This is a question people ask me frequently, and one many dog trainers typically answer with a resounding NO.
I don’t think it’s that simple.
Many trainers will tell you that you aren’t good enough to have a Malinois. I believe most of those trainers shouldn’t have them either. Managing a Malinois by just keeping them locked in a crate all day or having them live out their lives in a kennel isn’t the way I like them treated either.
Just because you can take them out of their kennel and perform an obedience routine doesn’t mean the dog is happy or healthy.
A pet dog owner who has a big property, a few acres or more, and lots of time, would potentially be able to spend more time with the dog, giving it a better life.
There are trainers whose dogs are in a crate or kennel all day while they are working, and then the dog gets out to work obedience or bite work once in the evening. That’s a terrible life–and unfortunately there’s a lot of that kind of treatment happening.
A dog trainer should know more than anyone not to get more dogs than they can afford. Each addition costs more time as an owner and trainer, so having 4-5 Malinois and a full-time job is going to require making other sacrifices in your life.
Some trainers make those extra sacrifices; some do not.
The Belgian Malinois owns a few superlatives in the dog world: they probably have the highest prey drive of any dog breed, highest energy level, almost highest intelligence, and in many cases, quite a bit of genetic aggression. They are also potentially the most affiliative breed of dog, with the strongest bond to their handler. As a breed, they live long and are relatively free of major health concerns. They have a low maintenance cost, can live outside, and can handle temperature change very well.
As with any dog purchase or adoption, I think it’s most important to first assess your ability and potential ability to handle that dog.
I did not grow up with a Malinois but got a puppy (Rhino) when I was 26 years old. Before I was an adult, there is no way I’d have known if having a Malinois would be too much for me. I would have committed to giving the dog what it needed regardless of the cost.
I don’t think that all people can provide a good home for a Malinois. But I also put many high drive dogs in that category. Most pet dog owners can’t handle a German Short Haired Pointer either. That’s not their fault, it’s mostly lifestyle and handling ability levels. To be honest, most pet dog owners would have trouble with a Border Collie or an American Field Lab too, if it were from working-dog stock.
I have some clients who have gotten Malinois and been very successful with them in their lives. These people almost all have a good deal of land, time, and are committed to growing, changing, and learning with their dogs.
Some of these people had to build larger fences, buy slat mills, build kennels, pay substantial amounts for training, and went through a steep learning curve when raising a Malinois puppy. But we all started somewhere. Anyone wanting to get a Malinois should have a plan and be committed to training and exercising their dog four hours a day when it’s young. That’s not an exaggeration. Malinois have endless energy.
The majority of successfully-managed Malinois in the US are owned by sport dog trainers, working facilities (government or contractors), and large-property owners. There are likely a bunch of Malinois bouncing off the walls in row homes and apartments all over the country.
To break it down further:
My dog Rhino is happy and fulfilled as a retired sport dog. We trained and competed tirelessly for his first six years and then I was unable to compete anymore due to back and hip injuries. He could have kept going but due to a series of procedures and operations I had put too many gaps in our training time for me to be confident stepping into the competitive environment.
He is now a very happy and content 11-year-old family dog—he’s even allowed on furniture now. He is gentle and loving with my family, despite his years of training to bite people in protection sports. He spends 8-10 hours a day in his yard which borders the driveway and in the play yards at our training facility. I’m often walking the fence with clients, staff, and other dogs and he paces us tirelessly. He always has a ball in his mouth. If I’m home, he utilizes the yard a lot less, choosing instead to hang on the porch and sometimes request entry.
I am a professional dog trainer, Rhino is an exceptional dog, and I have a literal PERFECT setup for him on my land. If you’re older, don’t have large dog experience, don’t have fences, kennels, and a ton of time and money to spend on your dog whenever he needs it, it’s likely not the right dog for you.
I have a client (a retired man in his 50s) who bought a Dutch Shepherd (very similar to a Belgian Malinois) because he wanted a dog with an “edge.” He has a large property, plenty of money, and most importantly, all the time in the world to spend with his dog. We’ve done a substantial amount of training in boarding and private lessons, coaching phone calls, and more. Their relationship is great, and the dog has turned out to be awesome.
I have another client, well-off financially, with a similarly large property, who has spent a lot of time training with me, with similar positive results. He had to build a big fence, learn how to interact with this particular dog, and continue to practice nonstop.
This client recently had open heart surgery, and when he saw his dog for the first time after, he knew she was going to freak out. He set himself up for success and wore a ballistic bulletproof vest to make sure if she jumped or slammed into him, he wouldn’t bust his stitches open. It’s wild to think this is necessary, but that’s the type of planning that makes someone successful in ownership.
To sum all this up, the first thing you want to do is get in touch with a dog trainer, tell them about your lifestyle and ability, and see what they suggest. It just might be that they think you should get a Yorkie or a Westie instead! You might be far from what you think is possible. I’ve told more people no than yes when it comes to getting high drive dogs—Malinois included.
