Welcome to the home page of Laurie Graichen and the Sky High Belgian Shepherd Dogs. I have had Belgian Shepherd Dogs since 1978, and although I have a "kennel name", there is no kennel (the dogs are total house dogs and sleep on the bed) and no puppies are bred here, since I only own males. I compete in AKC and UKC conformation, AKC, UKC and ASCA obedience, AKC, NADAC/ASCA, and USDAA agility, AKC and AHBA herding, and have dabbled in schutzhund and flyball. I have recently suffered a permanently-disabling knee injury, so Dillon and Bravo are now being trained and working as my Assistance Dogs. Click here to see them working, and to learn more about Assistance Dogs

The heartbeat of Sky High, the one who set the way for all others to follow, was Nordic, a male Terv (U-CDX, Am.Ch.Tri Sorts Nordic de Loup Noir, Am/Can.CDX,B,TT,HIC,CGC,TDI), whom we lost to hemangiosarcoma on November 19, 1998, two months prior to his 14th birthday. Although he was "officially" a veteran, he still acted like a 5-year-old, and in fact placed in the Veterans Herding Group 12 days before he died. He was neutered after finishing his championship, due to epilepsy and cataracts. He was the kind of dog you could take anywhere and he was the perfect gentleman. He was a gift from God, and I hope that everyone can sometime have the kind of relationship with a dog as I had with Nordic. Click here to go to Nordic's page.

Cruiser (Odysseys Perpetual Motion, CGC, TDI, was a happy-go-lucky, energetic guy who lives by the motto, "Life is short, so live it at top speed so you don't miss anything!". He has a lot of drive, and loves to work. He comes by it honestly - his sire "Charlie" (U-CD, Am.Ch/OTCh. Czequet's Charfire Charon, Am.UD,HT,TT,BSCA SchHI,HOF) and paternal grandsire "Zar" (U-UD, Am.Ch/OTCh. Qazar Charfire v Siegestor, Am.UD,HT, TT,B,WH,BSCA SchHI, HOF,ROM) were both Top Ten ALL BREEDS in obedience, and his maternal grandsire "Nobel" (Am.Ch.Nobel v Siegestor, Am.CD,TD, SchHIII, AD, B, WH, IPO I) was a winner in schutzhund. He was not happy in a multi-dog household, and is now living in Tuscon AZ and working as a service dog for a gentleman with Parkinsons Disease. I am extremely proud to have raised a dog who is making such a difference in his person's life. Click here to go to Cruiser's page Sadly, Cruiser was lost to lung cancer in late November 2002 at the age of 10.

Next was "Huck", a male Groenendael. Huck was part of a rescue in North Carolina in spring 1997 - he and his 5 littermates, as well as 8 adult Belgians, were confiscated by the Humane Society because their owner had them living in a van since Thanksgiving time. The dogs were filthy, matted, emaciated, unsocialized, and the puppies developed parvo. Huck was supposed to go to a foster home on Long Island, and I was bringing him up from NC (I had been down there for a job interview). After being around him for a day or so, I was so taken by him that I decided to keep him. He's very sweet, a wonderful bed dog. Although he never made it to competitio rings due to his unhappiness away from home and near strange people, he held a very special place in my heart. He was lost to kidney failure just short of his 12th birthday and leaves a huge hole in my heart and life. Click here to go to Huck's page

Then came "Dillon" (NATCH, U-Ag2, U-CD, Am.Ch Arlequin Debonair of Hyline, Am.CD, RAE, PT, MX, MXJ, XF, AHBA JHD-s, NADAC S-EGC, O-TN-E, TG-E, WV-N, USDAA AAD, GM, JM, RM, ASA, ASCA CD, RS-E, O-GV-E, JS-E, APDT RL2, UBSDA SCT, TT, CGC, TDI), a 13-year old Terv male. He was theresult of two years of searching for a show quality male Belgian. He was a handsome fellow with excellent structure and movement, and a people-loving temperament. He was my first dog titled in agility, herding, and rally, as well as my first mobility assistance dog. at the age of almost 14 his body no longer was able to do what his mind wanted it to so he was helped across the Rainbow Bridge.. Click here to go to Dillon's page

The end of May 1999 saw the arrival of a new family member, a grey male Terv whose call name is "Bravo", registered name NADAC Versatility NATCH-S, U-Ag1 Klaar Right On The Money, BN, RAE, PT, AX, AXJ, OF, NAP, NJP, NFP, NADAC S-TN-E, HP-N, Elite Versatility & 1000 Lifetime Points, ASCA RS-E, GS-E, JS-E, USDAA AAD, GM, ASA, AR, Grand Prix Qualifier x5, DAM Qualifier, Steeplechase Qualifier, APDT RL1, UBSDA SCT, TT, CGC, TDI, Mobility Assistance Dog. He's from the well-known "Klaar" kennel of Dermott Young near Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Although Nordic was my soulmate and will never be replaced, Bravo has shaped up to be the "dog of my dreams". Click here to go to Bravo's page.

I then "switched gears" and added a working-line Malinois with "Surge", otherwise known as Overdrive du Dantero, TT. He was far more reactive than I would have liked, seeming almost autistic at times, and we never really "clicked". He is now living the life of luxury with Sharon Nelson, the head of NADAC agility. Click here to go to Surge's page

Though I wasn't actively searching to add a cat to the family after losing the 2 senior cats who moved down from NJ to SC with us, apparently a special little cat was looking to add herself to the 4-legged creatures here. Thus entered "Miss Kitty", a 6-month-old female tabby who walked through the dog door and into my heart and home. Click here to go to Miss Kitty's page

Visiting Sky High Farm in the summer of 1999 was "Max" (Am.Ch Jacamar's Maximillian d'Emi), a 4 year old Groenendael, who was here to add an AKC Companion Dog title to his name, as his owner was unable to show him due to work constraints. Click here to go to Max's page