07/09/2025
I feel like this topic isnt discussed enough.
At the moment the Belgian Malinois is one of those breeds people admire, especially when they see all the videos on tiktok at how much work they do and how mesmerising they are to watch.
When owning a dog, its important to always remember exactly what the dog was bred for.
Your cute little jack russels were bred for hunting and ratting. Now that's not to say every jack Russel will have a prey drive and that's down to breeding. Not every dog has a drive to work.
Its important to also remember that as dog owners its our responsibility to fulfil pir dogs needs. If our dogs show signs of drive its up to us to follow through with that.
The Malinois is an absolutely beautiful and intelligent dog. But they do not come readily trained. They require 24hr round the clock work and training. They will destroy everything possible if their most minimal basic needs are not met.
These sort of breeds I only recommend to highly experienced working breed owners and there is nothing wrong with wanting a dog like this. But when searching for a dog to bring home we have to ask ourselves..
- Do I have the time
- Can I afford the training if I cant do it myself
- Can I walk miles and miles a day which certain breeds need
- Do I have the money aside for vet bills for any hereditary health conditions
- Have i studied the breed im interested in and learnt about their behaviours, needs, wants and requirements.
- What do i want from this breed of dog? Do I want a cuddly pet, a dog that can walk miles or a working dog?
- Most importantly can I give this dog a long fulfilling life without thinking of rehoming because I "cant cope with the behaviour"
Sometimes looking at videos and admiring is ok and so is admitting you need help and assistance with walks and training ❤️
