World Class Belgian Malinois - Our Dogs Get The Job Done - Bowling Green, Kentucky
02/07/2025
Happy Friday Everyone - On a Sad Note - R.I.P. Aleko 18 years old 01/05/07 - 01/24/24 - Christine Harrison and Aleko were and awesome Team - Aleko was a FEMA certified disaster dog for Virginia Task Force 1 they had an Awesome Career - Lola and Ozzy (Falcon Regulus) daughter - Lola made it 3 weeks shy of her 18th birthday and Ozzy was 15.5 when he passed. They both rest here on our property. ..Testimonial: Cristine & Aleko .. FEMA Certified Disaster Dog for Virginia Task Force 1 (Ozzy & Lola breeding)
In February 2007 I picked up Aleko from John and Paula. I flew from Virginia to Flint, Mi. not really knowing what to expect I wanted to meet the pup's parents and see what environment they were raised in. The dogs were inside, and John showed me the work he does with each pup. I was pleased with her parents (Ozzy and Lola), and decided to purchase the pup.
I took the pup home and our journey began. Almost two years later I can say that Aleko is the best dog I've had. Her characteristics are balanced and well rounded - her drives are amazing (I didn't have to build her drives, just channel them) Her temperament is stable, and I can keep her inside without being crazy (we trained a lot for this). I got her for Search and Rescue, and she has done very well since the beginning. She has endurance and lots of drive, and she quickly picked up on her training (and was forgiving with my training mistakes). As a search dog she must be stable in all sorts of environments and with all people.
When Aleko was with John and Paula they introduced her to odd surfaces (she's fine on kitchen floors, tiles, linoleum, etc) and I continued that by taking her to all sorts of environments. She has rappelled off of a 100 foot cliff (I climb and she comes to all of the crags with me). Flown in planes, climbed ladders, been on rubble piles and gone through helicopter training. She swims in rivers, lakes and the ocean (even after being clobbered by waves). Her drives help her through times when she may be unsure and is willing to do anything for her toy (her food drive is also a nice back up).
The perfect example of her drives getting her through a problem: it was a rainy day at training, she was sent out to find my teammate in the woods. She came back with a 1.5 inch nail in her paw. She didn't whine she didn't limp, she just tugged and tugged some more. She didn't notice the nail embedded in her paw until we have been home for an hour. An x-ray showed that the nail almost penetrated the other side of her paw. Not many other dogs would have worked through the pain.
Recently we have started Schutzhund. She got her BH in October, and we will eventually (when we have time, since search takes up so much time) go for her Schutzhund 1. She obtained her AKC CGC at 9 months old. I had her hips x-rayed at 6 months ( I have an orthopedic vet as precaution, for working purposes), and they're all clear. I will get her hips x-rayed again in the next couple of months for OFA certification. (Update OFA Good)
Christine Harrison and Aleko!
