Top products from r/BelgianMalinois

Certainly having a good professional trainer is the best (note: not everyone you could pay for training has an idea what they are doing). Without that, I'd say you should invest in some training materials. I always recommend Don't Shoot the Dog as an intro to training because it will help get you in the right perspective for various ways to train dogs. There are also various online training groups which may be able to help you. The three biggest differences between you and a professional training are 1) ability to read body language (you may be able to, idk) 2) knowledge of various training techniques (can be learned though having a teacher for some is best) 3) practice rewarding at exactly the right time and frequency (this is actually the trickiest and takes lots of practice).

For 3, I'd recommend getting a clicker (even if you don't use a clicker with your dog, this is about understanding what behaviors you are rewarding) and playing a game with your friend/family where, without saying any words, you guide them to doing something. Any progress toward the goal gets a click. Anything that is not helpful gets no response. (eg. Turning on the light. They step toward the light, click for that. Take another step closer, click for that. Touching the wall the switch is on gets a click). This exercise gets you practice to see what you are rewarding and, when your friend is trying to get you to do something, shows you how much a mistimed reinforcement screws everything up.

To address distraction issues, you'll want to put the dog in a situation where you are 95% confident it will do the right thing. Your dog likely won't react to distractions when they are 100 yards away. When they are right next to your dog, it may react. Figure out where your dog will be successful and then very very slowly (inches or a foot at a time), up the difficulty. The technique is called shaping and is a great tool for training difficult behaviors and behaviors at a distance.

Take some time to really consider what kind of dog you want to shape. Imagine a few years from now, the things you'd like to do with your dog, how youd like them to be have, how close your like the relationship to be. When you have a fleshed out idea, start to work on obedience, socialising, play times, and activities that build the relationship youd like.

Then enlist a trainer, educate yourself with YouTube advisory dog trainers like Robert Cabral, John Fischer, stoney Dennis, and research the malinois breed...but maybe get a DNA test done to know for sure what you are dealing with. Breeds have general behaviour and character types that can help when assessing your dog in the future.

Above all rember the 3 most important things; dogs are family, dogs must behave to be fed, and playtime/ walks are training (really).

Have fun!! Lots of it!! My mal has changed my life and I'm rapid cycle bipolar!!

If you need a few links:

Robert Cabral on Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjYrEepn8OLXXzW5rcpXO8PA-mkfEcaUd

Stoney Dennis; Malinois Puppy Training Pt1:
https://youtu.be/nWt78FjS05k

John Fisher; Think Dog:
Think Dog: An Owner's Guide to Canine Psychology https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1844037096/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_nc.2CbR84JMG2

One really neat thing you can teach your puppy with a ball is precision heeling. There are quite a few steps you have to take first before using a ball. You start off teaching​ your pup with food. I highly recommend looking at this video to get started. Once your dog has the basics with the food down, you can transfer to putting a ball under your armpit and having the dog heel for that. I recommend getting a ball attached to rope so you can immediately reward by playing tug with the dog, because that will ultimately become a greater reward than food. I recommend a ball like this or this. Let me know if you have more questions!

Perfect timing! I just dug up this article by Suzanne Clothier yesterday. He just wants to say Hi She says "My experience has been that it is owners of breeds considered non-aggressive that cause the most problems in dog-to-dog interactions simply by being unaware that their dog is rude". It's kind of long but well worth the read, especially for people who have dogs of the Belgian or German variety who are always assumed to be the aggressive instigating dog in any kind of confrontation. I'm curious to hear if after reading that article you still think your dog is unfriendly with other dogs or if you think he's just expressing his disapproval at their rudeness.

To answer your question my dog does get along with other dogs really pretty well and I recruit her to help me socialize puppies I'm working with all the time because I trust her judgement. That said, I never let strange dogs just come barreling up to her to "say Hi". And if I see some obliviot coming up the trail with their off leash dog (sigh) I step in between them (this helps if you have a friend or someone to hand your leash off to), or have a can of spray air, and I've even pepper sprayed a couple of dogs before who approached us with pretty aggressive body language and no handler. If the person with the off leash dog is especially dense, lying and saying that my dog is contagious has always worked. Because really, they are not going to like what she gives their dog if it continues getting in her face.

Its a "poy pet" harness off Amazon. Its cheap but its been really durable over a few hundred miles of backcountry camping and backpacking.

Its got 4 buckles so its easy to remove if necessary. Its a "no pull" design with a front and rear clasp, and it has a handle on the back too.

This is the harness. Its been an amazing value. It could easily sell for $60+ and its better than what Ive found in big box stores.

Best $15 you’ll ever spend and lasts FOREVER!!!!!

oneisall Durable Dog Chew Toys Bone Chew Toy for Puppy Dogs- Indestructible for Aggressive Chewers L https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N2UO4KJ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_kucJDbQ2RSGHR




My Mal loves his! Takes it with him everywhere

The rubber horse brush is a great and cheap alternative to a zoom groom rubber brush. I use these on my dogs regularly. If your mal has longer fur or gets matted easy this is my favorite comb for breaking them out. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00U204CD4?psc=1

This ball has held up pretty well.

Also I highly recommend a jute bag for play/training. I have two - one that she bit the handles off of (the bag itself holds up very well) and the other I use for tug/bite play that I put away when not being used.

Chuckit! Large Ultra Tug https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008APMO7E/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_j2uNDbB4J6KPQ


They're great for two-ball, targeting, tug, and should work with the Chuck it throwing arm too. Aren't bad for their teeth like regular tennis balls.

That's funny, I was just looking at that one too. Thanks for the size, wasn't sure. I'm between either that or the Icefang https://www.amazon.com/ICEFANG-Tactical-Harness-Military-CB-Molle/dp/B078N3JYW1

How long have you had it and would you recommend it?

I'm no amazon rep but believe me these toys will last. I've never replaced any of them and they are laying around the house always.

He's got 10 of these [beware they squeak] (https://www.amazon.ca/gp/aw/d/B004YCJQNM/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1509928125&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=kong%2Bball%2Bsqueeze&dpPl=1&dpID=41pvzF94MML&ref=plSrch&th=1&psc=1)

He also has 1 of every Kong extreme line toy [(the black ones)] (https://www.amazon.ca/gp/aw/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?k=kong+extreme)

Trust me these will last, get your pup some for Christmas or whatever, you won't regret it.

I believe I used this one: https://www.amazon.com/Exercise-Training-Replacement-Outward-Hound/dp/B0042I5G2I/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1499884677&sr=8-2&keywords=flirt+pole

The included squeaky toys definitely don't last, but you can just tie your leather rag on when you get that.

It's just a braided prey ordered from Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00HFFXE5G/ref=ya_aw_od_pi?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Amazon! They're actually for people. I tried an Animal Planet bat dog costume but the XL size was waaaay too small for her.

Here's the link... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074KL9MTV?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01MYQFN6D?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_pd_title

In a medium

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01BBLOWFK/ref=aw_pd_cart_vw_1_1?ie=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B01BBLOWFK&pd_rd_r=1MKXM2MWSTFHD2KVSQ5R&pd_rd_w=TnawA&pd_rd_wg=uuT1g&psc=1&refRID=1MKXM2MWSTFHD2KVSQ5R

The ChuckIt tough frisbees have lasted quite a while for us. If you let them chew on anything long enough they'll get through

https://www.amazon.com/Chuck-It-31342-Chuckit-Rugged/dp/B01CCGK54A

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BTL4KU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_s5c2AbBZ0V290

These are Mal proof! And no blood!