With this much time to prepare, I STRONGLY suggest a little summertime jaunt down to Fla (Betty-Little River Canine; her link is in her sig) or to OKC to see Becky (pm her for more info).

Eric, I purchased a GSD from Betty Waldren last summer. I drove 1000 miles to chose my dog(actually Fara chose me). I purchased one of the females Betty held back for possible breeding. I got to tell you Fara is a lot of dog! Nerves of steel, highly intelligent and extremely athletic. These GSDs are a lot of dog, I can't imagine owning a Mal with my limited training experience. Fara has been challenging enough for me. There are days when I wake up and wish I got a cat instead. After a few seconds I remember what a fantastic companion she is. If you decide to go with a quality working line GSD, you won't be disappointed.

JG

PS - if you decide to go with marker training and pack structure dvds available here, trust me, it's never too early to get started. In fact if you wait until you choose a dog you may already be behind. JMO

 Quote: Jim Gustitis

PS - if you decide to go with marker training and pack structure dvds available here, trust me, it's never too early to get started. In fact if you wait until you choose a dog you may already be behind. JMO

This has to one of the wisest statements ever Jim, I agree with you 100%. I may not have WL GSDS, but I am still behind!
There is so much to learn, this is really great advice Jim!

This is hugely helpful! And Duane, you're right, no excuses with this much time to plan haha. The only problem with this much time is that I am really excited right NOW and want a puppy right NOW, but must wait... I have two dogs now, both shelter mutts, and I have started using marker training with them. I initially trained them on verbal praise and leash corrections (nothing too old school though). The one I train with most (the other is mostly my girlfriend's dog) is on an ecollar and I would say she is at about the BH level and rarely needs corrections any more. We are lacking mainly on the down-stay with me out of sight. I've got Leerburgs Obedience vid, and I'm saving for the motivation vid. My dog has a fair drive for a run of the mill mutt, and I'm hoping to increase that a little with a little know-how. I've already noticed increased enthusiasm with a ball and tug as obedience rewards over the past 4 months or so.

Jim, did you drive out on separate occasions to visit the kennel and then again to pick up the puppy or just once to pick up the puppy with other conversations over the phone?

Eric,

I made a single trip.

The process began with inquiring emails and pictures. Betty had two 5 month old female littermates to choose from.

Once I knew I was interested, I spoke with Betty on the phone. I needed options on how to get the dog to PA and Betty was very helpful. I decided to drive down because I didn't want my new dog to have to be checked in as baggage at the airport. If I had purchased a puppy I simply would have flown down and returned with the puppy in a crate underneath my seat.

Betty was a wonderful host and I felt welcome in their home. I had a blast being there and got to meet all the dogs. In my case driving down worked out for the best.

I would suggest that when you are ready, to contact Betty. She can answer all your questions, she loves her job!
JG

Best of luck!

I'm kind of in the same position - I started looking for a puppy almost 6 months ago and I'm not getting mine until this late summer/fall. I wasn't sure of the breed or even exactly what sport I wanted. SO I went to a trainer in the area and chatted with him about what I wanted and my experience (zip in real dog training - some 4H agility with siberian huskies. Owned several huskies, some GSD mixes and my current malamute). He gave me some direction to start my search with - primarily that I come to one of his training groups and talk to people there. I asked about 600 million questions and LOTS of people steered me to a mal. I would say 95% (including the trainer). Someone VERY active in mondioring even offered to see if I could "borrow" a puppy from a friend of hers who had a litter to see what living with a working puppy was all about. NICEST PEOPLE EVER!! I then contacted a well-regarded Mal breeder/trainer/decoy in the area to see what he said about a novice trainer having a mal and he said that is the ONLY way to go. He was 100% mal and sincere about it - he didn't have litters often and so he wasn't even trying to sell me one of his dogs.

Long story short - if you are wary about getting a mal (and I have NO experience with them, this is just what I learned from my search) - talk to breeders and trainers. I was SO surprised that people who show up on MR/FR final lists were telling me to get a mal. I think what they say might surprise you and might help you decide either way. I'm in no way saying that you should choose a mal, I just don't think you should let your being a novice trainer stop you from sounding out breeders and especially the trainers you are going to work with to see what they say.

I eventually decided to go with a GSD because I think it fits better with my lifestyle and put a deposit down on a puppy for Oct. and I couldn't be more excited! Good luck with your search!!

Honestly, it's going go depend on the bloodlines of the Malinois. I've met THREE Belgian bred Malis that are calmer and easier to live with than my GSD. One is older, one is the same age, and the other is a year younger.

Certain breeders create certain dogs. Certain owners create certain dogs. Michael Ellis creates a Malinois that is always ON ON ON every time you pull it out of its kennel. The Barriques dogs I've met are much more calm and collected. It depends what dog you like. I've been around both. I can see why people like both. But I would not for a second say they are any different to live with than a GOOD working Shepherd.

Sorry, I get REALLY tired of the idea that Malinois are this out of control monster. They aren't. Do your research, decide what you want and like in a dog, find bloodlines of ANY breed that produce that and go from there. I don't believe in the "first time" working dog. Why does everyone want to convince people to get a mediocre dog for sport? You want to do well at a sport? Get a GOOD dog. I've seen too many people regret listening to people with no experience telling others what they can handle. You'll be stuck with this dog for 10+ years. Don't get a bad one.

I knew what I wanted in a dog, saw who produced it, talked to people, said I want a good dog but not a national champion, and I ended up with a very nice regional level bitch. But I looked at all breeds of all bloodlines, went out to clubs, saw dogs work, talked to everyone with experience in their breed and went from there.

I can go on about this forever. PM me if you want to talk more.

Em and Katie, thanks for weighing in. While I realize and totally appreciate experienced handlers warning me to be cautious of purchasing a malinois, I also get a little bit of the "oh you think I can't do it... well I'm gunna do it!" attitude. haha. I'm really up in the air about what breed, but I think what you are saying katie about bloodlines is helpful. I'm not too particular about the breed (which may be naive and from lack of experience), I'm more particular about the particular dog and temperament. I can see myself with a GSD or a Mal so I'm really torn. I'm going to the AWDF nationals in Indy this weekend, so I will get a chance to see some more dogs work, and I will definitely try to visit the clubs near me. I've got one trainer I work with as a decoy who has a GSD and is getting a Mal, and another who has a really impressive Mal who has been shot and stabbed in the line of duty and kept working (he's a nut), but roles around with kids and can relax. Katie, I will absolutely PM you with more questions, is Danni also your first working dog? I've watched video of you two and you guys look great! Is it too soon to start contacting breeders? Would they not have planned out litters for next spring yet?

Also, I know that the warnings against a Mal are well-intentioned and from very well educated and experienced sources, and I do take that seriously. I'm not brushing it off at all! so keep it coming =)

Well crap, I had a long response typed out and when I hit submit it told me I wasn't logged in (I was) and I lost everything.

So here is the short version.

Decide what sport you want to do first, if it's Ring then I would look at Malinois. 90% or more of the dogs making it into the upper levels of Ring (Mondio and French) in this country are Malinois or Dutch Shepherds, mainly Malinois. If you want a GSD for Ring, get one from Ring lines, there are some differences between those and the Sch line dogs. If it's Sch you want to do then a GSD or Malinois would be good.

Malinois as house dogs, this depends as much on the committment of the owner as it does the individual dog. Many people get Malinois because they consider them the best tool for the job, not because they really like the breed that much, or would even have one if they weren't competing in their sport of choice. So they have limited motivation to make the dog a good house dog, easier to just say they suck as house dogs and put the dog out in a kennel. If you want to have the dog as a house dog, it's very doable.