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by VSzmyd on 06 April 2010 - 13:04
Hi everyone!
So, we just got our new Belgian Malinois puppy. We don't compete in any sports, schutzhund, etc. We just wanted a dog for the family and since we're a pretty active family, figured the mal would work out fine. Well, I have a lot of concerns about this pup now and I don't know what to do. First off, she's only eleven weeks and is already acting aggressive towards everyone and anyone outside the family! I've been told a million times, "socialize, socialize, socialize! It's so important with this breed." How am I supposed to do that when she growls at everyone who approaches her? I'm afraid she's going to bite someone. I took her into Petsmart the other day to socialize and a lady approached her and tried to pet her and she started growling. Next, which is the biggest problem to me is, she keeps nipping my daughter. We take her out to fields, forest preserves, etc. and everytime we start playing with her, it doesn't matter if we have a ball, toy, etc, she goes after my daughter! First day it happened, we figured it was because my daughter was running around, excited, so naturally, she thinks she's playing and will chase her, but yesterday we were in this sand area and my daughter was just standing there and the dog kept coming at her. She grabbed onto her pants and wouldn't let go and after that, I stood in front of my daughter to protect her and the dog kept trying to get around me to get at her, running full force at her and I put out my arm to stop her and she bit my arm! We have a purebred cat at home and we've been intoducing slowly, luckily nothing has happened yet, but lately the cat is getting brave and coming right near the dog and I'm scared my cat is going to become her next live chew toy. I have no idea what to do. We read books on training the perfect puppy, watched videos. We've been teaching her the command, 'leave it" and it works sometimes, but not when she's in that "mode", chewing on my daughter. Next - she gets in these moods where she starts making these wierd whining noises and runs around nipping and chewing everything. We bought her a million bones, chew toys, etc. and she still chews everything. All the problems are driving me and my husband apart. He keeps saying, "it's just a puppy. she's just playing", well playing or not, my daughter has marks on her arms and legs and it needs to stop. I'm just waiting until I have to take her for stitches! And my husband just sits on the bench like a lump and does nothing while I try to fend this dog off from my three year old, which really gets at me! Any advice would really help.
So, we just got our new Belgian Malinois puppy. We don't compete in any sports, schutzhund, etc. We just wanted a dog for the family and since we're a pretty active family, figured the mal would work out fine. Well, I have a lot of concerns about this pup now and I don't know what to do. First off, she's only eleven weeks and is already acting aggressive towards everyone and anyone outside the family! I've been told a million times, "socialize, socialize, socialize! It's so important with this breed." How am I supposed to do that when she growls at everyone who approaches her? I'm afraid she's going to bite someone. I took her into Petsmart the other day to socialize and a lady approached her and tried to pet her and she started growling. Next, which is the biggest problem to me is, she keeps nipping my daughter. We take her out to fields, forest preserves, etc. and everytime we start playing with her, it doesn't matter if we have a ball, toy, etc, she goes after my daughter! First day it happened, we figured it was because my daughter was running around, excited, so naturally, she thinks she's playing and will chase her, but yesterday we were in this sand area and my daughter was just standing there and the dog kept coming at her. She grabbed onto her pants and wouldn't let go and after that, I stood in front of my daughter to protect her and the dog kept trying to get around me to get at her, running full force at her and I put out my arm to stop her and she bit my arm! We have a purebred cat at home and we've been intoducing slowly, luckily nothing has happened yet, but lately the cat is getting brave and coming right near the dog and I'm scared my cat is going to become her next live chew toy. I have no idea what to do. We read books on training the perfect puppy, watched videos. We've been teaching her the command, 'leave it" and it works sometimes, but not when she's in that "mode", chewing on my daughter. Next - she gets in these moods where she starts making these wierd whining noises and runs around nipping and chewing everything. We bought her a million bones, chew toys, etc. and she still chews everything. All the problems are driving me and my husband apart. He keeps saying, "it's just a puppy. she's just playing", well playing or not, my daughter has marks on her arms and legs and it needs to stop. I'm just waiting until I have to take her for stitches! And my husband just sits on the bench like a lump and does nothing while I try to fend this dog off from my three year old, which really gets at me! Any advice would really help.
by malndobe on 06 April 2010 - 13:04
Honestly my advice to you would be to return this puppy to the breeder. It sounds like you got a lot more dog then you want, need, or are prepared to deal with. And you are the one dealing with it. I would also be aiming some of these questions at your breeder.
If that's not an option, there are a few things you can do. First, keep the pup on a leash when around your child. Your puppy really is just being a puppy when she chases and bites your child, but I can still understand your concern. And it's not fair to your child, she's only 3, she can't make the puppy stop. Actually her reaction is what is making the puppy want to bite her more, even if she's not running when the puppy grabs her clothes, I'm sure there is a reaction once it happens and that is feeding the puppies drive. If the pup is on a leash, then you can make sure she can't bite your child, and as she grows up a learns what is and isn't appropriate, the issue should fade away. If you don't get a handle on it now, your daughter is going to hate/fear this dog eventually, and they are going to be living together for a long time.
Next, find a trainer in your area. Preferably someone who is used to working with working breeds and not just low drive pets. If the pup is going to happily co-exist in your house, you are going to need to get started training her. The trainer will also be able to see and evaluate the growling behavior, if it's fear, dominance or ??? The "wierd whining noises" sounds like she's getting into a high state of drive/excitement. Especially since she starts running around nipping and chewing. For now, the only things that should be available to her to chew, should be things that are appropriate for her to chew. She is not going to understand the difference between her puppy toys and your daughters toys, anything the pup shouldn' t have needs to be out of reach. Or you need to be available to redirect the pup from inappropriate to appropriate items until she learns the difference. It's not a lifelong thing, my dogs all know just because my shoes, or something like a couch pillow or remote control that fell off the couch, are on the floor doesn't make them fair game. But they didn't get like that on their own, and at 11 weeks, or even 6 months, there would still have been a good chance I'd have seen the puppy prancing around the house with a pillow proudly held in it's mouth.
Seriously though, I'd really suggest talking to the breeder about returning the pup, it doesn't sound like this pup, or maybe this breed, are a good fit for you right now.
If that's not an option, there are a few things you can do. First, keep the pup on a leash when around your child. Your puppy really is just being a puppy when she chases and bites your child, but I can still understand your concern. And it's not fair to your child, she's only 3, she can't make the puppy stop. Actually her reaction is what is making the puppy want to bite her more, even if she's not running when the puppy grabs her clothes, I'm sure there is a reaction once it happens and that is feeding the puppies drive. If the pup is on a leash, then you can make sure she can't bite your child, and as she grows up a learns what is and isn't appropriate, the issue should fade away. If you don't get a handle on it now, your daughter is going to hate/fear this dog eventually, and they are going to be living together for a long time.
Next, find a trainer in your area. Preferably someone who is used to working with working breeds and not just low drive pets. If the pup is going to happily co-exist in your house, you are going to need to get started training her. The trainer will also be able to see and evaluate the growling behavior, if it's fear, dominance or ??? The "wierd whining noises" sounds like she's getting into a high state of drive/excitement. Especially since she starts running around nipping and chewing. For now, the only things that should be available to her to chew, should be things that are appropriate for her to chew. She is not going to understand the difference between her puppy toys and your daughters toys, anything the pup shouldn' t have needs to be out of reach. Or you need to be available to redirect the pup from inappropriate to appropriate items until she learns the difference. It's not a lifelong thing, my dogs all know just because my shoes, or something like a couch pillow or remote control that fell off the couch, are on the floor doesn't make them fair game. But they didn't get like that on their own, and at 11 weeks, or even 6 months, there would still have been a good chance I'd have seen the puppy prancing around the house with a pillow proudly held in it's mouth.
Seriously though, I'd really suggest talking to the breeder about returning the pup, it doesn't sound like this pup, or maybe this breed, are a good fit for you right now.
by Jon luc on 06 April 2010 - 15:04
Find the puppy a new home. And get one of those stuffed
animals at toys our us.
animals at toys our us.
by usaboss on 06 April 2010 - 20:04
What city and state are you in? I am a K-9 officer. might be interested in your pup
by Judy P on 07 April 2010 - 03:04
It sounds like this is more puppy then you and your family really need. If it is possible to return it to the breeder I would do so, if not you really need to consider another home for the puppy - with an experienced owner. I love my Mals but they are not the dog everyone should own.
by Keith Grossman on 07 April 2010 - 18:04
I have to agree with everyone else; you need a Golden Retriever, not a Malinois.
by gunnardog on 13 April 2010 - 00:04
I can fully understand your frustration. We are parents of a 2yr old Mal/GSD mix.We are considered very experienced owners, so when we adopted Gunnar we fully knew what we were getting into..or did we?
G Dog ( as we call him) has a very strong herding drive,doesn't care much for large dogs(,but will submit to a Pomeranian )and his must annoying trait, pacing. He has two speeds,on and full blast.We run everyday and he is trained to walk on the treadmill.I had to stop bringing him to the dog park because he tries to herd the other dogs whether they wanted to be herded or not..This dog requires constant attention and discipline.My advice is unless you can give this dog attention and training 24-7 then you have the wrong breed. Mals are a full time job!
G Dog ( as we call him) has a very strong herding drive,doesn't care much for large dogs(,but will submit to a Pomeranian )and his must annoying trait, pacing. He has two speeds,on and full blast.We run everyday and he is trained to walk on the treadmill.I had to stop bringing him to the dog park because he tries to herd the other dogs whether they wanted to be herded or not..This dog requires constant attention and discipline.My advice is unless you can give this dog attention and training 24-7 then you have the wrong breed. Mals are a full time job!
by Jon luc on 13 April 2010 - 00:04
My malinois are not like that, they are pretty good inside they lay down and go to sleep.
They play with 5 other dogs every day and I have no problems at all. When I throw the ball
they jump over them or go around them. They will play with puppies a little, but stay by me most
of the time. You have a mix dog, it sound more like the German Shepherd part.
They play with 5 other dogs every day and I have no problems at all. When I throw the ball
they jump over them or go around them. They will play with puppies a little, but stay by me most
of the time. You have a mix dog, it sound more like the German Shepherd part.
by Jon luc on 13 April 2010 - 01:04
Gunnar,
You sound like that Mother who adopted this little boy
and had to give him back. She could not handle him. This was just in the news.
A dog is an important addition to a family, when every body else in the family seems
to be in a crisis at least you should able to say the dog is ok. What I am hearing is
the family is fine, it's the dog that is disfunctional.
You sound like that Mother who adopted this little boy
and had to give him back. She could not handle him. This was just in the news.
A dog is an important addition to a family, when every body else in the family seems
to be in a crisis at least you should able to say the dog is ok. What I am hearing is
the family is fine, it's the dog that is disfunctional.
by Jaakan van de Haantjeshoek on 18 June 2010 - 19:06
Clearly this is a mismatch which you as the owner should have done more research on the breed and the breeder should have never placed the dog with a family that is not going to work this breed. I have owned 2 Rottweilers, 1 a SchHIII and the drive that my 12 week old male Mali has, puts them to shame. Had I not had experience (I am still learning) handling Rottweilers for 10 yrs I would never be able to handle this new guy.
Do the right thing and find a good working home for the dog and prevent a potential tragic or at best unhappy outcome.
Do the right thing and find a good working home for the dog and prevent a potential tragic or at best unhappy outcome.
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