It all started back in 1980 when I lost my first GSD to a bait. I was looking for a long haired GSD to fill the void he left, as I believed that there was no breed on earth that came close to measuring up to a German Shepherd. Well, I was right … this breed not only measured up, but surpassed all expectations!!

I was taken to see a litter of Groenendael puppies, and that was the beginning of the end! I have owned Belgian Shepherds now since 1981 and have been showing and breeding under the Belgenbeau Prefix since 1984. While I enjoy showing, I usually only attend a Championship All Breeds show once every 2 to 3 months. I do, however, try to attend the four Specialties held each year – 2 in NSW and one in Victoria and Qld, where we often have International Breed Specialist judges. Dogs owned, co-owned and bred by Belgenbeau Kennels have consistently done well at all Specialty shows entered since 1993. We have been awarded Excellent gradings, Challenges, Best of Breeds and In Show awards including a Best In Specialty and 2 x Runner Up to Best in Specialty Show.

I am currently a Group 5 Judge and I’m licensed to judge this group at Championship level. Group 5 in Australia consists of all of the Herding dogs. I enjoy the dogs first and foremost. My first truly ‘great’ Belgian was Aust & NZ Ch Aisance Lord Odin (AI) who came to us from Heather Grain of Aisance Kennels. Odin was an Australian Bred Tervueren from continental lines, and his list of wins were unmatched by any other Belgian Shepherd bred in this country during his time. Odin sadly passed away in 2002 in New Zealand with his good friends & guardians Dave and Karin Warman!

Odin was co-owned by Heather Grain (Aisance Kennels) Melbourne and Dave & Karen Warman (Fordhaven Kennels) in New Zealand and myself (Belgenbeau Kennels) Queensland. Odin lived his final years in New Zealand with Dave and Karen and was still doing his ‘thing’ at the age of 10 – siring his final litter of outstanding Kiwi pupsicles to prove he still had what it takes.

Our first Malinois was Malcolm sired by our Tervueren boy Odin.  Malcolm is co-owned also with Heather Grain in Victoria.

Our first Laekenois addition Yschia completed the set.