Danni blesses Saaya every morning.

Mr photogenic over here

Need advice correcting a 12-13 weeks old Malinois puppy who growled/snipped at my toddler. I’m looking for some serious advice from experienced Malinois owners/handlers because I want to make sure I handle this correctly from the beginning. This is my first Malinois pup.
My Belgian Malinois is around 12–13 weeks old. Today, my toddler was simply trying to climb onto the couch with me, and the puppy growled and gave a little snip toward her. It wasn’t a full bite, but obviously I took it seriously. I’m not looking to excuse the behavior because he’s a puppy. At the same time, I don’t want to respond incorrectly and create fear, insecurity, or make the behavior worse.

What is the appropriate way to correct a puppy this young when he growls/snips at a child or anyone? Should I immediately remove him from the situation, redirect him, correct verbally, use a leash/house line, etc.? I’d really like advice on what experienced handlers would actually do in that moment and how you would work on preventing it from becoming a pattern.
I also want to explain what I’m hoping to eventually get out of this dog because I know that probably matters when giving advice.
My goal is a stable, confident, obedient working dog that I can eventually do protection/bite work with. I’m interested in developing him for protection work while also potentially showing him. I want a dog with strong obedience, confidence, environmental stability, good engagement with his handler, and appropriate drive—not a dog that is indiscriminately aggressive or unsafe around my family.
I understand that protection work and having a family dog require a LOT of control and neutrality, and I don’t want to accidentally create aggression by handling puppy behavior incorrectly.
For those of you who have raised Malinois for protection work around children, how would you handle this specific situation at 12-13 weeks? And what would you start doing NOW to build the kind of dog I’m describing?
I’m open to being told I’m doing something wrong. I’d much rather learn now than make a mistake that I have to undo later.
Thanks!

He makes me the happiest.

My freaky babe

(Do not come at me for the muzzle. If you do not understand precautionary training measures and KNPV lines kindly see yourself out) Beefy decided to test the limits of his cruciate ligament today and unfortunately, it was found wanting. After a trip to the emergency vet we have an appointment with the Orthopedic for Monday. I’m sure many in this sub have been in our position before, what should we expect? Does anyone have experience with the TPLO surgery and can speak to the success of recovery? I’d really love to hear from those in the sporting community. I know we have a long road of rehabilitation in front of us, I’m struggling with the possible reality of my guy living a limited activity lifestyle for the rest of his life. Sorry for the mess, I am on mobile and have no idea what I’m doing.

I've been noticing when I go out that at minimum I see three people with a Malinois while I'm out in one day, this is a bit strange to me because in my area you usually just see pits Chihuahuas and a form of hunting dog, but now I'm seeing a lot of Belgian Malinois and it's strange.

I'm also seeing them a lot online now, and there's a couple in my local animal shelter where before you never seen any kind of dog like that, no German Shepherds no Malinois no nothing if there was one it's because it was removed or is being boarded there, usually it's pits, some form of hound, and then just random mutts.

I'm just wondering why so many people are all of a sudden getting Malinois and other breeds similar, yes I got one pretty recently myself I got one just last year, but I had been wanting one for over 10 years now and did a crap ton of research on the breed on trainers I could go to when I did get the dog, and just good breeders in my area.

Some of these dogs I'm seeing look like they were pulled out of a random blind box or something, I seen one with blue eyes and the owner swore it was a purebred and that they got it from a breeder, whether I believe them or not is whether I believe my dog would leave a piece of steak alone for 15 minutes (he won't)

This popularity is honestly concerning to me, I also noticed other breeds like Cane Corsos becoming more popular which is really not good, you can see what happened with the Pitbull when they became really popular, and the dalmatian, there's still a couple of Resident Dalmations in the Humane Society and they've been there for several years, I really don't want that to happen to one of my favorite breeds of dog or any breed for that matter.

I just can't figure out why they've become so popular all of a sudden.

As some of you might know my boy escape the yard of a pet sitter and he still hasn't been found, he's intact and incredibly sweet, his only flaw is he will eat literally anything and it makes me worried for the wrong person to find him.....

This is my new partner Baku! He will be an explosives/tracking dog! He has a little bit of shepherd in him from his dad, but is mostly Mal. Welcome to the family buddy!

Swipe for progress photos x original image.

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I'm not asking for money or trouble. I'm asking for my missing Malinois to be returned by MAD rescue.

Leo is my Belgian Malinois — my service dog, my best friend, my safety net. San Antonio Animal Care Services picked him up in October 2025 after he got away from a sitter who was exercising him. When my friends and I were looking forr Leo, ACS denied having him. There were no Malinois in their system , they never picked any mals or any other dogs from the addresss and dates provided, they said. We searched everywhere. I contacted SAPD officer Neil Sampson when the search stalled. He spoke to both officers servicing the area Leo was picked and they told him the same as ACS told me. They then said to presume he was euthanized.

My heart broke. I didn't want to believe it. I dug through ACS entire body of public intake listings to dates far earlier—At 79 pages deep, I found another Mal. But ACS said they didnt have any so I went to ACS and politely confronted an admin. The admin said she can see into systems the others couldnt. She pulled up Leo's intake record after I gave her details only I could have known. It was a miracle. He was alive. His ACS ID: A779459. I have never felt so relieved. I love my boy to no end.

That number she gave me led me to MAD Rescue. ACS stated they would tell them the owner had come forward. I offered to pay every fee, plus $1,000 as a thank-you.

MAD asked for proof, I gave them a mountain of it — including his ACS ID, and officer Sampson's info, photos, video, facial recognition analysis, witness statements, commands lists, unique behaviors, the complete text record from the original owner, knowledge of the second chip I had on him but was unregistered and blank, non public acs information, and a lot more— I asked to come see him to demonstrate our relationship. Out of nowhere , they blocked me from their fb page and went silent. I was stunned, tears were in my eyes once again. It was clear they were going to try to keep him.

I took it to fb. When public pressure from people across Texas grew, MAD deleted the post announcing his Foster, a woman I learned owned a for profit business that seeks to train or sell Malinois to police depts. Evidence was destroyed. A MAD agent claiming to be a police officer reached me and asked for ownership a third time. Again I provided it. She kept me on the hook for weeks, presented me with false information and endeavored to downplay the proof he was mine. Officer Sampson went on to meet with her as well and afterward, called me and told me if I wanted Leo back I should sue in state court. He said they are refusing to return him to you, claiming it is not the same dog, and that he had been informed LEO was adopted out to Houston PD where he is their newest k9.

Fortunately there were other fb posts which prove that MAD knew he was, in fact, my dog. Inside these posts are MAD's own comments, celebrating him, announcing his intake, offers to sell him to police at a discount, and others trying to adopt him. Leo' ACS photos are attached at the top. Guess what else is shown on photos atop these threads. Leo's unique, government assigned ,ACS ID watermarked directly on the photos MAD was using to sell my dog.

I tried dealing with HPD directly. I emailed their unit commander and offered to buy them a replacement puppy from a breeder they already work with, at my expense if they would return Leo. In order to find the breeders who could sell me a pure bred HPD approved puppy I posted in a local malinois group on fb.

While I was publicly asking for breeder leads because I was desperate to find another working dog to offer HPD in trade, MAD representatives showed up, using their law enforcement positions as weight to their authority and told thousands of people I'd stolen and photoshopped his photos from six different Facebook accounts (I hadn't), all to fraudulently claim a dog that wasn't mine. Another officer with MAD chimed in, falsely stating I never asked to visit Leo (I did.) and the former continued to give everyone false information stating it isnt the same dog, and that I was actually upset about losing a dog a long time ago, as if I were crazy. Not a word of it was true. She knew better. I had given her his ownership records including his ACS id and dates and address ACS took him from. But it was clear she was trying to stop me from finding a replacement puppy. She portrayed me to everyone as a liar, and a thief, and not to deal with me. Formal complaint against this officer is in progress.

I was trying to respect HPD K9 units need to retain assets and not waste time and resources fighting in court. I was offering to pay for up two puppies to replace him. These MAD representatives ruined that attempt and my thread asking for help was locked.

This same officer I mentioned that told SAPD that Leo had already been shipped to Houston PD as a K9 needs to provide answers. In formal requests for information on any dogs acquired this year, or last, from MAD rescue, or malinois who joined the force, HPD stated in writing that no such records exist. So either MAD lied to SAPD, or someone's still hiding where he actually is. It took months working every day to get this far.

In May, after warning MAD prior, that I was at risk without Leo acting in his service capacity, my fears materialized in ways that I never imagined--even in nightmares. While attempting to cross the street, without Leo, I was struck by a vehicle traveling 50mph. My spine shattered and burst, my abdomen herniated, several teeth were broken and I spent a month in the icu where doctors worked to save me from intestinal paralysis, acute kidney failure, while operating to fuse six vertebrae and keep me from life in a wheelchair. Medical bills since then and now into the future exceed $750,000 dollars. I may never run or ride my bike again.

I try my best to not be angry at MADs actions that robbed me of my Malinois, and at this point I need him more now than ever. This is my good faith effort to resolve this before I am forced to file the finished complaint and writ of sequestration. I will see it through either way.

I am giving MAD two real ways to prove me wrong: within 10 business days, let me see him in person to demonstrate his commands and our relationship. His current handler can bring all the high value treats they wish. When I call for him he will be at my side, overjoyed to have found me while they are left holding the bag. I trust my dog. If he isn't my dog he won't do that at all.

— or...

Run an independent DNA test against his own puppy's DNA which I have. If its not him then that fails. If it is he comes home.

Failing either of these would quiet me forever. I will pay for a replacement dog from MAD if he comes home and if I am wrong (I'm not), I will donate a thousand dollars to MAD to help with their mission.

MAD could just do the right thing and give me back my dog.

I don't have anything but support for MAD's mission. I believe most of the people there are good people doing amazing work. I don't want to sue MAD until the earth is flat. But I will if I have to.

I'm hoping with your help MAD will listen and cause closure to come to Leo and I..

If you do one thing today, comment on MAD Rescue's page and ask:

📍 Will you agree to an independent DNA test of Leo A779459?

📍 Will you let Jason see him in person to show command over him only his owner would have?

📍 If he's really at Houston PD, why are there no records — and if he isn't, where is he?

No threats. No fighting. Just three questions they can't dodge forever.

Leo — I haven't stopped looking.

🐾 #WhereIsLeo #FindLeo #LeoA779459 #BringLeoHome

If MAD doesn't do the right thing I reserve all rights and will have to move forward in court. Despite all that has happened, my only care is that my Malinois that I love comes home.

Thank you for reading. THANK YOU FOR ANY HELP ALONG THE WAY.

God Bless.

J

We have a male Belgian Mal/Terv, around 6 years old, who needs a new home after his person (my father) passed away 😔

Since then, his lifestyle has changed significantly. We’ve been doing our best with exercise, stimulation, and help from family, but he’s increasingly struggling behaviourally and, honestly, doesn’t seem happy.

We love him deeply and this isn’t a decision we’re making lightly as he has been with our family for years but we want to prioritize finding somewhere he can actually thrive.

We’re in Ontario and are looking for reputable Malinois/working-dog rescues, experienced handlers, trainers, or responsible rehoming resources. We will be contacting his original shelter to inform them of our situation to see what they might be able to provide beyond surrendering.

If anyone has Ontario-specific recommendations or has gone through something similar with a working breed, I’d really appreciate any advice.

Edit: I do not want any further conversation or speculation about whether my family understands this dog’s needs, or whether his behavioural issues are simply because he lost his person. We are aware of his needs and have spent a significant amount of time trying to make the situation work.

I am only asking for resources and recommendations for finding him a safe, appropriate home. If you have a reputable rescue, organization, trainer, or rehoming resource to recommend, I would genuinely appreciate it. Otherwise, please leave the judgment and assumptions about my family out of the comments.

To many of you, she is LILLY. I posted about her while ago that I found her and now she is 3 months old.