If you read this blog you'll read about my dog. Scout is a Belgian Malinois, born October 26, 2017. He has all the qualities of a Mal, good and, well, mal. I have raised two German Shepherds and this breed is NOT a smaller version, of GSDs, although many mistake him for one. Mals are smaller, lighter, and more streamlined. Also, they have been portrayed as GSDs on steroids. I would have to agree. 

Mals need a job. The job I chose for him is to search for missing persons in the NM wilderness. It is a tall order--training takes up to two years. Scout and I will both be challenged. We joined the Sandia Search Dog team in ABQ last September and so far Scout is up to the task. 

Future blogs will be a potpouri of dog stories and travel narratives. Thanks for joining us on our journeys.

When my friend, Debbie, suggested we meet in Southern California last January I had no idea that we would be visiting a desert alive with blooms, resulting from the record rain this winter. We were lucky, and hadn't realized the timing of our visit would be so good.

We drove from San Diego to the Borrego State Park, where temperatures reach the 120s in the summer heat. In March the highs were in the 60's--perfect for hiking. See below for a few of my fav pix from the visit.

If you read my blog you will read about my dog. Scout was born on October 26, 2017; a Belgian Malanois. Scout is as Mal as they come. He insists on constant attention, loves being petted, and above all is a toy hound. His addiction to toys is known in the vernacular as "high drive." I have had the pleasure to raise two German Shepherd Dogs (GSD). Mals are not a smaller, lighter version of GSDs. They are more like GSDs on steroids! These dogs need a job and at least twice daily vigorous exercise.

My chosen job for Scout is searching. He joined the Sandia Search Dog team in ABQ last September and loves the hunt for "lost" (in training this means hidden) people. It seems simple: the subject walks off with a toy and when he finds the person, through sniffing the air for discarded skin cells, he is rewarded with a toy and lots of play. In fact, training is challenging, lengthy, and requires skill--which I hope I am developing. To become certified as a handler/dog duo takes a year and a half to two years. Lots of fun in store. In this blog I will continue updating you on Scout's progress and add some notes on my travels, some of which will include him. Thanks for coming along on this journey.