About Us

Welcome to Desert Mountain Malinois. First of all we are not a typical kennel, in fact, our only kennel is used to store agility and other dog training equipment. We believe that dogs, especially Malinois, should be members of the family. Our dogs are members of the family that live in the house with us, travel, camp, work, and play with us. Desert Mountain Malinois' purpose is to develop the potential in our dogs and maintain the integrity of the Belgian Malinois as the breed was intended. Our main emphasis is training our dogs to become treasured family members and forging a bond that allows them to reach their full potential. We participate in many areas of dog sports. Our very limited breeding program goal is to produce structurally sound, correct type and temperament dogs that can excel in breed ring, obedience, agility, tracking, herding, and other dog sports.

Although I have been involved with dogs most of my life we are relatively new to the Belgian Malinois breed. I first started obedience training in the early 1970's with my first dog, an All-American that wandered into our yard. I joined the "Wonder Dogs" 4H club. I later trained a miniature poodle and a cocker spaniel through the 4H program. During college and the first few years of my marriage, we did not have a dog. We had 2 cats but missed having a dog. In 1987 we added Ashley, a German Shepherd Dog, to our family. Blazer, also a German Shepherd Dog, joined our family about 1 year later. They were first and foremost companions and friends although they enjoyed obedience classes. Our family was blessed to have Ashley 13 years and Blazer 12 ½ years.

In January of 2000 we added a third German Shepherd Dog to our family. Hanz and I started obedience classes at Upper Snake River Valley Dog Training Club. We started with novice obedience and novice agility work. Hanz and I earned his CD and reached a stumbling block in training, the "dumbbell". My daughter, Arynne wanted to train and compete, so Hanz became her dog to train and work. They had such a special bond and were the epitome of teamwork. In one year's time they completed their NAP, NJP, OAJ, and OJP. They worked through the "dumbbell" issues and were ready to start trialing for their CDX. They had also started tracking, a sport in which Hanz was a natural. He was Arynne's pride and joy. They were such a great team and loved competing in agility and obedience. A tragic accident took Hanz from our family but he will be in our hearts forever.

In the fall 2002 we had the opportunity to add a second dog to our family, our first Belgian Malinois. It was love at first sight and we are convinced this is the most versatile breed. Fortunately, Lisa Swarthout of Bull Mountain Kennels trusted us with Celeste. Celeste is a "once in a lifetime" dog that is limited only by her partner. She is my devoted companion and partner. She has surpassed my expectations in a relatively short amount of time. I am always having to set the bar higher and higher. This dog can and will do anything that I ask. Everyone gets that special once in a lifetime dog and Celeste is mine.

Desert Mountain Malinois owes its existence to Bull Mountain Belgian Malinois. Lisa Swarthout not only trusted us with one but two of her mals. The friendship, guidance, and encouragement of Lisa Swarthout and family has enabled us to realize our hopes and dreams. When you are lucky enough to get a Bull Mountain Malinois you also get the support of a great breeder who truly cares about the Belgian Malinois breed and her mals.

In August 2005 my youngest daughter, Adrianne, wanted a dog of her own so we added our second Belgian Malinois, Dune. He is a full sibling to Celeste. Both Adrianne and Dune are full of enthusiasm and promise. We are eager to see them grow and develop into a terrific team. They have started training in conformation, obedience, agility, and tracking. We expect great things from them in the future.

On September 1, 2006, Everett joined our family. We were hoping for a litter of more than one but were thrilled with our singleton. Everett is full of life and is all ways full throttle! He has a mind of his own and will be a blast to train and work.

I belong to the American Belgian Malinois Club and adhere to the AMBC Breeder's Code of Ethics. I am also a member of the the Upper Snake River Valley Dog Training Club, American Working Malinois Association, Eagle Rock Kennel Club, Eastern Idaho Stock Dog Assoication, American Herding Breeds Association, ASCA and have been a 4H Dog project leader since 2002.

We have a very limited breeding program. Our goal is not to breed numerous puppies but to breed Belgian Malinois that possess good health, correct structure and type, proper temperament, performance ability, versatility, and provide great family companions. We strive to blend the grace and beauty of show lines with the drive and physical athleticism of working lines. Our dogs compete in obedience, conformation, agility, tracking, and herding. They have the capability to work as service dogs, search and rescue dogs, and as animal assisted therapy dogs. While we do not breed for the protection sports or police work our dogs have very strong working pedigrees that would enable these dogs to excell in ring sports as well.