Post by southern-staffords on Mar 15, 2009 21:29:00 GMT
We were invited by Marco of www.Quinlent.nl to Quinlent's SBT Sporting club in Belgium. We also knew that our good friends Frank & Martiin from Holland were going too. So Me, Neil & Marek decided that we would travel over there and have another European adventure. This would also be the 1st time I would have taken 1 of my dogs abroard. Here's our story.....
We head for Dover to catch the 6pm ferry. We had a 2hr crossing then a 3-4hr car drive to our destination.
After we arrived at the village, we needed to find the venue. After about 30-45mins searching we stopped someone and then they sent us in the right direction. We find the site and then we see some cars with cages. Then we see a chalet with people in. We pull up I go in and meet Marco, his wife and friends all being very welcoming. We sit down and start having a chat about our journey and of course dogs!! Marco then says to go bring Olsen in, so I go to the car to get him, open the door and no Olsen!!! WHERE'S MY DOG!!!! I quickly call him, then go to ask politley
if one of my passengers had left their door open, but they were shut when I went out, then Marek realises he had left the window open . After about 5+mins Olsen returns, Thankfully 
So we go back in the chalet for some more beer & wine!!
Saturday morn I was up 1st so went to take Olsen out to get my bearings and have a look at the venue in daylight. I notice that Olsen is looking very rounded, he must of gorged himself on god knows what!!
I then see Marco exercising some of his 11 dogs. I then see 3 big white beasts walking majesticaly up towards me it's Frank & Martiin with their Dogos. What stunning dogs they are very graceful, confident and extremely powerful. At one point Olsen & Tequila was having a little play she was the youngest!! and still upto 3x the size of Olsen. Marco then tells us we are going for a little hike in the woods
So we went to wake up Neil & Marek with the Dogos, Tequila gives Neil awake up kiss of death!! That would of scared the life out of me!!
It was beautifull scenery on the hike. Marco let Marek take Cruelman, a name Marco says he fully deserves!! and Neil took Tina, Martiins Dogo, or rather Tina took Neil I should say!! After a 4hr hike trough woods, over streams, up very steep hills and then down them we get back to the venue. We freshen up then have a fun run on the lure machine nearly all the dogs catching on very quick as to what to do and some springpole action too.
I then needed to get Olsen to a vet so he can travel back with us. Thankfully our friend Nic from red&blackpits took us to find the closest vet. We arrive at the village to be told that the vet has long moved out
Nic thankfully gets an address for another vet. We travel to this 1 and he is a vet for FISH!!! I am starting to worry what if we can't find one outhere 
Then we head off for another vet we arrive there and no vet. Nic knocks on a neighbours house and she kindly phones and he arrives 30-45mins later and Olsen gets his stamp???
We then went to see Nic's APBT's one of which I have seen before "Ellens Trinity" lovely looking dogs in great shape. We are looking forward to seeing them again soon.
Later in the evening we had a delicious BBQ washed down by a few beers.
When it was fading light Frank, Martiin & Nic from took us for a quick drive into France for a spot of piggy hunting. The Dogos all had GPS kevlar collars where you get a reading of which direction and speed of travel all the dogs are going on a hand held navigation system. Its great when you are in the woods always know whereabouts the dogs are. Watching them working as unit was immense, all having their own good ability, Tequila had a real good nose, Tina has the power to hold a lion & Morro could go on all day long and still get the job done. We were unlucky in our attempt to catch anything, but just being there with the possabilities was good enough for us. We then jump back in the van and head back to Belgium for some more dog talk & lots of beer!!!!
Sunday morn. Nic has his weightpull equipment out and the dogs were having some fun pulls in the damp miserable weather
but no-one was detered by it. We then saw some excellent springpole displays from the dogs, some of which we have on film. We had to be off earlyish so we head back to the ferry before midday. We get to the port on time queue up get to the kiosk only to be told that Olsen cant travel back as he didnt have a stamp on the worming page. We are told to go to a vet in France to get relevant stamp. Which we get then we got lost going back to the ferry thankfully we get back on track and hope to catch the 6pm ferry get to the kiosk again then a different fella says that he dont know if Staffords are allowed in UK!!!! We had to go back to the office and see someone eventually we are on the ferry coming back home
We wish to thank everyone there for making us feel so welcome, we hope we can repay the favour here in UK soon
.
The pics from the weekend.
We head for Dover to catch the 6pm ferry. We had a 2hr crossing then a 3-4hr car drive to our destination.
After we arrived at the village, we needed to find the venue. After about 30-45mins searching we stopped someone and then they sent us in the right direction. We find the site and then we see some cars with cages. Then we see a chalet with people in. We pull up I go in and meet Marco, his wife and friends all being very welcoming. We sit down and start having a chat about our journey and of course dogs!! Marco then says to go bring Olsen in, so I go to the car to get him, open the door and no Olsen!!! WHERE'S MY DOG!!!! I quickly call him, then go to ask politley
if one of my passengers had left their door open, but they were shut when I went out, then Marek realises he had left the window open . After about 5+mins Olsen returns, Thankfully 
So we go back in the chalet for some more beer & wine!!
Saturday morn I was up 1st so went to take Olsen out to get my bearings and have a look at the venue in daylight. I notice that Olsen is looking very rounded, he must of gorged himself on god knows what!!
I then see Marco exercising some of his 11 dogs. I then see 3 big white beasts walking majesticaly up towards me it's Frank & Martiin with their Dogos. What stunning dogs they are very graceful, confident and extremely powerful. At one point Olsen & Tequila was having a little play she was the youngest!! and still upto 3x the size of Olsen. Marco then tells us we are going for a little hike in the woods
So we went to wake up Neil & Marek with the Dogos, Tequila gives Neil awake up kiss of death!! That would of scared the life out of me!!It was beautifull scenery on the hike. Marco let Marek take Cruelman, a name Marco says he fully deserves!! and Neil took Tina, Martiins Dogo, or rather Tina took Neil I should say!! After a 4hr hike trough woods, over streams, up very steep hills and then down them we get back to the venue. We freshen up then have a fun run on the lure machine nearly all the dogs catching on very quick as to what to do and some springpole action too.
I then needed to get Olsen to a vet so he can travel back with us. Thankfully our friend Nic from red&blackpits took us to find the closest vet. We arrive at the village to be told that the vet has long moved out
Nic thankfully gets an address for another vet. We travel to this 1 and he is a vet for FISH!!! I am starting to worry what if we can't find one outhere 
Then we head off for another vet we arrive there and no vet. Nic knocks on a neighbours house and she kindly phones and he arrives 30-45mins later and Olsen gets his stamp???We then went to see Nic's APBT's one of which I have seen before "Ellens Trinity" lovely looking dogs in great shape. We are looking forward to seeing them again soon.
Later in the evening we had a delicious BBQ washed down by a few beers.
When it was fading light Frank, Martiin & Nic from took us for a quick drive into France for a spot of piggy hunting
. The Dogos all had GPS kevlar collars where you get a reading of which direction and speed of travel all the dogs are going on a hand held navigation system. Its great when you are in the woods always know whereabouts the dogs are. Watching them working as unit was immense, all having their own good ability, Tequila had a real good nose, Tina has the power to hold a lion & Morro could go on all day long and still get the job done. We were unlucky in our attempt to catch anything, but just being there with the possabilities was good enough for us. We then jump back in the van and head back to Belgium for some more dog talk & lots of beer!!!! Sunday morn. Nic has his weightpull equipment out and the dogs were having some fun pulls in the damp miserable weather
but no-one was detered by it. We then saw some excellent springpole displays from the dogs, some of which we have on film. We had to be off earlyish so we head back to the ferry before midday. We get to the port on time queue up get to the kiosk only to be told that Olsen cant travel back as he didnt have a stamp on the worming page. We are told to go to a vet in France to get relevant stamp. Which we get then we got lost going back to the ferry thankfully we get back on track and hope to catch the 6pm ferry get to the kiosk again then a different fella says that he dont know if Staffords are allowed in UK!!!! We had to go back to the office and see someone eventually we are on the ferry coming back home We wish to thank everyone there for making us feel so welcome, we hope we can repay the favour here in UK soon
.The pics from the weekend.
