Asking, no begging, for sincere Belgian Malinois advice - Page 3

Nice!!

Jivan
Then my 16 yr old son's girlfriend told us the other day how her family had a mal. (What are the odds?)  She said they got it when he was about two and had it for over a year.  She said it was a great dog but then one day  she was petting it when someone slammed a basement door and the Mal. bit her in the face.  Turns out they discover the Mal. was a failed police dog.  They got rid of the dog, sued the person who sold it because he knew this and didn't reveal it, and so on and so on.   So, RellikMalinois, even though what you are saying makes perfect sense I am afraid my wife is not real receptive to bringing a mature Mal. in the home.
ABMC Rescue does NOT take dogs that have ANY bite training. So no police wash outs, personal protection and/or sport dogs.

As for the ot vitosha dogs, they are fabulous but they are a WORKING line which i suggest you avoid if you are looking for a less drivey and calmer mal. Id go with ot vitosha if i was looking for another working dog. Just my opinion.

http://youtu.be/BP9ZT5YGBNY 
 
These are happy confident 5 month old pups just playing.
 
With my first mal , when he was a pup, I held the ball up in front of my face and he jumped up for it and gave me a black eye!

My nephew just asked why I was cracking up so much.  That video is hysterical!! 

RellikMalinois: Hope I didn't give the false impression that my son's girlfriend was suggesting the Mal. that bit her was from a rescue.  The point was my wife heard that story and did not want a mature Mal. where we didn't know its past.  Sorry if I did a poor job of communicating that. 

As far as the  vitosha line goes, I appreciate the advice but at this point it doesn't matter.  It sounds like real actual Malinois owners unanimously agree that a Mal MUST be a working dog in calmer home in circumstances more ideal than what I describe.  I kept thinking/hoping that somebody would write in and say they got a great mal puppy from a great breeder, trained, socialized, exercised, taught, etc and he/she made a great active family pet even though it wasn't a working dog---but, no such luck.   As obsessed as I am with these dogs I have to keep my family in mind and defer to experts and people with real Mal. experience.   .

Thank God I wrote this forum for advice!  (Makes me wonder why sooo many people kept telling me "as long as you jog with her and socialize her and go to obedience school she'll be fine, it's nurture over nature, it's only the owner and not the breed., etc...")  I kind of hope they either first see this forum or research the Malligators a little more extensively. 

Guess I'll take one poster's advice and admire Mals from afar.   Thanks for all the advice from everyone.  Sigh, maybe some day.....

(Makes me wonder why sooo many people kept telling me "as long as you jog with her and socialize her and go to obedience school she'll be fine, it's nurture over nature, it's only the owner and not the breed., etc...")  

Because they're pet and/or rescue volunteers or people with no working experience with Malinois and also probably think dogs with genetically crappy temperament are that way because they were abused by kids, a man in sneakers, people who wear hats, etc.    

* "Because they're pet and/or rescue volunteers or people with no working experience with Malinois and also probably think dogs with genetically crappy temperament are that way because they were abused by kids, a man in sneakers, people who wear hats, etc." *

-- and prolly think a normal Malinois has a genetically crappy temperament and they are that way because of poor breeding.

I find this true with the ASPCA and horse breeds. I get calls every now and again to pick up so called "rescues" from farms that go broke. For some strange reason AC thinks yearling Crabbet and Imaann stallions should act like a pony.

I just wonder how many horses they put down because they think it's poor breeding and/or abuse. I know they have no horse sense around here. Scared shitless too of a well bred horse. 

*"I find this true with the ASPCA and horse breeds. I get calls every now and again to pick up so called "rescues" from farms that go broke. For some strange reason AC thinks yearling Crabbet and Imaann stallions should act like a pony."

ROFLOL, Oh my, sorry, I have an AA Al Bashyr colt. When his breeder called and asked me if I wanted him at 5 months old, she said "he is stupid hot". I said that's ok, I have Mals :)

I do have Mals in "pet" homes, with young kids, but they were prepped for over a year before getting their pup, and did everything right. It is a huge commitment that everyone in the family has to be 100% committed to. And it has to be the right family.

I have to wonder where some of these people are getting their working line Mals from. My KNPV titled imports were actually stable, and had none of the 'issues' so many people are describing. I can't imagine working the streets with some of the dogs I see out there now days.

To the OP, I have to agree with another poster and say that a nice GSD would be your better bet.

Elektra21: If you don't mind me asking, how old were the kids when you got the Mals. and do you have other pets? (Kind of put the Mal. thing on hold but still curious)

Jenni78 + BabyEagle4U: Some of the people I spoke with were rescue workers and volunteers so you were dead on in your comments!  However....Some of the people were Mal. owners/breeders and very knowledgable. They said the they could breed a lower drive dog and also the dog is what you make it.  I know many of the posters disagree with that...But the fact remains that there are people with Mals. and Mal. experience who feel that so the questions stands.....

ps Been too embarrassed to ask but I've needed it so many times I have to: If anyone feels to let me know how you post segments of other peoples' comments on your own (when quoting them) I would greatly appreciate it.  It's kind of obvious but I've never been on a forum before....


 

Jivan, when I got my first Mal my daughter was 5, and we had 3 by the time my son was born. I have cats, chickens, horses, and through the years goats as well. We have a "do not eat family members" policy here.
However, I also have 25+ years in K9 training and am equipt to handle the Mals. A large majority of even active pet homes, cannot adapt to the rigors of owning a Mal pup. I turn many, many people down for my pups simply because of their drive. Unless a person has an excellent support system, and can spend an unlimited amout of time working with their puppy, it is not only stressful for the family, but for the puppy as well. The biggest thing "pet" people do not grasp about owning a working dog breed (any) is that even though they are in a pet environment, they still need to be treated like a working dog. Making them a "pet" does not limit their natural tendencies. How many people are ok with their Mal standing on the dining room table to get a better view out the window? Or being on top of the counter to leap for that potted plant in the corner ceiling? Or ripping the screen door off becasue their ball is on the other side? Leaping, and catching, the fan pull? Turning their new wire crate into scrap metal? And don't even bother with a plastic one.
It all happens, and there are very, very few homes prepared to handle that.
A Mal pup is constant 24/7 training. I tell people if they make it through the first two years, they will have an awesome dog. But it can be a rough two years.

Might be the best description yet.  Thanks Elektra21!!!!