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Balanced Companions... Beautiful, majestic and competitive... but foremost, they
are our lifetime companions where proper structure, temperaments and
health are a must. They are partners in fun as well as in work
and competition. They share our home and most significantly our hearts.
All that we do is centered around the betterment of this versatile breed
and the promotion of responsible, enjoyable partnerships between human and
canine companion. Whether searching for that new show prospect, field worker
(herding, detection), sport competitor (obedience, agility, French Ring or Mondioring), each individual must be, above all, a balanced, healthy family
companion. (Back)
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Joyful Competitors... Not every Belgian will enjoy or do well at
everything. It is important to us that our Belgians, first, enjoy what
they do. We always seek to learn more, trying new methods, new
techniques, new thoughts. Every individual is different, thus we
incorporate different techniques to help each dog be the best he/she can
be. We strongly believe that with correct temperament, training and
understanding the most highly competitive sport dog can be expected to be
a dependable, trustworthy family companion. At this time, our puppies excel in
conformation,
herding, obedience, tracking and agility competitions. (Back)
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Selective breedings...When selectively researching prospective breedings, several
basic requirements are a must. It is our committed belief that the basic
requirements
are:
- sound, correct STRUCTURE resulting in near flawless, athletic MOVEMENT
- happy, steady, confident, inquisitive ATTITUDE
- respectful, focused, TEMPERAMENT with appropriate drive for
the work at hand
- clean, reproducible HEALTH lending to a long, problem free
life
- practical, stunning, style and balanced BEAUTY without compromise to
the other requirements
These are our focus, our goals... what we aim towards. Though perfect and
flawless can be in dreams, there is no such thing as a flawless dog. To assist us in our mission, we continuously gather
information from our puppy owners - research health issues from a
multitude of sources, including veterinary screenings, evaluate our
prospective sires and dams from head to toe, inside and out. We strongly
feel that each variety of Belgian has their own unique strengths. To
enhance their strengths and reduce complexity and set backs, it is
important for each variety to be worked with individually. We reserve
breeding rights on most of the males we place. As much as
we'd love to have a crystal ball that uncovers the true genetic secrets,
politics and personal issues aside, it is reality that cements the truth
of the saying "stuff happens". Nonetheless, these are our
personal criteria. (Back)
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| Qualifying future owners... Prior to
placing any of our Belgians in a new home we also seek to fully understand
what is expected or desired from each prospective new companion. As
necessary, we have requested home checks by other Belgian breeders and/or
owners in the area. We have placed competitive conformation puppies on a
limited registration, with a spay- neuter agreement, when we have concluded
that the match of family to puppy is just too wonderful to pass up, even
when the family has no desire to compete. We
have referred prospective homes on to others when we didn't have what
we felt would meet the mentioned desires. A time or two, even with deposit
in hand, we had made that "gut-felt" decision to also refuse
placement of a puppy or adult into a home. We have simple, but
explicit written contracts, which are discussed and signed before any
Belgian leaves our home. We require all owners to actively
participate in a minimum of a full 8 week obedience course, beginner's or
puppy, with their new companion within the first 30 days of ownership. It
is stressed that theses breeds are not for everyone, and simultaneously
with proper understanding and training, they can be much of everything. (Back)
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| Informed Owner Families... We will, at anytime, provide an honest evaluation
of any of our placed puppies or adults. Whether it be issues with health,
conformation, temperament or breeding... we openly share points of strengths
as well as our concerns. Periodically all
families with Kaponomana Belgians are sent newsletters packed with
information, updates and tips. (Back)
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Lifetime of Support...Any dog or
Puppy from Kaponomana will always have a home in our house. When ownership
cannot be maintained for any reason, our doors are open to any of our dogs
being brought back to us. We will rehome them when they are ready
and when the appropriate home comes along. There are many questions that
may come up throughout the dog's life. We are available, for the lifetime
of any Kaponomana puppy, to provide guidance. When we are not certain, referrals
to others will be provided. (Back)
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Click here to ... 
... meet the Hiltons |
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