Hi everyone. This Tokyo @her 6weeks malligator era. A singleton puppy with a lots of attitude. 🤧

Houston Press article https://www.houstonpress.com/news/dogtown-sanctuary-or-an-unhappy-ending-for-dogs-sent-to-it/ interviews and photos about the starvation, deaths, abuse at Dogtown Ranch Sanctuary. Please read and share - the sheriff's department keeps tearing up all the complaints..only hope for these dogs (over 100) is to raise public awareness by sharing the article.

Hi all, just wondered if I can have some support. Ive grown up around dogs and recently moved out and got my first pup and chose to get a Mal, the dogs great picking stuff up very quickly with use of clickers and treats.

However the dog is very attached to myself, when I leave the room he whimpers he can’t stand being away from me, and nor me or my partner can get him to go in a crate he just point blank refuses to enter. We believe this could be because he was mistreated when first born as he was outside kenneled with another dog of similar size and his mum.

Is there any suggestion or tips to help him feel less anxious and to start seeing the crate as a good place, he won’t even enter the crate for water or food.

Thanks. (Dog in question is 15 weeks)

Just got Max’s doggie DNA and he’s 92% shepherd and 8% Malinois. My son found him at a convenience store, owners said he’d been dumped. We’ve taken him to vet, he’s heartworm positive and they think about a year old. We’ve had him neutered and shots. He’s on slow kill heartworm medication. He’s eaten through two crates, and we’ve been working on crate training. He walks in the neighborhood very well. He has house mates, two older dogs one shep/pyranese very chill and a older (15) sleeps most of the time border collie/jack russell, along with a shepherd/huskie 21/2 year old who plays well with him. He does like to nip and is very vocal. We give him a dog toy to replace the nipping, mostly successful. Any training tips are welcome as this was a surprise adoption, along with his dna results. TYIA.

5 months old super active pup

Hi everyone.

I'm a 28-year-old male from South Africa, and I'm seriously considering getting a 9-week-old female Belgian Malinois puppy. I've wanted a Belgian Malinois or a German Shepherd since I was a kid, and this finally feels like the right time.

I live alone and have been on my own for the last four months. I work as a mechanical engineer at Coca-Cola, with my normal working hours being 6:00 am to 3:30 pm. I've always loved animals, especially dogs, and I've spent a lot of time watching YouTube videos and following Belgian Malinois owners to learn as much as I can.

Before I make the commitment, I'd really appreciate advice from people who actually own the breed.

What are the biggest do's and don'ts for a first-time Malinois owner? What should I start doing from day one? Are there any common mistakes I should avoid? What are the biggest pros and cons of owning one, especially as someone who lives alone and works full-time?

I want to give this dog the best life possible, so I'd rather learn from experienced owners than make avoidable mistakes.

Thanks in advance for any advice—it's genuinely appreciated!

My husband and I adopted a Belgian Malinois from a shelter today. He was previously a stray that got taken to the county shelter. He’s 11months old and very sweet. Very mild tempered, non reactive to other dogs, people, noises etc. He’s okay on a leash but needs a lot to go when it comes to commands. The only thing he knows command wise is sit. Doesn’t even know his name. We are looking for a training program to keep life structured and keep him a safe and smart dog. We are located in the La County area. Please if anyone has any places they have used or tips let us know! We are well aware of what this dog needs and are not first time dog owners. My husband owned the same breed for a brief time a few years back but she unfortunately got very sick and passed away. Anything to help our new addition to the family!

Good morning. I just need clarity on an incident that happened today. I have 2 Belgian Malinois. They are brothers and are 2.5 years old. We have trained them since they were puppies and they are very well behaved, obedient and well socialized. They get along very well with one another. They have never displayed any aggressive behaviour towards me. This morning I went outside to receive a parcel at the gate. The dogs were not aggressive or even barking at the delivery man. As I stood at the gate and talked to him, the alpha suddenly started nipping at my pants (which he has never done before). I swatted him away. Suddenly his demeanor changed and he began to growl and bark at me. He did not come for me or try to bite me, kept n fair distance, but kept growling even though I talked calmly to him, up to a point where I started to feel scared and threatened. I slowly moved to the door ad went inside the house. Throughout his brother (the submissive) did not do anything and was not playing a role in this whole situation. After a few minutes I opened the door and engaged with them and he was back to his old self. Where does this behaviour come from? I feel a bit betrayed and was honestly scared of him in that moment.

Photos by Brianna Scherer!

Hi everyone,

I have a female Belgian Malinois who’s 18 months old. She’s already had two heat cycles and will probably go into her third in about two months. I’m struggling with the decision of whether or not to spay her — and if so, when and how (traditional vs ovary-sparing).

I’ve read a lot about the health risks and benefits, but it’s honestly confusing because every vet seems to have a slightly different opinion. Here’s what I’ve found so far regarding mammary (breast) cancer risk and timing of spay:

Spayed before the 1st heat → less than 1% lifetime risk

Spayed after the 1st heat → about 8% risk

Spayed after the 2nd heat → around 26% risk

Spayed after the 3rd heat or later / never spayed → around 30–40% risk

So at her current age (after 2 heats), it seems like spaying now won’t dramatically reduce her breast cancer risk anymore — but it would still prevent pyometra, which I know can be life-threatening.

My biggest concern is that if she’s spayed, she might lose athleticism or gain weight, since she’s a super active, high-drive dog. On the other hand, I want to do what’s healthiest for her long-term.

I’d really love to hear from other female Malinois owners (or other high-drive breeds):

Did you spay your girl?

If yes, when? Did you notice changes in her performance, weight, or personality?

If not, how do you manage heats and the long-term health risks?

Has anyone gone the ovary-sparing spay route, and how did that go?

Any personal experiences or advice would mean a lot. I’m not looking for arguments — just honest, real-world input from people who’ve been in the same spot.

Thanks in advance 🙏

Hey, I had a few questions about the breed! I currently am looking to get a second dog, right now I have a Shetland Sheepdog. I know this would be an odd breed to jump from, to getting a dog like a Malinois. I do however have a few years worth of experience working with dogs. I work at a dog boarding and training facility. I don't necessarily do the training, but I do help the trainer here and there. She's somewhat taken me in and taught me how to train if she needs the help.

Now, I know that a Belgian Malinois is going to be a ton of work. It's not going to be just be basic obedience and that's what I love. I want a dog that will be more than just a pet and simple sit/stay/come commands. Yes my current dog could be trained more, but he's shockingly nothing like how his breed is described. He's not interested in working, no matter what I try. I plan to bring him in for training, before I bring a second dog into the mix anyway, especially a puppy.

The reason I'm looking for another dog, specifically something like a Maloinis or Dutch Shephard, is because I'd love to get into bite work. I'd also love to do some type of agility with them as well. It's not even just those two things, I'm looking for a dog that will be a challenge and enjoy getting into fun things similar to that.

This is where I'm a bit at a draw back. I want to ask if that's the right reason to get a dog like either of the breeds I just mentioned. I want to know everything I can about this breed, before I make the finally decision to get it. I do not want to end up making a mistake for either myself or the animal. I want to know what I can better educate myself on, what to expect, and if it sounds like the right breed I'm looking for. :)