any Local belgian Malinois puppies anyone knows of?

[Ianski]

Hey guys!
Been thinking about this for a long time and I think I'm finally almost ready to do it. I've wanted a Belgian Malinios for quite some time now and I've been looking around a lot and have so far found no breeders in CO. It will be a family member pup and not a work dog, so super high-speed tactical work dog breeders are not important to me, on top of the fact that i am not a wealthy man and cant afford the price tag that goes with the primary breeders dogs. if anyone has any knowledge of breeders and or the breed itself i would love to hear about it. I'm hoping to find a female and it would be my first shepard breed dog, so like i said, any experiance/advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks guys!

[cstone]

Interesting choice. Red dogs are smart and hard workers. Very versatile. Most of the ones I knew of were coming from Germany into the Lackland AFB training program. Have you looked into some of the DoD or other government adoption/foster programs?

[asmo]

“Most Malinois are not easy to work with and can only be handled and trained by professionals. They can become very destructive if left alone. They are a very high-energy-level dog, very active and driven. They are hard workers, can be social, enjoy challenges and are toy crazy. They have a very high-prey drive and need plenty of attention, exercise, patience and consistency,” he said. “They will destroy your house and anything else if not worked regularly.”

http://www.akc.org/news/max-the-movie/

http://www.oregonlive.com/pets/index...nois_owne.html

http://www.timesnews.net/article/908...rage-pet-owner

[cableguy11]

Interesting choice. Red dogs are smart and hard workers. Very versatile. Most of the ones I knew of were coming from Germany into the Lackland AFB training program. Have you looked into some of the DoD or other government adoption/foster programs?

We had one of those Lackland AFB dogs when I was growing up. He was the meanest dog we ever had....lol. My dad bought him home with a muzzle on him. After about 6 months he then became one of the best dogs we ever had growing up. Super smart..he could open gates, climb/jump fences with ease and loved to chase everything he could! Always protected us and never left our side. I used to walk..or he used to pull me on my bike down the street and everything- humans, animals whatever gave him the right of way. He was a beautiful and majestic dog. He is best known in our family for keeping people in their car from behind a 6 foot fence...they wouldn't even come in our driveway!!! Forgot to mention he was a German shepherd...solid black!

[asmo]

It will be a family member pup and not a work dog, so super high-speed tactical work dog breeders are not important to me, on top of the fact that i am not a wealthy man and cant afford the price tag that goes with the primary breeders dogs

Then a Malinois is *NOT* for you. Seriously these dogs are bred to be super high energy, super high drive, with super high motivation. These are *NOT* mean to be just family dogs, unless you can work them - I mean *REALLY* work them - daily. They are incredible dogs for the right environment/owner but this is not a dog you leave to its own devices for hours on end.

Do this. Go to your local Schutzhund club and go work with those people for at least 3 months -- every day, every single day for 2+ hours, since that is what you are going to need to do to keep the dog just mildly entertained. If you can keep up the regiment and can deal with the temperment, then go find a Malinois working dog that has been medically retired and adopt it.

I am expecting to see more notes like the OPs due to the new movie coming out. Everyone is going to see a beautiful Malinois that is super trained and think "Oh what a perfect puppy for me and my family -- that has never had big, high drive, super intelligent, massive energy dogs before."

P.S. I watched a Malinois go through a car side window one time (he was inside with his owner who has more international dig handling titles that wall space) because another dog was playing with a toy that looked similar to theirs.

[th3w01f]

Not an expert by any means but I've done a lot of research since we were thinking the same thing. What I've read lead me to believe that for a family pet, we'd be happier with a GSD and not a Malinois.

I found quotes like this all over the web.

"The fact is Malinois do not make good pets, as they are strictly working and sporting dogs. If you are NOT already involved with dog sport, you should not get a Malinois. (I said that ten years ago, click to watch, and I’ll say it again- Malinois do not make good pets)"

Now I know everyone has opinions but just ask anyone who has tried to keep a German Shorthaired Pointer as a house pet and not let it run and hunt. You can't get rid of the instinct no matter how you raise the dog, we've had field dogs for the last 14 years so we have experience with that side.

Just my opinion and hopefully someone with actual experience with Malinois will chime in.

[Great-Kazoo]

We dealt with a local K9 trainer when there was an interest to add another dog to the household. Going in to it knowing they need a high energy environment. From our experience, if you don't have a large yard, high fence, 1/4 of your day to work with them, look elsewhere.
It's a shame as they have a lot of potential.

[gnihcraes]

dang, the newer neighbor had one of these. It wanted to kill me at every opportunity. If it was with him, outside the fence, it would respond. (most of the time) if the owner didn't keep on him every second though, he was across both yards in seconds and biting at me. (he would nip but never actually dig in).Apparently was trained to do this by someone.

Couldn't figure out how the dog was getting out of a 6 foot fence, couldn't find any digs or weak spots. Put the dog in the yard and waited outside for a while, he was jumping the fence like nothing was there.

Super smart dog, worked well with the right person at his side, definately not a family pet though. (in my opinion) Way to protective in the wrong ways.

[Ianski]

Thank you for the advise asmo! maybe I should have been clearer, I intend to be heavily involved and active in this dogs life. I too recognize that with that movie coming out, many people who have not read up on this breed may be walking in blind, but rest assured my eyes are wide open. I've been looking at/ researching the breed for the last twoyears, and am now at a point in my life where I will have the time to spend with the pooch. Like I said, I do appreciate your advice and it does sound like you know a substantial amount about the breed. When I say it will be a family member that does not mean it will not be active.

[Great-Kazoo]

Thank you for the advise asmo! maybe I should have been clearer, I intend to be heavily involved and active in this dogs life. I too recognize that with that movie coming out, many people who have not read up on this breed may be walking in blind, but rest assured my eyes are wide open. I've been looking at/ researching the breed for the last twoyears, and am now at a point in my life where I will have the time to spend with the pooch. Like I said, I do appreciate your advice and it does sound like you know a substantial amount about the breed. When I say it will be a family member that does not mean it will not be active.

How many people in the household, of responsible age will be on site 24/7 ? Like any dog, especially a pup needs constant attention, can that be done?