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Why are over 200 Belgian Malinois surrendered every year?

Because most people end up with the wrong dog.

If you’re planning to get a Belgian Malinois, here’s the blueprint I wish I’d had from day one. 🎁

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Most people think there's only two ways to get a Belgian Malinois…

(1) Adopt from a rescue or (2) Purchase a puppy from a breeder.

After having done both, I’ve learned that there are other options available if you’ve got a clear idea of what your dream dog is.

The problem is that most people jump straight to "how do I get a dog?" without first asking "what kind of dog do I actually need?"

This backwards thinking is exactly why so many Malinois end up surrendered.

So I created a 2-step blueprint to help you build your dream dog. 👇️

Step 1: Determine your end goal

You've got 5 options to choose from:

1️⃣ Active Companion

A family dog that can keep up with your lifestyle.

2️⃣ Dog Sport Competitor

A dog bred for competition in sports like PSA, IGP, or Mondioring.

3️⃣ Protection Dog

A dog trained for property, personal, or family protection.

4️⃣ Support/Service Dog

A dog providing emotional support or medical disability assistance.

5️⃣ Working Dog

A dog for detection, patrol, search & rescue, or other professional roles.

Fun fact - The KNPV is a dog sport used in the Netherlands to certify dogs for Dutch police work.

My rescue Lexi was an active companion, while my puppy Aki is training to be a family protection dog.

But here’s something most people don't know...

If you want anything other than an active companion or emotional support dog, I recommend finding a vendor that offers a workability/performance guarantee.

Workability/performance Guarantee: A vendor’s commitment to replace your dog once if they can't perform the way they’re supposed to.

Vendors rarely give them to puppy buyers - unless you're an experienced handler in the end goal you’ve selected.

I wish I had gotten a puppy with a workability/performance guarantee, but hindsight is always 20/20.

Once you know your end goal, then comes step 2.

Step 2: Determine if you want to raise and train them

You can get them in 5 different flavors:

1. Puppy (≥8 weeks) - Start from the very beginning

2. Puppy that will be trained before coming home - Get puppy experience without the training stress

3. Green Dog (≥10 months) - A young adult with drives and nerves already assessed

4. Mature Dog (≥3 years) - An older, calmer companion

5. Trained Dog - Skip straight to the finished product

I got my rescue Lexi from our local pound at ~6 months old and I got my puppy Aki at 12 weeks old.

It’s no secret that Belgian Malinois puppies are known to be hyper, hard-headed, and easily overstimulated dogs that require patience, vigilance, and constant training.

But what I didn’t know is that Belgian Malinois puppies also need substantial socialization during their critical development period from 8-16 weeks.

I made the mistake of listening to my vet and am now paying the price using a desensitization and counter-conditioning protocol for things Aki most likely wouldn't be anxious about if he had proper socialization as a puppy.

Vendors recognize this intense commitment...

Which is exactly why reputable breeders offer more than just puppies.

Some vendors let you purchase a puppy from them and offer services to professionally train them for your end goal.

You get the puppy experience while minimizing the chance of washouts or anxious behaviors.

But if you're not into raising a puppy, I'd recommend getting a green dog (10 months+) or a mature dog (≥3 years).

Green Dog: A dog that’s mature enough to have their drives and nerves properly assessed - so you know what you're getting, and minimizing the chance they wash out.

But if you don't want to raise OR train a dog, just get a trained dog.

Sometimes it makes sense to skip straight to the finished product, especially if you’re busy raising kids and running a business.

If you find the right vendor, you'd be surprised how comparable the DIY cost is to the finished product cost. I’ve already spent $3,500 training Aki and we’re nowhere near finished training.

TL;DR: There's no one-size-fits-all approach to getting your dream dog. The key is matching your experience level, lifestyle, and goals to the right acquisition option.

Tail End

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Until next Thursday, ✌️

Sam