyway there will be somewhere to have lunch, if not The Mere, then there is the Wilbraham Arms which was newly built when I was at college, or the Old Mill, which was only ever gone to as a special treatas it had a 'proper' restaurant and was in an old water mill. Then the delights of meeting the madness that is malinois. The puppies look like they are all getting their own personality now that their eyes are open and they are no longer like giant slugs as they are beginning to move around and even sit up. I love puppies! Roll on Friday!

Not long now

It should only be a month or so now before our new Foxbriar malinois puppy comes home. We have been in touch with Sonja and will arrange to go and see the litter next week. They all have their eyes open now and are becomming more mobile, and the largest puppy, a girl, is over a kg at three weeks. I am more used to schipperke puppy sizes these days and in equivalent size they are as big as a 6-8 week old schipperke puppy.

My daughter Alex is going to be training the puppy and is going to work towards gaing his gold kennel club good citizen award, as well as showing him.

When we have decided which puppy we are to have I will put pictures of him on here.

Girls, girls, girls

Found these photos of Josie ( Rubin's sister - the first picture shows her with Robin my father in law and Rubin) owned by my late mother in law, and the third picture shows Suna when she was small.

I am NOT a table dog!

The following photos show how laid back Rubin is. He let my daughter Alex use him as a table whilst she placed item after item on him. He was playing with Bouncer the Schipperke and as malinois are pretty much single minded....
The last picture shows Bouncer checking out the pile!!!

One Malinois and his friends

A young Alex and Rubin
Taken on my camera phone hence the graininess, and the colour was all over the place so it was converted to bw.
Rubin gets on great with Alex and she likes taking him to the park.

Rubin has another friend at home to ... Arnold. They are 6 months apart in age and he is a show bred (by me) Border Collie.
Here are Rubin and Arnold relaxing by my chair. Arnold, being the elder is the top dog although I am the boss over all.

Sitting comfortably

I thought you would like to see the latest photo of Rubin lounging about on the sofa. I think it must be a Gwashleas Malinois trait to lie this way as I have seen his brother casey in the same position. Mind you this is his summer position, in the autumn and winter he is not on the sofa, oh no, but cosseted next to the radiator or by the electric fire.

Moi Malinois

There have been Belgian Shepherd Dogs in our family for many years. Mum (in law) Anita is shown here with our three varieties. Suna was her Malinois was a Peejay (one of the last litters), seen here with Cleo our Groenendael (Mischica In The Black) and Neka the Terv ( can't remember her breeding so I've just rung Robin- father in law- and he said when he gets out of the garden he will look in the catalogues and find out )


Suna did well for Anita, especially under continental judges, and she won many prizes. but she only shown a little because she did not like it.







Here comes Rubin, aka Gwashleas Roman Warrior
Rubin was bred by Betty Duffus and was born on 5th September 2000, so he will be 9 this year. He is a wonderful dog, and it is because of him that we are going to have another Malinois join us shortly.
This photo shows him at about 10 weeks.





Here he is at about 5 months of age being trained for the show ring by Robin. He did well in the showring and won several Best of Breeds at Open shows but his highest award was a Res. Best Dog at Bath Champ show although I cannot remember the year.







Here he is at 7 years old, a big softy - he does have two ears, only he has decided to hide one in this picture ( or it could be that he is listening to what the boys are saying about him - which is more likely!) The boys are not ours by the way they are my daughter Alex's freinds who were just visiting.