Hi my name is Jenn and i live in the USA. I"ve been interested in malinois for years and have done much research. I would like to eventually get one for search and resuce and conformation. I've read over some posts it looks like most people are from other countries! I was hoping to get some more info on this wonderful breed, and some possible breeders who excelle in SAR and conformation. thanks a lot!!! jenn
Thanks for the responses guys. I was curious if anyone here has american lines and reccomends a breeder? Or even overseas? Its so hard, i've gone to shows ect but you really got to compile a lot of different breeders, i'm not sure who to even look into!!! Thanks again for the responses guys! Leroux i wouldnt mind the information my email's eviloxygen@hotmail.com and my SN in eviloxygen thanks!
Don't limit your information source to showbreeders. GO TO WORKING BREEDERS ALSO. You'll find that these are 2 different worlds with 2 different types of dogs.
Heldengebroed is right. You should check both and than decide. I guess it depends on what kind of dog are you looking for and ofcourse what would you like to do with it.
first let me say I mean nothing malicious by this comment, but if you want to do confirmation I would find a showbreeder with some spunk in their Malinios that can do S&R.? I say this for two reasons. Working? Malinois although beautiful and very malinois looking, probably won't be confirmation material, and if the parents are they probably still don't have the capacity to throw perfect confirmation pups, atleast not consistantly.? Secondly, the GSD has been hurt badly by showbreeders.? The malinois is holding in decent shape. I would steer anyone who wants to do confirmation away from the working lines. If your dog is good, someone will want to breed to it, and thus the working and showlines will be crossed (as I'm sure happens sometimes, but it's like the enviroment, everyone has to do their part for it to work, if everyone else left it to everyone else to do their part, it would fall apart).? I want my 4yr old son to enjoy the malinois as I am today, and basically if you are going to do show, stick with showlines, please for the sake of the working malinois.? Working breeders breed for workability and to just stay in the "vicinity" of the standard (by that I mean, a working breeder, will breed a mal whose ears don't stand up if that SOB is a workaholic, show breeders wouldn't care about working ability if those ears didn't stand up he's done).? Working breeders want the dog to continue to look like a malinois but give lead way when it comes to looks, which is bad in the show world.? So if you are looking to show, you need showlines, not to mention they'll hammer you everytime, just for having working lines (in the US atleast).
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"You goddamned yellow belly, how dare you breath the same air as these men!!" ~GEN. GEORGE PATTON? WWII
Malinois can have both small ears and working abilites. Please, keep up the good work and do some research in "Dog presentations" -section in this very forum.
Remember also Belgian shepherds breed standard.
That one counts both lines so if dog used for breeding follows this standard, it has both show- and working results. These results also give some idea about the breeders motives for breeding itself. Sometimes the reality about honour and economic matters can make people do.. things.
If you end up purchasing pure working-lined Malinois in some point of your life; please make sure that all information out of the siblings of the parents is given and available.
Sincerely, Birdie
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Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed devotees can change the world. Do you know why? Because it's the only thing that ever has.
I would counter Chris' post...It really depends on your priorities.
If you're serious about SAR, find a working breeder. Work ethic and structure should be the biggest considerations in your search for a breeder...type secondary. If you're just *thinking* about SAR, my answer would be different. But If it's a priority to you, pick a dog bred for work.
If, on the other hand, a Malinois capable of garnering group placements is your priority, get a showline dog. Do be aware that there are essentially two show "types" in the US. The older American lines, and the newer European dogs. You need to do your homework and decide which type is for you, and which breeders are producing dogs of the type you prefer. Both are showable (although you'll likely stay out of the UKC breed ring with an American type dog), but they have distinctly different looks, structure, and some would say temperaments.?
In certain geographic areas, *any* Malinois is finishable. In others, you'll need to really pick your judges. But there are plenty of finishable working dogs. I've had some lovely working bred dogs...a German BISS dog and breed champion Idol who was 30 odd times FR3 (pulled several times in group but never placed), a Dutch KPNV dog Robbie, and a youngster Link who is French x Belgian and will eventually be shown.
I don't show because it's my top priority. I show to showcase my dogs, their breeders and breeding, and the reality that working dogs don't have to bat-eared, yellow-eyed and barely recognizable as their breed. I show to let judges know that my expectation of happy, relaxed, approachable dogs comes from my *working* perspective and that dogs that do protection sports are stable. It's the same reason I don't "cloak" my foreign language commands in obedience or agility. I won't have a dog out there that doesn't behave in a way that brings credit to the breed and breeding, so it's a *good* impression of working dogs that is left with that judge.
I would recommend taking a hard, realistic look at your priorities and decide what is most important to you. Neither answer is right or wrong.
I agree with the points that Jona has made. You need to decide which has higher priority, SAR or conformation. And what level of conformation are you talking about? Getting a CH, or specialing the dog? Because there is a HUGE difference. I have a number of working dogs who could get CH's, but none of them would be specials material. Not that I'd want to special them, showing in conformation is not my idea of a "good time". When I do it, I do it to show that working dogs are also safe, social, stable dogs who are quite capable of going into an AKC venue and performing well, without eating a poodle or small child.
Anyway, decide which area will get your main focus, then you'll have a better idea of what type of dog you want to pursue getting.
I too am in the USA and purchased my first "Working Malinois" puppy 5 months ago. I may be able to put you intouch with a few breeders that might have a pup to fit your needs and may be able to help you decide what direction you would like to go. I know there are "show" people who have also done SAR with their dogs. I know breeders who also cross working lines with the show lines and have done very well. Please email me privately & I will be glad to give you the information.
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LOL...
