QUESTION: My 6 month old Belgian Malinois puppy is always acting scared and I never hurt my dog. Need help he used to be really protective as a puppy but now is very timid..
Anonymous - 1/17/2012 11:23:49 PM
Respond to Question
QUESTION: I live on a small farm where we keep pigs, goats, geese, chickens and many ducks. I am looking into getting a male puppy. Will the puppy be ok with all these other animals if socialized early with them? I would like to use the dog to help bring in the animals etc. It will have plenty of land to exercise, and play. Does the Belgian Malinois sound like a good fit for this role?
Anonymous - 1/11/2012 1:51:57 AM
Respond to Question
I have an Adult Belgian Malinois and I have had her since she was a puppy. The BM will definitely be a good fit, they love to work and are extremely active dogs. Will love your large yard to play in. Highly inteligent and you could train your BM to do almost anything. But you also have to show them that you are the Alpha in the house or they will run over you.
Anonymous - 1/13/2012 9:49:24 PM
QUESTION: Can any one please give me advice on how to take care of my belgian malinois puppies, they are 3 days old. 2 of the puppies have already died. I do not know what I have done wrong. Do they need incubation or anything from their master? Or is it just natural that not all of the puppies survive? I need an urgent response pls. thank you.
Anonymous - 1/4/2012 8:49:05 AM
Respond to Question
Take them and the mother to the vet asap.
That's what I would do to just make sure.
Anonymous - 1/4/2012 3:32:07 PM
QUESTION: Hi. I have a 2 months old belgian mal but my problem is I really cant tell if she is really a belgian mal. Some physical characteristics match those that are stated above. Is their any way to really know if she is really a belgian mal? She was just given to me so I dont really know if she is a belgian mal.
Anonymous - 1/4/2012 8:35:02 AM
Respond to Question
A DNA test called the Wisdom Panel can give you some insight.
The AKC hasn't (yet) trashed this breed into uniformity, there is a lot coat variations to the Malinois dog.
Anonymous - 1/9/2012 12:10:59 PM
QUESTION: What is the right vitamins to give my 4 months old belgian?
Anonymous - 12/26/2011 7:37:16 AM
Respond to Question
Personally I wouldn't bother. If you are feeding a good quality age appropriate food, your pooch is getting a balanced diet.
Anonymous - 1/9/2012 12:49:32 PM
QUESTION: "Can I adopt a 3 year old Belgian Malinois that has no training and expect him to respond well to training at this age once adopted?"
Anonymous - 11/29/2011 3:42:08 PM
Respond to Question
A 3 yr old malinois is usually very receptive to learning. They love to have a job. Individual dogs will do better at some things than others will. So if you ware wanting to train for a particular thing i.e. herding or bitework, you may want to have the person who will help you with training evaluate the dog.
salwex - 12/5/2011 9:14:25 AM
QUESTION: hi i have a belgian mal female she's very active and beautiful however she doesnt seem too grow (in height) she's almost a year old now and we noticed that she's slow in growing her current height is 18-19 inches is that normal? and by the way how many months does a belgian mal grow?
Anonymous - 11/24/2011 9:28:20 PM
Respond to Question
Some of my malinois are slow to finish growing. I have seen dogs grow another inch sometime between 12 and 18 months.
salwex - 12/5/2011 9:19:28 AM
QUESTION: I have a 3 year old male dog that is supposed to be a Belgian Malinois. He was given to me so I don't have any breeding history. He certainly looks like a Belgian Malinois, but his tail stands up and curls around like an Akita. He is the right size and temperament and color (light fawn, black muzzle and ears). Is it possible than a Belgian Malinois could have this type of tail, or has he been cross bred with another breed?
Anonymous - 11/16/2011 8:37:27 AM
Respond to Question
Hi, typically a malinois doesn't have a tail that curls. Some can get like that when very excited about something. I would guess, without seeing him, that he is cross bred with another breed
salwex - 11/21/2011 5:27:30 PM
QUESTION: I have a almost 11 weeks old Belgian Mal- and she is having a hard time with her dog food. We've been cleared from the Vet from any worms or sicknesses.. she gets diarrhea! she started with kibble fine then got the runs so we went on a blan diet and now we can't get her back on to kibble.... I have tried a few times and very slowly with cottage cheese white rice and boiled chicken.. but once she gets a few meals with some kibble in it she starts to get the runs again... any suggestions!!?!? I wouldnt mind making her own food from home- so any tips on that too would be great!
Anonymous - 11/10/2011 3:18:04 PM
Respond to Question
Hi, my 1st suggestion would be to contact her breeder if possible and find out what kind of food she was on. If that isn't an option and since the vet says there isn't anything wrong, I would choose a quality food and feed her on a schedule 2 or 3 times a day. There will be some diarrhea at first until her body adjusts. Plain yogurt also helps put the digestive tract back on track again. Your vet can also give you some meds to help with that. She may roll her nose at kibble at 1st because she likes the fresh cooked stuff. There are many good web sites for Raw and/or BARF diet. Hope this helps
salwex - 11/21/2011 5:36:03 PM
QUESTION: Does the malinos shed
Anonymous - 10/26/2011 6:16:00 PM
Respond to Question
Yes, malinos usually shed 2 times a year
salwex - 11/21/2011 5:37:14 PM
QUESTION: I have a 10 week old Malinois, I was trying to find out if there was an age that I could start running with her but could not find anything with facts behind it, just opinions. I am not looking at anything more than 2-3 miles, around 30-25 minutes max.
Anonymous - 10/18/2011 9:06:30 PM
Respond to Question
I don't recommend doing any running with your Malinois before age 1. I tried it when mine was 8-9 months and he developed a limp twice. I gave him a few months off and he does fine now (1.5 years). If you have the area available I suggest just letting her run off the leash so he goes at his own pace. And teach her to heel first! Otherwise she will pull your arm off.
Anonymous - 11/17/2011 11:53:14 PM
QUESTION: how to train my 4mos.old belgian malinois in walking outside..because every time we go outside he always barks with the other dogs and not behaving in walking... another thing he always feels hungry... he usually eats 3times a day but still barking like asking for more food.. is it ok also to tie the belgina malinois? ..thank you..
Anonymous - 9/29/2011 11:03:42 PM
Respond to Question
I would suggest taking a basic obedience class some place that understands the malinois. Walk at a brisk pace talking to him constantly, focusing his attention on you, praise with a toy or small bit of food when he finds you more fun then barking at the other dogs. No it is a good idea to tie out a malinois.
salwex - 11/21/2011 5:41:59 PM
If you feed him three times a day he's fine. It sounds like he thinks he's top dog (i.e., out ranks you). Whenever my Malinois tries to be dominant (jumps on people, bites hands, etc) I immediately put him in his crate with a very firm "no!" and give him a time out for a few minutes. He has learned pretty well now that he doesn't get the attention he wants if he's stuck in his crate. Try a special game with him 2 or 3 times a day--sit and stay, while you go hide, and then he comes to find you. Or throw the frisbee for him. Heeling just takes awhile.
Anonymous - 11/17/2011 11:59:09 PM
QUESTION: Is it ok if I buy a 2 year old malinois and not a puppy? Does the malinois adapt well with new owners?
Anonymous - 8/24/2011 2:51:43 PM
Respond to Question
Yes, It all depends on the new owner how fast the dog will adapt, it does not matter puppy or x years old especially when you already had/have dogs. I would recommend a puppy when you never had or looked after any dog. If the dog is afraid/aggresive of someone or somebody it is of course easier to help them when they are a puppy, but eventually it is the same. You need to spend time with your Mallinois so you can become best friends.
Anonymous - 8/30/2011 8:14:42 AM
QUESTION: Does the Belgian Malinois shed a lot because some sites said it does a lot and others said only heavily twice a year?
Anonymous - 8/20/2011 5:55:39 PM
Respond to Question
It depends if your Belgian Malinois is living in or oustide the house. When inside you will not need to groom a lot, when outside it will shed a lot in summer. You can give "hop" pills to help the process
Anonymous - 8/30/2011 8:17:15 AM
QUESTION: is the belgian malinois a strong dog?
Anonymous - 7/27/2011 9:03:16 PM
Respond to Question
Not sure what you mean with strong: the Belgian Malinois bite is average but they have quicker/faster responds to any breed I know. Are there stong concerning health problems: Yes they are very strong and almost impossible to get them tired.
Anonymous - 8/30/2011 8:20:38 AM
QUESTION: I heard that a belgian shepherd malinios doesn't like kids. would it be hostile to my 13 year old son?
Anonymous - 7/14/2011 3:31:26 PM
Respond to Question
My Malinois is great with my kids. I have a 4 year old and a 6 year old. She does tend to heard them if they get too far from home, however, she does this by pushing her nose against the kids backs, not by nipping. I have had her since she was a puppy and she was raised as one of the family, and that's how she sees herself.
Anonymous - 11/26/2011 6:12:16 AM
Your Belgian Malinois needs to understand that everybody in the family is a higher ranking hierarchy, if she/he does, no problem at all even for baby's
Anonymous - 8/30/2011 8:28:10 AM
my malinois is very good children im 15 and my sister is 10 and my dog is very submissive
Anonymous - 8/17/2011 6:05:03 PM
I am not sure where you heard this, but a particular breed doesn't not like children, a dog not raised around children may have a difficult time adjusting to them. I would ask the person you are planning to get a belgian shepherd malinios from if it has been raised around children. I also do not think that you would have a problem either way with a child that is 13 due to the size of the child..typically you want to keep smaller children and ANY dog supervised when playing together.
nika7315 - 7/15/2011 12:24:00 AM
QUESTION: How much would a Malinois cost from a reputable breeder? How important is it to buy from a strong breeder and blood line if you are only gonna have the pup as a family dog?
Anonymous - 7/12/2011 4:21:56 PM
Respond to Question
There are many quality malinois available for much less than $2000. My malinois are great family pets but that is something we breed for and we socialize our pups with children and many people. Make sure to tell any breeder you contact that you are wanting the dog for a family pet. The breeder will be able to tell you if they believe their pup will be a good fit for your family. A good obedience class is essential for all malinois
salwex - 11/21/2011 5:48:09 PM
Malinois usually run with akc papers, good bloodlines $800 were in texas and we sell ours for that with papers dutch bloodlines and health record.
Anonymous - 10/22/2011 7:34:48 PM
You are looking at $2000-3500 for a quality Malinois. I would not recommend this for a family dog but spend the money for a quality trainer for your family pet.
Anonymous - 10/18/2011 9:03:47 PM
QUESTION: This is the first time we've gotten a big dog breed so we're not sure how often & how much kibble we should be feeding our 2.5 month old Belgian Malinois. We feed him half a cup morning & evening. Is that enough?
Anonymous - 6/12/2011 12:52:58 PM
Respond to Question
It is not. Feed your Belgian Malinois at least 2 cups a day since its a big dog.
Anonymous - 6/15/2011 10:54:17 AM
QUESTION: My Belgian Malinois caught kennel cough. The vet gave him some antibiotics a week ago but he's still wheezing. How many weeks does it last before he's cured & non-infectious to my other dogs?
Anonymous - 5/24/2011 3:50:01 AM
Respond to Question
kennel cough is a virus, so antibiotics will only help with secondary bacterial infections. if your belgian malinois dog is coughing a lot you may want to get a cough supressant from your vet as prolonged hard coughing can lead to scar tissue that causes a chronic cough. duration of the illness varies, as does to potential for contaigen much like with the human flu.
Anonymous - 6/17/2011 4:13:37 PM
QUESTION: I picked up a starving malinois mix breed pup a month ago & he's doing much better now. My problem is how to get him to take treats from my hand without him scratching me with his teeth or knocking the treat from my hand with his paw?
Anonymous - 5/24/2011 3:19:57 AM
Respond to Question
You turn around everytime your Belgian Malinois is doing that (ignoring them). When they behave you give something... do this for a week and it will be over
Anonymous - 8/30/2011 8:23:28 AM
QUESTION: Why does my 2 month Belgian Malinois like eating the fur shed by his playmate, a 3 month Pomeranian? Are there any harmful effects?
Anonymous - 5/22/2011 3:24:07 AM
Respond to Question
QUESTION: My 7 month male shih tzu is scared of our new 1.5 month male malinois. The malinois has 'boxing/pawing' tendencies when he's feeling playful & his 'whiskers' are kinda sharp which may be why my shih tzu may want to protect his eyes. Is there a way for them to become friends?
Anonymous - 5/8/2011 6:10:46 AM
Respond to Question
Hey, I suggest that you put the pup behind the door to the bathroom, and let your shih tzu smell him from the other side. This way they can smell of one another and not be able to play to rough. If your mal is 6 weeks you have a PROBLEM. Working dogs such as mals and shepherds learn bite inhibition and also how to play from their litter mates. This happens though week seven. I am sad to hear the breeder let him go so soon!! You need to seek the advise of your breeder/trainer. If you are in the birmingham Al area I would love to do a free consult!
tactdogs - 5/9/2011 11:31:25 PM
QUESTION: Is there a way to train a male malinois how NOT to pee in a certain position? My 2 month old's favorite peeing position is sitting on his butt while gazing up at you adoringly--meanwhile, there's this huge puddle forming around him. With his butt soaking wet, THEN he wants to wind around my legs! Yuck!
Anonymous - 5/8/2011 5:58:07 AM
Respond to Question
Your Belgian Malinois will stop when he gets older (bigger = higher position) ;)
Anonymous - 8/30/2011 8:24:43 AM
Haha. Never heard this one. Is he peeing on the grass or side walk? Most dogs dont want to pee on themselves it isnt natural. If he isnt neutered he will most likely start to pee by hiking his leg albeit on everything- but he will. Try this, while he is in mid stream gently praise and reward him with petting, then hold his reward treat slightly out of his reach in front of him; He should stretch to get the reward while peeing. click and reward.... hope it helps :)
tactdogs - 5/9/2011 11:36:20 PM
QUESTION: It says here in the 'training' section that a Malinois will be difficult to handle if proper precautions aren't taken. So what are these precautions I need to do?
Anonymous - 5/5/2011 11:51:28 AM
Respond to Question
Just be patient. If you give your Malinois treats, toys, and lots of love they will be easy to train. I have 1 best dog ever - she is so smart and loving I plead you to get a Malinois.
Anonymous - 5/14/2011 10:58:38 AM
I think that they mean, Belgian Malinois can be very dog aggressive. They have high drive and usually need to be alpha. Also, some people get a "guard dog" type and expect it to protect them. A dog will only protect what it sees as his, and needs training to further this response. So if you lock the dog in your backyard and never interact with it- you can see the problem with this.
Many people also take a strong hand to dogs that the perceive as strong willed. Malinois are not stuborn, they are easy to train, with positive reinforcement. With such a physically strong dog you would not want to train it incorrectly as it could hurt you or other people. Any dog can bite, only the trained ones release!
tactdogs - 5/6/2011 12:57:05 PM
QUESTION: Are belgian malinois dogs prone to sensitive stomachs? We have a puppy, she is going on 4 months and still has very soft stools and sometimes just runny diarrhea. We have tried pumpkin and pepto and it is a quick fix but she still has it. We have taken her to the vet and no intestinal worms or such. She is healthy. Will she grow out of it or is it just something we have to live with? We also give her the vet recommended Science diet prescription formula puppy food for upper GI sensitivity. Any suggestions. thanks
Anonymous - 4/19/2011 1:50:06 AM
Respond to Question
My Mal, an intact male rescue had the runs until 2+ years. His Doc put him on RC Intestines HE, very pricey but I bought it at cost which made it almost affordable. He grew out of it and now gets a grain free kibble, happiness is a well formed and segmented stool. :)
Also, fecal float tests are not always 100%, there could be a technician error, or no ova being shedded at eth time of the FF. At my clinic we rec a very aggressive deworm schedule for puppies, about 6, 10, 14 and again at 17 weeks. Yearly thereafter. Grab some Pyrantel and do it yourself.
Anonymous - 1/9/2012 12:44:58 PM
My Mal, an intact male rescue had the runs until 2+ years. His Doc put him on RC Intestines HE, very pricey but I bought it at cost which made it almost affordable. He grew out of it and now gets a grain free kibble, happiness is a well formed and segmented stool. :)
Also, fecal float tests are not always 100%, there could be a technician error, or no ova being shedded at eth time of the FF. At my clinic we rec a very aggressive deworm schedule for puppies, about 6, 10, 14 and again at 17 weeks. Yearly thereafter. Grab some Pyrantel and do it yourself.
Anonymous - 1/9/2012 12:44:58 PM
When my malinios was a pup, he had the same trouble. We found out he was missing an enzyme in his system. Talk to your vet and ask if he can test for that. Once that was fixed, he did very well.
Anonymous - 9/16/2011 1:34:43 PM
I have an almost three year old malinois and we had the same problems when she was a puppy. After many vet visits they suggested trying Royal Canine. We buy the one for 'Large Breed Adult', and we still use it now. It's expensive ($60 for a one month supply),and we are only able to find it at Petsmart, but she hasn't had runny stool since we started her on it.
Anonymous - 9/12/2011 5:44:00 PM
We just lost our Belgian Mal after 13 yrs. Our vet told us she had a "Sheperd Stomach" My best suggestion was to feed her Science Diet-Lamb which was good for sensitive stomachs. She loved it and we just watched what we introduced to her--including water from different areas of the country--we brought our own and mixed it in with the local water. Hope that helps.
Anonymous - 7/10/2011 1:36:44 PM
I am having the same problem, my new belgian malinois puppy is almost 9 wks. old- we've had him 11 days. He has continually mushy stools and the veterinarian has found no worms or incidence of disease. We got him from a reputable breeder and the pup is also a finicky eater- sometimes eating well, sometimes totally disinterested. The veterinarian gave pedialite and an anti- diarrheal but is has only minimally helped. We don't want to switch foods from what the breeder gave him since he does eat some- but I am concerned about adequate weight gain for a growing pup. I love the breed but read somewhere that they can be picky eaters.
Anonymous - 6/8/2011 12:09:12 PM
It really just depends on the breeder, and its lines. As a whole I have not had a problem with my belgian malinois. Gi sensitivity will work for you, but it might just be a puppy thing. If you have to move to a rx food, ask for royal canin I like it a heck of a lot better than Science Diet.
Be sure you are doing frequent "skin pinch" test to make sure she is hydrated. if the skin snaps back she is fine. I would up the fiber in her diet... Ask your vet about putting her on a senior large breed diet, yes senior. I have mixed half puppy and half senior to increase the fiber in their diet.
Petsmart has a food called natures recipe. Go get that one. It is corn and wheat free and no beef! Good luck hope your puppy feels better!
tactdogs - 5/4/2011 1:17:18 AM
they can be sensitive. One of my shepherds is and I feed him a salmon based food- Purina Pro Plan for sensitive . It just might work!
Anonymous - 4/28/2011 11:20:12 AM
QUESTION: Are Belgian Malinois good with small dogs? I have a Yorkshire Terrier who is four years old and totally an alpha female.
Anonymous - 4/9/2011 7:20:11 PM
Respond to Question
I raise Malinois. My girls are great with my cats and small dogs. I wouln't trust them with small animals such as guinea pigs or chicks because they are dogs afterall. Though smaller dogs have become my gals "Children"
Mals are really smart and they want to please you. Be sure that you supervise interaction between them and continue positive reinforcement for good behavior!
tactdogs - 5/4/2011 1:19:45 AM
we have a jack russell and she is totally an alpha dog too, she just lets our Belgian Malinois puppy know who is boss and that's it. every once in a while they will play tug of war and our JR will be a little aggressive. but all in all they just leave each other alone.
Anonymous - 4/19/2011 1:53:42 AM
QUESTION: What is the difference between the belgian malinois, and the belgian shepherd malinois?
Anonymous - 2/10/2011 2:18:01 AM
Respond to Question
If you're asking about the Belgian Shepherd dog, they're what they call them in Europe. Keep in mind, Europe has four different kinds of Belgian Shepherd dogs. Doing a quick google search does wonders.
Anonymous - 5/26/2011 6:19:25 PM
I would like to correct the previous answer. Beligan malinois are one breed, then you have Dutch shepherds. Dutch shepherds are a cross between German Shepherds and Malionis. Dutch shepherds are one of the best "take down" artists and are used in police work quite frequently.
tactdogs - 5/6/2011 12:51:00 PM
There is no difference between the belgian malinois, and the belgian shepherd malinois, it's the same dog
Anonymous - 4/12/2011 5:59:54 AM
QUESTION: How old before I can breed my Belgian Malinois?
Anonymous - 1/16/2011 1:28:16 AM
Respond to Question
AHHHH! Wait! Join a breed club, ask around to see if your belgian malinois has good bone sturcture and sound temperment! I know that is the last thing that you want to hear, but we have to preserve this breed. If you are near Alabama I will help you with a free consult.
TWO years! A large breed dog doesn't develop all characteristics until 2, that is when you want to get her hips x-rayed or at least checked through pallipitation. Think about it, if a girl has her first litter at 12 months, an accidental litter at 18 months and another litter at 24 years, she has brought up to 36 pups into the world. What happens if at 26 months you find that she has dysplasia?
36 puppies that have dysplasia. Give me a call or email I can help you out.
My gals usually have the most pups when they are ready for them. 4 years I see the healthiest/largest litters.
tactdogs - 5/4/2011 1:25:23 AM
The younger the Belgian Malinois is, the more puppies it is more likely to have
hkalash - 4/10/2011 11:45:22 PM
marro - 2/9/2011 3:54:20 AM
QUESTION: We are currently looking for a dog that is a good guard dog, do you believe the Belgian Malinois breed would be easy to train or would then need to be sent off for training?
Anonymous - 11/13/2010 1:58:18 PM
Respond to Question
Belgian Malinois are great guard dogs and amazing dogs overall. I love my Mal. Just make absolutely sure you socialize her well with other people, animals and children if they will someday be around them.
Anonymous - 5/26/2011 6:22:01 PM
Mals have great drive and want to please. They will take what you give them. If you only give them a yard, they will protect that yard, if you give them a house, they will protect that house. If you give them yourself... They will protect you. Yes you will need training, more importantly than turning on that natural instinct is turning it off. If you don't have an off button you don't have a protection dog, you have a liability.
tactdogs - 5/4/2011 1:29:23 AM
I've helped train Belgian Malinois for about a year now and with the proper traing yes they make damn good guard dogs
Anonymous - 4/16/2011 8:16:20 PM
I have a 3 year old female Belgian Malinois, she is very aggressive towards other dogs and she is attached to only a few people.
hkalash - 4/10/2011 11:44:14 PM
Be extremely careful of the breeding. My rescue Belgian Malinois was a perfect dog, appropriately protective and very loving. When she passed, I purchased a puppy from a local breeder. I later learned that several of this breeder's pups were euthanized due to aggression. My Tess is still with me, but it has been a difficult 15 years. We did obediance (won Most Improved!)and worked hard on socializing her, but temperament has been an ongoing challenge.
Anonymous - 1/8/2011 3:33:45 PM
Our Diva is very loyal and a wonderful watchdog. They are very loving. You can't go wrong with a Belgian malinois.
Anonymous - 12/21/2010 4:22:21 PM
I had Lacy, our Belgian Malinois, for almost 14 years and she was VERY good as a watchdog and very loyal. Great with cats and children, very active; needs lots of exercise. She was a constant companion and is dearly missed.
Anonymous - 12/7/2010 1:11:55 PM
Belgian Malinois' are exactly what your looking for great guard dogs and loyal to family and very easy to train
Anonymous - 11/25/2010 10:54:38 PM
QUESTION: What exercise does the belgian malinois require?
Anonymous - 11/11/2010 8:19:07 AM
Respond to Question
The belgian malinois needs a lot of room to run and play. A large fenced yard works very well.
Anonymous - 12/4/2010 3:47:14 PM