Successful Malinois Rescue Stories

2007 Rescue Success Stories

Blaze a Belgian Malinois Rescue

Blaze Excels in New Home

© 2007 Robin Campbell & ABMC Rescue

I know you are probably tired of hearing me brag, but I thought you might like to know how Blaze is doing after 6 weeks with us.

First, he has accomplished the impossible - my husband, who isn't really a dog person, is smitten. My coworkers are in love. Strange people who see us walking at the dog park and the walking track rush out to tell me how beautiful he is and then they meet him and they are asking where they can get a dog like him. Unfortunately for him, the dogs and cats at my house are still wondering when The Idiot is leaving. He seems to idolize Buddy, my older male dog, who has gotten into a few loud, impressive, non-blood shedding scuffles with him. I'm hoping that situation will improve before one day Blaze realizes that he could perhaps be the alpha dog himself.

Blaze is excelling at obedience to the point that one of our classmates pronounced him "the smartest dog in class" last week. I can't wait until that man sees what Blaze seems to have taught himself this week - a pretty good start at front and finish, learned entirely by his offering 25 times on one walk around our front field. His enthusiasm can be pretty relentless.

Blaze has attended three local agility show and go's with my competition dog Ellie (who is completely horrified that he is ruining her party). He has had good behavior and has become quite enthusiastic about the baby equipment, although catching a passing Papillion is probably higher on his list of goals. I am beginning to think that he is reading Clean Run magazine when I am not looking, because after just three 2-minute casual sessions with one jump he was able to do a sequence of three in a line with me leading out past the second one. We practiced getting on the agility table for a couple of minutes at the end of our obedience class and on the third class he was suddenly able to be sent to the table from 15 feet away and staying until I called him.

So, thanks to ABMC and your efforts, I will have to say that my first Malinois is so far beyond what I imagined that I can't imagine owning another breed in the future. Of course, Blaze still has many, many challenges ahead of him trying to learn some self control around other dogs, especially in an agility setting. Thank you both for your part in bringing us together.

Robin Campbell