The day they arrived home

So with much excitment and anticipation I went to collect the pups, and bring them home.  I had stocked up and all the necessary items!

The trip home was tough they hadn't been in a car before and were very unsettled.  The Male (now known as Neo) got very car sick, and has developed a Pavlovs reaction to going in the car.

Mom was on hand to comfort them.  It was about 40 mins in the car and it was rather hot outside, I kept the car cool, but it didnt help much.

Arriving home I took them out and welcomed them to their new world, but really slowly, we sat on the grass for about 2 hours, letting them get used to their new surroundings.

Pups growing up and playing

The pups grew up very quickly and 2 weeks before I was taking two home I visited again to see their progress.

 

They had already changed coat colour as can be seen, they had a full set of puppy teeth and were eager to use them at every oppurtunity.  Shoes and fingers were first prize.

July 22nd 2013

I had visited the breeder Agnes a few times prior to purchasing my Malis, it was important for me to see her other dogs (all Malis), and see how they were kept, and treated.  I didn't want to support a puppy mill breeder.

I was very happy with Agnes, (who actually brought the Malinois to South Africa some 35 years ago).

On 22nd July the litter was born.

I visited soon after to see them, they were way too small to handle and had to see them through the fence.

You will notice the very dark coats, they all start out like that and as they grow up they get their natural tan colouring.

The start of a wonderful journey.

In 2013 I started researching the dogs I wanted to own.  Belgian Malinois!

The Malinois /ˈmælɨnwɑː/ or Belgian Shepherd Dog is a breed of dog, sometimes classified as a variety of the Belgian Shepherd Dog classification, rather than as a separate breed. The Malinois is recognized in the United States under the name Belgian Malinois. Its name is the French word for Mechlinian, which is in Dutch either Mechelse herdershond or Mechelse scheper (both meaning: shepherd dog from Mechelen) or Mechelaar (one from Mechelen). It is used as a working dog for tasks including detection of odors such as explosives, accelerants (for arson investigation), and narcotics; tracking of humans for suspect apprehension in police work; and search and rescue. Wiki

They are an incredible breed, but only once I had two did I really see what they are capable of.  I had seen the US seals pics of their working dogs,





I researched German Shepards and other breeds, and from my research decided on the Malinois.