Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was wondering if anyone could give me any opinions on the Beligian Malinois. I am posting on this message board because I am partial to shepherds, and have the opportunity to adopt a 6 month old female Belgian Malinois from a shelter.

I was told at the shelter her brother was just adopted and looked more like the Malinois but she looks more like a shepherd.

I love German Shepherds but have some concern about the Malinois being out of control and aggressive, or would mixing with the GSD help tone that down?

We just had to return an akita puppy because he was becoming more and more aggressive, to the point where he was biting us and growling and barking and nipping at other people.

My husband and I now are traumatized and in fear that the next dog will become aggressive and out of control as well. I have owned dogs all my life and most all have been shepherds and/or shepherd mixes and I have had no problems with ANY of them. I just have concerns now because of the akita fiasco.

Any opinions please would be appreciated? I will post also on the Malinois board but I just wanted some help and guidance. Thanks!

well akita's are quite different than gsd/mals/herding dogs in general.

Alot of times shelters can't ID a dog to save their butts, if you post a pic, maybe someone can id the dog better.. Malinois, depending on the individual dog, can be very difficult to live with a first time owner..HOWEVER, if you like high energy, busy dogs, that's what you'll find with the majority of malinois. I am certainly not saying they are bad dogs, (my next dog will be a malinois *vbg) they just aren't the couch potatoe type. They can also be very sharp, reactive dogs..As for aggression, again, depends on the dog, depends on how you as an owner, go about training. (I believe EVERY dog needs to go thru obedience class, again, again and again)..

Malinois are not GSD's..they can be "edgier" than the GSD, a mix of the two, who knows? Again, totally depends on the dog.

I guess I would ask you what was your first impression of this dog? And remember shelter dogs can be totally different in a shelter environment vs a home one..Is she friendly? Seeking attention? Could care less about you? What did your gut tell you the first time you met her?

You might also consider seeing if the shelter would let you take her on a temporary basis to see if she would fit into your lifestyle. Again, shelter dogs/adopted dogs sometimes don't show their true colors for a month or so, after that settling in time.

Maybe you can find a trainer/dog savvy person who would be willing to evaluate the dog for you? Whatever you decide, good luck to you
diane

Looks German Shepherd to me. I don't see any Malinois there.

Sorry...that photo is not of the malinois..it's of the shepherd I have at home. I don't have a photo of the malinois mix yet. I'll post it if it is sent to me soon.

Honestly, my whole life I never took any of my dogs to obedience training, except the akita that turned...

all my other dogs were home trained and were all good with other dogs, kids, knew commands, could answer things like "what do you want" and do different things all the time.

I am not saying anything AGAINST formal training, I'm just saying I've had dogs for over 30 years and none have attended it and I never had any problems. The only one that gave me issue was the akita and that dog had something wrong with him to begin with.

I haven't met the girl but my husband and I are suckers and we know if we do she will come home with us. We have problems seeing dogs as we want every one of them.

We may go to German Shepherd Rescue instead today but we're trying to make up our minds on that.

I don't need too high energy, hyper or driven dog. I have other dogs and cats and I've got enough to keep me busy!

Thanks for your input.

I too have a hard time refusing a dog in need!!!

And no problem with your views on formal training. I never took my childhood or first two GSD's to trainign either, and they turned out fine..Once I started tho, I was bitten, by the bug..Not only a learning experience, but met alot of great people and good time to bond with my dogs..

Akita's are a really tough breed in my opinion, and no offense, but they have never been my cup of tea, give me a hard headed high energy gsd or aussie any day over an akita..Just my personal view..

GSD rescue can be a wonderful thing (I'm involved) an older dog when gotten thru a rescue, you know what your getting..Reputable rescues do wonderful things in order to place their dogs.. Shelters most times don't have the resources to really evaluate a dog, and that is certainly not saying they "dont"...Go with your gut,,it should steer you in the right direction
diane

I have a Shiba so I thought I could handle an Akita. NEVER again. Those people who manage those dogs are very special people. GSDs are a piece of cake compared to them.

Here is my new girl. Cross your fingers she works out.

http://www.gsdhaven.org/ourdogs/2005/thelma.html
Thelma

>>Honestly, my whole life I never took any of my dogs to obedience training, except the akita that turned...
>>
>>all my other dogs were home trained and were all good with other dogs, kids, knew commands, could answer things like "what do you want" and do different things all the time.
>>
>>I am not saying anything AGAINST formal training, I'm just saying I've had dogs for over 30 years and none have attended it and I never had any problems. The only one that gave me issue was the akita and that dog had something wrong with him to begin with.
>>
>>I haven't met the girl but my husband and I are suckers and we know if we do she will come home with us. We have problems seeing dogs as we want every one of them.
>>
>>We may go to German Shepherd Rescue instead today but we're trying to make up our minds on that.
>>
>>I don't need too high energy, hyper or driven dog. I have other dogs and cats and I've got enough to keep me busy!
>>
>>Thanks for your input.

>>>>>>>>>>>>

Oh gracious, please don't get a Malinois or Malinois mix if you're not going to do several months of weekly training in a formal class and practice the homework in a variety of settings each day for those several months. You really would have a guaranteed problem with this breed without training. I've had 4 Tervuren, have 3 now, and Malinois are "hotter" than Tervs. I've watched GSD/Mals work with police and spent years on a list for all the Belgian Shepherd breeds. There are so many homeless Malinois. This breed is both faster and sharper than a GSD or an Akita. They need substantial training in a class setting and so do their owners, no matter how naturally talented with dogs.
-----
Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47

It's not that I am unwilling to take a dog to formal training, it is just that I just got through a horrific two months of "formal" training with an aggressive akita whose aggression started to escalate.

What I want is a non-problem dog now. I can't go through issues that cannot be solved anymore. I have two other dogs as well as cats and very young children as neighbors. I'm not in a rural area and my dog needs to be able to socialize with everyone.

Anyhoo, I adopted from GSD Rescue a beautiful dog that was pitched out of a pickup truck a month ago.

Her hematoma is healed now and she has been spayed a week ago. She is timid and very scared of us. She bonded closely to the rescue owner and is starting to bond to my husband (as he is home all day).

She is very skittish but not aggressive at all. You can corner her and touch her face. The vet cleaned out her ear and checked her all out tonight.

She just needs time, patience and training. We've adopted from the rescue before and the rescue founder/president, outside of her full-time job and continuing educational pursuits, is an animal behaviorist and an obedience instructor, with a Bachelor's degree in Biology from the University of Illinois with a specialty in Ethology (the study of animal behavior).

She knows we are the best possible parents and will be patient with this dog. She also knew that although malinois can be difficult and need extra attention, that we would be able to handle that dog and would give the malinois all the care she needed should we decide to adopt her. But the malinois was a tie out and is also not housetrained etc so Mike and I decided after what we've gone through the past two months we need a break and to go back to the familiar.

An abused skittish dog we can handle. She is not an aggressive fear biter. She does not bark either. She just needs to trust us and become more confident. Then we'll start formal training. Right now she cowers and runs from everyone.

So Ruby will not be an easy dog either. But we don't want a problem dog.. and GSD really is the breed for us. I've been raised with several and have had a few of my own as an adult. Never a problem. My grandfather raised and trained GSD puppies and my mom had them also so in my family we've had GSDs since the 40s.