Quote: Kristin Muntz

And this is the vid I always link folks who say they want a Mal puppy - your puppy MAY not be like any of these dogs, but then again...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BP9ZT5YGBNY

God i love it!! this maded my day! Im dying! Thank you for that!
They sure are awesome.

After much deep thought, i have just recently come to the conclusion that you will be on a good start if...

You are happily willing to change everything in your life for dogs. Including clothing, dating, your free time.
If your career is literally dogs, and can work with your dogs all day.
If you are very active in dogs sports, or require a dog to work as its breed is intended to.
If you look forward to putting the money, time, sweat and tears into your dog team to be the best you can.

If learning as much as you can about dogs.
Buying equipment just because your obsessed.
Doing everything you can possibly do with your dog makes you happy.
If you are a bit more than dedicated to dogs.

Watching your mal on a sleeve... your bird dog at a point.. your collie give everything the eye...
If this truly makes you feel FULL, like NOTHING else in this world can.. and you would do anything for it..then maybe look into getting that dog.


If you are looking at a dog because it is just "cute". Then buy a stuffed animal. Not ANY breed of dog.
If you want a dog just to accompany you on walks on weekends, get a human walking buddy.

Yup! I used to think anyone with dog knowledge could handle a malinois, but I didn't realize how unique the time and training and bonding I put into my dogs really is among "average" dog owners. A malinois (at least the ones I have) bond completely and totally often with just one person. That person is then their life. It's a huge responsibility.

Malinois are supposed to be reactive to some degree, working with that especially in a puppy is hard. Malinois are soft yet hard, training a malinois is a special task. Malinois are incredibly intense, unless you are a fairly intense, quick-reflexes person yourself, this might turn you off. I love it, almost none of my dog-owning friends would.

I don't think malinois have to go to homes where they are worked, but they do need to go to homes that meet their needs and put in the time. I don't care if their job is herding sheep, going on trail runs, or police k9, as long as they get to work with their person, are respected and loved for all that makes a malinois great (including their quirks), and exercised and socialized properly. Assuming they come from solid breeding.

I have a super nice 10 week old male puppy here now, confident, outgoing, old-school Dutch police dog type. He was returned after 3 days, for being car aggressive among other things. People meet my female and think what a great dog she is and that her puppy will be the same immediately. What they don't see is the time, training, socialization and bonding that went into her! Tell them all you want, they don't get it until they see it.

They are wonderful, amazing dogs for the right people. They will up your training and connection to dogs to a whole new level. But they are a lot of dog, and they are "aggressive" by most "pet" people standards. Not a good match for most people, at least not if they are from strong working lines.

So.. he chases cars?
Do you ship to Georgia? (joking, I'm on a puppy diet until 2018)

don't curse my name but when I first got my malinois I thought id made a huge mistake and wished I never got her. Im a certified master dog trainer and I worked at an animal shelter for six years with some extremely human and dog aggressive dogs as well as many other issues, fear aggression, hyperactivity, food aggression, separation anxiety. Ive dealt with dogs who have seriously injured people. I'd done all my research and wanted a malinois. When my dutch shepherd who was a very mild mannered dutch shepherd passed unexpectedly shortly after my childhood dog died at 17 it was time. Lo and behold someone on cl no longer wanted their 5 month malinois. Said she was good with dogs and cats and she was young so what could go wrong? Im a very active and pretty savvy dog person I think.....

Its a whole different ball game owning one, nothing prepares you, couple that with general crazy puppyness, and I didn't know what I had done. I dreaded coming home from work, I cried, I fought with my fiancée. She was food aggressive, never stopped chewing, biting, running around, harassing the other dog, chasing the cat, wasn't house trained, just everything, she was a holy terror. It was a lot of work and also just getting her used to us and finding a schedule and adapting to her in our lives. she left her old owners and didn't look back, she had no bond with us at first.

fast forward to her now just over a year and omg my fiancée now teases me about my creepy obsession with my dog. I am so in love, to the point where no other breed will do. Theres nothing she cant do. Shes great with dogs, the cat, not food aggressive anymore, always comes when called, barely even trained her for that, shes just so bonded to me. We do lots of activities, hiking every wknd, swimming daily, tracking, kayacking, running, boating, obedience, agility this summer and looking into either French ring or schutzhund. I don't need to tell anyone who has a malinois the work involved, its more just a life change, my life is solely her, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

I hope everyone who thinks they want a Mal (or any super-drivey puppy) reads this.

"Its a whole different ball game owning one, nothing prepares you, couple that with general crazy puppyness, and I didn't know what I had done."

I've fostered young Mals, and I readily admit that I have now passed the point in my life where I even CAN keep up with one. And I too have experience with "human and dog aggressive dogs as well as many other issues, fear aggression, hyperactivity, food aggression, separation anxiety."


It's always best for both the dog and the human to be matched in craziness energy and drive.


JMO!

its so much harder as puppies coz you don't wanna stress their joints. honestly seeing other mals I think shes pretty low key. Im very active so I knew I wanted that but when im at home I don't want to be constantly bugged, and she doesn't, shes such an angel now. now im like why would I want any other breed lol, but when people ask about her I tell them the puppy part.

maybe angels a bit of a stretch, but to me she is. People always comment omg ive never seen such a hyper dog, wow shes got energy to burn, etc but I don't even notice it now. Heck shes probably the same and Im the one who got trained lol.

Holes in pants, shirts and underthings, bloody extremeties and destroyed furniture. Get a lab.

 Quote: Kristin Muntz

Holes in pants, shirts and underthings, bloody extremeties and destroyed furniture. Get a lab.

Speaking of labs holy SHIZ. I had a BLAST today.
I just got home from what SOME people may call living hell?? XD

This PUPPY, was the most extreme dog i have ever come across. That includes all the mals dutches pitties I have never seen such a high drive, neurotic ,LABRADOR PUP MESS, in my life.

I wont go into details. I dont want to bother any leerburgers. (owner has a very familiar leash.... I noticed it as i was choking the dog off me.) Just ranting about my day. No harsh feelings intended...

But... If you come across this post. I want ya to know i will be praying for ya! ...when she gets older PLEASE let me take her about my day from time to time? You have yourself one hell of a dog! And for the love of god, do something with her or you may find yourself missing a damned good dog!
Where the hell do you even get a lab pup like that?