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working line belgian malinois breeders in the states

15K views 21 replies 16 participants last post by  Baillif  
#1 ·
Hey everyone so pretty much like the title says I'm aware this is a GSD site but I always get such good info from here. I'm on the fence right now as to whether I want a GSD or mal for Schutzhund. I already have my GSD breeder picked if I go that route. Still researching. Now I want to make clear I'm not asking for comparisons or to get swayed one way or the other. I just want some good mal breeders here in the states. I will make a decision based on my goals and what I think is best. But I want to make sure if I go with a mal that I'm getting a good working line pup and it'd from a breeder who titles and trains their own dogs. I also know mist good breeders have a wait list which I'm fine with I will wait for a good dog. Thank you
 
#11 ·
yes there are SL's....one club I was in had a breeder with a few. I was amazed at the difference in nerve....though not really.
 
#14 ·
And lots of backyard bred mals popping up as well, which terrifies me a bit thinking about the people that want one to look tough or earn "respect" for having a more demanding dog. :( The nervy GSD's I've dealt with in training can be a pain, but the nervy mals....are often kind of a nightmare.
 
#15 ·
Yep, I'm actually seeing quite a few Malinois pop up on our local Craigslist and dog groups. Siege is commonly recognized as "one of those Belgian police dogs" and everyone wants to tell me about the Malinois or Dutchie they're getting soon. A friend of a friend advised me to start introducing my girl as a Pekingnese LOL

I can personally vouch for Athos working dogs, where I got my Malinois from recently. Their A and B litters are out of her, and I've met a couple dogs (and a litter) sired by their male Mauno. I have known Michelle for years and she is incredibly honest and helpful, knows her dogs very well.

Loups du Soleil gets some flack I know, but there's a young Mal in the area from that kennel and I really like him. Very sporty dog, according to his owner/handler he's very stereotypical Malinois crazy, but overall a great dog. I think he's by their male Pi.

La Forge always comes highly recommended to me when I ask, but I've never met any of their dogs personally. Same goes for Dantero, though I have met two of their dogs in the passing, and know someone who used to have one. Kadi has always seemed like a trustworthy and honest breeder to me.

The breeders at de Loucyn are good people as well. I've been told that their lines are not for everyone in the breed...but what line is?

Aside from Athos, the rest are breeders I only know of but have very limited experience with. Not outright recommendations, just some people to look into :)
 
#18 ·
Loups du Soleil often gets crap because a lot of them are nervier/twitcher dogs and they've been known to intentionally breed dogs with one testicle genetically. If they bite really well they tend to overlook other genetic issues in their dogs.
 
#20 ·
Right, I should clarify and say that I can only speak for what I've seen personally, in one single dog. I'm sure the friend who owns the Loups du Soleil Mal knew that about the dogs, but she still was able to get the dog she wanted, and there are certainly people in the breed who like that kind of Mal. Now I don't know if Michael Ellis would be as honest about his dogs as she is about hers, and I'm not saying the crap they get is undeserved...but just throwing it out there that I've seen one and I liked him, twitchiness and all (would not say he had poor nerves by any stretch of the imagination, though).
 
#21 ·
I follow and help out a tiny bit with the national malinois rescue group. There are mals pouring in from around the country, but especially from Miami. There are a ton of bybs there.

My dog was dumped in Indiana, right next to Cincinnati, and there seem to be lots of (irresponsible) mal breeders in that area too. My dog has a rock solid temperament, is amazingly biddable and has plenty of drive but came with a lot of health problems.