Many families now keep Belgian Malinois dogs as pets because they are intelligent and highly attuned to people. However, owners soon notice that some Malinois behaviors are hard to adapt to, such as chewing random objects or barking excessively. These behaviors can create trouble and inconvenience, so if you want a Malinois to fit into family life quickly, training is essential. Fortunately, the breed is highly intelligent and not especially hard to train, as long as the owner understands a few useful techniques.
1: When a Malinois puppy is 1 to 3 months old, you can begin basic training such as sit, shake hands, lie down, and come. But because the dog is still a baby at this stage, the owner needs patience and repeated reinforcement.
2: The Malinois really is very intelligent. Some formal rankings say its intelligence is not that high, but many people believe this says more about its obedience than its comprehension. In one pet shop example, only the Malinois could easily open its own cage or climb out of an enclosure no matter how high it was.
3: Some pet dogs are very sensitive to food, while others are more interested in toys. Before training, find the dog's excitement trigger and train accordingly. For example, if the dog responds strongly to food, then food can be used in training. At mealtime, feed about 80 percent of the normal ration and keep the remaining 20 percent as training rewards. First make the dog notice the food in your hand, then call its name. When it comes, reward it. Before long, it will start listening to you. Once this response becomes stable, food can be gradually replaced with petting or praise. But whenever the dog does the right thing, it must be rewarded.
4: Chewing random objects is especially common at around three months old, when the Malinois is teething and curious about everything. When you catch it chewing something inappropriate, say "no" loudly. Once it stops, reward it. This takes time, because if it stops chewing one object, it may move on to another. At this stage, anti-chew sprays can also be used as support.
5: Toilet training is also appropriate around three months of age. On weekends or holidays when you have time, train deliberately. For example, soak a piece of newspaper with the puppy's urine, then place a fresh sheet beside it. Because it carries the dog's own smell, the puppy will be more likely to eliminate there. When it succeeds, do not forget to reward it. Once that habit becomes stable, the newspaper can gradually be moved to your preferred place, such as the balcony or bathroom. But do not rush. The new location must remain easy for the dog to find. If it is moved too far too soon, the dog may eliminate before getting there. During the early stage of training, used newspaper should be cleaned up promptly, because dogs generally will not reuse a place that feels too dirty. With patience, fixed-point toilet training usually takes about 7 to 10 days.
6: As for biting people, many pet dogs have this problem. A useful approach is not to yank your hand back too fast when the dog bites, because that can scrape your skin and make the injury worse. Instead, push your hand further into the dog's mouth while giving the command "drop." Because of the pressure, the dog will open its mouth wider. Then pull your hand out and reward the dog. Over time, the dog will stop biting you.
7: If the dog is overly clingy, that may simply mean you are spending too little time with it. Although the Malinois may look cold on the outside, it is often extremely passionate inside. It needs the owner's company. Even if you do not actively play with it, it may lie at your feet because that makes it feel secure.
8: Training a pet dog always requires patience, and that is especially true for a Belgian Malinois. Many owners feel frustrated at first, but the older the dog gets, the more rewarding the cooperation becomes. As it matures, the dog often works with you better and better, and the resulting sense of achievement is very real.
Many undesirable habits in a Malinois really can be corrected through training. The owner's patience is extremely important, and spending more time together helps build strong mutual understanding. The better the coordination between owner and dog, the easier training becomes.