The TRI SORTS Story

Frank and Carol Knock (left) with American Belgian Malinois Club (ABMC) President, Jim Moses.

        The sport of purebred dogs has been a passion for Carol, her husband Frank, and daughter Lisa since 1965, eventually growing into "Tri Sorts" Belgian Malinois.  They have bred, owned, and shown primarily Belgian Malinois and Pembroke Welsh Corgis.  Am Staff Terriers and Standard Schnauzers were also included in the Knocks' dog breeding experience.

        The Tri Sorts story begins in 1973 with a single phone call and an ironic twist of fate.  Antonia Diamond called Carol about Carol's obedience classes.  Mrs. Diamond's beautiful Malinois had captured Carol and Frank's attention eight years earlier at the Del Monte Kennel Club show in California.  Carol had been trying, unsuccessfully, to contact Mrs. Diamond, but it was Diamond herself who had finally found the Knocks.

        In 1979, already owning three Corgis and an Am Staf Terrier, the Knocks acquired their first Malinois bitch, Gemma, from Toni Diamond.  This first Malinois was followed by a second bitch, also from the Diadem Kennels.  Both bitches obtained their championships.  The Knock's first Malinois litter was sired by a Belgian import, Vico Ry Du Maugre.  Only one puppy from that litter was shown to his championship as the rest of the pups were sold to homes for pets.

        Since that first litter, Carol and Frank have purchased the best dogs possible both in the United States and Europe and have imported frozen semen from an outstanding champion in the Netherlands.

        Many people have been influential in the Knock's breeding program, including European judges and breeders, and knowledgeable American judges and breeders, especially Dr. Carmen Battaglia and the late Quenten LaHam.  The Knock's goal is to breed beautiful Malinois with excellent temperaments, correct type, structure and working ability.  To date they have bred over sixty champions.

                Carol is a past president of the American Belgian Malinois Club (ABMC).  She has also been chairman for national and regional specialties and for the Mid-Atlantic Belgian Galas.  Carol has judged numerous American Kennel Club (AKC) sanctioned matches and has been a Sweepstakes jundge at national and regional AKC shows.  She is also a licensed UKC judge.  Carol and Fank are honorary life members of the Mid-Atlatic Stewards Association (MASA).  In 1998 she was listed in Connie Vanacores, "Whos Who in Dogs".  Frank and Carol's daughter Lisa, an accomplished handler, was listed in Kerry Nesbits "Whos Who in Handling" published in 1993.

                The Tri Sorts Kennel name was inspired by  the Old English Terrier print called "Three of the Right Sort".  Carol likes to think of Frank, herself, and their daughter Lisa as three of the right sort.  It is evident that the Malinois they breed are the right sort.

Lisa Knock and her husband Carl Brown with Ch. Tri Sorts Chance (left) and Ch. Tri Sorts Bold Retainer (right).