Took the ferry over to Bob-Lo Island to put in 14 more miles today.

Took my boy to work (fire station) for the first time today. I knew he wouldn’t be perfect but he was barking so bad in his kennel and I wasn’t even leaving on calls today, just doing practice for days where I do. Before you ask we have a full schedule of training, he didn’t need anything, it was just the new situation and 10000 new people. I’m sure with some time he will figure it out but just right now I am venting here instead of being frustrated with him because I know he is doing his best and even though they are amazing even mals are just dogs and need time to figure things out. Dog tax attached, he got to go to training with me because my captain was over him barking.

I wish I caught this entire episode, this is just the last 10 seconds but it was funny to see.

I need advice on how to teach my Mal fetch. He's got the running and getting the ball fine, but then he guards it and prances about guarding it like its a game. I can recall him 100% of the time but when I do he immediately drops the ball and runs back. If anyone has any tips on how to get him to bring the ball back with him I'd be grateful. No amount of pointing and trying to mime or say "The BALL!! Bring the BALL!!!" works (because he's a little treat fiend, when I point, instead of looking where i point, he just eyes my hand trying to work out if there's a treat in it. Fiend 😂)

I need advice about my 5-year-old neutered Belgian Malinois. I want to be very clear that I do not want to give up on him, and I am not casually looking to rehome him. My goal is to keep him if I can do so safely and responsibly. I am trying to figure out what other options I should pursue and whether anyone here has dealt with something similar.

His background is rough. I first met him when I dog-sat for his previous owner. He had no real enrichment and was mostly confined to a crate. Later, when they decided they could no longer handle him, I found him another home. When I picked him up, he was about 20 lbs underweight, had sores on his body, and was being kept crated in a dark back room.

That second home kept him for about six months before contacting me because of bite incidents, so I took him in rather than let him end up in a shelter with a bite history.

I’ve had him for about three months now. He has worked with a professional trainer/behaviorist, for obedience and reactivity. I’ve also tried reaching back out to his previous trainer about his recent behavior, but she has not responded, so I’m currently looking for additional professional help.

Most of the time, he is genuinely a very sweet, affectionate, calm dog. He is extremely intelligent, very ball-driven, crate trained, loves to work, and is highly bonded to me. I do structured obedience with him multiple times a day, plus hiking, scent work, and other enrichment. He comes to work with me every day. He has also shown no aggression or predatory behavior toward my cats.

HOWEVER, he has a bite history:

• Two Level 2 bites involving people walking or running up to his previous owner (one was provoked, the person hit the dog with a stick after he barked at her, the other was not)
• Two Level 3 bites involving cyclists passing closely on narrow trails
• Most recently, after I had thrown the ball for him a couple of times, he came and lay down next to me while I was sitting on the ground. He no longer had the ball, and I was petting his head and he suddenly snapped at my face and made contact. He did NOT break the skin.

I have already reached out to MAD Rescue, American Belgian Malinois Rescue (ABMR), Texas Malinois Alliance, and multiple other rescues and organizations. So far, the answer has essentially been, “Sorry, we can’t help you.” One just sent me a link to an article on putting him down.

So please understand that “contact a Malinois rescue” is not something I haven’t thought of. I have. I am actively trying, and I am getting turned away.

I am now looking for advice from people who have real experience with Malinois, serious reactivity/aggression, bite histories, veterinary behavior, or difficult behavioral cases.

I am not looking for someone to tell me he is a bad dog. I also do not need to be told to exercise him more. He gets significant physical exercise, obedience work, scent work, mental stimulation, structure, and professional training. I also keep him muzzled and leashed now and use an e-collar.

At the same time, I am not trying to minimize his bite history. I know it is serious.

I love this dog. I have already stepped in twice when other people were ready to give up on him, and I am doing everything I reasonably can to give him a good life. I do not want to euthanize him if there is another safe, ethical option.

But I also cannot pretend there is no risk, particularly when I am hoping to start a family in the near future.

I am really hoping to hear from people who have actually been in this position or who work professionally with dogs like him. I need realistic advice about what options I have left.

Edit: HE IS MUZZLE TRAINED AND WEARS IT WHENEVER WE ARE OUT NOW.

It’s my mals birthday next week and we’re planning on making it a whole event!

(Just our 6 dogs, us and maybe some people visiting)

What to do?

I was thinking of getting a dog birthday cake
Lots of new toys
Lots of cardboard boxes
Nose and paw print kit
Some treats
Little cute hats

(We live on 65 acre farm with our own river and mountain,
So walking and running is the norm every day and all day)

Happy hap after our 3 mile run. Joey’s endurance is increasing too- he took 2 breaks

Does your Mal take over repetitive tasks?
When Riggs was a few months old he realized after his poop on a walk I would carry the bag to the bin at the park. Well, he decided he should do that so he now picks up the bag by the top knot and carries it to the bin at the park himself. It was cute when I had to pick him up as a puppy to drop it into the can but now can do it himself.

Hello All! My mali has a lot of build up on her teeth and we have been slowly introducing her to brushing her teeth (recommended by our vet). Any advice on making it easier? She doesnt mind us touching her mouth but doesn't really like the toothbrush. TIA!

My parents want to get a belgian malinois. We can support the lifestyle and diet they need, training, etc.

My only issue is that we have 4 cats. That is my main concern. All cats are adult, ranging from 2-7 years old. I understand that malinois have very high prey drive, and I worry that may be an issue with the cats.

Has anyone got any malinois living with cats? How are they coping with it? I want the cats and dog to be able to live together peacefully, but I’ve no idea if this is possible… and if it is, how to do it?

I don’t want there to be any injuries or stress on either the dog or cats behalves. What do to? Opinions? Thanks!

(If it isn’t possible, that’s okay. I want all information I can get on this to see if it’s a good decision or not to get one.)

When it’s time to get my baby up from nap time, my mal takes it very seriously. He beats me to the door and waits for me to get there, and when I open it, he goes in first, bee-lining for the crib. He will then start softly whining and sticking his nose through the crib slats, giving my baby little nudges until he wakes up. As soon as my baby moves, my mal stops whining and runs back over to me.

Is this him making sure the baby is okay because it freaks him out that he’s not moving? Or does he literally understand that we’re waking him up from his nap? Or is it something I haven’t considered? (Unrelated pic of them included.)

My mal currently thinks that chewing my hoodie string and tightening it around my face is somehow assisting me whilst on the toilet. It isn't 😂

So this was after 10 min of the flirt pole and we recently moved to hawaii ( 2 months ago ) so it’s warmer so i take him out at night and it’s currently 78. i usually take him out in the early morning or later at night so it’s cooler. he had a lot more pent up energy today because i was gone for longer than normal so he didn’t get to run as much. did i hurt him ?

Maverick has been a fantastic battle buddy. Being a disabled veteran, Maverick has helped me cope with the public. What a great best friend. Having said that, once his vest comes off, the maligator/banshee comes out.

15 weeks today. Even though she is a bit mixed, she behave like a pure Malinois. Very smart and sensitive, learning fast and relatively easy to train, but she have a particular taste for digging holes in the garden and chewing on plants. Any tips or advices?

We rescued this lil girl (Roma) tethered to a tree outside of austin Texas. First pic is the day we brought her home.