low drive malinois - Page 1

Hi Stella. I joined just to talk to you- I have a very similar issue. First part of May, I rescued an about 8 month old puppy with a broken leg from the middle of the road- turned out to be a Malinois.
Though I have no knowledge of her prior situation, her behaviour suggests abuse and confinement. She is is super affectionate, and friendly- to really everybody- so much so that she doesn't even understand aggression when she encounters it. I've had several time to pull her away from snarling dogs. Since I had never even heard of Mals before, I did a little research, to find they are still very much a working breed a need a job. I have neither perps nor sheep, so I thought frisbee might be pretty cool, . She IS very active and energetic, and plays well with other dogs as well as cats, and is an avid squirrel and mouse chaser, but take no interest in toys.  She does take a little more interest in toys with a treat in them, as well as Daddy's work socks after they've been in his steel toed boots for a 12 hour shift, and in the rotten oppossum in the neighbors yard, so here's my bright idea: I got a ball made of tied up cotton rags, about the size of a tennis ball, and have been stuffing it in my work socks to make it nice and stinky. I'm hoping we can start here, and then go on to unfermented toys. I'll give you a progress report.  One thing extra, on how long it takes. When I brought Elah home, she had to have permission to do every little thing, even to move from the spot where I'd placed her. For both our dogs, it may not be an issue of "drive" or "interest", but of feeling free to have fun.

It sounds like a confidence issue to me. I wouldn't worry about the drive right now. Just build confidence in everything during daily normal life and then go from there.

I'd be careful of frisbee work with a dog that has a history of leg injuries, many a frisbee dog has suffered ACL tears not to mention the other bone and joint injuries that are common to the sport.  Just to be sure I would ask Mr. Magoo, the new self proclaimed patriarch of the Belgian Malinois, if he says it's okay, run with it, after all, he's done flyball with schnoodles.

Both very good points. She still somewhat has to check and see if its Ok to do something.  The vet who did her leg work assures me it's absolutely healed, but I agree, there may be little "invisible" injuries. I really have her just as pet, and have no designs on freestyle championships, but just don't want her go unfullfilled in life.

just an update- the last 3 weeks Elah has been playing tug-of war with her leish on her walks, and keep-away with several toys, including the afore- mentioned "stinky ball". Previously she would show moderate interest in a toy, untill I "took it away from her" - but she's getting the idea it's a game now. I think the "confidence" comment was dead on.