Lykoscalligenia

29/01/2024

Three of the four varieties of the BSD. Logi (Tervueren), Kyoshi (Malinois) & Ukiyo (Groenendael).

04/11/2023

https://m.facebook.com/emmaobrienphotos/photos/a.488768490682/10154728368000683/?type=3&mibextid=9R9pXO

I had a very early start this morning to photograph a styled shoot in collaboration with Impressionant Events, Canine Planet & Belgian Shepherd Dogs South Africa in Pretoria.

Here's a sneak peek of Alru and Maya wearing some purple eucalyptus accessories.

I'll be offering flower crowns and floral accessories designed by Impressionant Events for shoots going forward, so please DM me if this is something you're keen on :)

21/09/2023

https://www.facebook.com/100050616573558/posts/857710559259489/?mibextid=9R9pXO

Belgian Malinois circa 1910

03/08/2023

Cheers to everyone doing it right.

Cheers to the responsible breeders who are on the night shift (and the day shift that follows) 💕

17/07/2023

❤️

01/07/2023

https://www.facebook.com/100063589777596/posts/758789476250705/?sfnsn=scwspmo&mibextid=6aamW6

ℹ️ Important Read - Copied from another Breeder.

“I don’t care about papers.”

"I don't care that the dog is not registered with KUSA."

“I just want a pet, not a show dog.”

"I don't care if the breeder doesn't Show their dogs."

“Who cares if it’s out of standard, I just want a companion.”

'I see this time and time again when people are on the hunt for a new puppy to add to their family. It is often used as an excuse to purchase from a less than reputable breeder or to find what is the cheapest. They feel they don’t need all the “bells and whistles” because they do not understand why they are so important.

Breeding should be for a purpose, and it is okay if that purpose is companionship, but it should still be done in order to better the breed. So, what exactly does that mean?

It is a multifaceted concept, but in short bettering the breed means breeding toward the standard, breeding away from flaws, breeding for ideal temperament and drive, and breeding away from heritable diseases.

The breed standard encompasses everything from structure to temperament to color. It is designed in such a way to provide a dog most well suited physically and mentally for whatever job they were meant to do. The breed standard is also one of the wonderful things about owning a well bred purebred. It means you know exactly what you are getting into, from size to energy level to drive to coat type. When the breed standard is ignored, you end up with dogs with structural problems that lead to degenerative joint issues or dogs with temperaments the exact opposite of what they were supposed to be which can often result in dogs being rehomed.

So, while you may not want a show dog, a breeder who shows their dogs in conformation is proving objectively that their breeding stock fits the standard and a breeder who shows in sport or work is proving their dog has the correct trainability and drive. Every litter from two show dog parents is going to consist primarily of pet dogs, which is a better source for your family pet than the backyard breeder you found on Gumtree, because 𝗯𝘂𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗮 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗱𝗲.

Breeding away from heritable diseases is one of the most important aspects of reputable breeding in my eyes. It means doing thorough health testing based on what the breed club recommends and only breeding those who pass. The goal is to create an even healthier next generation. Health tests are one way of doing this, but registration and pedigrees are the other. For example, there are not any reliable DNA tests for epilepsy which is one of the few issues Siberian huskies can have. Because there are no tests, it is important for a breeder to be able to study pedigrees and avoid lines known to carry it. So, while you may not see the merit in papers, they serve a purpose and an important one.
(It is also important to be aware that papers/registration 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲 does not make a dog well bred.)

The world of reputable breeding is a big one and it can be a confusing one, but it is important to understand these things. The sooner we stop making these excuses for backyard breeders due to lack of education, the sooner we can put an end to them.'

29/06/2023

23/06/2023

😃

https://www.facebook.com/100063018229385/posts/613197824124153/?sfnsn=scwspmo&mibextid=6aamW6

23/06/2023

https://www.facebook.com/100066633955772/posts/602175015346958/?sfnsn=scwspmo&mibextid=6aamW6

Too many false narratives, not enough support for responsible breeders 🙌

04/06/2023

https://www.facebook.com/304834033552549/posts/1123019881733956/?sfnsn=scwspmo&mibextid=6aamW6

Cheers to the responsible breeders who are on the night shift (and the day shift that follows) 💕

28/09/2022

When you really loooove water. Lykoscalligenia's Auggie.

28/09/2022

Malonowa Force of Nature - Ukiyo. Always ever so graceful. 😃

28/09/2022

Little bebe Rookie.

15/09/2022

🤍🤌🏽

04/09/2022

10 Years ago to the day. Malonowa Chien de Garde - Alru.

03/09/2022

Investigators have identified two genetic mutations that influence the development of idiopathic epilepsy in the Belgian Sheepdog and Belgian Tervuren.

23/08/2022

It's time to start DEBUNKING these harmful myths 🙌🏼🤔

19/08/2022

Out & about for some socialization at Midfeeds and Absolute Pets today.

07/08/2022

17/07/2022

And so the time has come to say until next time my little friends. A bittersweet moment as they have filled my life with so much joy, laughter, shenanigans and little baby wolf howls....not forgetting the puppy breath licks and kisses. Onward and upward to great things little ones. Adri van Staden & Wanda van Staden.

11/07/2022

This is how I get to wake up in the morning. Cuteness overload.

10/07/2022

A nice day out at Goldfields Supporters Club of Southern Gauteng show at Goldfields show grounds. Both girls (Kalea & Chiyo) getting their Best of breed and Champion Certificates. Kalea is now a Champion bitch - KUSA approval pending.

07/07/2022

Our dogs need an anchor in a world they don’t understand. Our role is to be that anchor and be there for them consistently. They can only feel safe if we are always the same person even when the world around us changes.

05/07/2022

It's a hard life being a growing pup. Looking adorable all the time takes some effort. Sometimes so much so, that you just fall asleep in your food bowl.

05/07/2022