So you think you want a Malinois...

So many people tell me that they want a Malinois. I've decided to start documenting fun moments with Harry.

I picked up Harry & Grant from the boarding kennel Sunday evening. I chose this particular kennel because they have indoor/outdoor runs. They even have a couple that have lids on them inside and out, just for containing spaz dogs like Harry. Imagine my shock when I discovered that he had escaped their Super Deluxe Escape Proof Kennel a couple of times. Fortunately, his escapes were in the indoor portion of his run. I guess the Saturday morning kennel attendant showed up for work, and was surprised to find Harry waiting for her in the kitchen. They assume that he crawled through a hole in the lid that wasn't very secure, dropped in the the run next to him that contained Grant, and then jumped out of Grant's uncovered kennel. After they reinforced that spot, he just started tearing at the chain link on the kennel door, and got out that way.

Until next time...

Other Malinois people are welcome to add stories :rofl1:

:rofl1:

When I boarded Tyr, the kennel had indoor/outdoor runs with guillotine doors. The would lock all the dogs on one side with the guillotine down, then go around to the other side, open all the gates doors, pick up toys/bowls/beds etc, scoop poop and start hosing down with cleaner and then water and then squeegee it. All the run gates would be left open while cleaning, since the dogs are locked out of that side of the run.

Tyr shared his run with Morgan. Not only did he open the guillotine door to get himself loose, he held it open to spring Morgan with him.

Something might be wrong with me - these sorts of stories just make me want a Malinois even more!:rofl1:

Of course I do sometimes wonder if Kes is ACD/Mali so, yea.

When are you moving here so you can be close enough to borrow one for a weekend?

Hahahahahahahahaha! Bring it on!

Well he sure is food driven! Maybe they forgot to give him his midnight snack! So sorry, but I couldn't resist saying that.

Yeah, I was wondering how much he got into in there. He didn't come home with diarrhea, at least!

Friend of mine has 3 now; her first one is one the GD style and is quite a bit mellower; but still a wee bit more dog than I want; I love him though; in small doses. Her little itty bitty 35 lber is OTT. She was considering donating her to the local police station for use as a service dog. Ha,ha. They loved her drive for searches; wouldn't come out of any environment without the ball once; even if that meant a search of 1/2 hour and would continue such searches without stopping for hours. That was great while the officer who was caring for her was off shift; once he went back on; the dog stayed in their kennel for 5 days straight; ate her way out through a 2X4 and had to go to the vets to have 3 lbs of wood removed from her stomach (which thankfully the police paid for). My friend took her dog back and recommended they stay with shepherds. My friend is certifying her as a bomb dog this month.

She has now adopted another from the local humane society and shocker as to why this little bitch was there; holy drivey hannah; she's so not a "pet" dog. She'll also be trained either as a cadaver dog or bomb dog; and either retained by my friend or placed with a department that will work her.

I think anyone that wants a Mali; should watch these videos and remember a few keys;
YouTube - malinois in china

How do you fence them in -- when they are climbing trees, performing back flips (for schtz and giggles) and scaling at least 8 ft block walls? Hmmm?

I would think it's not so much just fencing them in, but putting the ability to vault things on cue and under control.

(Kes clears 4' easily and has since he was about 8 months - it's not something that was taught, but he will generally respect a barrier of only 30" if I ask him to)

GD style?



Yes, that is exactly it. In French Ring, we teach the dogs the palisade, so essentially I actually taught Harry that it's ok to climb a 7.5 foot wall. We only have a 4 foot fence, and Harry has NEVER tried to jump it. He could easily, but he's learned to respect the barrier.

It also helps that herding dogs tend to be handler oriented. A 6 foot fence can contain a mali more easily than it can hold a borzoi.

My very high drive mali has gotten loose a few times, and I live on 16 unfenced acres with a lot of wildlife that might be fun to chase and her recall is far from solid. All she does is zoom a few times and then she comes back to me. IME, malis tend to think things are less fun if their owner isn't with them.

GD = Great Dane; you knew about that, eh?

My friend's male is loyal; the little female is an attention ***** and will go with anyone; and we don't know too much about the rescue except she's reactive as hell.

And I agree about the fencing; handler dogs vs. independent dogs; my independent dog will leave in a heartbeat; my people dog you can hardly scrape off your leg.

Oh, yeah. I was wondering if that is what you referred to. I've seen some come out of Holland in particular that are 30 inches at the withers with really boxy heads.



Yeah, I can have Harry in the yard for a few minuted unattended because he just sits at the back door wanting back in. But, I'd never DREAM of leaving him out there and going someplace. He will, however, run off if the gate is left open. He's an extremely reactive and driven dog. Much sharper than I would like. Not particularly social. Good with the family, though. Great with my toddler!

Here is the rescue; Zoe; 8 mos. old; probably about 30-40 lbs.



Here's her girl Ira; 4 years old; 42 lbs.

i still want one. dunno that it will ever happen, but i find them so appealing. even though they're monsters.

I love my Malinois, she owns everything !!! :yikes:

Ahhhh, but can she drive the thing? Because I would love to have a mali that mowed the lawn.

Hi All, I'm new here - came across this forum while searching for some random dog related thing... seems like a great place with good info!

Thought I'd chime in and share a picture of my baby - he is 5.5 months old and just under 50lbs. No horror stories yet aside from his rock obsession!

Welcome! Go ahead and post in the member intro section and we'll ask you for more pictures

Jen, he's gorgeous!

Thought the rest of you might get a kick out of this - a friend of mine near the new town has said that she'd be happy to work schutzhund with Kes and I, so we're both going for our BH's this fall and will consider more than OB after that. She's committed to training thru +R primarily so I'm especially psyched! I think Kes is gonna have a blast and it'll be good prep for any future Malis for me in addition to be a fun new sport.