That should be the serving size.
He looks like a 100% good boy! I want to smoosh his face.
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Absolutely what we are going for. Meeting a 2 year old male and I have a two more 3-year old females all at rescues to look at. I know I donāt have time or mental capacity for a puppy. I am excited to meet some of the crack heads under the pretence I could take it home. The ones we have met have all been someone elseās so of course they seem amazing, because I am ultimately not the one that has to live with it.
I have always called the Malinois a crack head, hilarious to see itās not just me!
As far as not going for a working breedā¦ Letās just say itās a Malinois, possibly a Siberian Husky or no dog.
Thatās all I willing to explain here.
We do have a professional trainer lined up to help us teach them scent work so we can hide things for the mental stimulation part.
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Iāve got a decent amount of experience with dogs, to include having spent a decent amount of time around trained K9 dogs, so I know the Malinois breed well.
I love Malinois. They are amazing. So smart, so driven, absolutely fearless, truly just a remarkable breed, the apex of everything that a dog could be.
That being said, itās also one of the few breeds I really caution people against getting. Those dogs just donāt have an off switch. The whole āMaligatorā thing is very real. That dog wants to bite, itās bred to bite, and if you donāt give him something to bite, they WILL find something. (I say something, not someone. They arenāt just deranged psychopaths, the dogs just need an outlet for the bite energy. They are honestly a very smart breed thatās absolutely capable of affection, just get their bites out). If you go the Malinois route, he needs some sort of aggressive outlet. That can be bite work, just get an arm sleeve and invest in some training, 15 minutes or so a day can do wonders. Or maybe get him into the jumping sports. But it canāt be āoh, I let the dog outside to play and we do tug of war.ā Iāve played tug for a solid hour with a Mal, and the dog never got close to tiring. He would be more than happy to join you on your runs, but those would be at your pace, not his. For that breed, heās gotta get a chance to burn at HIS pace to do something with the energy.
Donāt let this come across as me trying to dissuade you from the breed. They are amazing dogs, one of my all time favorite breeds, and the only reason I PERSONALLY donāt have one is because Iām well aware I wouldnāt give that pup the attention he needs. Not a fault of the breed, but they need an owner who understands.
less experience with Huskyās, but some cousins of mine have always had em. Hysterical dogs, very sassy, very vocal. Also high energy, but comparing a husky to a Mal is like comparing a Camry to a Ferrari. Itās just a different level.
Now I know you say just those two breeds, and I can understand that, but have you thought about a German Shepard? Personally, itās the dog Iāve had more than any other, and Iāve always found them to be utterly fantastic. Most of the great qualities of a Mal, with a bit more mellow energy drive. Iāve heard some people getting German Shepard/Mal mixes, but Iāve never actually met one so I canāt comment.
also, never sleep on a good old mutt. To date, my favorite dog the family ever had was some German Shepardish mutt from the pound, and he was glorious
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My Harley, a certified crack head Doberman just like a Mali, was an amazing tracker, sent detection and discrimination. I could toss my keys in a large field and he would find them. He was given to me after 4 foster home. He did agility, extensive obedience, basic protection, bike joring, some crittering, bring the horses back to the barn on a leash, climb up a ladder to get in the hay loft with me, jump a 6 foot tall fence and would recall off a full chase after a deer and he was the best co pilot ever.
I loved that dog so much and miss him a lot. It was very hard to leave without him as most of our local dog boarding were not able to handle him and no one could enter the house if I was not in there.
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@atlas13
I appreciate that write up. Mals are amazing dogs, and from what I understand, they can be the best, or the worst dog you can have.
A German Shepherd would likely give us a better āoffā switch.
@donnerschweer
Harley sounds like he was an amazing dog. Iām glad you had the time with him that you did and got to give him his best dog life! It live to get into tracking work with a Mal.
General update:
In an interesting turn of events over the weekend. Through a line of other applications and a game of dog telephone, I got a line on a two year old, male Malinois that had been in a rescue for a year. A rescue just 20 minutes from us.
I arranged a meeting, and Hubby and I met the dog Saturday. He is a sweetie, cuddly, small for a Mal, generally just a nice dog. Then the rescue lady told us she also had a female Mal that she had had for a year as well.
The female is almost five, and just a good dog. Seemingly, anti-mal. We brought the trainer we are going to use for an evaluation as well. I know a hour meeting will only tell you so much, but itās better than nothing. The female showed little prey drive, no bite drive with the tug, showed quicker learning/compliance with corrections. The trainer said she is a very nice dog, that he wouldnāt want because she doesnāt have enough drive for HIM. Which is exactly what I want.
Long story short, the adoption contract is signed and we are picking her up on Wednesday.
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Share lots of photos please!
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I will! She gets to jump immediately into a four day holiday adventure weekend with us. Sheās either going to be living her best dog life or absolutely hate it, TBD. Either way, photos will be taken.
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Thatās so exciting! Sounds like you got the exact breed you wanted, with the perfect pup that just fits the vibes you were going for! So glad that worked out, and I second the call for photos!!!
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Thanks! I am excited and a bit nervous. I hope you donāt take my getting a Malinois as me completely ignoring your cautions. I absolutely know she is going to be work, Iām just hoping that Iām not a complete idiot and she is truly chill for a Mal. Either way, Iām as ready as I can be for this challenge and the fun.
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Congrats!!!
You did the best thing ever, to bring a trusted trainer. It is also nice that the rescue had the dogs for some time and can really know them.
Please, post loads of pictures.
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@EmilyQ @atlas13 @donnerschweer
I may be jumping the gun because she isnāt in hand yet, but here are some sneak preview photos the rescue has.
Those eyes.. they got me.
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Gorgeous dog
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She looks like a beautiful girl.
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She looks like a good girl. 
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Those eyes! Sheās beautiful!
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I missed this as I was busy looking at the pup photos, but just wanted to say, I donāt take it that way in the slightest. They are a great breed. Iād be remiss if I didnāt let someone know what they are getting themselves into, but if itās up their alley then go for it! Sounds like you did it right with the temperament fit and getting the trainer to check em out, I think this will be a great fit for you and the fam!
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Whatās her name? 
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We will be naming her Kiva! I didnāt realize you could rename adult dogs, (her current name is Ivy) but according to our trainer it helps the transition and connecting with the new home.
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Monday 8/25
Coachās Program, W3D1
Hip Abductor
25, 25 x 70
Hip Thrust
20 x m+70
15 x m+115
12 x m+140
9, 5, 5 x m+160,150,140 (dropset)
DB RDL
20 x 100, 16 x 100, 12 x 110
Smith Machine BSS
20 x m+12.5
16 x m+17.5
12 x m+22.5
Leg Press
22 x 215, 16 x 260, 12 x 305
SS
Calf Raise (on press, same weight, till fail)
19, 16, 12
LISS cardio, 45 minutes, Stairmill
High rep sets went fine on the hip thrusts, then my strength took a nose dive for the top/drop set. The Rx is 3x till failure, and boy it was. Iām supposed to get closer to 10 reps though.
Weights stayed the same on everything else. Lots of pauses are needed to get the reps, so I am being patient with the increases.
Had a refeed meal later, huge stack of homemade apple, protein pancakes. Felt human for a couple of hours until this morning, woke up ravenous as always. The scale is showing itās lowest, 135.6, hopefully that sticks for the coach check in tomorrow.
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Tuesday 8/26
Coachās Program, W3D2
Ab Circuit
Standing Cable Straight Arm Rope Pulldown
25 x 15, 25 x 20, 11-4 x 25-20
Lat Pull Down
20 x 75, 16 x 85, 12 x 85, 8 x 100
Chest Press Machine
20 x 70,
11-5 x 80-70
7-5 x 80-70
7-3- x 80-70
Cable Seated Row
25 x 70, 14-6 x 70-75, 14 x 70, 10 x 90
Seated Shoulder Press Machine
14-8x50-40 , 16 x 50, 12 x 55, 9 x 65
Push Up
3 x fail - 12, 10, 10
45 minutes cardio - cycling
20 HIIT, 1:00 sprint, 2:00 rec
LISS for remaining time.
Weights generally went down or matched last week. Days like this are hard mentally, I donāt cope well with performance drops.
Made it through, sweaty exhausting session.
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