Hi there. Can I ask for Mr Cipparone's email address? He has contacts to a breed of dog from portugal that my friend is interested in, and I said I'd try and get his contact for him.

On a side note, I want to thank you for all you've done for me and my girl Mima. She is making good progress into what I hope she could have been, and I was almost ready to retire her. I think the "dirty tactics" type training is really driving some things home. And, I really was happy to see you have the decoy's bounce her off of me and after the inital attempt, me being able to thump her up while on the bite and her not coming off. Its like I told a fellow club member, it can get a bit disheartening to be constantly be outclassed in the work. But, I took to looking at it like bringing a Jeep(mima) to a drag race against Camaro's(malinois) and expect to "keep up". She is the kind of dog I like, and she has always done what I asked of her, though sometimes I have to rationalize it to her and make it make sense. But, overall, I wouldn't have made the progress with her at your place AND at home, had it not been for your insight and everyone's contributions and efforts.

I've done a lot of thinking, and come to this conclusion. I want my dogs to be utilitarian and capable of doing whatever I want to do with them. I don't want to have to have 15 different dogs in order to work in as many venues. I'm much happier with a dog who will do it all, but come in 2nd or 3rd in everything it does, than to kick ass at only 1 thing and be unable to compete in anything else it attempts.

Take care and thanks again


Mike