Malinois Nationals!  − 20 March, 2008

So the Belgian Malinois National Specialty Show is coming up at the beginning of May in Connecticut. This show is specific to just Malinois – held every year in a different part of the country. Sort of a large venue in which our dogs can compete, show off and we can rub elbows and meet and greet Malinois fanciers from all over.
I went for the first time to the Nationals last year in Utah. It was a smallish entry (some breeds have THOUSANDS entered in their National event) but I finally got to meet people I had been emailing with for years and breeders whose stock I loved and I got to show off my Zorro’s very stable temperament. He is one of a very few Malinois who perform Mobility Assistance Service Work. Though the breed is frequently seen in Military or Police Service Work, they typically are not cut out for the rigors of Service Work for the handicapped – they tend to be environmentally sensitive and unstable.
I did not get Zorro to be my Assistance Dog – he just turned out to have all the attributes I was looking for and I took advantage of that.
So I asked a couple of my other Malinois friends if they wanted to go with me – only one decided to take me up on it, so the two of us are flying up together, splitting the rental car and sharing a hotel room. She is bringing her working-line bitch (who I love and beg to lease all the time) and I am bringing Zorro. Zorro has a crush on both my girlfriend and her dog, so I am sure he will love the arrangements. Having been raised with sisters, I am used to sharing space, but my girlfriend was an only child, so I will have to go easy on her.
We are leaving Friday – we should arrive at the hotel late afternoon. Though the National’s events start the Tuesday before we get there, neither of us could afford to spend nearly a week in Connecticut. We are just planning on competing in the Obedience Trial on Saturday and the Conformation show on Sunday. The weekdays prior will be devoted to Herding, Agility and a day-long “Match” show.
Saturday night we will be attending the Rescue Dinner – an event to raise money for Malinois Rescue – and a great place to mix and mingle. The East Coast has many more Malinois folks than the West Coast, so I expect there will be a ton of people (more than attended Utah) and some of them I have been wanting to meet for years. It will be a great opportunity for my girlfriend to meet the movers and shakers in the breed since she is relatively unknown. It’s good to make connections. It will also give her a chance to learn from people who have been in the breed for a long time, as her current connections have a very limited view of the breed and it’s always good to get varying viewpoints to make up your own mind. A lot of the people there know me or of me, so I will be able to introduce her to some really wonderful folks.
I am also looking forward to all the Malinois specific items they will have there – vendors with T-shirts, jewelry, etc. so I can wear my breed with pride.
I know Zorro does not have a chance in hell of beating his kennel mates at the Nationals, but I will be happy just to show him off. He has the best temperament and he will make me shine, I am sure. So, watch out Connecticut, here we come!!!