Since Belgian Malinois were bred to be working dogs, they have a significant amount of energy. They like to be active and engaged the whole day so some owners ( especially less experienced ones) may ask themselves ” Will my Malinois ever calm down or How to calm down my Malinois”
Malinois is a high drive dog, so to calm down he needs plenty of daily exercises as well as mental stimulation in order to be relaxed at home. Wearing out this dog with moderate-intensity activities such as hiking, running, or bicycling will help the owner to settle him down.
Proper training will teach a Malinois to channel his endless energy. Mind stimulating games such as ”hide and seek” or ”find the treats” plus providing interactive toys will also contribute to the final goal – a calm Belgian Malinois.
Table of Contents
Belgian Malinois Historical Background ( Understanding Malinois Breed’s Needs)
Belgian Malinois breed came from the Belgian town of Malines. The name of the breed was derived from this place. In the United States, Belgian Malinois was registered as a separate breed in 1959.
Malinois dogs were bred to be herding dogs (18th and 19th century). Their job was to herd and guard livestock at small farms. These strong and athletic dogs were busy the whole day fulfilling the task they were raised for.
Mals were always on alert, observing surroundings and looking for a possible threat. Brave and protective dogs had no issues fighting with sometimes twice size predators in order to defend their herd.
Adapted to a local harsh climate with constant wind and rain, Malinois dogs built up great endurance.
Now imagine today Malinois dog. Taking a nap in a cozy doggy bed near the fireplace while his owner watches TV. Stays home alone for several hours every day and his owner expects him to be a super calm dog.
Even though the conditions in which these dogs live are changed, genetically Mals didn’t change. They are still working dogs with immense energy they have to burn off with physical activity and the necessity to keep their minds occupied.
They need to have work to do and to feel like they are serving somehow. Although they might seem aloof with strangers, they are very affectionate and loyal to their owners.
They need to be part of the ”herd”, they would do anything for their owners. If they are left alone on a regular basis or isolated in an outdoor doggy house or kennel that makes these dogs miserable and aggressive.
So before you ask yourself – is it possible to calm down a Malinois, think about his genes and needs. Is the problem you are facing has something to do with anxiety that can be treated or it’s just his character that you simply need to accept.
How Much Exercise Does Malinois Dog Need A Day?
Malinois dogs are built for action. They enjoy running or hiking by your side as walks at an easy pace around the block won’t satisfy them. These dogs are only suitable for very agile and dynamic people that like to engage in activities with their dogs.
Malinois need approximately 2 hours of physical activity on daily basis. You can split this amount of time on 2-4 daily walks.
Malinois dogs like challenges. They won’t be happy with the same activity every day. They like to compete. If you are fond of playing fetch or Frisbee, enrich those games with some details.
For example, make your dog jump through hoops in order to catch the ball or Frisbee. Encourage him to climb a tree to get the ball.
Running by your side is also the perfect exercise for your Malinois. You can jog or ride a bicycle.
Did you know that Malinois can run up to 5 miles? Malinois dogs also can jump up to 8 feet into the air. If they trained they can also climb up the side of the house, unbelievable!
Physical activity is crucial for Mal’s state of mind. If this part is properly done, the possibility to calm down is much higher.
How To Keep Malinois Dog Busy?
Excercise and outdoor play time is very important but not the only thing that will keep your Malinois calm.
These dogs are intelligent which means that if they are not mentally stimulated they can get bored easily. If they get bored, they can become destructive and anxious.
The point is – if you don’t give the job to Malinois, he will certainly find his own and you won’t like the outcome!
Bear in mind that Malinois dogs don’t like to be alone. These are social dogs, very attached to their owners, and like to spend as much time as possible with their humans.
If you are forced to leave your dog alone, do read our article ” Can I Leave My Belgian Malinois Alone” and I am sure you will find some good advice.
So apart from doing physical activities, you need to keep your dog’s mind busy with different indoor games and tasks.
I heard from the people with large houses who have upper floors, that they use stairs for the perfect workout.
They throw the ball or frisbee from the ground level to the first floor and Malinois is running upstairs to pick it up. This game is perfect if the weather is bad and you cannot go outside.
Hide and seek game is very good for mental stimulation. You can hide somewhere in the house and let your dog find you. Don’t forget to praise him and give him some treats.
You can arrange a treasure hunt. Hide your dog’s favorite treats on several spots in the house and let him find them. When he does, they are all his!
Take some treats and hide them in one of your hands. Let the dog watches you doing this. Close your hands and then extend them to your Mal and ask him ”which hand”. Once he touches the right hand, give him treats.
Take three plastic cups and hide a treat under one of them. Let your dog watching how you put the treat. Shuffle the cups and allow your dog to signalize under which the treat is hidden.
Provide food dispensing toys, stuffed Kong which you can stuff with peanut butter, chicken broth, yogurt, or canned dog food.
Dog puzzles are a great distraction. Will keep your dog’s mind occupied for some time. They come in all shapes and sizes, some of them are easy to complete, others are more difficult.
Why Is My Malinois Anxious and How To Help Him?
Malinois that has nothing to do becomes anxious. These dogs are not classic canine companions. They are not happy to lie next to your feet the whole day. If they live like this, they become nervous and destructive.
Malinois dogs are full of energy. If they don’t have an opportunity to spend that energy in a good way by doing exercise and different games, it will transform into something bad.
Lack of physical, mental, and emotional interaction will result in destructive behavior and anxiety.
Re-homing is another reason why Malinois may become anxious. This breed of dogs is loyal and highly attached to their owners, so when they need to change the whole environment and the family they live with, they might become very nervous and display destructive behavior
Every dog needs proper training. Malinois is a highly trainable dog, he can learn whatever you want to teach him. This is the reason why Malinois dogs usually work as Police and Military Dogs.
Mal is happy to learn anything and fulfill your expectations. But if you don’t put any challenge in front of him, if you don’t teach him anything, he will become overly excited and nervous.
Training is super important as it teaches the dog how to behave with humans. Socialization is crucial. Mal is a protective dog and if you don’t teach him how to behave with people, show him who is a friend and who poses a threat, you might end up with the dog that is always on guard, ready to attack anyone who comes near you. Keeping untrained Malinois is a recipe for disaster.
Anxiety in Malinois can also be a consequence of some injury or illness. Dogs usually hide that they are ill or not feeling very well but in this case, you may notice some behavioral changes and anxious conduct.
How To Help An Anxious Malinois?
If you notice your Mal has started to act differently you should first rule out injuries and illnesses. So the trip to the vet is a must. Share your concern with the vet, explain how your Mal behaves lately and he /she will know what to do.
Since Malinois are intense dogs, you are aware of the fact that he needs a lot of different training, physical activity, and mental stimulation. Consider enrolling your dog in some of the very good dog athletic programs and training.
If you have to leave your dog alone every day, search for a good quality doggy daycare facility where your dog can play with other canine friends and spend all that energy he has.
If you cannot cope with anxious Malinois on your own, there is always a possibility to hire a professional trainer who can help you a lot.
Not only your dog would benefit but you as well. Pro trainer will give you a bunch of advice and I am sure you’ll learn many useful things.
Final Thought
Belgian Malinois is a highly energetic dog. He needs a lot of daily exercises. This dog is also very smart so he needs to keep his mind occupied with some task or game.
The bottom line, Mals are working dogs and as such, they constantly need to work on something. If they don’t, they become nervous, frustrated and can develop destructive behavior.
Mals are pets for very active people only, willing to engage in activities with their dogs. Unfortunately, they have been promoted by the media and popular culture lately so many people hurried to buy them without proper search about the breed.
As a result, we have many abandoned Malinois dogs. Some of them are lucky enough to end up as police or military dogs while others end up in shelters and get put down.
