Saturday the 1st of September 2007, a seminar with Bart Bellon was organized by Kennel V. Le Dobry in association with Work Dogs Group "De Hollander". The preparations started in the beginning of 2007. The reason that we organized this had to do with the upcoming 30 year anniversary of Kennel V. Le Dobry on October 13th, sport standing is always a high standard. Because we are always committed in the field of sport and gladly want to belong to the best one must be open to renewal and increase ones knowledge and qualities. The Seminar called: “Suikerbrood en Zweepjes” & “Step by Step”, contained:

Dog training in theory and practice
Dog training must be humanly to watch
Dog training must be animal-friendly
Dog training must be effective

Short summary:
“rules must be followed to achieve success in training the dog”.

For those who do not know Bart Bellon, he is well-known in Europe and America for giving seminars and a "master" in training dogs with the method: NEPOPO (negative/positive/positive)

Bart Bellon was born on the 20th of march 1960. He has spent his youth in Burundi (Belgian colony) and from his early youth has always had dogs. In 1974 he returned to Belgium and stayed near place called Mechelen, the place of birth of the Mechelaars. There he visited the local dog club, one of the better clubs in Belgium.

In Wemmel he graduated as a teacher of physical education, had as a hobby football and was from 1980 up to 1982 paramilitary in the Belgian army.

He became member of the NVBK (national treaty Belgian kynologen), became in 1991, Belgian (ring) champion with Flup and in 2001, Belgian ring champion with Zodt.

From 1991 up to present 7 members of its club became Belgian champion with several dogs.

He made the following videos:
Dances with Malinois/ Jürgen Rixen (Belgian ringsport)
Dirty Dance/ Jürgen Rixen (French Ringsport)
Contact/ Helmut Raiser (Video of electronic trains).

Bart Bellon has been giving seminars for 13 years and is the spokesman of the B.C.BB bvba.

On the 1st of September 170 people from the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium and Finland gathered in the village-home of Hoogkerk to listen to the theory part in the morning while enjoying a delicious cup of coffee. There were not only adjusters from the IPO but also from the KNPV, VDH, rescue-dogs, agility and even behaviour specialists. There was a very broad section of the public represented.

The practice part took place in the area of the HSV Hoogkerk to the Zuiderweg. The catering went very smoothly and everyone had their drinks and food quickly, so that practice part could start 13.00. Bart had a pup of 3 months, a black mechelaar of 12 months and two older dogs. The different ages of the dogs made it a very interesting afternoon, where many exercises were handled. Learning slowly and taking the time to spend lots of attention on an animal is the best way for them to learn something. Where he paid special attention to was where a dog is a dog and not a person. A dog is an animal that lives in a pack and you are its alpha (LEADER) that he must obey.

The dogs must work for their food and you could clearly see this with these dogs and how they gladly do this and with love for him. The dogs were enthusiastic & filled with energy and sociable towards people and animals. The last hour was spent on handlers who experienced problems with learned behaviour of their dog. Bart gave them clear tips so that they could work further on solving the problems of their dogs. As consistent as he is with dogs, he is also consistent was with the timetable and for this reason Bart concluded the seminar at exactly 17.00. It was possible for everyone to chat around during the travel homewards.

Therefore, one can say that his visit to Hoogkerk on the 1st of September 2007 to share his enormous experience, values and knowledge in the field of dog training was truly an unique event.

José Stienstra-Pelsma

Click here to view the pictures of the seminar (01st Of September 2007)