Question for the Malinois Owner

[Mrs.K]

My pup was evaluated by a German Police Officer and he said that he is suitable as a police working dog. Maybe I have misread something in the little pup. Maybe it's the difference between Mals and Shepherds that threw me off.

What alarmed me was his reaction when his Foster Mom stepped on his toes. He literally went onto her leg and went into a little frenzy. She remained calm and picked him off her leg. I simply expect from a dog not to turn around and going at you, even if you step on his toes and that they bounce right back. Even from a half year old puppy I expect that. Now I was told that some Mals have lower treshholds and have to learn to control themselves. That with some the Landshark phase is never over, yet they are doing perfectly well in SAR. I have to say that he's otherwise very very stable. I was simply thrown off by his behavior if you do something unexpected and out of the ordinary. One wrong move and he's got your arm or leg. Sometimes, when he's got his five minutes he is putting a hold and bark on her. If she ignores him, he will go on her leg.

My question is, and it may sound stupid but I've NEVER experienced that kind of behavior from a half year old German Shepherd. I know the Landshark phase, maybe it's just that Mals sound different, look different and have an overall different drive and just can't be compared to Shepherds and I'm really feeling stupid by asking that question but: Is that something you can expect from a Malinois?

She is working primarily on obedience. He was tested on the sleeve, tug, with things thrown at him, buckets thrown right next to him while he's tugging, big heavy loud and noisy objects. He's very very stable with all of that. So it doesn't seem to be a nerve thing. Maybe it's the drive that is going through with him, maybe he was just startled and reacted over but she said, sometimes he gets his five minutes, putting her into a hold and bark and if she ignores him, he's going at her. Especially since he's half a year old, that got me a little concerned. Now that the Officer said that he's suitable for Police Dog Work, I'm torn if I should really sell him or not .

[GSDElsa]

I'm confused......a police dog doesn't necessarily make a good sport dog. And certainly not a good sar dog. So I'm confused at your question.

[Castlemaid]

We have a Malinois in our club: this pup's reaction sounds about right. Smartest dog I ever did see, but has a bit of sharpness to her. Not a dog for the casual owner, that's for sure!

[Mrs.K]

Originally Posted by GSDElsa

I'm confused......a police dog doesn't necessarily make a good sport dog. And certainly not a good sar dog. So I'm confused at your question.

Don't worry about it. I want to hear from Malinois people what their experiences with the puppy stages are.

He would make an excellent patrol and/or detection/cadaver dog, at least that is what the Officer said. From Sports People I got conflicting evaluations. One said to never do Schutzhund or French Ring with him because it wouldn't be a game and all he needs is obedience. Other said that he would be perfect for both venues, it would give him an outlet for his drive, as long as Obedience is put on him first.

He learns fast, he's very easy to train but he's got, every now and then those five minutes where he can go into a little frenzy. Now that may vanish they more he matures and they more he learns to control himself through Obedience. All I want to know if this is something normal with Malinois and if it is considered a "Landshark/Puppy" thing since I've never seen anything like that with a GSD... we all know that biting the leg and arm thing but going at you when you stepped on a toe or actively put you into a hold and bark... that is something else.

[Mrs.K]

Originally Posted by Castlemaid

We have a Malinois in our club: this pup's reaction sounds about right. Smartest dog I ever did see, but has a bit of sharpness to her. Not a dog for the casual owner, that's for sure!

He is very smart and learns really fast. Matures much faster than a GSD, that's for sure.

[GregK]

Originally Posted by Mrs.K

Is that something you can expect from a Malinois?

I don't think it's a breed thing. I think it's just how that one dog reacts. I have a little collie that does the same thing. It's hilarious !

The 4 mals I have never reacted like that to a human.

[Mrs.K]

Originally Posted by GregK

I don't think it's a breed thing. I think it's just how that one dog reacts. I have a little collie that does the same thing. It's hilarious !

The 4 mals I have never reacted like that to a human.

Yeah, I agree with that, but it's not so funny if it comes from a Mal or Shepherd and it's not hilarious for me. If any of my dogs did that, that'd be it with SAR. You can't have a dog that turns around and bites you just because they get startled by something. There is a lot of unpredictable situations and they need to be rock solid with that. So if he is really on the sharp side and turns around just because you did something than that rules him out and I am honestly not sure if I even want to deal with a dog like that, no matter how good he otherwise is.

[GSDElsa]

Mal or not, what you are describing isn't a "landshark breed stage" it's a sharp reaction.

[GregK]

Originally Posted by Mrs.K

it's not so funny if it comes from a Mal or Shepherd

No doubt!

[Mrs.K]

Originally Posted by GSDElsa

Mal or not, what you are describing isn't a "landshark breed stage" it's a sharp reaction.

Yeah, that was my first reaction.