I'm not too sure how to put this...

...So I'll just say it with this:

Yep. I got a puppy. A Malinois puppy. How could you resist this face?

That's a naughty little face...

She was quite the surprise when I brought her home Sat Jan 28th. I picked her up from the airport (which was delayed) and brought her home where Aunty Emma was having a birthday party. SURPRISE!!

Everyone thinks I'm crazy, and I don't blame them. I am. I have known about her for a while, but didn't want to tell anyone just in case it didn't happen. Jenn from Malinger Kennels asked me to raise a pup for her a while ago, but with Reckon being under a year and just starting to become quite the handful, it wasn't the right time.

But when she contacted me a few months ago, things just seemed to fit. Long story short, here she is!

Now to the fun stuff. I ADORE her so so much, all 8 lbs, 10 ounces of her.


She is exactly what I pictured a Malinois pup to be like (sorry R). She is social and confident and has a full deep bite to die for. I cannot get enough of her "you can't stop me" attitude. Nothing fazes her. She climbs on everything and anything, and quickly learned to scale the baby gate and climb over or escape the x pen.

The only time I've seen her a bit uncertain is with loud noises or when you pick her up. She would shake like a leaf as soon as you held her, but put her on the ground and watch out, she's off exploring!

She's getting better with being held, and noises aren't such a big deal anymore. I love that even if she is startled, she bounces back in a matter of seconds.

And the energy on this girl. Oh vey. She doesn't have the regular play for 10 minutes and crash for an hour. Nope, it's more like crash for a total of 39.7 seconds during the entire day.

I can't wait to start this girl in French Ring and Agility. I know she's going to be awesome to train and watch :)

Practicing her leg bite on Aunty Jodes.

You might be wondering what she's called. Well that wasn't an easy quick decision. I had a list of names stored in my phone (because that's what nerdy dog people do), and I would run them past Jenn,(now would be a good time to mention that she is on a co-own. This just means that she is my dog, but Jenn has breeding rights IF she passes all her health tests and gets a few titles in numerous venues) but she wouldn't like them or we couldn't find a call name that tied in with a registered name.

Since this would be the first dog I got to choose a registered and call name, I wanted to get it right. Names are a huge thing to me. They have to be unique, fun and have meaning (some sort of tie to their personality, background, etc).

This pup had quite the history already. She was conceived in Thailand, whelped in Toronto and raised in Vancouver. Quite the journey! I wanted a name that would fit in with some sort of flight or contract theme. Originally I was going to get a pup from Mexico that Jenn was shipping over. Her pick female would be exchanged for the Mexican's pick female. However, the pick female has a deformed paw and would not be breeding/sport quality. Jenn didn't want to send her only Beta/Klene female to Mexico, so she asked me to raise her. Ummm, ok!

So, after a lot of back and forth emails and uncertainty over whether I'd be getting a a pup, we narrowed it down to a few picks. "Foreign Affair" "Let's make a Deal" "Destination Unknown" were a few from a list of dozens and dozens.

I really really really liked "Frequent Flyer" because, let's face it, that made perfect sense! She is a frequent flyer. But no call name came to mind. Then, just 2 days before she was due to arrive, Jenn saw a commercial for RBC Frequent Flyer Program, otherwise known as "Avion"

I said it out loud, mid hike in the forest, calling it loudly, shortening it, picturing her little face.

4 weeks with Jenn in Toronto.

It seemed to be the one. Plus, Avion translates to "plane" in French. Even more perfect!!

And so that's how this little cheeky monster became, Avion.

I love her so much already. I can't to see how this little girl grows up.

That's crap

Do you know? Reckon eats shit. Yup, dog shit is a delicacy. He stopped eating it when I started taking him on his private walks. I thought he grew out of it.

I was wrong.

I started hiking him in the group hikes again. I injured my knee and 4 walks a day was just too much. He has been doing pretty good. Making good choices, but sometimes he is still an asshole. Our biggest problem is eating dog shit. He has such a sensitive tummy. And it may surprise you, but eating shit doesn't help.


So, because he can still be an asshole around young, intact males AND he won't leave shit in the forest or in poop bags where it belongs, I'm muzzling him. He doesn't seem too bothered by it, he will rub his head and nose along the ground, but he can still play and drink with it. It also seems to have a calming effect on him. He gets awfully aroused and over stimulated on some hikes.

Here is my favourite picture of him in his muzzle. He looks like a cross between Phantom of the Opera and Hannibal Lecter.

Guess who's cute?

This dog. That is Albus. My mom fostered him for a rescue group. He is a doll. Good with all dogs, cats, people. He looks like a cross between a Collie and a Border Collie. His fur is all wavy and he has a huge over bite. I'd love to give more info on how this guy was treated, but the people who bred and raised this guy are in deep shit (not the same kind R likes to eat). I hope justice is served.
He is neutered and his hernia repaired. I hope this guy goes into a well deserved forever home.

Training Blahs

When I pictured myself with my Malinois, Reckon is not what I expected.  I love him to bits, but he is certainly not the high drive, ball/tug crazy dog I envisioned. 


Don't get  me wrong, he has energy to burn.  But as Auntie Emma says "he's lazy."  And it's true.  He doesn't really like to play fetch, he doesn't run in the forest but instead walks no more than 20 paces ahead of me.  The only time he really tires himself out is when playing with other dogs.  He runs (fast I might add), and wrestles and has a gay old time.  Without me.  There are so many times where I just want to tire him out quickly, while interacting with me.  Playing ball would achieve this.  He does play, sometimes he's more into than other times, but never like Amigo or Fyvish were.  They could play for hours and nothing would distract them.  Not Reck, he is always scanning the horizon hoping to find a four legged friend.  Instead of playing with me and running around, he would rather come home and destroy things. Because he's not tired, but won't play ball.  You see?!  It's a vicious circle.

 Even if I decide to take the time and go to the field and work on a French Ring exercise, he doesn't work for long periods of time.  I know training sessions shouldn't last long, but in comparison to my other dogs and other "real" Malinois, Reckon just doesn't wanna.

On Sundays, I watch the other (sometimes younger) dogs work for an hour with  their tongue hanging out and a smile on their faces.  Even "failing" or getting corrected doesn't stop them from wanting to work.  I want that.  I want that so bad. They can chase a ball for a reward and bring it back to their owners to play tug, even with other dogs running and training around them.  R doesn't do any of this.  He will work and play with me but it's a struggle.  Rewarding him has always been a struggle.  He just doesn't get pumped up like other dogs.  Ive never seen/had this before.  It's beyond frustrating.

I know it 's not all him.  It's me too.  I'm giving myself a kick in the butt and starting to train with Heather on Mondays.  This will just get us out and about and doing stuff.  I am proud that I have consistently taken 5 minutes a day to train him to do something.  A trick, hind end awareness, or whatever.  Go me.

And I have to remember.  He's still young, and as many people have pointed out, a "very special boy"
Even the owner of his father told me that his lines take a loooong time to mature.

I'm waiting...


But here's a video from our first French Ring training session with a real Decoy!  Daniel came out from Alberta to help us with our dogs.  He loved R very very much.  As soon as he saw him, the first words out of his mouth were "Oh man, he looks like Rio"
The first time he got Reckon to bite a tug,  "He bites just like Rio.  A beautiful bite, full and deep"

R did well.  We mainly worked on pumping him up and boosting his confidence. All the other dogs were learning to stay calm and settle. Not my boy! 

I am learning a lot from him.  Making notes on what I want to do with my next pup right off the bat. So many things!


Gotta go.  He's bored and found a contact lens case to shred...

Cannon Beach

I love this place. I can't tell you how or why, it's just always held a special place in my heart. It's beautiful and quiet and just relaxes your soul. Helen and Reckon and I drove down for a visit in December for a quick get away before the holiday rush. The weather couldn't have been better. Perfect sunshine and no wind.

It was both Helen and Reckon's first time, and I know they both loved it. It was a special trip not just because it was awesome, but because I finally got to sprinkle a bit of Fyvish's ashes. I sprinkled some of Buster in CB years ago, and since Fyvish adored it there too, I found it fitting. It was sad, but also felt good to say goodbye in a place we both love.

The trip was too short, but we'll all be back. I would like to take Amigo while she can still enjoy running along the beach, and Beezer needs to fall in love with Cannon Beach as well!

Reckon had a blast, and I got some awesome shots of the handsome man.

We stopped in small towns and wandered. Some interesting finds..

It was a relaxing and fun trip full of many photo ops.

Happy Gotcha day, See ya later day and attacked by a Puma day.

What a week with we've had with the Sandberg boys.

Every male in the Sandberg household has had a day in the spotlight. However, it may not have been a "feel good" spotlight.

This Saturday Louie was taken into the vets for a large abscess on his side. It looks like he was in a cat fight. But I refuse to believe a simple cat could hurt my tough boy. So most likely, it was a puma attack. Or a mountain lion. Whatever it was, he's been shaved and patched up and will be as good as new in no time.

This past Tuesday, Nov 8th, Beezer celebrated his 2nd Gotcha day! I can't believe it's been two years since we brought this little pup home.

He has sure grown up into a handsome young man. He has come so far since we brought him home as a fearful pup. I'm so so proud of him and how far he's come.

And last but not least, for Beezer's Gotcha day, I got Reckon neutered.

I don't want to get into the reasons why it was so hard for me to get this done, but after going back and forth, back and forth I decided it was time. So on the 8th I took him in and left him to get the big snip.

And then the vets had to cancel.

Hahahaha. My life is funny.

So today, the 9th, we tried round 2 and presto! Neutered. Right now he's sleeping and it's WONDERFUL. I want my dog drugged all the time. I have to keep him quiet for 5 to 7 days. Hahahaha. Funny.

I really hope this helps Beezer and him become friends again. That was the main reason for doing it. Well, that and his increasing desire to have sex with every dog he meets. And maybe it'll help with his focus on me instead of other dogs waaaayyyy far away. And I'm really hoping it helps with his possessiveness over me and whatever else he considers "his".
And maybe it'll help with his counter surfing, and garbage can destroying, and pulling, and destroying everything in sight.

A girl can dream...



In the very least, I know he's still going to be my goofy handsome boy.

Who doesn't mind being dressed up when I get bored.

And who doesn't really know if he likes spaghetti.

My boys certainly add excitement to everyday life :)

It has turned one

That's right folks, Reckon turned one on Thanksgiving day, Oct 10th, 2011. He got to play with Luongo before I shoved him in an xpen and went to Heather's to eat turkey dinner. Happy Birthday Reckon!

I can hardly believe it!  One!  Already?!  You know what this means, right?  He's an adult now.  A responsible, mature, calm, settled, polite young man.  Hahahahahaha.  Not in the slightest bit.  He's still the biggest pain in the ass.  Handsome, but a huge pain.

We are still working on Susan Garrett's "Rough Love" program.  It's going well, he's starting to play fetch on our early morning walks, and I'm thinking about getting a bike so I can run the crap out of him in the afternoons.

French Ring training is going superb.  He's really gaining a lot of confidence, and even learning how to jump!  It's hard when your back end is a mile away from your front end.

We are working hard on being calm when being petted and when saying hello to other dogs.  That's super hard too.  Because we don't have a brain.  And everyone is just so damn exciting.  I've noticed he's starting to demand petting.  From me and other people.  We're stopping that.  We are no Golden Retriever.
I also bought him something I never thought I would purchase in a million years.  A pinch collar.  Yup.  I'm a horrible mama.  But I LOVE it.  He is just so much easier to control with it on.  His no pull harness works great for around the neighbourhood, but in busy situations in high traffic/distraction, I get dragged all over the place.  He can pull someone over who is twice my weight.  I'm like an ant behind a freight train when he wants to go somewhere or see somebody.  He can still pull like a biatch in the pinch, but I have a lot more control.  I think it itches him, otherwise he's not bothered. He's holding steady at 60lbs, and he's taller than Beezer. He may not be that fast, but he hits HARD and is stronger than he looks. Chrystal was saying his lines are famous for packing quite a punch. Good. To. Know.

Hmmm, what else?  Him and Beezer hate each other again.  Beezer is terrified actually.  I'm hoping neutering R will help, but I'm doubtful.  What if they hate each other for life?  That would be heartbreaking.
He adores Amigo (who doesn't?) and they flirt and play whenever they can.

Beezer is doing freaking fantastic in agility.  Couldn't be more impressed.  We're in a trial this weekend, our first since Regionals.  I also threw Amigo into a Jumpers run, just because she's doing really well too.  No stumbling, hiking every day, and adorable. Even though just an hour ago she jumped into my front seat and ate a Boston Cream doughnut I was saving.  Adorable

Not much else to report.  I'll let you know how the trial went.


Editor's note: Sorry for the lack of pictures. My camera didn't get to come out and play that much lately.

We are Super!

Superdogs that is!  That's right, my dud puppy Beezer was invited to apprentice and eventually join the Superdogs at the PNE this year.  From Aug 31- Sept 5th we spent approximately 12 hours at the PNE, learning, training, cheering, sweating, smiling and having a blast.

Most Apprentices aren't expected to bring their dogs the first 3 days, but we (Auntie Emma and I) were asked to bring our dogs along to practice before and after the shows.  There were 3 shows a day.  Noon, 2 and 6. We got to practice before 10:30 am and after 9:30pm.  During the shows we helped cheer on the crowd, help the other staff with whatever they needed, and of course, look awesome in our sparkly jackets.

Much to our surprise and delight, 7 and Beezer were added into the show very quickly!  We did the boardwalk opening and did the angular  puissauncs (which is a fancy name for jumping in a half circle).
Beezer isn't built to jump, so we mostly stuck with 4 and 5 bars.

6 bars was a wee bit much for us.  He did it,  but just as he was going over the jump, he'd back kick and shoot the bars behind him. Funny.

Even more surprising, the boys were added to a relay race!  We were told that new dogs don't get added to the relays for many reasons, but our boys are special.
Beezer did AWESOME. No problems with the lights, music and cheering crowds. He ran his little heart out and loved it. So very proud of him.

All this would have pleased me, but Beezer wasn't done yet.  After every show all the Superdogs do what's called a "Pat n' Chat."  Basically it's where the dogs are on a Superdog podium and a mob of men, women and children descend upon them.  Not Beezer's niche.  This dog doesn't like being handled by people he knows, let along strangers.  But we had to try.  So I armed myself with treats and out we went.  Ummm no.  That didn't last too long.  I took him out pretty quickly, he just wasn't comfortable.

The second try was much more successful. Once he realized that these people hand fed him turkey meatballs and cheese, he was enjoying himself! I was shocked. My mom was shocked. Everybody was shocked to see this head shy dog mauled by hundreds of people a day. And he wasn't just tolerating it, he enjoyed it! Whenever we were on the stage, he would leap from podium to podium. I think he liked everyone telling him how handsome he was:)

Even Reckon got a few chances to do the Pat n' Chats. I knew he'd be great with everyone, but I was a little concerned about him mouthing someone. Well, I didn't need to be concerned.  He was a superstar! He took treats gently, and loved EVERYBODY. He adored being fawned over.

I also practiced his recall and some jump grind thingys with him in the evenings. He excelled there too:)

Overall I was beyond pleased with my boys over the week.  Above and beyond what I expected of them. Even though it was exhausting, I do hope we get invited back next year. We'll keep practicing:) Maybe Reckon will be added into a show next year...