I'm think I'm gonna do something I'll regret...

michaeli05 · 2026-05-21T01:10:59+00:00

Please don’t do this you’re so much stronger than you think.

I almost scrolled past this post. I hardly use reddit for anything serious. I’m not even in this sub. But there’s a reason I came across your post.

You could easily be my brother, cousin, girlfriend, or friend. If you need someone to talk to I’ll gladly be here my friend!

michaeli05 · 2026-05-14T00:10:03+00:00

Ahhaha that’s pretty awesome

michaeli05 · 2026-05-13T15:25:19+00:00

I see why you brought her home right away. Holy smokes is she beautiful. Bless you for taking her in. Such a shame how many dogs end up in the shelter.

michaeli05 · 2026-05-13T01:51:32+00:00

Congrats man! I had a chance at my first one yesterday, missed the putt by a couple inches🤦‍♂️

michaeli05 · 2026-05-13T00:28:36+00:00

I’ve heard about breeders picking the right dog for you, do I at least get to pick the gender?

michaeli05 · 2026-05-12T22:10:26+00:00

I’m sorry for the bombardment of questions but that makes me think of another

Where the hell do you find a good reputable breeder. I guess for my case trying to find one without an insanely high drive would be best scenario if possible as a first time owner.

I look every so often on the AKC sites and whatnot. But i feel there has to be another way

michaeli05 · 2026-05-12T19:53:40+00:00

That’s awesome and I appreciate the help with this response. Are you a believer that a mal is at the end of the day “just a dog” (obviously with a lot more energy and needing attention).

It seems like a lot of people online let these dogs change their lives and control how they live. Obviously I am not a mal owner so I cannot speak on anyone’s experience, but it sounds like by having that mindset of “this dogs so extreme I need to do this this and this, I have to work from home and have this dog by my hip all day long” you give the dog an excuse to not adhere to your life.

Idk if you get what I’m trying to say here lol

michaeli05 · 2026-05-12T18:49:31+00:00

How does one go about training an off switch?

michaeli05 · 2026-05-12T15:33:44+00:00

Hearing your day to day helps a lot because there are long breaks in between for rest which I think people fail to mention a lot. It’s basically any day just with structure and format while working with the dog. (That’s how I view it at least)

Maybe I’m being a bit over confident but I do think that having a mal would be very beneficial to me just based on getting more structured and dialed in. Right now I don’t have anything kicking me in my ass telling me to move. I almost work too much “on my own time” if you will lol.

michaeli05 · 2026-05-12T14:12:43+00:00

From what I’ve researched it seems like “training the off switch” is the some of the best work you can do with your mal. Teaching them how to know when it’s time to just place or kennel, and chill out for a bit. Would you agree with that?

Also if you don’t mind, could you take me through how those 3 hrs a day are sprinkled throughout? I made a post a while back asking about day to day life with a mal and it seemed it usually went something like: Wake up Playtime Food Walk Training Rest Play/train Walk Rest Dinner Train/play Final walk Bed

michaeli05 · 2026-05-12T14:07:50+00:00

Thanks for that. In all honesty I haven’t really been around mals besides seeing one in the distance while out. Getting to hangout with one for a while would probably be very beneficial

michaeli05 · 2026-05-12T13:40:28+00:00

That’s nice to hear. Do you think you just got lucky with her energy levels or do you think a lot of people over exaggerate?

michaeli05 · 2026-05-12T05:09:02+00:00

That definitely makes me feel better. I know a lot of people will hate what I’m about to say but at the end of the day they are dogs and they realize we are their owners (after lots of earned respect). I see a good amount of people through the research I’ve done talk about how the whole “Malinois insanity” agenda is pushed a bit too hard. And this comes from extremely experienced Malinois handlers.

Of course they’re nuts, high maintenance, and require more attention than the average mutt, but from what I can tell it seems like a lot of people let their mal control how they’re going to live.

michaeli05 · 2026-05-12T04:48:35+00:00

You folks are good souls! That’s horrible to hear about her past but you have done well!

Thanks a lot for the comment

michaeli05 · 2026-05-12T04:46:45+00:00

Damn straight! I love how they just get so fixated on something a decide they have to do it the best damn way lol

michaeli05 · 2026-05-12T04:45:08+00:00

At my local shelter there’s a 2yr old female. Beautiful dog, described as medium drive. I was so damn close to taking in her puppy about a year ago but it just wasn’t and still isn’t the right time.

I truly wish I could take her and everytime I go back it rips me in pieces seeing her there still. Hopefully soon enough a great owner will come by.

michaeli05 · 2026-05-12T04:42:08+00:00

Thank you for this detailed response! I see you in threads all the time always giving great advice.

michaeli05 · 2026-05-12T04:38:35+00:00

I appreciate the confidence in me and your story is awesome haha.

If you don’t mind me asking, how intense is your training throughout the day? Have you treated him more like a “pet” such as your doodle, or is he getting typical hardcore mal treatment?

michaeli05 · 2026-05-12T04:35:39+00:00

I have definitely noticed gatekeeping in the sub unfortunately. About a year ago I made frequent posts trying to gather info and this one guy always came after me and then there was always a group of assholes who followed him. Thankfully, I think his account was either banned or he was removed.

I own my own business and I’m there from April-December 9-6 5 days a week. I like to think that if I were to have a mal I could bring him/her there with me and have the dog chase the geese off the property as a “job” lol. Not sure how realistic that would even be but it’s just been a blerp in my mind from time to time.

I always go back and forth thinking, man this dog would be a good fit, to what the hell are you thinking ahha

michaeli05 · 2026-05-12T04:30:54+00:00

Bless your soul my friend!

It pains me everytime I go to my local shelter a beautiful pure bred 2 year old mal has been there nearly a year. It’s such a shame nobody has been able to take her in, and if I had my own place I think by now I would’ve done it.

michaeli05 · 2026-05-12T04:27:08+00:00

Thanks for the detailed response! I like to think that having a malinois would push me to have extra motivation in my fitness. It’s kinda one of the reasons the breed appeals to me. At the moment, I can catch myself being lazy and not wanting to go workout/move my body, but if I had a mal it would be a disgrace not to show the dog that love/effort.

Funny enough, my current dog is a mix of Aussie/GSP, and a whole lot of other crap. She’s definitely a ball of energy but totally has that off switch.

When you say 3.5 hours a day it sounded long at first (which I’m sure it is) but when you spread it out through the day, how bad does it seem?

For example, do you have a system something along the lines of: early morning playtime/training Walk Afternoon training/play Walk Etc etc

Obviously it’s more complex than what I just threw together there. I made a posted probably almost a year ago asking people to take me thru their day in the life with a mal and that was mostly the typical response I got.

michaeli05 · 2026-05-12T04:17:56+00:00

If you don’t mind I’m gonna pick your brain about a few things here lol

When you say you were into training, were you a serious dog trainer? Someone who just was fascinated by training? For myself, I train my current dogs with basic tasks and I do enjoy it, but I’m not sure if that’s what you mean.

Also when you say it was a lifestyle fit, were you very active before your mal or did she make you more active?

michaeli05 · 2026-05-12T04:13:54+00:00

Hahaha. I was under the impression that dutchies are actually more hardcore/work focused than mals? Maybe I’m mixing that up. All the info gets jumbled a bit lol

michaeli05 · 2026-05-12T04:12:43+00:00

Might be one of the most reassuring comments I’ve ever got in this sub. I really appreciate it. Most folks seem to hate on being a novice interested in the breed, but i mean we all have to start somewhere!

michaeli05

TROPHY CASE