help with new rescue malinois - Page 1

Hi, I rescued a mal about 3 weeks ago--a 6 month old female, neglect case--"raised" in a kennel, no or very little socialization.  I did a little research on the breed prior, not enough--generic info that told me that they make good family pets for experienced dog owners and with socialization and exercise.   I put an obedience title on a golden, which I guess qualifies me to own a mal in the same way touring an aviation museum qualifies me to fly a jet!  But she is a great dog and I love her already!

I am amazed at what this dog has learned in just three weeks!

Anyway, I want to take care of any problems before they start--or get worse.  Her temperment is starting to change.  She  adores me and has become very possessive of me--she growled softly at my pit bull this morning when he came over to us, and then tried to force him away from me.  That was a joke--my pit bull very appropiately body slammed her away with a snarl.  No teeth involved--bit bull is a lover, not a fighter, very easy going but not a push over.

Biggest problem is my husband.  She is fearful of him.  No past trauma with men that I know of.  He was gone most of the last three weeks, just home on weekends.   He loves dogs and has never hurt her.   She no longer hides when he is around, but will not respond to him at all--won't go in or out, started to take cheese from  him, but today has started to bark at him when he is in the yard with her.  Not all out crazy bark, more cautious, alert.  She will come over to him if I am with him and allow him to pet her--if he is sitting down.  He is more fearful of him when he is standing.   This dog has come a long way in just three weeks, and yes, I know she needs to get use to him--but I do not have any experience with this kind of dog/behavior and I want to take care of it before it gets worse.   He works long hours, so having him be her primarly care taker for a while is really not an option. 

Dog gets a lot of exercies--twice daily walks, hours out on the farm with me, will start to horse back ride with her with her once she has a little more training.  Short bike rides down to the river to swim, and will start short runs (one or two miles) once I heal up from an injury.  Don't want to over do it for a 7-month old puppy--but how do you tires these guys out!!!  Big outdoor kennel with the other dogs three days a week for about 8 hours while I am at work.  Shorter trips she stays in the house--no real destruction so far. 
 
She is shy and tends towards anxiety.  She is reserved towards strangers.  She is good with my other dogs--border collie and pit bull.  Plays with the border collie.  Fearful  of other dogs, no tendencies towards fighting so far.    She listens to me very well--took one hour to train her not to chase the chickens and cats (ok, she relapses a bit on the cats sometimes--but it is sooo much fun.  She ignores the chickens totally and ignores the cats unless they run--no agression towards them).   She won't chase a ball/frisbee.   She is great with our twice daily off- leash walks in the woods--she walks volunatarily by my side, occasionally sprints with the border collie and then runs back to me.   Walks well on leash too.   Come when I call--incredible recall--went after a spooked deer this morning, immediately stopped, turned, and ran back to me without a moments hesitation when I called!  We are starting basic obedience at home (sit, stay, down, ect).  She is distractable, but smart.

Would appreciate any information, or help with getting her to respond to my husband--I am going away in A

Have your husband do the feeding for awhile. everything that you have said sounds like a malinois. MUST be patience with her. From what you said, she seems to have a bad experience with a man before. Your husband must take a more of a active role in her life. have everything he does with her be fun. Hi squekey noises from him will probably get her attention and she might want to play with him. Treat her like the puppy she is. Take her with you everywhere you and your husband go and socialize her to different things. Be slow and careful with her. The breed is quick to learn and once the learn something, it is hard to change it, good or bad. 

I agree with reedman, but i would reacommend  your Husband to do hand feeding for a week with her. The best way to bond with a dog is to take her out for a walk. If your husband has enough time ask him to take her out every day. Remember to give him some treats dogs love their food and every time she comes to him he needs to give her a treat. She will then learn that nothing bad is happening to her when she is around your husband.  I wish you good luck and keep us posted how she is doing
Regards
Kam

Thank,

  I am still amazed at the loyalty of this dog.  Or maybe just annoyed!  She follows me around all the time (although she is comfortable outside by herself and will wonder around--not always glued to my side)

It's getting somewhat better with my husband around more.  She does not hide when my husband is around anyjmore, and she will take a treat from him cautiously.  He feeds her when he is home and will come for walks with me, but he works very long hours and often comes home too late.  She is more at ease with him when I am around, if I am sitting with him she will come over and be very friendly towards him, licking him, etc.  She will often greet him in the morning when he is still in bed.  However, he is still very scary when he is standing/walking around--not so scary when sitting/lying down.  (He is abut 6 feet).  She still give an occasional nervous bark at him when he is walking around and I am not nearby, no growling though.

She still won't respond to him, she would not come in the house for him the other day. She does not ignore him, it seems to be out of fear/anxiety.  She did come to him on a off leash walk the other day when he called--lots of praise for this!  (I was on the walk too).    I plan on a 4 day vacation in August, so I really hope she starts to respond to him by them, since he will be taking care of her! 
I will try your advice and have him carry some tasty treats around in his pocket at all times when he is home, that is a good idea.

Trying to socialize her the best we can in our country neck of the woods--lots of walks and visits to neighbors.  She is ok with strangers, ignores them for the most part, she will cautiously let people pet her.  No signs of aggression, although very reserve, but if I stop and talk, she will just lay down at my feet and wait.  Good dog!

She is very fearful of other dogs, a neighbor's crazy beagle pack has gone after her a few times, I try to avoid them, but sometimes they are out running loose.  (there are three of them)  My border collie fights back if necessary, the pit bull just looks at them and dares them to try (they stay away from him!).  My poor Mal runs, but she does run to me when scared.  I quick put her on a leash when I see them, but we have encountered them once or twice by surprise.  Talking to the neighbor will not help--this is red-neck country, a lot of my neighbors don't understand why I spend so much time walking my dogs when "they can just run loose and exercise themselves".   (I do not let my dogs ever leave my immediate property unattended!).  I am trying to socialized her with friendly dogs, but damage has been done.  She does gets along fine with my other two dogs, expecially the border collie.

Try some hot dogs and cheese for the treats dogs love them xxx

I think that people gave up on her as she wasn't socialised properly from early age. It takes time but it will pay off at the end. She is stil a young pup. I think the best is to take her to some dog classes and socialise her with balanced dogs. Whatever you do with her do it slowly, and try to see dog behaviourist.
Hope all will be good at the end
Regards
Kam

Here is another way to find rescue dogs, http://searchdogsonline.com/  

She does love cheese.  My husband gave her a lot of treats the last few days--went very well, she was starting to come to him and take the treats when he called.  She is doing better with him when I am home, and sometimes even seems friendly.  But when I am not home, she resorts back to the fear/anxiety--barking at him a bit, hiding, even growling if he try to comes near.  She won't take any food from him then.

My husband is getting frustrated with her.  Like I said before, he works very long hours during the week, so I need to be the one to feed/walk her Monday-Friday, although he has been spending some time trying to win her over every day.  He really likes dogs, and our other two really like him!

I know the breed tends to be a "one person dog"--I am definety that person for her--she is so great for me, a perfect dog!  But there are times when when I will need my husband to take care of her.

Thanks for the help!

I know this will be controversail, but stop the treats, especially your husband. Have her work for love. It is IMHO a mistake to train a dog to work for treats

secondly, long hours or not, he has to spend tme with her. At frist with you if that's necessary, but he has to be with her alone and get beyond her fears between the two of them. Mals can be one-person dogs, but with patience and love she will wrm to him. It won't happen overnight and he has to want to do it, otherwise the dog will sense his frustration and nothing will be accomplished.

Continue your loving ways and habits, the dog is obviously anchored to you and needs that.

As far as the other dogs in the 'hood, give her some time, she's still a pup. If you can instill some confidence in her she'll become more aggressive than your pit toward them in her good time. it will be a self-limiting problem. Most Mals sooner or later gain confidence and end up being bold, keep feeding her love and affection, real physical affection.

Your husband must form his own relationship with her. I had a female dobe once that was so mis treated by her previous owners that she would bark like crazy when I came home after a long day. It was irratating. It took about a year, but she slowly became a great dog and we had a wonderful relationship once I broke through. Your husband may need more encouragement than the dog!

Again, NO TREATS, all LOVE. It really is best... yes, she loves them, but values love and her safety within the pack (your home) much more. You and your husband are "pack leader", showing her acceptance and affection is a far better motivator. and better for her diet.