training a Belgian Malinois

Training a Belgian Malinois is a real pleasure. The question is: is every Malinois suited to this, and is everyone capable of owning such a dog?

There was a time when Dobermans were popular, a time when Rottweilers were popular, and the German Shepherd remains ever-popular. The last of the breeds mentioned above is part of our culture and national tradition when it comes to dog ownership. The adventures of Szarik and Cywil were a staple of children’s and teenagers’ upbringing in the 1980s and 1990s. The police mainly used German Shepherds; for some, they were the ideal dog, whilst for others they were a source of fear, associated with patrols after 10.00 pm.

Over the years, trends have changed. The Belgian Malinois was introduced into service. It first became fashionable in the West, and over time this trend began to reach Poland as well.

Popularity

It soon became apparent that Malinois are hardier, more agile, have a livelier temperament and are more eager to train than German Shepherds. Unfortunately, their character traits and years of selective breeding for defence training can cause considerable problems for first-time owners who do not intend to train these dogs.

Issues

Training a Belgian Malinois, purchased from a so-called ‘working’ line, should begin whilst the dog is still a puppy. At 8 weeks of age, you can already start training sessions that will make future training for show ring or mondioring easier. Malinois have an incredible ability to concentrate at this age. Training sessions should be dynamic and short.

So where do the problems arise?

The problem usually lies with the handler or owner, who, influenced by their emotions or by films featuring these dogs, decided to buy one. Many people believe that, since the dog is so intelligent, it will surely carry out all commands without any training. Nothing could be further from the truth. That simply won’t happen.

Puppy

A Malinois puppy is capable of biting from the fourth week of life. Their energy and temperament mean that some first-time owners decide to put the dog up for adoption, whilst others decide to start training. Often, this decision comes too late. The Malinois is a unique dog; one that must not be trained either too harshly or too leniently. Harsh training and strong dominance on the part of the handler can lead to withdrawal or aggression, whilst training that is too lenient will be ineffective and the dog will attempt to dominate and take control.

The Malinois and children

If you’ve decided to buy a dog for your child and it’s a Malinois, you should know that you’ve made one of the worst decisions of your life. A Belgian Shepherd is not a cuddly toy; it’s an animal bred for intense exercise and constant work. If you are unable to provide sufficient exercise and do not plan to train this dog from the very first days in its new home, you can expect that:

• family members will constantly be getting bitten (puppies have sharp teeth and will bite pretty much anything that moves)
• children will avoid contact with the dog because they’ll start to be afraid of it (even though the biting won’t be due to aggression)
• general damage (chewed-up furniture and ruined clothes)

However, if you can find the time for training and find the right training centre, you’re in for the most wonderful adventure you could ever imagine. Malinois form very strong bonds with their owners and, when properly trained, make wonderful family members. This is a dog that will defend you and everyone in your household, become a cuddly companion and, on the training ground, a superb athlete.

Old age

Unfortunately, with this particular breed, you can expect a difficult old age. Whilst skeletal problems are less common, issues with loss of sight or hearing are more frequent (as is the case with virtually every elderly dog), leading to an over-reaction to stimuli and the aggression that results from this. It sometimes happens that, at a certain point, Malinois cease to recognise their owner. Of course, not every dog ages in the same way, but bear in mind that dogs with such a strong temperament may experience the above problems. I am describing this because I know of such cases from my own experience.

Training a Belgian Malinois | Summary

Training a Belgian Malinois is certainly a challenge. It’s entirely up to you whether it turns out to be a series of misfortunes or the most wonderful adventure. It’s you who will determine whether your Malinois becomes your worst nightmare or your most devoted and loyal friend.