Thread: High drive Malinois in suburban yard

Hi Mark,

I agree with your advice RE run/enclosure of some description.Though the dog could still be a nuisance by way of barking screaming etc but if they are taught how to properly satisfy the Mali by way of drive work he should settle if worked properly.I would be inclined also to say a run will not solve this destruction alone long term due to the fact that some dogs are so high in prey they will always be destructive if not supervised even for the smallest of time frames.

Cheers
Amy

Edited to say Vendo's Idea is magic it will stop the destruction (crating)but noise is still a high stress release.

Another consideration would be how far could this dog go to escape? Chewing through wire (bloody mess) throwing itself ? Strong dog run!! needed.

I've got a 7 mo working line Mally bitch, and she's a pretty intense dog. If she doesn't get exhausted enough every day, she's just a pain to have inside the house, crated or not. She just can't seem to sit still or be quiet or keep her mouth off things if she's not worn out. If she's tired, she's fine.

I find the issue is thinking of ways to tire her out without risking hurting her joints. At this age I can't take her walking or jogging for long periods like I'll be able to when she's older. And lead walking for brief periods doesn't really do enough to take the edge off her.

Tiring her out mentally helps a lot. We train trailing/tracking a few days a week for a prey drive reward, which really tires her out. We also do training in drive for obedience (Balabanov style). Taking her on walks on a long line where she gets freedom to roam and sniff, interspersed with brief periods of practicing her recalls and her controlled walking, seems to really tire her out too. Even using the clicker to teach her tricks keeps her occupied and tires her out.

She doesn't trash my yard. She's dug a few holes, and yup she barks at anything in the vicinity, but she's mostly OK.

A tired malinois is a good malinois!

Originally Posted by Vendo Vincent

Easy crate train the dog and teach it to sit on a mat. Keeping them in a crate stops them from inventing their own games and it settles them down and you are able to focus that energy on what you want. Teaching them to stay on a mat allows them to interact with everyone but on your terms.



Either that or get a Dutchie then life is a lot easier.

Oh I am a firm believer in crate training pups... This dog has never been in a crate... However that is not the reason I didn't sugest crate training as we are looking at time periods of up to 8 hours or so... Not how long I would keep a high drive (or any dog) crated.

Yes I have said he needs to satisfy the dogs drive when with him..and by being involved in dogsport, he will learn how to correctly utilize and control drive, ie trackig, tug work and obedience in drive, etc

Once they start working the dog the destruction will settle

I must be blessed my working line dog was an angel!

I used to not feed her breakfast from a bowl, she got bones and kibble hidden around the place and she had to find it. Do a little play time before work and after as a pup and she was fine. For the barking I used a bark collar as this became the most annoying thing from her, she was convinced the washing line needed to be barked into submission - all bloody day . Once the dog learns to channel its drive it will be easier.

- Sand pit/water pool
- Rotate toys and use ones that are interactive (Prestige Pets have a range that talk and make noises when they are moved)
- feed from toys only and make them difficult
- leave a radio on during the day, the background noise can take some of the monotony away
- Brain exercise before and after work not just boring walks or runs which actually rev the dog up - things like clicker/trick training although maybe not what they want but will get the dog thinking, learning and wearing out its brain. Also helps increase owners training skills, and no matter how knackered you are it's easy to do even if you feel like sitting down instead or running about with prey toys.
- move everything you dont want destroyed or paint liberally with Crib Stop

Unless the dog has a high chance of escaping or has reached the point of ripping palings off fences etc I wouldnt necessarily jump into a run as a first resort. It may stop the destruction to a degree but then some owners can be lazy and the dog then sits locked up for 8 hours becoming more bored and frustrated because the effort to keep the brain active goes out the window. They got a high drive dog they need to put in a higher amount of effort with it as well.

Hi all

Just a suggestion that works well without damaging your dog.

Swimming your young dog is a fantastic way of tiring them out without damaging joints.

Swimming for fifteen minutes would be equivalent to one hour of running, much better option.


Just a thought

Amie

Easy solution to all this. And very quick.


Give it so someone you do not like.

We say that about my bitch ... half an hour unsupervised in someones car and good luck as to what will remain of the interior

that dog owes me a tint job and the entire back lining of my station wagon *shakes fist*

I will take it

Ha ha ha

Amie