So You Got a Malinois Ep 9 - Dog Training Tips, Tricks and Advice for Belgian Malinois

If you're having some issues with your Malinois, here are some tips...
0:00 My 9 week old Belgian Malinois Puppy is snarling at me
02:57 My Belgian Malinois is bite snapping at me when playing
04:19 Should I train my 11 month old Malinois to have a higher drive?
05:48 My 6 year old Belgian Malinois is a good dog until he's off leash, then he runs away and has some aggression issues
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#dogtraining #belgianmalinois #malinois

[@nightskymurals]

After always having dogs in my home (for 50+ years) we ended with a Malinois. Oh my gosh!!! Best dog I've ever had. I work from home, so it's easy to give her the time that she needs, and she is my shadow. As for the snapping, I learned after getting mine that it's what they do, but not in a mean way (at least mine). She chomps at me and also the kids when she plays and we love it. Of course, when she was younger, she didn't have the control that she does now, so I always had bite marks on my arms, but not from vicious bites, just playing. She's also the first dog that I've had that I can take out front with me and not worry about her running off. When we first got her, I took her around the yard a couple of times and showed her the boundaries (that aren't marked), and she never leaves them without me. She's the smartest dog I've ever had. I also learned that with intelligence comes sensitivity, so she only needs simple reprimands. This will be the only breed of dog I'll have from now on. Love your videos, Robert!

[@hawkeye98]

So we waited two years making the decision to get a Malinois. I heard all the stories about how this dog isn’t for everyone. Blah blah blah. My experience is with professionally trained field trial retrievers and two JRTs. We didn’t take the decision to get a protective breed lightly and waited until our home was dog less before getting our Achilles. I can say I wish I would have gotten this breed years ago. He is going on 1 year old. Taking commands. I’ve followed Robert’s videos and also gotten some professional help along the way. This is the most intelligent and lovable dog I’ve ever owned. I often think he is possessed by a 70 lb lap dog because he is so lovable with me and my wife and our family. He is doing some advanced bite work with the trainer we found and his personality hasn’t changed a bit. He is still very lovable.

[@bennbanes6359]

I have to thnak you Sir and your team for all of your efforts and commitment. We got a Mali about just over 9 months ago. She is now 1 year old. I under stood very little of Malis before we got her as we weren't planning on adding another dog to our pack, but a friend needed help homing a few. So we jeded up with Luna. As soon as we got her I researched more and more and stumbled across your channel and videos. These hlepd us alot and we now have the dog we do thanks to you and your team. Our Mali is a fantastic dog, so loyal and great with the kids. BUT...... in order to ha e her the way we love her requires alot......and I mean ALOT of work my part as her master. She requires more walking, running and playing than all of my kids and other dogs combined. She requires a varied mix of sprinting, hunting, sheparding and finding games throughout the day. If she's not panting, she's not happy. First thing in the morning she is ready to go, but not until each of us gets the best wake up routine in the world. She goes from room to room waking us in turn with cuddles, snuggles and more loves than you can imagine. I thank you for the fair warning, even after we got her, and set our expectations in line with her requirements. Luna and I are growing together very well 😍😍😍❤️❤️👍👍👍👍

[@Nocomment552]

We need more owners like you who are willing to step up to the plate and do their research. ❤️

[@CappuccinoDogTraining]

I share this video with my puppy clients all the time. Excellent reference for first time puppy owners!

[@akelauntouchable7848]

Always helpful thanks

[@abikerinpa]

Keep the videos coming my new friend ! , I got a German Shepard pup coming this Friday ! ❤️

[@LauraHopkinsCDL]

Very similar problem someone I know has. I keep telling them to praise calm behaviour and build confidence but as usual they don't put the work in. Thank you.

[@leafysfishing]

Good man for advising to train your own dog at that stage. I'm gonna really put all my effort into training my malinois when I get her on 17th December. I watch all your videos btw and I'm using you to learn from. I can't afford trainers but I have time and patience to do it myself. Any advice for my first day home would be appreciated if you see this.

[@rico4you]

Such great advice for Malinois Dogs from Robert Cabral that is an expert on this breed. These dogs are not for everybody... they are working Dogs that require a lot dedication, time , effort and sacrifice...Your time! I have an 18 moth old Malinois girl and believe me so much dedication and on going ... every day. Special Dogs Special Dedication.

[@joecaruso3756]

Hey Rob, can you do a video on Malinois cold tolerance? I want to take mine snow shoeing and/or cross country skiing but I don't know what his limits will be. My 6 month old LOVES hiking off leash here in NH and I want to keep it up through the winter. I know they were bred for cold conditions but I'm sure he still needs cold training to build up tolerance.

[@joem1633]

Fussy puppy is a tiny alligator. I’ve learned so much just being calm when my czech was going through his terrible 1 year phase

[@cowboy7271]

Yes I have a Sheppard Mal and she's 9wks love to play a little snappy and growl but I'm nipping it nda bud early. Like he say hold her till she calm down or if it's real bad grab the mouth and hold it a while she will learn quick who is Alfa male they don't like that just a lil squeal then let go. But time time time is what needed with Mal.

[@eliseholton9284]

‘Hey Knock it Off ‘ say 😊❤

[@convidtruthshallout]

My Mal/ Tervuren called Ragnar, when a puppy, he’s now 18 months, resource guarded his food, toys etc and we followed your advise on providing an alternative higher value item in order to ‘claim’ the initial resourced item. Over the past week or so he has started to ‘collect’ items around the house, mostly my clothes, shoes etc and sits on them. Yesterday he took a letter off the table and tried to claim it by laying on it and my teenage son, whom the letter belonged too, went to quickly get it before it was damaged, however, Ragnar bared his all his teeth and growled! He has never bared all his teeth before! So I have suggested swooping the item a ball or tug etc but wonder whether just actually ignoring the behavior altogether would be more beneficial (unless he’s damaging something which de doesn’t do at the moment) this avoids confrontation but also if he doesn’t get a reaction I’m hoping he gets bored with doing it? Should I be concerned about him baring teeth? He has started being defiant when I want him to go into his cage. Does bare teeth but growls if I take his collar to in force my command and place him in the cage.

[@eartheclipse9623]

no you cannot ignore it! he's gonna bite eventually if he's snarling. build structure into your house, crate him (with fun stuff in there like his bone, food & toys etc & have toys/bone nowhere else in house), when not potty, training/playtime etc, he's at the age to test boundaries & fast movements too are far more likely to set off a reaction because he's high prey drive and you could turn all this into a fabulous game of retrieving items if he's got something, encourage him to bring it to you and swap it out for a high-value treat. avoiding confrontation with him is letting him away with it unless you're distracting him by giving him a different task to do instead. could put a trailing line back on him so you can correct him when you need to as well.

[@mlambrechts1]

:-) only react to real things, if it's small stuff don't over react; Robert is completely correct (but you have to correct it by gently showing the puppy what is expected behaviour).

[@AndyIrons-gx1dw]

I need help I got a Mal we were doing great. My mother also got a mal one moth younger. She can no longer take care of her. By the grace of god I work on real estate and remodeling and renting homes. How can I show them the same love and how do I train both of them?

[@remalm3670]

... Good Stiff ... :-) ...

[@joeygiura6386]

I have a 2yr 7 month old Belgium malinois and lastly he's being very reactive towards certain people . He hates the veterinarian doesn't like to be handled and never calms down. My question is how do I help my dog become calmer in certain situations and less reactive?

[@isaulrodriguez5774]

Hello I just brought home a mal, 2 year old he is very smart and listens he has basic skills come , sit, down, he pulls on the leash but it’s ok I tried walking him / training him he was good for a little then just started barking over and over and started to nip and bite at me he bit me hard he is affectionate and calm I don’t understand what is happening

[@eartheclipse9623]

was he bored and trying to get you to play? frustrated at not knowing what you want? being cheeky & wanting/demanding a reward? seen something that 'set him off & redirected onto you? or at 2, it could be testing the boundaries to see where he sits in the hierarchy too. you have just brought him home though so he'll be settling in atm, give him lots of structure (crate time, potty time & obedience/training/play time), he eats after you, goes out the door after you etc & you'll need to watch his behaviours to find out why he's biting, then you can work on a solution, Robert has lots of vids.

[@Texasmilitarydepartmentvid9654]

My dog dose the same thing it's not going to actually bite you , it's nipping, barking and snarling wich means No or it think's it's play time. Mine dose it because of speration anxiety and she hates being locked up she's basically saying no i don't want to go in my kennel mine is 11 months old as well.

[@basictoglamchictravels]

Learnt something new about the biting, I would stop my malinois puppies by being harsh. I need help, I have two 5 month old Malinois and they don't poo where I want them to ,they prefer pooing all over my compound as opposed to their "washroom" area. Also they don't pee nor poo while on a leash. We got them from the orphanage almost 2 months ago and I'm getting exhausted having to pick their 💩, 🤧

[@k9-unit-australia275]

Your whinging about picking up dog shit, yet you 2 malis.. why🤦‍♂️

[@matze3596]

I need some advice. I have a Thai Ridgeback and when my sister comes visit with her dwarf wiener (Dackel) and they start playing with each other like running around, my dog gets a strong flow of saliva. Like he has when he is about to get his food. Is there a chance that he see the little dog as potential pray? I got my dog from a shelter in Thailand and know that he live without issues with other dogs for a long time and before the shelter in a family with a new born. Also i found once 4 baby kitten without mother near a temple and took them with me to find them a place. He kinda overtook the mother role and cared for the kittens all day long like cleaning them and stuff. So i know he is very sociable towards other dogs other animals and humans. He does not bark or has ever show any sign of aggressive behavior. Am i just overthinking this? or can there be a possible risk? Thai Ridgback have a very strong hunting thrive and i just dont know if he sees the small dog as pray. He does not have the running saliva with regular sized dogs. Greeting from Germany

[@unclesamsniece2064]

I had to comment after reading your post...not about your question though. I haven’t ever seen anyone state they have a Thai Ridgeback before. I had done some research into figuring out our stray dog’s breed & came across Thai Ridgeback that she has some resemblance to, mostly because of her “mohawk” on her neck. I found interesting website of the man that brought the breed to America years ago, filled with info on the breed. (Of course I can’t think if his name now🙄) May I ask what color your dog is? Does it have the ridge along the back or near the neck more? If your dog is well tempered, you are very fortunate since I believe they were bred to not only hunt, but be protectors as well as many other jobs to help their humans. I am in the US, but thank you for taking in a rescue dog. Probably best to limit how worked up the two dogs get when they are playing if you have any concerns. Prevents things from escalating to more than play. Thanks for reading!

[@matze3596]

@@unclesamsniece2064 Mine is a red one. The Grey(blue) version is most popular under breeders as far i know. The ridge is on his back. The Mohawk he gets if he is exited. I believe the Mohawk is somehow genetically connected to the Australian dingo. They have it all.

[@unclesamsniece2064]

Thank you for replying! I had not heard that about the dingo...interesting. Especially since upon first meeting our new family member, the vet instantly commented how rare to see a Kelpie around our area. She has some Kelpie looking bits but has the ridge and head shape much like the Thai dogs, though I am sure she is more a mix of all dogs than of any specific two. Though her protection instincts & her strong will & alert bark are unrivaled by any dog I have ever known. Thank you & enjoy your very special dog!

[@matze3596]

@@unclesamsniece2064 thanks broh!

[@rockypetty2990]

I have 2 Mals brother and sister. They freak out when they are separated. Will they grow out of that. They’re 5 months old

[@RobertCabralDogs]

Probably not.

[@k9-unit-australia275]

Why would you but 2 litter mates ? You’ve literally set yourself up for failure. Stupid idea dude..

[@rockypetty2990]

@@k9-unit-australia275 you answered me with a question, then a statement, and then insulted me. I simply asked a question. I would appreciate to be treated better. Once they are separated they are ok. It’s just during the act of walking off with one and the other can’t go. They enjoy being apart. It’s just that initial leaving that bothers them mainly.

[@eartheclipse9623]

@@rockypetty2990 only way is to work/walk them separately, crate them separately in different rooms and work on them walking away from one another (you'll need to be mega excitable to gain their focus, toys and lures), will take lots of time because they are litter mates, we've got 2 brothers & do this with them, they will get better over time. The only thing ours together is to be in the house/garden with play monitored so it doesn't get out of hand, they are rarely walked together because it just becomes a pulling fest & they don't listen well enough yet. we have 2 handlers so one isn't left alone for long periods of time like overnight or a day trip (they are too big and strong & unruly when together for one-person atm). its not ideal & not what I wanted, my adult son was supposed to move out with his....

[@rockypetty2990]

@@eartheclipse9623 Thank you for the good advice. Sounds like u know what I’m dealing with. I’m in a hands on career so I know any problem can be dealt with. Just need the right directing. I will start working on them. 🐕

[@aikoking374]

I'm 16 I don't have access to much due to my family's financial situation. i went online and several people told me I was dumb and causing heartbreak for my dog since i don't have the sense to give him up. I got him for my birthday in Mexico. so far I've taught him sit and working on potty training I know he should get a pro but that is inaccessible at the moment. there are a lot of malinois extremists and it disturbs me. I don't have many options and for people to be entirely rude it hurts a bit.

[@chrissouthwell8806]

I don’t have one, but from my research there are a lot of online videos showing you how to train them, they are highly active and need at least 2 hours of intense exercise every day. Don’t worry about those people too much, just make sure your dog is healthy and happy. I recommend using KZbin if you need advice.

[@garrettgiuffre7298]

I have a 1.5 year old male and he's addicted to balls. He as one two and sometimes 3 balls in his mouth. He responds to commands well but when a ball comes in to play he comes hyper focus on the ball and has a hard time hearing my commands. I would like to have him socialize with other dogs but I want to make sure his listen before

[@k9-unit-australia275]

Why do you need to socialise him with other dogs ??

[@theodorehyatt1782]

Why do people train in bite work if they aren't going to do anything with it ? It's going to come back and bite them in the ___. Just saying their home owners insurance will drop them .

[@bennbanes6359]

I don't train my Mali to bite, but she definitely requires some biting games and play to release her pent up instincts. As we see it, she holds back most of the time doing what feels natural to her, esp with our kids, she is constantly holding herself back from full on play mode, which includes mouthing and nipping. So I take it upon myself, when we are exercising to encourage her to get it out of her system, more than train her to bite. Hope that made sense. 😂😂

[@k9-unit-australia275]

Im sorry for my negativity but i still don’t get why these people bought a mali and then their concerned about this🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️. I bet the bought it as a fashion statement or a family pet. It’s very obvious they have zero knowledge about the breed (or dogs in general) if they have to ask this stupid question. Im just being realistic not nasty.