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by offdalip on 13 May 2013 - 21:05
A few thoughts from a first time Malinois owner on the correct things and wrong things we did with him as a specifically pet dog.
He was pretty much my dog to train the first year. At 8 weeks when we got him he immediately learned his sit, come, stay and fetch
from day one. He was crated religiously his first year when we were not home.
We also had an aging old grumpy cat and a 7 year old female high energy rescue dog that was maybe a German Shepard / Chow mix.
I had 2 trainers/advisers (later a third, Ivans old gf , Carrie), that were all kinda at odds sometimes. The guy that sold/ breeded my mal said corrections
were key (he was big on protection dogs). The other one said to keep my two dogs apart as much as possible so that they would not bond with each other
more than me. And they both said eye contact was bad since it degrades you as pack leader in their eyes. Carrie helped with my mistakes.
7 y/o female was basically his surrogate mommy. He ignored the cat. Only pays attention to her butt, unless he does a behavior she disapproves of and barks at him.
He is a smart Malinut. Always learns new games right away. Hide Seek Tug Ball Frisbee etc.
I started him mostly on Tug and Ball. Built that up and they are is his strongest drive by far.
He will go at car WHEELS and Bicycle WHEELS and most any balls in general. Tennis balls don't last long, Racquet balls do better, Kong Balls will last forever.
I did overcorrect him the first year since I listened to the trainer/ breeder/ guy who sold him to me. Realized My mistake in 1 1/2 years.
My Wife had virtually no interaction with him the first two years as her mom was dying of cancer so she had no time.
After he was 2 years , she really started to take an interest but my training had him coming up the leash on her ( Not on me, He learned I am ultimate pack leader).
She took him to Carrie's , and he never came up on the leash ever again.
i'll finish this tomm
He was pretty much my dog to train the first year. At 8 weeks when we got him he immediately learned his sit, come, stay and fetch
from day one. He was crated religiously his first year when we were not home.
We also had an aging old grumpy cat and a 7 year old female high energy rescue dog that was maybe a German Shepard / Chow mix.
I had 2 trainers/advisers (later a third, Ivans old gf , Carrie), that were all kinda at odds sometimes. The guy that sold/ breeded my mal said corrections
were key (he was big on protection dogs). The other one said to keep my two dogs apart as much as possible so that they would not bond with each other
more than me. And they both said eye contact was bad since it degrades you as pack leader in their eyes. Carrie helped with my mistakes.
7 y/o female was basically his surrogate mommy. He ignored the cat. Only pays attention to her butt, unless he does a behavior she disapproves of and barks at him.
He is a smart Malinut. Always learns new games right away. Hide Seek Tug Ball Frisbee etc.
I started him mostly on Tug and Ball. Built that up and they are is his strongest drive by far.
He will go at car WHEELS and Bicycle WHEELS and most any balls in general. Tennis balls don't last long, Racquet balls do better, Kong Balls will last forever.
I did overcorrect him the first year since I listened to the trainer/ breeder/ guy who sold him to me. Realized My mistake in 1 1/2 years.
My Wife had virtually no interaction with him the first two years as her mom was dying of cancer so she had no time.
After he was 2 years , she really started to take an interest but my training had him coming up the leash on her ( Not on me, He learned I am ultimate pack leader).
She took him to Carrie's , and he never came up on the leash ever again.
i'll finish this tomm
by offdalip on 14 May 2013 - 16:05
So that was my first mistake, Overcorrecting him the first year. But the good part is that he respects me and listens and immediately obeys commands.
After his first year I let him out of the crate during the day when we left for work, only crating him at night when we went to sleep (unless we forgot and he
played asleep, then he would come up on the bed when we dozed off. Always next to my wife instead of me). I took him to dog parks so he could
really run around alot chasing soft frisbees and raquet balls and socializing with other dogs. He ignores other dogs pretty much always. When the
odd one is aggressive towards him he will just stand his ground with no hackles or teeth. Another big mistake was in socialization. He was really
startled badly by people when he first saw them. Cars as we went for our walks. I didn't Hold and Cuddle with him at all first year.
My first dog I socialized with little kids and holding hugging cuddling. I realized after first year that I was not socializing him enough so I started taking him everywhere I could where
there might be people. Crowds , parades, big cities, family get togethers, parks in the city with joggers/bikes etc. Now after ALOT of socialization work
he is just fine with any group of people without being "Sharp". He will even sit at a firing range without flinching at all. To this day however, he will not let
me cuddle him, but he Will cuddle with my wife all day long.
I have left him alone with friends staying over at my house no problem, with my father in law, with my mom, at christmas thanksgivings , with all sorts of guests over.
He is extremely well behaved off leash. loves SUP ing with my wife and hiking camping.
So really, you need to teach a Mal discipline otherwise he won't respect you as pack leader and you also have to socialize a Mal quite a bit for a pet,. That and sprinkle
in endless Malinut games they love to play. Hide and seek, Search and find, Tug on a big Rope, Chase bouncy ball, Catch frisbee, Go dog Paddling in the Pool or Bay or Beach.
Oh, that is the one thing that will really wear a Mal out. We live in a place with a pool on a canal that opens up to Tampa bay. Whenever we take him out on the boat to the beach or
Stand Up Paddleboarding he is pretty much done. Just watch out that they don't swallow too much water.
Looks like you have a wonderful little puppy there. And he will grow out of those clacking teeth if he has that behavior (our did the first year, Chew and tug toys help) and other things in time.
Our Mal now can either be Full ON! or total chill, depending on circumstances. I should update his page.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dylan-the-Malinois/330542900368244?id=330542900368244&sk=photos_stream
P.S. I should edit this to say that in the last month or so, he is now initiating the cuddling with me, jumping up on the couch unsolicited and slobbering me, just like he does with mommy.
After his first year I let him out of the crate during the day when we left for work, only crating him at night when we went to sleep (unless we forgot and he
played asleep, then he would come up on the bed when we dozed off. Always next to my wife instead of me). I took him to dog parks so he could
really run around alot chasing soft frisbees and raquet balls and socializing with other dogs. He ignores other dogs pretty much always. When the
odd one is aggressive towards him he will just stand his ground with no hackles or teeth. Another big mistake was in socialization. He was really
startled badly by people when he first saw them. Cars as we went for our walks. I didn't Hold and Cuddle with him at all first year.
My first dog I socialized with little kids and holding hugging cuddling. I realized after first year that I was not socializing him enough so I started taking him everywhere I could where
there might be people. Crowds , parades, big cities, family get togethers, parks in the city with joggers/bikes etc. Now after ALOT of socialization work
he is just fine with any group of people without being "Sharp". He will even sit at a firing range without flinching at all. To this day however, he will not let
me cuddle him, but he Will cuddle with my wife all day long.
I have left him alone with friends staying over at my house no problem, with my father in law, with my mom, at christmas thanksgivings , with all sorts of guests over.
He is extremely well behaved off leash. loves SUP ing with my wife and hiking camping.
So really, you need to teach a Mal discipline otherwise he won't respect you as pack leader and you also have to socialize a Mal quite a bit for a pet,. That and sprinkle
in endless Malinut games they love to play. Hide and seek, Search and find, Tug on a big Rope, Chase bouncy ball, Catch frisbee, Go dog Paddling in the Pool or Bay or Beach.
Oh, that is the one thing that will really wear a Mal out. We live in a place with a pool on a canal that opens up to Tampa bay. Whenever we take him out on the boat to the beach or
Stand Up Paddleboarding he is pretty much done. Just watch out that they don't swallow too much water.
Looks like you have a wonderful little puppy there. And he will grow out of those clacking teeth if he has that behavior (our did the first year, Chew and tug toys help) and other things in time.
Our Mal now can either be Full ON! or total chill, depending on circumstances. I should update his page.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dylan-the-Malinois/330542900368244?id=330542900368244&sk=photos_stream
P.S. I should edit this to say that in the last month or so, he is now initiating the cuddling with me, jumping up on the couch unsolicited and slobbering me, just like he does with mommy.
by peaceman on 15 May 2013 - 17:05
Offdalip: Thank you so much for all of that advice. I have read and re-read it about ten times!! I took Menace around with me all day in the car and he did great. (Although if too much eye contact is bad I am doomed--I spend lots of time looking at him petting him--probably need to get tougher) He does really well with the kids and their friends, almost surprisingly so. My mother-in-law has a pool a few houses down that I can use every day. He will have his first water experience this weekend. I hope he likes it. He does bark for a while when crated. He also starts barking around 4:30 am which is a drag. The biggest challenge thus far is getting him to calm down with the other two dogs. They all want to wrestle non-stop. It does wear him out though. Not sure exactly what overcorrecting is. I say UH UH when he does something he shouldn't and he pretty much ummediately stops. I did watch closely today as my daughters got out of the van and their friend hopped out with them. He stayed right with me and then went over to them. Their friend pet his stomach and he was fine. I've been exposing him to EVERYTHING---music, water running, kids screaming, other animals, etc. He doesn't seem phased by much. I'm curious how much it will change if at all, as time goes on. He does go back and forth between me and my trainer friend and I also wonder if being at two households can be a bad thing. Guess we'll see. Like your this guy also seems to be full on or completely mellow. Thanks again for posting. I could not get your link to work???
by Hundmutter on 16 May 2013 - 03:05
You can pet a dog without fixing it with a stare ! My previous GSD was a
bitch who hated eye contact, but it didn't mean I couldn't cuddle her ...
bitch who hated eye contact, but it didn't mean I couldn't cuddle her ...
by offdalip on 16 May 2013 - 08:05
<<< I could not get your link to work??? >>>
That's because it's not a link, my bad. Try copy and paste into a new browser. Or maybe this link will work.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dylan-the-Malinois/330542900368244?id=330542900368244&sk=photos_stream
Throw a racquet ball in the far deep end of the pool and he should go right in . Mine loves the water but will never be a dock jump dog.
He wants the ball soo badly when you throw it in, but still runs to the shallow end and goes in by the stairs rather than just jump in.
The barking may be separation anxiety. Mine loves his crate doesn't mind going in at all. Barking at 4:30 am is not good. Mine talks @4:30am
but only barks at the door when people knock. Still working on that. If he does any non approved behavior like lunging at car tires, I make him
sit and down. He almost does that automatically now by himself when a car goes by.
Overcorrecting is when you use the leash / collar to give him a "correction". I use a prong collar quite a lot with a short leash. Never ever use
those expandable leashes. The idea is to give them a short quick correction if you give him a command and he does not immediately follow
your command. All of my trainers are really big on this. We also had the problem for the first year that he would "come up the leash" to get
away from getting a correction. You use two leashes at 180 degree angles, one prong one choke to quickly fix that behavior. I don't really have
to correct him any more except for the lunging and sniffing when we go on walks or jogs. He has changed quite a bit. I would say between
0.5 years to just over 2 years old is their tantrum years and by 3 years old the settle down. I kept track of some of his litter mates. One of
them would only do jumps and spins for a whole year B4 settling down. Another one was returned B/C the owner didn't know how to handle
him. Another became a police dog. Another became a pawn shop guard and another became a family pet as well. Build some good drive in him.
Fetch racquetball and Tug are good ones. These can be rewards as well for following your commands. Make sure you teach "OUT", early early.
That was another of my mistakes.
Hope this helps.
That's because it's not a link, my bad. Try copy and paste into a new browser. Or maybe this link will work.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dylan-the-Malinois/330542900368244?id=330542900368244&sk=photos_stream
Throw a racquet ball in the far deep end of the pool and he should go right in . Mine loves the water but will never be a dock jump dog.
He wants the ball soo badly when you throw it in, but still runs to the shallow end and goes in by the stairs rather than just jump in.
The barking may be separation anxiety. Mine loves his crate doesn't mind going in at all. Barking at 4:30 am is not good. Mine talks @4:30am
but only barks at the door when people knock. Still working on that. If he does any non approved behavior like lunging at car tires, I make him
sit and down. He almost does that automatically now by himself when a car goes by.
Overcorrecting is when you use the leash / collar to give him a "correction". I use a prong collar quite a lot with a short leash. Never ever use
those expandable leashes. The idea is to give them a short quick correction if you give him a command and he does not immediately follow
your command. All of my trainers are really big on this. We also had the problem for the first year that he would "come up the leash" to get
away from getting a correction. You use two leashes at 180 degree angles, one prong one choke to quickly fix that behavior. I don't really have
to correct him any more except for the lunging and sniffing when we go on walks or jogs. He has changed quite a bit. I would say between
0.5 years to just over 2 years old is their tantrum years and by 3 years old the settle down. I kept track of some of his litter mates. One of
them would only do jumps and spins for a whole year B4 settling down. Another one was returned B/C the owner didn't know how to handle
him. Another became a police dog. Another became a pawn shop guard and another became a family pet as well. Build some good drive in him.
Fetch racquetball and Tug are good ones. These can be rewards as well for following your commands. Make sure you teach "OUT", early early.
That was another of my mistakes.
Hope this helps.
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