Should I Get A Malinois?

Periodically, I have students ask me if I think they should get a Malinois. 

My general answer is, "No." 

Why would I say that? It's because this is a working breed that is too much dog to be a typical pet. They are also very mouthy and not many people want to own an alligator. They can also frustrate easily, and they will then release that by biting just about anything nearby. I first considered getting one around 1999, but after a lot of research, I opted for another breed. Back then, they would easily bite, but many had confidence and "nerve" issues. I didn't want an unstable dog. While the dogs of today are better than what I was seeing back then, I still wouldn't recommend them to the average pet owner. 

Mals make even an average dog trainer look like a Master Trainer. They can learn and do most anything, and their performances look stunning on camera. They make a great marketing tool. But, if you look closely at many of these online demonstrations, most of these trainers are not showing you any advanced capabilities, they are just luring the dog with treats to run around them into Come/ Sit, then back to a Heel/Sit, then the dog goes in between their legs and Sits facing forwards. You can do that with a puppy and novice dog owner with most any breed. It's just that the Mal will do it with more enthusiasm, however it isn't much of a demonstration of advanced skill development. I have seen a lot of dog trainers who use their dogs for demonstration photos, but if you can get to know them, their dogs are a mess. So the dogs are put away most of the time. Or they are wearing electric collars the entire time they are free, just to keep the dogs within a 20 foot proximity, but the movements are uncoordinated and still don't show any higher level of training. This is a disservice to any working dog, especially a Mal.

Let's say you already have a Mal. I wouldn't give the dog away, but your dog probably needs some professional training. What I mean by that is you need someone to help you understand your dog so that you can do right by your dog. You have caused the problems, and your dog isn't going to solve them without help. Abandoning your dog to a shelter is most likely a death sentence. Your dog needs you to fix things in your home, not a needle in the arm and a resulting trip to the dump in a garbage bag.

With the ones I've worked with, since I specialize in pet dogs, the dogs first need some sorting out. Whatever is going on needs to be puzzled out. The last one I worked with wasn't as active, and didn't have as much drive, as a typical Mal, but would lunge at all passing cars. Unsophisticated owners, and average quality dog trainers, will think that the solution will be to suppress anything they don't like. While that seems logical, and sometimes works in the short run, if the problem is that you are actually fighting a Mal for being a Mal, those problems will break out again in some form. You can't fence temperament and drive forever. 

A Malinois should be bred to do professional work for sport, police and the military. The breeding should be purposeful and tested before breeding takes place. They shouldn't be bred as pets. Breeders should seek to find owners who will provide this kind of work for their dogs, and if they don't have a program to feed into that kind of pipeline, they should choose another breed. There are other breeds that can still do a lot of what pet owners want out of a big dog, but will live more peaceably in a pet owner's life. 

Plan accordingly.