After reading my post again, and seeing the replies, I'm starting to think this may be poor stress coping skills. It's something I haven't really worked on him with outside of me stressing him. There's really never been any environmental/out of my hands stress pushing him. This makes me wonder if his nerves aren't as 'solid' as I thought they were. I never considered him a solid, nerves-of-steel type of dog. He's needy, clingy, a mommas boy, desperate for attention, constantly seeks guidance, needs a soft hand and a firm voice.

Steve basically hit the nail on the head. I don't know if all malinois are like this (don't have THAT much experience to say) but my dog's certainly edgy and sensitive. He also spooks at random things, but thankfully not a lot. There's a small concrete donkey in someone's yard that he absolutely hates because it stares at him. If I cover it's eyes up, he'll go up to it, but starts stress panting immediately, is wary, ready to jump away if it tries to bite him.

I think instead of focusing on this specific issue, I'm going to try and find info on building confidence and see if it flows over into this. He's never refused to obey a command, even when he's extremely upset. A lunging barking dog just a foot away from him and he's more than willing to trust me that I've got it under control. On one hand, I'm glad my dog trusts me so much, but on the other I've failed him in not presenting more stressors to challenge him with. He's an incredibly easy dog to work with, so I think practicing confidence skills will come quickly and naturally for him.

I'm going to be reading the confidence thread as well. If anyone else has links or info/advice I'd appreciate it. Off to google!

One thing I've found that helped with one of my collies that tended to freak out at things was to give a light, "don't be silly" type correction and then just go on as if there was nothing to fear.

 Quote: Jodi Moen

Just to clarify, I wasn't suggesting that the handler actually fall or go down on the dog, just mimicking some of the noises a person might make if they did go down. I totally agree cats would be an entirely different issue, but if the dog is afraid of someone shuffling their feet, I would shuffle my feet when feeding the dog, walking the dog etc. I agree it is a fine line with getting the dog over his new fear. Jodi

That's what I meant, too. Did not mean to actually fall on the dog. I should say that what I was suggesting is just something that has worked with me, with the few dogs that I have owned (Dobermans).

Of course I am not in the same category of experience as someone like Steve, Tabitha, or the people that I'm guessing PM'd Connie. I also have never owned a Malinois. So I'm learning some things in this thread, too. Shoot, that's why I belong to this board.

In my experience, malinois are very sensitive dogs. Sure, not all of them are, but I think that has more to do with how they're raised than true personality. Dobermans strike me as a dog that likes it's people, and is sensitive, but is okay with handling things on his own.

 Quote: SamanthaTopper

In my experience, malinois are very sensitive dogs. Sure, not all of them are, but I think that has more to do with how they're raised than true personality. Dobermans strike me as a dog that likes it's people, and is sensitive, but is okay with handling things on his own.

Mals (in general)remind me more of Collies when it comes to sensitivity which is one reason I mentioned what's worked in the past when I had the collies.

I'm only a dog owner Cheri, same as you. I don't have any special qualifications or expertise. I think in a lot of ways, the same qualities that make Mals so trainable can also make it easier to make mistakes. But even if it wasnt a Mal, my first thought would be to just let it pass, don't make a big deal out of it.

No Mals here, but I do have sensitive quirky Border Collies...

What I think I'd do in that type of situation is take several steps back and work on the basics. Focus on what you want and make it clear and rewarding to the dog. Practice in a wider and wider variety of situations and be very consistent in what you're asking of the dog. Ignore what you don't want and reward what you do.

Sensitive dogs seem to get thrown out of whack when presented with too much information. They seem to try to interpret ALL of it (including signals, voice inflection etc, that we don't realize we're giving) and act accordingly. In other words they're almost trying too hard to please and getting frazzled in the process. When this happens IMO it's best to go back to something very simple and clear and build on that.

To much like flooding to me! I'm not a big fan of that in most instances.

Side bar
When I taught my first OB class there was an elderly gentleman with a Cocker Spaniel. The man had a physical disability that made his movements and timing a real workout.
We were working on a "down" command and the gentelman just wasn't getting it. The class was assembled around the room and I would call out "Down your dogs". By the time the gentelman made the motions the timing was waaaay off......until.
I called out "Down your dogs" and the poor guy instantly fell flat on top of the dog.
Neither were injured but from that moment on, whenever I called out "Down your dogs" this Cocker would hit the deck as flat as a pancake!

I don't have that much experience either, Pan is my first Mal, but she used to be very spooky around strangers. I tried a lot of different things to get her over her reactivity, but the only thing that finally worked with her was correcting her for acting like an idiot, and giving her an alternate command to follow.

I'm not saying to correct him for being fearful, but giving him some obedience to do might take his mind off of what's scaring him. I have found that Pan is happiest and most confident when she knows what is expected of her and she has a "job" to do.

Agree, I was thinking off my own experience and bombproofing my own dogs and horses-forgetting I don't know this dog, or his quirks. Jodi