[LoneRider]

This thread is for any admirers and owners of the dog breed near and dear to my heart, the Belgian Malinois. I have one at home that stays with my parents while I'm deployed.

His name is Ninja and he's sixteen months old. We got him as a puppy from Gatorland K9, a small-ish breeding program run by Ted Hoppe in Barberville, FL. He's had decades of experience with both GSD and Malinois. GSDs are his livelihood (his stock are almost exclusively European lines) but Malinois are his special passion.

I have to say mine is my special passion. He's a smart, intelligent, dog although my First Sergeant, having seen a picture of him I keep on my computer of Mom tucking him in with a blanket whenever it gets cold outside (Florida's occasional freezes at 40F), has said "LT you no longer have a dog but a baby sibling on the cheap."

Well since other posters have put posts to their chosen breeds up I figure I'll put one up for the Malinois...

 

[Pai]

I don't know much about them, but I love the look of the Tervuren type.

 

[zimandtakandgrrandmimi]

I am a bully breed lover first and foremost...but if I had to pick a herder it would definatly be a Mal.

 

[LoneRider]

Nice to see.

They are smart dogs, that's for sure. Ninja picked up commands pretty quickly.

I've also heard some say that they can be hair trigger biters and I've been nipped occasionally while playing with my dog, but nothing serious.

He loves the bite wedge and the tennis ball as his favorite toys. He hears the tennis ball bounce from across the house and he'll come racing over like a canid comet...

 

[Spicy1_VV]

Loved mine and hope to get another unless I go with a Dutch Shepherd. They are great dogs but I'm undecided at this point.

I like a great many dogs, Malinois are at the top of the list for sure.

 

[zimandtakandgrrandmimi]

im considering one, but I won't even try to go through a breeder without getting what I consider baseline amount of knowledge about the breed.

I've emailed a few kennels just to "talk shop" so to speak about the dogs in general. in my noobie novice opinion Dantero Kennels seems to have nice dogs but they tend to be a bit bigger than I'd like to own, especially Havok. 60 pounds is as about big as I'd like to own...unless I get a Tosa of course...but that's a whole 'nother thread..

this is Dantero btw...if anyone (ahem Xeph) cares to take a gander and give an opinion...

http://www.dantero.com/

 

[melgrj7]

My boss has one. He is a real nice looking dog but a bit crazy She competes in Shutzhund with him. I've wanted one for a long time, probably will eventually get one, but got a GSD now instead (as well as my 2 lovely mutts). My boss' dog came from Joe Farm, he is a sable.

 

[LoneRider]

My own Malinois came from Gatorland K9 kennels where Ted and Dawn Hoppe breed and train both GSD and Malinois. Ted has had over thirty years of experience in breeding and training in both military and civilian kennels and his stock are healthy and well trained animals.

If you want to look out of state, simply look for the website Gatorland Malinois.

 

[zimandtakandgrrandmimi]

we'll see. Im kind of funny about my dogs...if I'm going to buy a dog from a breeder, it will be a pet but it will also be shown and competed with. Until Im to the point where Im ready to show and compete, Im not going to buy from a breeder....Im going to research, study the standard, look for opportunities to work with and study the particular breed, pester the crap out of breed experts etc.

I'll drop them an email if they won't mind "talking shop" to someone who MAY be interested in a Malinois...

you see how I am with the Pits? Im not ready to *buy* a pit either..lol...

 

[LoneRider]

^^ I'm sure that they should be OK with you e-mailing them. Heck, Ted will talk your ears off about the virtues of the Mal.

On another note, my Malinois took well to crate training. All we have to say is 'house' and he'll go to his crate. His denning behavior extends to our formal dining room table. We don't usually use the formal dining room unless we have guests, so Ninja tends to camp out underneath it.

One of his little, endearing, I missed you, gestures is taking items (Dad's slippers, Mom's blouse, one of my t-shirts) and snuggling with them in his 'den'.

He's also a big cookie monster thanks to Mom. Every time she comes home from work she'll ask either 'want a cookie, Ninja?' or 'Where's the cookie?' and he'll sit right in front of the pantry door and look cute.

 

[ina1032]

Our police & sheriff's departments K9 units primarily comprise of Belgians. They have drive, speed, and bite that is second to none. Not to mention, they are absolutely beautiful, no matter what age.
My first dog was a Belgian puppy. I can hear the collective "GASP!!!" from all the Belgian owners out there. NOT a good idea. I thought I knew how energetic they are. I thought I knew how fast they ran. I thought I knew how strong their jaws are.
I knew NOTHING....absolutely NOTHING. In hindsight, I wish that the breeder would've talked me out of getting one. He knew this was going to be my first dog EVER. He knew I worked weird hours. He knew I didn't have a fenced in yard. He knew I was NOWHERE prepared to take on a Belgian Malinois.
Needless to say, I learned a very expensive lesson.
For all that are wondering, Lexi is a narcotics dog for the DEA in Oklahoma. She's living a far better life than I could ever give her. I can rest easy at night knowing that.

So here's my laundry list of advice to anyone considering getting a Belgian Malinois for a pet.
1) DO YOUR RESEARCH.
2) Be a previous/current dog owner.
3) Start training EARLY and be consistent.
4) Dog proof your house...inside and out.
5) Have PLENTY of room for the dog to run.
6) Be prepared to spend lots of time with the dog.
7) NEVER let an untrained Belgian run loose.
8) Be SURE you can handle the dog.
9) Let the dog live with your for a couple weeks before permanently adopting.

I seriously could go on for awhile. I just cannot stress how important it is to KNOW what you're getting yourself into before committing to this breed....or ANY animal for that matter.

**stepping off the soapbox now**

 

[LoneRider]

Well, Ninja was my third dog. We had a Golden Retriever when I was a kid and practically adopted my cousin's Lab/Retriever Mix when she was in college before we had Ninja. And that dog has at least four or five of my family and extended family to play with him at any given moment.

He's also a big lazy bones a lot too. He loves to sunbathe by our pool, or flop under the dining room table. We play a lot too. So he's well loved, exercised, and everything even while I'm deployed...

 

[Equinox]

I absolutely love and admire the Malinois breed. I have only officially met one, but that dog left me with very good impressions. However, I'm truthful enough with myself to know I won't be up to owning one anytime soon.

 

[ina1032]

Awww, what a cute picture! I love it when dogs and cats get along and cuddle together! My Poms like to lick my cats' face, but the cats don't really know how to react because the dogs do it so excitedly!

 

[LoneRider]

In Israel their K9 units use the Malinois almost exclusively because of their greater tolerance to desert conditions than GSD and Rotties and also because Mals are healthier breeds, large enough to deal with human sized aggressors yet small enough for handlers to pick up and carry them.

The US Army does use them as well, but the GSD is the military 'work horse' dog, supposedly because GSD is a lot easier for handlers that aren't 'dog people' than the Malinois is. I can't comprehend that logic, but then I am biased...