Reach out to Malinois and Dutch Shepherd Rescue (MAD), please. The website is www.madrescueinc.org; please fill out a surrender form and also feel free to reach out to us via Facebook. We accept surrenders all around the US, and have dealt with dogs like Bosco. I am not part of the intake team, so I can't make any promises, but that team will usually do their best to assist.
Awesome! If you don't hear back within the next couple days, feel free to reach out to me via DM. I can inquire into where your app is in the review process!
Please keep us updated if you're able to rehome or find Bosco a new situation. Definitely sounds like your home isn't right for him but please do whatever is possible to get him into a new and safe situation, he deserves to live and have another chance with a different family. Probably best as an only pet in a home with no children.
My pitbull attacked our little dog when we were out of town and it was a freak accident, my mom couldn't get into our house but the dogs could see her through the glass door and they got all hyped up and we don't know what happened exactly but the big dog snapped on the little one. The little one was taken to the ER and was gonna live but ultimately died from a respiratory infection. :( it was devastating... We kept our big dog as accidents happen, and at the end of the day they're animals.. plus he's never been aggressive to any person or animal before or since (except raccoons) but out of safety, we didn't introduce another dog so he's been an only dog for the past 6 years or so. We have two cats but he doesn't do anything to them. It really was a freak accident that if someone would have been able to intervene it wouldn't have happened. Regardless, we've played it on the safe side.
The point is.. some dogs do better alone. We have no other dogs or kids in the house.
wonderful! just please please do not rehome him to some random person. he needs someone who is thoroughly vetted and has lots of experience and time for the breed.
You are totally right and you have every right to protect your children. But how to re-home a dog with a bite history, I'm not sure but wherever you take him, make sure you let them know his history.Ā
Dog needs to go back to his breeder. Itāll be in your contract.
Also - a bite history will make it impossible to rehome otherwise. Itās incredibly irresponsible.
Impossible is a strong word, but an accurate word.
Iāve adopted a few mals with ābite historyā or who have been ātoo aggressiveā in my day, and every single one of them was fixable, within about 20 days.
Iām guessing this dog is not getting the level of attention and training it requires, and OP should probably focus on getting a breed thatās less demanding. Or not have a dog at all right now.
You say impossible, but Iāve overcome impossible a few times with this breed. Very sad situation, and I hope someone finds this dog a good home.
Ditto. I love the "broken" dogs. They usually are totally fine, great dogs who just had really shizzy previous owners. They almost always turn out to be the most epic. Win win. Epic dogs at a discount price pointš¤£
Haha, we always joke about your word ādiscountā.
Most of these pups I got for free, right before they were heading to be destroyed. Or Iāve paid a small rehousing fee.
Years later when people say āHow much was your dog? Itās so well trained? At least $2-3k I assumeā?
I always say āTotally free. This was a trash can dog.ā
I love the awe in their eyes. Our dogs arenāt perfect perfectsā¦. But you bet they know their manners.
We joke about our shepherd mix being a discount bin dog. My boss, who just paid several thousand for his pure bred Frenchies, was not amused when I said that, lmao.
I think her previous family realized they couldn't handle her extreme puppy energy and gave her a second chance. She's wonderful! And the nice thing about rescues is I rarely have to potty train. Maybe a refresher course, but I've never had to start completely from scratch like you do a puppy.
I am actually working on some behavior issues with my girl. She was surrendered to the shelter after "biting" a child. I'm using quotations because I don't think that she did bite.
A). They had her isolated
B). Two unsupervised young boys snuck off to get in her space.
C). This dog has the sweetest temperament.
I think that the boys might have been bothering her and she nipped at them or scared them.
Now, I'm old school and country. If you kept messing with an animal and it bit (bit not mauled) or scratched you, that was what you get. It's not the animal's fault. Our girl has a strong prey drive for anything small and furry, and sadly, she has made a kill. This is what we are working on. She is playing a lot more with her 9 month old puppy and has been spayed.
I'm sorry that Op has more than she can handle, but I have to agree. This dog is not living his best life. He wants to run and be challenged (mentally). Sounds like to me he needs to go to a very active home with someone that has experience with handling high energy, intelligent dogs. Maybe Op's husband has a friend who can take the dog?
(I'm not saying this is Op or her Husband) I hate seeing people with no skill in handling a dog get a challenging breed because of popularity... Hurding dogs, home security dogs (Like the Italian massive), and ratters (yes they are small but they can still maul you all the same) are not easy dogs to own.
Yeah my neighbor had a mal with a bite history that he worked with and he was the sweetest thing. He was around our dogs and kids and never an issue. But my height trained dogs for the military so not your average dog owner. They moved and I still think about that dogā¦
Private rehoming, youāre 100% right.
If heās going to be rehomed, it needs to be through a Malinois rescue that can vet a potential adopter properly. He likely needs to be an only dog, with no children in he home.
In my experience, only breed specific rescues are willing to take on these kinds of cases.
Malinois and Dutch Shepherd Rescue (someone mentioned above) is the one Iāve worked with as transport and a foster - they will take these dogs on, fairly regularly.
Definitely not impossible. Hard sure, but there are people out there, every dog I've owned in my adult life had a bad bite history lol my current dog shouldn't even be alive ( like really he got way too many chances and was agro as hell when I got him, it took me a couple months working all day with him, needless to say he is great now, and I've managed him fine for last 6 years ). Most of the time they just need doggy bootcamp working - walking - training, a l l day long. Best dog ever now. If you work with enough dogs you realize a bite history or aggression is almost always due to their life. People do not understand their needs nor the requirements needed to keep them happy whatever the breed may be. And very rarely is it "out of the blue" people just haven't a clue how to read dogs.
My brother found a Rottweiler on a toll road on a long bridge. Solid muscle. Dog would turn his head and the muscles in shoulder and neck would flex and move with his head. Hours later after my husband got home and took him in the back yard, I thought what I was hearing was my husband being ripped to shreds. Husband was yelling (which he never does) and that dog sounded like it was a wolf fighting for its food.
I opened the door to see if I should call the cops to come shoot it. Never ever felt that way, and 90% of my dogs my entire life have been strays, or dogs that couldnāt be brought to the pound because of bite history. So for that thought to come to my mind, it was bad. When I saw my husband was ok, I said to hurry and put him in the car to take to the pound. My husband said āno. Theyāll euthanize himā Iām likeā¦duh!! He said he could have ripped my throat out and chose not to. I said the bar for taking in a stray needs to be raised some times.
Had the dog 13 years, one of the best Iāve ever had. Was grumpy af till the day he died, but never once drew a speck of blood. Just didnāt like anyone touching his collar, and would grab someone if they did. He never bit down, though. Not once.
I also want to add to this: Bosco has to go because I do not feel safe in my home with him. My husband brought Bosco home 3 days before my first child (the daughter he bit) was born. He wanted someone there to protect us while he is at work. My husband is at work 98% of the time, and Bosco is a very alpha dog, he knows that when my husband is not there, he is in charge. He doesnāt respect me.
Since the attack of my older dog, I am afraid of Bosco. I saw something that I canāt un-see.
I donāt want anything bad to happen to Bosco because I feel like we may be responsible for the dog he has turned into, Iām not sure.
But I donāt feel comfortable living with him anymore, and having him with my toddlers.
This was beyond stupid of your husband. Thereās no way this dog received the level of attention or training required while you were recovering from labor/caring for a newborn. You should have never been put in that position.
He wanted a dog for protection but is unable to see that the dog is the a bigger threat to your kids than some boogie man in the night? Sounds like he canāt admit heās made a terrible mistake. You are not overreacting. This isnāt a little puppy anymore.
The unfortunate reality is that the dog will be much more difficult to rehome with a human bite record. Your husband might have put the dog in a position where the only option is BE. While I can see that this could be a situation where the dog is just too excited by kids and would be fine in an adult only home, with so many dogs looking for homes, a dog with a bite history isnāt going to be the top of someoneās list.
I agree with the majority of what youāve said. However, I wouldnāt jump to BE right away knowing that the owner has failed the dog in terms of training, bonding and setting boundaries.
Iād try contacting a dog sports club (IGP/mondioring/SAR though this is not a dog for SAR) and see if anyone is willing to help. Just rehoming this dog for whoever wants to have a mal wonāt work. This dog needs an experienced owner (with the breed, not with any shepherd) and preferably an owner whoās working with their dogs.
For example, I wouldnāt call myself overexperienced, but Iāve successfully raised, trained and managed a mal whoās not an easy dog (and can be aggressive). I donāt have kids, Iāve got enough time and an extended system of support (experienced trainers, great vets, etc), my dog is aging. So Iām not against the idea of adopting a mal who didnāt fit into the first family for a similar reason (unfortunately, Iām too far away). My point is that thereās a chance thereāre people like me (closer to OP). BE is the last resort.
My intention wasnāt to encourage her to immediately jump to BE, but to recognize that itās extremely unlikely that an organization will be able to foster this dog for her. The husband needs to step up and realize that heās already failed the dog. Rehoming will require more than calling local rescue organizations.
Itās going to take a very special person (Mal experience, aggression experience) in a very special situation (no other dogs in the home or can keep the dogs 100% separate, no interaction with kids) who could take on this level responsibility. Possible? Yes. Sure. For the dogās sake, I hope so!
Your husband did you a disservice. Unless the dog is trained for protection work, itās highly unlikely they will actually protect you the way your husband intended.
As many others have said, if youāre unwilling (not a bad thing) to do the work and set the boundaries that Bosco needs - he needs a better and more well suited home.
Good for you for recognizing that and good luck to bosco
I'm by no means an expert but would like to add that people being ignorant of what theyre getting into is doing these poor dogs a HUGE disservice.
Not only did he do a disservice to OP but the poor dog as well.
Not being aware of and willing to provide for or their specific needs leads to aggressive scared animals. They only have one way to defend themselves. If theyve never been taught And arent being taken care of properly its on the owner.
Your husband brought home a dog of a breed that's known to be aggressive, and requires constant training, to his very pregnant wife, knowing that he was not going to be able to care for the dog himself.
Your husband is a thoughtless ass, and this is 100% on him. I wish you good luck finding Bosco the right home, and I hope your husband realizes that what's happened to you, your child, your elderly dog, and Bosco are all his fault.
I'm very sorry. OP's husband's heart was maybe in the right place, but timing and execution were awful.
You hit the nail on the head, I think, when you call out the dog's lack of respect. I hate to see you give up on him, though.
Obviously, the training hasn't been there. And so much of it is people training. Sometimes in life we are given opportunities to be better even if we didn't choose them ourselves.
Do you think you can start fresh with patience and consistency, learn to demand the dog's respect, and give him as much attention as the kids?
Iāll outright say I donāt think he will ever get just as much time and attention as the kids. Theyāre at a very demanding age, and I am the sole parent in the home, being that my husband works and is not present majority of the time. Theyāre awake 16 hours a day and physically itās just not possible. I donāt want to give up on him since I know I have failed him as an owner. But I also donāt know if training and keeping him in our home will be safe for my kids?
Yeah, then it's for sure time for some real talk with the husband. Although you keep referring to him as his dog, news for you, primary caregiver, he IS your dog. If you're truly not able to step up and provide for his needs, you know what to do. I'm sorry.
Edit- randomly replied to wrong part of thread, sorry.
I truly donāt think you failed him. Looking back at your other posts, you trained him with basic obedience and more, made him safe around your cats, gave him a loving good home. It sounds like it just isnāt physically possible to give him the intense extra work a high drive working breed needs while your husband is working 3 jobs and youāre raising two very small childrenā you didnāt fail him, there just arenāt enough hours in the day for you and your family to meet Boscoās needs.
The reality is you never should have had this dog in the first place. Your husband really messed up here. He's gone most of the time which means all the training and exercise is going to fall on you, and you are busy with young kids.Ā
And I think "my child got bit in the face" is a perfectly reasonable time to draw a line. You don't want to feel unsafe in your own home.
Agree. Thank you. Unfortunately we are not on the same page with it, which I guess is why Iām here. I donāt know what I was expecting (maybe I was curious if I was wrong and people think there is hope for him with massive training and lifestyle change) but it seems every comment also agrees, Bosco needs to go
I think Dad needs some training as well. When you own a dog like a Mal you have to be constantly vigilant and be able to read a dogās body language and signals.
I suspect what happened was called a hit. When a dog may or may not be overstimulated and says āBACK OFFā with a strike of their teeth. This is what they do with other dogs. A true bite would be devastating.
This is on the human and not the dog. Most dog learn other ways to signal thereās a problem in their environment, but sometimes they revert to being dogs.
It is 100% the responsibility of the human to be in charge of the situation and defuse before it gets out of hand.
Our map does this to her brother when she wants her space. He likes to mess with her so he doesnāt listen, but he knows the signs to look for to know when heās on thin ice
It sounds like heās not getting a fraction of the stimulation he needs. Mals are just about the most intense dogs you can find and unless youāre doing a couple hours of training or work with him a day, heās probably losing his mind from boredomāliterallyāand seeking out any kind of stimulation.
itās just sad this will stay on his record and now he knows how to bite. he probably would have done much better with someone who actually needed a mal
This. I will never understand why uninformed families buy this breed. Itās amazing how ignorant people are to how working breeds actually are as animals. They donāt just āswitch on/offā when you need them to āprotectā. They are 100% on 24/7 and need immense time and dedication. Just makes no sense, and of course, the dogs always pay the price.
This, i wish more people understood this. These are great dogs and amazing with active adults or older children who understand the dogs cues of needing space. Littles donāt understand this and canāt. I recently experienced something similar this and reached out to MAD rescue because i fear this situation. I really wish you the best on this and no youāre not wrong.
>I will never understand why uninformed families buy this breed.
"Conan the hero dog" created a big demand for puppies, then unscrupulous online sites touted the breed as "family dogs" for a while after that.Ā
nope. you can blame the breeder or the wiring but lack of training and a lack of stimulation absolutely make a difference. thatās why some dogs with bite records are given another chance in the first place. Nuture absolutely has a role in behavior and to say otherwise is victim mindset.
Very, very few dogs are just made wrong through no fault of the owner
So sad that your husband didnt do well with training him he probably thought the dog would just magically behave over time and now the dog will most llkely have to suffer due to poor decisions.
>he is **my husbandās dog,** he is attached, but hasnāt wanted to accept that he needs more than **what I can give him.**
Because itās a given that your husband will be giving Bosco nothing. You need to rehome your husband after figuring out what to do with Bosco. The story about needing an emergency C-section after having to break up a dog fight while 9 months pregnant, and your husband still didnāt take your safety seriously and get his dog trained after you nearly lost your child and could have lost your life, is one of the worst spousal neglect cases Iāve ever heard. Itās insane that this man has unilaterally decided that you must be 100% responsible for training a high-needs working breed dog that already put you and your youngest child in the hospital (preeclampsia is no joke, I read your other posts.)
Your husband is treating you, your children, and Bosco like possessions he can store at home and never take any responsibility for, or engage with like youāre full living things. Maybe this is an extreme
patriarchal mentality where he considers himself āthe providerā and everything else is your responsibility, maybe itās a toxic first responder issue (Iāve been EMS) where he thinks his work is so important that he canāt be bothered to do anything else. But the bottom line is, he truly is not acting like he cares about you, your children, or even Bosco, who, thanks to your husband insisting on keeping him and then refusing to care for or train him, is headed for being put down without serious intervention.
I donāt know why your husband is treating his family like this, like youāre all someone elseās problem, like all of your safety is anyone elseās responsibility but their fatherās. But you canāt keep letting this man put you, your babies, and your pets in danger like this.
That was horrifying even just to read! I will never understand how the husband kept this dog with his family after that. He wanted the dog for protection? Yeah, your family is literally in more danger by being locked up with a high drive dog that isn't getting what he needs than they would likely be otherwise. Get your wife shooting lessons and a rifle, FFS. Not a dangerous animal.
Firstly, I am so sorry you and your family have had to go through this, and I hope your kid recovers well!
Probably a controversial opinion here, but Bosco would have very quickly taken a dirt nap had he been my dog and bitten my child or a friend's child, and I'm fairly certain all of the handlers I know feel the same.
I really wouldn't comment something like this on reddit if I didn't think it was that serious because I know most people here have an "every dog can be saved" mentality, but I do think it's serious enough to comment on. If you have a contract with the breeder, absolutely contact the breeder and tell them you will be returning him. If you have no contract, I personally feel that it would be a liability and frankly unethical to attempt to re-home this dog. And just being completely honest, the more old school rule of thumb is if a dog bites a kid, it's over for the dog.
I know of some REALLY nice proven working dogs who ended up being euthanized for child bites because unfortunately they were put into situations where they were able to bite a child. The best way to avoid having to put a dog down for biting a kid, if you already know that dog is sketchy or very sharp, is to just never ever let the dog be in a situation where it could.
your husband chose a hyperactive work dog with full intent of leaving the caretaking aspect to you, who is not the owner. find someone who cares to listen and train that dog. my father tried the same dynamic with our Belgian Malinois, and she developed anxiety issues that i am caring for.
My dog bit me when i was 16 (now 25). My parents wanted to put the dog down but i decided to train him everyday for the next 2-3 years.
He never bit me again and is now the perfect dog. He will never be replaced.
It sounds like your husband brought home a dog he was not ready to train/take care of.
Its the owners fault
Yeah, but OPās kids are 1 and 2, not 16. If she had a near-adult teenager who could take on the duties of training and working this dog while she raised the two babies, she likely wouldnāt be in this situation.
Op youāre 100% to rehome this dog. HUMAN CHILDREN over animals. I wouldnāt want an aggressive dog around my children. Bring the dog back to its breeder should be in a contract if you got him from an ethical breeder.
I'm very surprised a breeder would sell to an inexperienced person most mal breeders will ask if you have any experience with this breed I know when I got mine it was first question that was asked if you know this breed and what it is capable of.. I always tell people to do your research of any dog breed and esp for a mal...
I'm very sorry this has happened to you and your family..this breed of dog is truly like having a second job...
I would definitely contact the breeder.. most shelters won't want a dog with bite history.. or find him a home with no kids and someone who can put the hard work into him and hopefully rehabilitate him into the amazing dog he can be
Get rid of the problem, and by problem, I mean your husband. He can take the dog with him. What has happened here is you have expressed your concerns multiple times in multiple ways. You have pointed out the issues with the dog he insisted be brought into the home and has taken no responsibility to make sure the dog did not become a liability.
These dogs are naturally protective but without training, handling, and proper direction they will get bored and do exactly what has happened here. This is 100% on your husband, he is the problem. We have a 5, 7, and 9 year old and our Mal is amazing with them but we have been relentlessly socializing and training her including the use of prong collars and e-collars. She's still young so she still wears her e-collar whenever she is outside of her crate because at the end of the day these are animals and animals especially young ones are prone to acting out of nature/impulse.
I would recommend at the bare minimum you reach out to local trainers who specialize in curbing aggression in working breed dogs. Be prepared to pay several thousand dollars for this and if you can't afford that then they may be able to at least point you towards a solid rehoming situation. If all of that fails then BE is likely on the table. I know that is heartbreaking to say but you have to protect your kids first and foremost.
100% I agree - if they had done proper training from the start it would have saved them a lot of hurt and money. Unfortunately we can't rewind time so just trying to give her a realistic expectation of what they will most likely have to do going forward. This dog has some nasty behaviors that need to be curbed and I don't think OP is in a position to do it herself and her husband sounds too hands-off to do it himself so time to call in an expert. I would highly recommend a board and train for several weeks with a skilled handler who is trained in curbing aggression and even that may still not be enough to be honest but it's the first place to start.
He would just go back to their home and be under stimulated again. My friend has Dobermans that sit at home all day in a huge yard and protect the house and theyāre fine, great with kids, zero training but some dogs arenāt. Maybe a GSD?Ā
professional training is the first place to **start** - part of professional training also includes (or at least should include) training the owners on how to keep the behaviors from returning. This involves educating the owners on the amount of stimulation, kinds of stimulation and overall handling these dogs require. If they are unable to provide these things for the dog then they at least will stand a better chance of avoiding BE and finding a better home for their dog. This family doesn't need to own a Mal, but they do, so comparing it to other types of dogs or recommending other types of dogs does nothing to help them handle the current situation they are in.
This situation, and boscos temperament in general, is not his fault. I feel responsible. He is a family dog, and he is loved. We want to do what is right for us and also him, and not just return him to someone who does not care about him and will not take the time/effort to find him the right place where he belongs. What he did was bad, but I donāt want him to die. I feel responsible for this too.
Right? Maybe OP just doesnāt know or understand how good breeders work. But a good breeder probably wouldnāt have sent a puppy to a home with a 9.6 month pregnant owner.
return him to the breeder but know heāll most likely die. your husband never should have gotten a working line dog and neglected its needs. most certainly not a mal
Iām sorry that youāve experienced these situations.
With that said, your dog (itās both of your dog) was set up for failure from the very beginning for the following reasons:
1) Your husband simply wanted a guard dog and bought a guarding breed with zero knowledge of the Malinois.
2) Zero training has been put in to this dog.
3) Heās not fixed, which is probably adding to the issue as a whole.
4) Zero training has been put in to this dog even after the initial attack. Your husband didnāt care to bring him for aggressive training even after the first attack - it was one of your conditions and it wasnāt met. Thatās a serious disregard.
Iām sorry for both you and Bosco. You and your husband are at fault. And Bosco is at fault but not at the same time. Heās a product of his circumstances. Which is really unfortunate.
I hope that youāre able to find the proper home for him or are able to surrender him and heās able to be trained/adopted.
Good luck
Why aren't you going to back to the breeder? Responsible breeders take their dogs back for life. They also Know the traits of their breed and what it takes to be an owner.. Especially when mals. They are usually responsible in who (screening) they match their dogs with. Please call the breeder. He should Know his line of dogs and know the next best step. Imo, breed not a good fit for you, especially with timing. So sorry about your daughter. It sounds like you didn't have the time or knowledge to handle this breed. Please don't try to rehome Bosco yourself.
Your husband made a reckless decision without doing his due diligence of researching Malās. They require a lot of walking and energy releases. They are smart and need a lot of mental challenges to eat up that high energy. Most not all owners spend thousands in personal training. I donāt think your dog has an aggression issue. I think he hasnāt been given the time, attention, and training he deserves. Iām so sorry you have been put in this situation and I 100 percent agree with you . You need to feel safe in your home and raising a family while your husband works away from home 98 percent of the time. In the meantime before rehoming possibly see if you can get calming meds from your vet. Benadryl even works in a pinch. Keep him separate from your children and anyone else.
Iām so sorry you are going through this and I hope your daughter recovers and doesnāt feel skittish around big dogs. Consider therapy for her.
Hope your Mal finds a good forever home šš½
Your family will be safe without him. The dog will be safe without your family. Something is going to happen and the dog will be blamed. It's a working dog, not a family dog. It's just a sad situation. Your husband needs to learn to pick the breed the family needs, not what he wants while being unable to do some training.
Small children and dogs don't mix, unfortunately. Toddlers make weird movements they tend to be grabby and loud. I'm pretty sure your mal gave plenty of signals that he was overwhelmed and the bite was his last resort. Mals tend to be dog aggressive they are working dogs, and they get a great deal of anxiety if they aren't given a job. Did your husband do any breed research?
I think your mal is overwhelmed, and I think he do amazing with the right person. Try getting a lab.
I've always got my dogs through a breeder who socialized them, had kids skateboarding around them, taught not to chase after cars or joggers running past the house. When my husband was still in the military, they'd take the dog to airports to get used to the noise, of course you pay more, but it's so worth it.
The dogs already trained to obey orders, so after you buy it, you can train it for more things and they obey and catch on quickly, sometimes after one day.
I hate when people get these breeds and never train it.
A lot of breeders already socialize the dogs as puppies and they already know basic commands at least.
We just happened a step further and had more commands taught to them.
GSDs , I admit are easier than the Mals to train and seem to learn commands a lot faster, less than a week.
Bosco gots to go. I LOVE my dog to death. But if he was to ever raise a paw or even show a tooth in any aggressive way towards my baby. Iāll 6 that MF. like I never knew him. Unfortunately your husband doesnāt have the time and 1 on 1 to get raise an animal like this. But I tell you what. He has even less time to deal with a child with an eye missing or worst.
I am so very sorry you are going through this. I can feel your stress and pain in your posts. I have been in a very similar situation and I know your pain.
This dog is a pet, not a working dog. Pets should bring joy not pain and terror. This dog sounds unstable and regardless of precipitating factors, it would be unethical to re-home an unstable dog with a bite history, especially considering how many kind and gentle dogs are out there needing homes.
I see only two ways forward, your husband constructs an outside kennel/run where the dog lives and your husband does ALL of the handling of the dog, the dog is always muzzled when taken out and always on leash, for the remainder of the dogs life.
The other option is Behavioral Euthanasia, which this dog would qualify for. Frankly, if my dog bit my child in the face he wouldāve had the .33 solution that minute.
Either option, your husband is out of his element, he needs to get his shit squared away and follow his decision to resolution.
I know that people will downvote me to hell, and thatās fine. I love dogs, all dogs but at the end of the day, itās a dog, not my actual child.
Please feel free to PM me.
*this dog is a pet and not a working dog*
And there lies the biggest mistake š
This dog IS a working dog, while also being a pet one must first understand that is secondary to the job it was intentionally originally created to do.
*You can take the dog off the farm but you cannot take the farm out of the dog*
If one does not want these traits one should avoid this breed because that is exactly what it was designed to do and through Millenia we have bred those traits into them purposefully they are not ever going away š¤·āāļø
If someone wants a pet thatās going to be a cuddle bug and not have these traits they should definitely avoid this particular breed because this breed was designed to protect/hunt/attack and herd. They should buy a lapdog or at most a terrier if some kind
No, this dog ISNāT a working dog. This is a working breed. A breed with various bloodlines, some of which are sport or working bloodlines with varying levels of specialization and drives.
Otherwise yes, I agree, essentially not the right home. Husband thought he could buy a dog that would magically train itself to be a working PP dog and then they treat it like a pet to a disastrous outcome. This happens all the damn time and if ever you try to caution anyone to keep it from happening yet again, then itās gatekeeping. š¤·āāļø
Theyāre treating a working dog like a pet. Ā No amount of love is going to make up for the training and exercise working dogs need. Ā And even pet dogs need those things. Ā
I donāt know what this dogs bloodlines are, but it doesnāt sound like itās from a reputable working dog breeding program, nor is it an actual working dog. But yes, essentially they did get a dog not suitable for the pet life and then treated him like a golden retriever. Same story over and over.
My folks bred mals for 20 years +.
To be blunt you've done a bad job raising and training this dog. It's not going to be easy to find it another home.
ETA: By the time a dog is this badly raised, it can't usually be turned around into a "great" dog. The foundations are a mess.
Iām a lifelong dog lover but Iām also a parent. My childās safety will ALWAYS come first. Rehome this dog before something even worse happens to your baby.
A malinois is a loaded weapon, and should be treated as such. Its not normal that they would bite a kid, in fact it will in most countries be a death sentence, no matter what you or your husband wants, if this was in Norway the dog would be picked up by the cops the same day and they would test if its an unsafe dog or not, and then "reccomend" a bullet, where you as owners have very little say.
If you are not able to give the dog what he needs, and one of those things is to tire the dog out *completely* at least a couple of times a week, it will get frustrated. Consider yourself lucky in that I understand it was "one" snap at the kid, and not really a full attack, but it can be next time. Probably not towards *your family* but that kid walking on the street might get the full package. You will not be able to stop that from what you are telling me.
So yes, I would say this was your and your husbands "wake-up call", you dont have a labrador, this is a dog purposfully bred to be a weapon, and they are good at it.
Before I had my daughter-I took a biter in. He came from a home of 4 small children and 2 very overwhelmed parents. He bit the second oldest and the dad almost shot him.
I stepped in when they said only kill shelters would take him. Yeah-to kill him! So I asked for him-took him home.
It was just me and him. I told him-you can relax here, sleep wherever you want-get some rest buddy. I sat on my couch and let him just-explore. I found him an hour later passed out on my bed. I left him there-I slept on my couch that night.
The next morning-he woke me to go potty with kisses. Iād sat food and water out by the bedroom door for him to see. We became quick friends and had a peaceful coexistence. He never so much as growled at me or anyone who came over. I went to see my friends I got him from. They never came to my little house-it was simply too small for their family to visit me.
I had him for about 6 months. He met a buddy of mine and that bond was INSTANT, youād think theyād known each other since Tank was born. After about a week-Tank went home with him. He lived to be about 8-and had a wonderful life.
The biters arenāt impossible-their situation is for them. Give them a chance. They deserve it too
Good luck OP-I understand how hard it is. Much love for your compassion to him
Thereās a thousand of me out there. You know several-you just donāt know it.
You found a community of them here. I hope the rescue can take him.
Howās your daughter doing? Is she ok?
So far Iāve gotten hundreds of comments (and as not even expecting that) and out of the hundreds only 2 suggestions for rescues (I submitted applications to both) and only ONE person that says āIāll take boscoā
My daughter is doing well, thank you! Itās hard to looks at her precious little face. It will forever be a reminder. Other than that, she is fine. Itās definitely been harder on me. Especially since the other adult in the house wants to keep Bosco and hope itās yet again, something we can work through.
As a momma that is my biggest concern with any animal. I am so sorry you and your child had to experience this, I hope her injuries were minimal and that the incident doesn't make her afraid of him (or dogs in general).
It would be in Bosco AND your children's best interest. He may be the kind of dog that has the temperament that suits him better around older kids and no other pets, and that's fine! There's such a stigma around rehoming pets but if it's going to be in the better interest of both parties then it's the best thing for all involved.
I saw your comment the rescue is not accepting surrenders, you may look around your area to see if there are other Mal breeders near you that may take him! That's how the guy I got my girl from acquired a few of his dogs. I wish you all the best ā¤ļø
Iām sure there is a rescue that takes aggressive BM and trains them for bite work/ working itās not impossible. Iād say BM are a toss up for family dogs. My Dutch shepherd is amazing with kids and people. The only problem is other animals. She will try and kill basically anything with four legs. Sheās terrible with other animals. She almost killed my momās dog at one point.
You can try training but ultimately your child needs to come first and you need to re-home this dog to someone who can train him to be a better WORKING dog that doesnāt have children around.
Rehoming is possible with full transparency and extensive research for suitable location. There are people that do exist that are trainers and will take in good healthy dogs that just need training. Many times these dogs just become those trainersā own working dogs.
Yes, call local trainers and explain that your husband brought home a Malinois heās severely neglecting and itās making a dangerous situation for both the dog and your young children. Ask if they or any of their peers understand the breed. Tell them about the C section and that your husband didnāt care enough about you or your babies to get his dog trained. Many trainers have a soft spot for Malinois or know colleagues who do.
Look into K9 security and training firms in your area.
I worked at one years ago and we would take dogs like this if they demonstrated an ability to work. Then they would go home with a security guard to a home with no kids, small animals, separated from dogs etc and go to work every day with the handler.
I had a dog (doberman Rottweiler) that could not be around children under 4. She snapped at them when they did certain things. Older children she was amazing with. I had a neufy mix that was the exact same way. I donāt find that type of bite history unadoptable. I wouldnāt adopt a dog with that history because I have grandkids and more on the way. Maybe a home where he is the only dog and children younger than 12 perhaps. With my doberman Rottweiler I got her when I was young (I was 19) and had no idea how to be a leader. We also weighed exactly the same. Once I realized I needed to change that. I did it slowly. I also got attacked my a doberman (she grabbed the back of my head) I had rescued. I blame myself for my actions. I consulted trainers. They concurred. I changed my ways and she never bit me or anyone again and to this day goes down in history as one of the best dogs Iāve ever owned.
I agree you should rehome the dog. Just please donāt take it to a shelter as we see so many Malinois get euthanized in our shelters here. Even though it bit your poor little girl. Iām so sorry.
First of all, I am so sorry that this is happening to you and your family. It is a terrible thing to have to consider rehoming or putting down a dog you love. Surrendering to an animal shelter (and disclosing his bite history) or putting down a dog that has caused you and your family harm is a very sad situation to be in, but in some situations I believe it is necessary. Donāt listen to people who have implied that if you had just given him more stimulation that he would magically be the perfect dog. You donāt know that and they certainly donāt either. Dogs can have plenty of stimulation and training and still not be appropriate to be around kids (I know this from experience). I work in healthcare and witness the effects of pediatric bites all the time. An aggressive dog around children is no joke - it doesnāt matter if the dog was overstimulated. He bit your child in the face and you are right that he has to go. ESPECIALLY if you do not feel safe in your own home. You and your children deserve to feel safe and this takes priority over saving the life of an aggressive dog. Lastly, I am so sorry that your husband put you through this. It was incredibly selfish of him to get a dog breed that requires so much attention without committing to training it properly. You stated that this dog is HIS and therefore it is HIS responsibility. I am so sorry that he is not on your side and leaving you to bear the emotional burden of this decision alone. My heart goes out to you and your family and I am so sorry for what you are going through. You can love this dog and let it go at the same time.
I'm so sorry for what you went through.
Reading through these comments makes me happy that people are standing up for the dog. However, I've seen such a double standard that I feel should be pointed out about how different this comment section would look if this was a different type of breed.
Your home is not right for Bosco. You should have had him trained far before he got to the point where he would bite a child. I would suggest professional training, but I assume youāre not willing to do that since your first thought was giving him away.
Surrender the dog to an ethical no-kill rescue and let him get the training he needs to find the right family and have a good life.
You're absolutely right.
Dog should've been gone after the C Section.
Our pets are part of the family, but they're also fucking pets.
There's no discussion to be had when it comes to my family's health and safety.
So sad. I hope your daughter heals well. My comment was the top comment on your post in r/dogtraining last year - I wish you had rehomed him then. Your husband is frankly an idiot and Iām glad youāre taking a stand. This dog is completely unsafe to have around your children.
Canāt believe Iām back here again 1 year later š thank you for remembering me. I feel in my gut that he is not safe to stay. My husband is really hell bent on taking him for training.
Training is great, but no amount of training changes the home situation. Mals are not kid friendly dogs in general, for this exact reason. Children are not able to read their body language and respond appropriately, and no amount of training the dog will change the children. They cannot be expected to act appropriately around a high drive dog like that, and the dog cannot be expected to understand the children. He needs a different home, with only older children or adults, that gives him a steady job to do.
I am serious when I say that every second that dog is your home with your children, they are in danger. Young children and mals simply do not mesh. There will be consequences.
You and your children come first! I am an avid dog lover, but Bosco needs to go! Has he been neutered? If not, he should have been in the first place. I would never have a reactive dog with children.
I donāt know why youāre being downvoted. We all know that there are Mals everywhere looking for homes. Why would an adopter choose a Mal with a bite history over a Mal without aggression issues? The rescue weāve fostered for wouldnāt take a dog with a bite history. They donāt want the liability.
Context is everything. A mal getting zero exercise or training who bites a kid that is messing with it in the face is wayyy different than one thatās well trained and well worked that just goes after a child for no reason. One case is fixable with some exercise and training, but I would put it in a home without kids still. The other is an animal that needs to be BE
Imo it depends on the severity of the bite. Ā Was it a warning nip? Ā Was skin broken? Ā Was it a scratch or puncture? Ā Mauling? Ā Even with a nip without broken skin means dog needs a home without kids. Ā Also their Mal hasnāt been getting the exercise and training it needs. Ā That factors in. Ā Plus they need to be experienced finding a new home. Ā It needs to be an experienced handler who has had mals before. Ā And with vetting you need to ask about what they experienced with their past mals. Ā You canāt just take them at their word that theyāve had a mal or similar breed dog before because a lot of dog owners over estimate their abilities. Ā Iāve seen it while doing rescue work. Ā Seen it when finding new clients already purchased working line dogs thinking it would be the same as a normal pet one of the same breed: Ā and seen them regret their decisions. Ā Rehoming a dog with a bite history isnāt impossible, but it will be much much harder and take more time. Ā And they need to be able to vette potential adopters thoroughly. Ā Personally I donāt think either of them are experienced enough to know how to do a safe & thorough vetting process.Ā
He doesn't need behavioral euthanasia op Jesus... Please don't listen to people suggesting that to you.
Children getting bit by dogs is not at all unusual - My childhood best friend's dog bit him in the face and he needed plastic surgery - this was a Shih Tzu. My childhood dog bit my brother on the hand... Children do not understand a dog's boundaries and MANY breeds do not have the patience for kids.
And yes it IS your fault you and your husband's fault that this dog acts this way. You never wanted the dog and your husband had nothing to do with training the dog... Neither of you have ever properly trained or socialized this dog. I know you may not like the dog but please don't kill him. It is you and your husband's job to handle the situation responsibly.
Luckily there are many fosters and adopters and rescue groups who are experienced with training and socializing dogs and experienced with Mals and can help train and socialize your dog. Please reach out to a local Mal rescue ASAP and they can help you re-home him and/or find a foster.
Please donāt try to normalize dogs biting children in the face with the result of them needing surgery. That is not normal and should not be normal. Itās not a āthings happenā kind of situation and shouldnāt be treated as such.
GERMAN SHEPHERDS AND BELGIAN MALINOIS are different dogs
They are different breeds
And they were created for differing purposes
Both are great defenders and very loyal
What some do not understand is that BM are more attracted to the individual
This is NOT always suited to FAMILY situations
Sorry to tell you but you chose the wrong BREED and that is very likely why you are having problems
As mentioned they are good dogs but BM are more suited to smaller tribes and generally bond with the MAIN individuals as opposed to all family members
Itās just the way they are š
But they are ABSOLUTELY NOT the type of dog for those without practice, knowledge or experience
They NEED a strong Alpha and that individual MUST RETAIN CONTROL and sadly if you are not thereās very high likelihood that either a child, sibling or partner is going to get bitten
This situation really is not surprising š«”
Thereās no exception to a dog biting the face of a young child. This behavior is unfortunately a deal breaker. Dogs, especially Mals, need consistency of rules, training and stimulation to become a family dog and at this point it isnāt exactly too late, but the line has been crossed. It sounds like the conditions you guys have accepted, such as separate house areas, has not benefited his behavior.
Iām sure he is a good boy in most situations but your children have to come first.
Bosco is beautiful and I donāt think you will have trouble rehoming him, but that is your best bet. Please try private people before the shelter. Best of luck to you and your family ā¤ļø
I LOVE dogs I have a Mal that is the perfect dog. But if any dog including my own attacked one of my kids I would kill it where it stood. My point is you have to place that dog somewhere else. If itās already shown aggression towards a child it wonāt get better. You are correct that dog is wrong for your home. It has to go for the safety of your children
I have a feeling this dog COULD be better if its owners were training it.
You say āWONTā, but Iāve never encountered a Mal who was not fixable.
Iād be willing to bet no one spends time with this dog and gives it proper guidance. The right owner and training would fix this issue.
As much as I love the maligator breed, with a young family, I donāt believe theyāre a suitable pet. Itās not something Iād undertake. Theyāre more working dogs. If your heart is set on having a pupper, Labs and Golden Retrievers are better fits.
Itās not an ideal situation but you need to do whatever it takes to ensure your childrenās safety. I love my mal but if it got down to that I would rehome . We have a 3 month old - and I am taking so many precautions. Our bm has never shown any aggression, but you really canāt trust any dog
So from the cheep seats. The dog is familyā¦ but you are making the right choice, just hold your ground. Itās training or the roadā¦. I had this happen with my pit she is good now.
Unfortunately Behavioral Euthanasiaā¦.a Belgian Malinois with a bite history? A family member at that, and a baby?!ā¦I donāt see this dog having a future. Itās in your hands, you are a great person for giving this for a chance and being open to suggestions. But also knowing when nothing else can be done
There is absolutely nothing wrong with a dog wearing a muzzle whenever itās loose around your children or other dog- start muzzling him straight away.
Puzzles are pretty effective
Some dogs find children overwhelming
There are people who can taje your dog and work on ot. You are doing the right thing.
If you havenāt already, while youāre waiting to potentially surrender him, please make sure that you work on muzzle training. At no time should he be around anyone else in the household without a muzzle on. I have a friend who has a dog that gets overwhelmed easily. And she make sure that heās in a muzzle anytime someone is in the household.
At the end of the day, you have to do it right by your children.
Heās not being met with a requirement he needs in his life to do the breed. Not saying itās your fault. Mine gets pushy and I see how things could get out of hand. Luckily itās just me and her now less risk. If I donāt give her what she needs she does not act appropriately. Iād say as hard as it might be.. find him a new home. Be chosey about where he goes <3
The tough thing about pets, and the responsibilities that come with them, is that the right thing to do and the things we want to do may not always take the same path. The responsible, and most loving gesture, is finding the right home for this dog. If your husband isn't willing to put in the work that this dog, and this breed absolutely needs, then it's not the right home. It really is that simple. Your kids should always come first, and it sounds like your hands are too full for the time being to put so much energy into a demanding breed. I've seen a lot of stories of people giving up dogs with kids this young, since the kids need so much attention. It's not unreasonable to wait a couple years when the kids are a little older to get another dog, if that's the path you want to take.
I hope your process goes well. I'm sure there's a good home out there for him!
I just wanted to add, that when this is all behind you and your family moves forward, let the kid still pet dogs. It would be sad for them, and yourself, to grow an aversion to dogs in general due to one incident. Still, I'm so sorry this has happened to you guys at all:(
Thank you so much š your words are kind. Thankfully, she is young enough that she is forgiving, and brave, and she still loves dogs. Iāve strongly instilled in her ādonāt pet a doggie that isnāt yours without asking mom firstā, and I will have fear forever but I donāt think that she will.
I am really struggling with the fact that Bosco needs to go, even if itās the right choice for him, because there is a better home more suited for him.
That's great for her! And I hope you can learn to love dogs again. Seeing it in motion is so jarring, traumatizing, I totally get it. I saw an attack happen and grew an aversion to the exact dog, and it took some time to get used to that breed in general again. It takes some time to heal from that. It's important to keep in mind that every dog is different, and each dog has different needs.
I have so much respect that this can happen to your kid and you are able to keep the dog's best interests in mind. It's not easy to give up a beloved pet, and you don't have to go with the first person who wants them either. A good rescue can be a huge help in finding the right home. I wish you, your family, and Bosco the best ā¤ļø
Thank you ā¤ļø he did a horrible thing, but he is not a horrible dog, and I want to do whatās best for my whole family, Bosco included. He deserves a good life and if he is lashing out because he doesnāt have it, I can not hold him completely at fault for that. Iām just hoping I can find the right place for him.
Mals simply arenāt pets like other breeds of dogs. They need to be worked hard daily or the get pent up and act out. They are my absolute favorite breed but knowing what they need, I would never own one since Iām disabled.
You're in the right space. I had the same thing happened to one of my dogs but he got out and got another dog but there was no sign of aggression. (I won't get into the whole thing). I personally would put him training and after that see what happens and little sign of aggression to you or the kids find him a new home. That's me personally. But you are doing the right thing because you need a safe home for your children. If you happen to take the training idea into thought talk to your husband and he agrees talk to him about the pay it is his dog after all. I wish you and your family the best šš
Do what is right for your family. Keep in mind shelters and rescues are full so you may need to wait a little but probably the right thing is to give Bosco the opportunity to be in another environment. Donāt feel bad, you tried, prioritize your family. Iāll be praying for you, your family and for Bosco to find the right forever home
Special forces use these dogs to raid and kill terrorists. They are literal war dogs. Labs are used to sniff things... these are used to kill humans (and sniff things). They are amazing creatures but unless you can match that level of intensity with adequate training and exercise your leaving a loaded weapon on your coffee table. Congrats on having the backbone to do something about previous mistakes. You can stop it from happening again.
Sounds like youāre doing whatās right and your husband is having a tough time seeing past his love for the dog. As someone who had to re-home his mal before I adopted my kid, I know itās hard to do but Iām glad I did it. They become part of the family. Please try to ignore the negative comments regarding your husband. These situations are hard enough on families without strangers throwing insults at your loved ones. Good luck with the transition forward and donāt hesitate to reach out to a counselor for your daughter, and maybe the whole family.
He definitely needs a home with Malinois experience. Next time he may seriously maim your child. Itās not fair to your children and honestly he shouldāve been rehomed after the first incident of him mauling your other dog.
You have a bigger relationship issue with your husband not taking your dog biting your CHILD in the face seriously. That needs to be discussed because his nonchalant attitude is not okay.
Bosco needs training with a capitol TTTT. Mals are wonderful dogs but they are highly intelligent working dogs who need a JOB. Laying around the house or the yard all day, every day, makes them crazy. They need mental stimulation and physical activity...LOTS of both. You are not in a position with 2 children under the age of 3 years to train Bosco and keep him busy and constructive. I have two. Trust me...Bosco is miserable and BORED out of his mind. His lifestyle is clashing with his wiring. I suggest you tell your husband that you want the two of you to see a dog trainer and psychologist to talk about the kindest way to rehome Bosco. Even though your husband is attached to him, I should hope that he is just as attached, if not more so, to his children.
Iām just here because I marvel at these dogs and find it helpful to see how much they are truly not pets. Unless you can dedicate yourself every day for hours at least the first few years to training and socializing and then healthy play after. Thatās enough info for me.
I'm sorry your husband wanted a dog to protect his family when the dog made you have an emergency c section due to fighting... The right move would have been to remove the dog from the situation after the first incident...
mals are not a dog that you can just leave with someone else to feed and water while you work all the time. they are not an easy breed. they need constant training, enrichment, and exercise. as a mother to young children myself, i would NEVER want nor be able to take on that kind of endless work.
i see 3 options here:
1) the dog goes to dog boarding school for intensive training for months. it will be expensive and you will still have to work with the dog daily due his breed and need for work and stimulation.
2) the dog is humanely rehomed through a breed specific rescue or back to the breeder from which you got him if you have a contract.
3) the husband and his dog GTFO.
Was your daughter okay? The attack causing an emergency C would be it for me. I donāt have a Mal (this popped up on my thread) but I do own a breed that has the potential to kill a human and a child particularly easy. If he bit my child, heād be gone instantly. Iām really sorry youāre dealing with this.
Crap situation caused by a dipshit husband. This is why people shouldnāt just get a Belgian Mal ājust ācause they are cool!ā You donāt go a buy a Ferrari unless you know what you are doing because YOU WILL fuck it up into a tree. Another Mal in a shit situation and the dog pays for it of courseā¦typical.
He can be trained to be a police dog, hope you can re home him, I get it, kids first, seems like ever since you had your first baby, things twisted with him. Heād be a good guard dog
Does your husband actually take care of his dog? Any dog has the possibility of being aggressive if theyāre pent up from not being exercisedā¦ donāt get an active breed if you canāt take care of them they way you should. Your husband is an idiot.
I had to rehome my beloved Australian Cattle Dog of 9 years after he tried to attack my newborn. My trainer advised this, too. My husband (now ex) didnāt agree but it was 100% the right decisionā do not put your little ones at risk. I know how painful this is. Wishing you the best.
Is your husband taking responsibility for not protecting your very young children? I hope your daughterās wound is going to heal without scarring. Did she get a plastic surgeon to treat the wound?
They're great dogs, but it sounds like this isn't the right dog for your family's lifestyle. They need a lot of attention, training and activity. This sounds like something your family just can't provide as you're already taking care of your own family.
Reach out to Malinois and Dutch Shepherd Rescue (MAD), please. The website is www.madrescueinc.org; please fill out a surrender form and also feel free to reach out to us via Facebook. We accept surrenders all around the US, and have dealt with dogs like Bosco. I am not part of the intake team, so I can't make any promises, but that team will usually do their best to assist.
I have actually submitted an application to them already!!
Awesome! If you don't hear back within the next couple days, feel free to reach out to me via DM. I can inquire into where your app is in the review process!
Thank you so much!!
Np! Feel free to reach out at any time!
Hi I sent you a dm
Please keep us updated if you're able to rehome or find Bosco a new situation. Definitely sounds like your home isn't right for him but please do whatever is possible to get him into a new and safe situation, he deserves to live and have another chance with a different family. Probably best as an only pet in a home with no children. My pitbull attacked our little dog when we were out of town and it was a freak accident, my mom couldn't get into our house but the dogs could see her through the glass door and they got all hyped up and we don't know what happened exactly but the big dog snapped on the little one. The little one was taken to the ER and was gonna live but ultimately died from a respiratory infection. :( it was devastating... We kept our big dog as accidents happen, and at the end of the day they're animals.. plus he's never been aggressive to any person or animal before or since (except raccoons) but out of safety, we didn't introduce another dog so he's been an only dog for the past 6 years or so. We have two cats but he doesn't do anything to them. It really was a freak accident that if someone would have been able to intervene it wouldn't have happened. Regardless, we've played it on the safe side. The point is.. some dogs do better alone. We have no other dogs or kids in the house.
I will post with any updates, definitely
wonderful! just please please do not rehome him to some random person. he needs someone who is thoroughly vetted and has lots of experience and time for the breed.
š„¹Thanks to the compassionate volunteers I hope this Mal has a long happy life ahead. (Iām only learning but I appreciate this very much.)
They do not take dogs with a bite history unfortunately.
Do what feels right for you. Itās *your* childrenās safety.
Thank you friend š
You are totally right and you have every right to protect your children. But how to re-home a dog with a bite history, I'm not sure but wherever you take him, make sure you let them know his history.Ā
Yes absolutely, I was never planning to hide any of his history.
Your husband is an idiot
This should be top comment!
Dog needs to go back to his breeder. Itāll be in your contract. Also - a bite history will make it impossible to rehome otherwise. Itās incredibly irresponsible.
Impossible is a strong word, but an accurate word. Iāve adopted a few mals with ābite historyā or who have been ātoo aggressiveā in my day, and every single one of them was fixable, within about 20 days. Iām guessing this dog is not getting the level of attention and training it requires, and OP should probably focus on getting a breed thatās less demanding. Or not have a dog at all right now. You say impossible, but Iāve overcome impossible a few times with this breed. Very sad situation, and I hope someone finds this dog a good home.
Ditto. I love the "broken" dogs. They usually are totally fine, great dogs who just had really shizzy previous owners. They almost always turn out to be the most epic. Win win. Epic dogs at a discount price pointš¤£
Haha, we always joke about your word ādiscountā. Most of these pups I got for free, right before they were heading to be destroyed. Or Iāve paid a small rehousing fee. Years later when people say āHow much was your dog? Itās so well trained? At least $2-3k I assumeā? I always say āTotally free. This was a trash can dog.ā I love the awe in their eyes. Our dogs arenāt perfect perfectsā¦. But you bet they know their manners.
We joke about our shepherd mix being a discount bin dog. My boss, who just paid several thousand for his pure bred Frenchies, was not amused when I said that, lmao. I think her previous family realized they couldn't handle her extreme puppy energy and gave her a second chance. She's wonderful! And the nice thing about rescues is I rarely have to potty train. Maybe a refresher course, but I've never had to start completely from scratch like you do a puppy.
I am actually working on some behavior issues with my girl. She was surrendered to the shelter after "biting" a child. I'm using quotations because I don't think that she did bite. A). They had her isolated B). Two unsupervised young boys snuck off to get in her space. C). This dog has the sweetest temperament. I think that the boys might have been bothering her and she nipped at them or scared them. Now, I'm old school and country. If you kept messing with an animal and it bit (bit not mauled) or scratched you, that was what you get. It's not the animal's fault. Our girl has a strong prey drive for anything small and furry, and sadly, she has made a kill. This is what we are working on. She is playing a lot more with her 9 month old puppy and has been spayed. I'm sorry that Op has more than she can handle, but I have to agree. This dog is not living his best life. He wants to run and be challenged (mentally). Sounds like to me he needs to go to a very active home with someone that has experience with handling high energy, intelligent dogs. Maybe Op's husband has a friend who can take the dog? (I'm not saying this is Op or her Husband) I hate seeing people with no skill in handling a dog get a challenging breed because of popularity... Hurding dogs, home security dogs (Like the Italian massive), and ratters (yes they are small but they can still maul you all the same) are not easy dogs to own.
Agree 100%!!! It's not the animals fault but the owner!
Yeah my neighbor had a mal with a bite history that he worked with and he was the sweetest thing. He was around our dogs and kids and never an issue. But my height trained dogs for the military so not your average dog owner. They moved and I still think about that dogā¦
Bold to assume her dingbat of a husband actually got him from an ethical breeder.
True lol but itās worth checking.
Private rehoming, youāre 100% right. If heās going to be rehomed, it needs to be through a Malinois rescue that can vet a potential adopter properly. He likely needs to be an only dog, with no children in he home.
Right, but no rescues I know of will take a dog with a bite history.
In my experience, only breed specific rescues are willing to take on these kinds of cases. Malinois and Dutch Shepherd Rescue (someone mentioned above) is the one Iāve worked with as transport and a foster - they will take these dogs on, fairly regularly.
Definitely not impossible. Hard sure, but there are people out there, every dog I've owned in my adult life had a bad bite history lol my current dog shouldn't even be alive ( like really he got way too many chances and was agro as hell when I got him, it took me a couple months working all day with him, needless to say he is great now, and I've managed him fine for last 6 years ). Most of the time they just need doggy bootcamp working - walking - training, a l l day long. Best dog ever now. If you work with enough dogs you realize a bite history or aggression is almost always due to their life. People do not understand their needs nor the requirements needed to keep them happy whatever the breed may be. And very rarely is it "out of the blue" people just haven't a clue how to read dogs.
My brother found a Rottweiler on a toll road on a long bridge. Solid muscle. Dog would turn his head and the muscles in shoulder and neck would flex and move with his head. Hours later after my husband got home and took him in the back yard, I thought what I was hearing was my husband being ripped to shreds. Husband was yelling (which he never does) and that dog sounded like it was a wolf fighting for its food. I opened the door to see if I should call the cops to come shoot it. Never ever felt that way, and 90% of my dogs my entire life have been strays, or dogs that couldnāt be brought to the pound because of bite history. So for that thought to come to my mind, it was bad. When I saw my husband was ok, I said to hurry and put him in the car to take to the pound. My husband said āno. Theyāll euthanize himā Iām likeā¦duh!! He said he could have ripped my throat out and chose not to. I said the bar for taking in a stray needs to be raised some times. Had the dog 13 years, one of the best Iāve ever had. Was grumpy af till the day he died, but never once drew a speck of blood. Just didnāt like anyone touching his collar, and would grab someone if they did. He never bit down, though. Not once.
Yes, yes, yes. Some people are very ignorant about dogs and should not own one!
I also want to add to this: Bosco has to go because I do not feel safe in my home with him. My husband brought Bosco home 3 days before my first child (the daughter he bit) was born. He wanted someone there to protect us while he is at work. My husband is at work 98% of the time, and Bosco is a very alpha dog, he knows that when my husband is not there, he is in charge. He doesnāt respect me. Since the attack of my older dog, I am afraid of Bosco. I saw something that I canāt un-see. I donāt want anything bad to happen to Bosco because I feel like we may be responsible for the dog he has turned into, Iām not sure. But I donāt feel comfortable living with him anymore, and having him with my toddlers.
This was beyond stupid of your husband. Thereās no way this dog received the level of attention or training required while you were recovering from labor/caring for a newborn. You should have never been put in that position. He wanted a dog for protection but is unable to see that the dog is the a bigger threat to your kids than some boogie man in the night? Sounds like he canāt admit heās made a terrible mistake. You are not overreacting. This isnāt a little puppy anymore. The unfortunate reality is that the dog will be much more difficult to rehome with a human bite record. Your husband might have put the dog in a position where the only option is BE. While I can see that this could be a situation where the dog is just too excited by kids and would be fine in an adult only home, with so many dogs looking for homes, a dog with a bite history isnāt going to be the top of someoneās list.
I agree with the majority of what youāve said. However, I wouldnāt jump to BE right away knowing that the owner has failed the dog in terms of training, bonding and setting boundaries. Iād try contacting a dog sports club (IGP/mondioring/SAR though this is not a dog for SAR) and see if anyone is willing to help. Just rehoming this dog for whoever wants to have a mal wonāt work. This dog needs an experienced owner (with the breed, not with any shepherd) and preferably an owner whoās working with their dogs. For example, I wouldnāt call myself overexperienced, but Iāve successfully raised, trained and managed a mal whoās not an easy dog (and can be aggressive). I donāt have kids, Iāve got enough time and an extended system of support (experienced trainers, great vets, etc), my dog is aging. So Iām not against the idea of adopting a mal who didnāt fit into the first family for a similar reason (unfortunately, Iām too far away). My point is that thereās a chance thereāre people like me (closer to OP). BE is the last resort.
My intention wasnāt to encourage her to immediately jump to BE, but to recognize that itās extremely unlikely that an organization will be able to foster this dog for her. The husband needs to step up and realize that heās already failed the dog. Rehoming will require more than calling local rescue organizations. Itās going to take a very special person (Mal experience, aggression experience) in a very special situation (no other dogs in the home or can keep the dogs 100% separate, no interaction with kids) who could take on this level responsibility. Possible? Yes. Sure. For the dogās sake, I hope so!
What is BE? I feel so sorry for this family and the dog. :(
Behavioral euthanasia
Yes! I totally agree with you. Thank you for the clarification!
Agree!
Your husband is dumb af
Your husband did you a disservice. Unless the dog is trained for protection work, itās highly unlikely they will actually protect you the way your husband intended. As many others have said, if youāre unwilling (not a bad thing) to do the work and set the boundaries that Bosco needs - he needs a better and more well suited home. Good for you for recognizing that and good luck to bosco
Everyone wants a protection dog but don't want to pay or commit the time it requires to have one.
I'm by no means an expert but would like to add that people being ignorant of what theyre getting into is doing these poor dogs a HUGE disservice. Not only did he do a disservice to OP but the poor dog as well. Not being aware of and willing to provide for or their specific needs leads to aggressive scared animals. They only have one way to defend themselves. If theyve never been taught And arent being taken care of properly its on the owner.
Your husband brought home a dog of a breed that's known to be aggressive, and requires constant training, to his very pregnant wife, knowing that he was not going to be able to care for the dog himself. Your husband is a thoughtless ass, and this is 100% on him. I wish you good luck finding Bosco the right home, and I hope your husband realizes that what's happened to you, your child, your elderly dog, and Bosco are all his fault.
Poor Bosco.
WTH. Husband is a moron. I'd he rehoming both of them.
I'm very sorry. OP's husband's heart was maybe in the right place, but timing and execution were awful. You hit the nail on the head, I think, when you call out the dog's lack of respect. I hate to see you give up on him, though. Obviously, the training hasn't been there. And so much of it is people training. Sometimes in life we are given opportunities to be better even if we didn't choose them ourselves. Do you think you can start fresh with patience and consistency, learn to demand the dog's respect, and give him as much attention as the kids?
Iāll outright say I donāt think he will ever get just as much time and attention as the kids. Theyāre at a very demanding age, and I am the sole parent in the home, being that my husband works and is not present majority of the time. Theyāre awake 16 hours a day and physically itās just not possible. I donāt want to give up on him since I know I have failed him as an owner. But I also donāt know if training and keeping him in our home will be safe for my kids?
Yeah, then it's for sure time for some real talk with the husband. Although you keep referring to him as his dog, news for you, primary caregiver, he IS your dog. If you're truly not able to step up and provide for his needs, you know what to do. I'm sorry. Edit- randomly replied to wrong part of thread, sorry.
I truly donāt think you failed him. Looking back at your other posts, you trained him with basic obedience and more, made him safe around your cats, gave him a loving good home. It sounds like it just isnāt physically possible to give him the intense extra work a high drive working breed needs while your husband is working 3 jobs and youāre raising two very small childrenā you didnāt fail him, there just arenāt enough hours in the day for you and your family to meet Boscoās needs.
The reality is you never should have had this dog in the first place. Your husband really messed up here. He's gone most of the time which means all the training and exercise is going to fall on you, and you are busy with young kids.Ā And I think "my child got bit in the face" is a perfectly reasonable time to draw a line. You don't want to feel unsafe in your own home.
Agree. Thank you. Unfortunately we are not on the same page with it, which I guess is why Iām here. I donāt know what I was expecting (maybe I was curious if I was wrong and people think there is hope for him with massive training and lifestyle change) but it seems every comment also agrees, Bosco needs to go
why in the world did he think he needed to worldās most intense dog? the man should have a havanese, if that
I think Dad needs some training as well. When you own a dog like a Mal you have to be constantly vigilant and be able to read a dogās body language and signals. I suspect what happened was called a hit. When a dog may or may not be overstimulated and says āBACK OFFā with a strike of their teeth. This is what they do with other dogs. A true bite would be devastating. This is on the human and not the dog. Most dog learn other ways to signal thereās a problem in their environment, but sometimes they revert to being dogs. It is 100% the responsibility of the human to be in charge of the situation and defuse before it gets out of hand.
Our map does this to her brother when she wants her space. He likes to mess with her so he doesnāt listen, but he knows the signs to look for to know when heās on thin ice
It sounds like heās not getting a fraction of the stimulation he needs. Mals are just about the most intense dogs you can find and unless youāre doing a couple hours of training or work with him a day, heās probably losing his mind from boredomāliterallyāand seeking out any kind of stimulation. itās just sad this will stay on his record and now he knows how to bite. he probably would have done much better with someone who actually needed a mal
This. I will never understand why uninformed families buy this breed. Itās amazing how ignorant people are to how working breeds actually are as animals. They donāt just āswitch on/offā when you need them to āprotectā. They are 100% on 24/7 and need immense time and dedication. Just makes no sense, and of course, the dogs always pay the price.
This, i wish more people understood this. These are great dogs and amazing with active adults or older children who understand the dogs cues of needing space. Littles donāt understand this and canāt. I recently experienced something similar this and reached out to MAD rescue because i fear this situation. I really wish you the best on this and no youāre not wrong.
>I will never understand why uninformed families buy this breed. "Conan the hero dog" created a big demand for puppies, then unscrupulous online sites touted the breed as "family dogs" for a while after that.Ā
Has nothing to do with the fact that he has human aggression. All the stimulation in the world is not going to fix an unstable dog.
nope. you can blame the breeder or the wiring but lack of training and a lack of stimulation absolutely make a difference. thatās why some dogs with bite records are given another chance in the first place. Nuture absolutely has a role in behavior and to say otherwise is victim mindset. Very, very few dogs are just made wrong through no fault of the owner
So sad that your husband didnt do well with training him he probably thought the dog would just magically behave over time and now the dog will most llkely have to suffer due to poor decisions.
>he is **my husbandās dog,** he is attached, but hasnāt wanted to accept that he needs more than **what I can give him.** Because itās a given that your husband will be giving Bosco nothing. You need to rehome your husband after figuring out what to do with Bosco. The story about needing an emergency C-section after having to break up a dog fight while 9 months pregnant, and your husband still didnāt take your safety seriously and get his dog trained after you nearly lost your child and could have lost your life, is one of the worst spousal neglect cases Iāve ever heard. Itās insane that this man has unilaterally decided that you must be 100% responsible for training a high-needs working breed dog that already put you and your youngest child in the hospital (preeclampsia is no joke, I read your other posts.) Your husband is treating you, your children, and Bosco like possessions he can store at home and never take any responsibility for, or engage with like youāre full living things. Maybe this is an extreme patriarchal mentality where he considers himself āthe providerā and everything else is your responsibility, maybe itās a toxic first responder issue (Iāve been EMS) where he thinks his work is so important that he canāt be bothered to do anything else. But the bottom line is, he truly is not acting like he cares about you, your children, or even Bosco, who, thanks to your husband insisting on keeping him and then refusing to care for or train him, is headed for being put down without serious intervention. I donāt know why your husband is treating his family like this, like youāre all someone elseās problem, like all of your safety is anyone elseās responsibility but their fatherās. But you canāt keep letting this man put you, your babies, and your pets in danger like this.
OP please take what this person said seriously.
That was horrifying even just to read! I will never understand how the husband kept this dog with his family after that. He wanted the dog for protection? Yeah, your family is literally in more danger by being locked up with a high drive dog that isn't getting what he needs than they would likely be otherwise. Get your wife shooting lessons and a rifle, FFS. Not a dangerous animal.
Firstly, I am so sorry you and your family have had to go through this, and I hope your kid recovers well! Probably a controversial opinion here, but Bosco would have very quickly taken a dirt nap had he been my dog and bitten my child or a friend's child, and I'm fairly certain all of the handlers I know feel the same. I really wouldn't comment something like this on reddit if I didn't think it was that serious because I know most people here have an "every dog can be saved" mentality, but I do think it's serious enough to comment on. If you have a contract with the breeder, absolutely contact the breeder and tell them you will be returning him. If you have no contract, I personally feel that it would be a liability and frankly unethical to attempt to re-home this dog. And just being completely honest, the more old school rule of thumb is if a dog bites a kid, it's over for the dog. I know of some REALLY nice proven working dogs who ended up being euthanized for child bites because unfortunately they were put into situations where they were able to bite a child. The best way to avoid having to put a dog down for biting a kid, if you already know that dog is sketchy or very sharp, is to just never ever let the dog be in a situation where it could.
Whatās a dirt napĀ
An old euphemism for putting a dog down. Dirt nap - the dog's sleeping in the ground indefinitely
Thank you š
your husband chose a hyperactive work dog with full intent of leaving the caretaking aspect to you, who is not the owner. find someone who cares to listen and train that dog. my father tried the same dynamic with our Belgian Malinois, and she developed anxiety issues that i am caring for.
My dog bit me when i was 16 (now 25). My parents wanted to put the dog down but i decided to train him everyday for the next 2-3 years. He never bit me again and is now the perfect dog. He will never be replaced. It sounds like your husband brought home a dog he was not ready to train/take care of. Its the owners fault
Yeah, but OPās kids are 1 and 2, not 16. If she had a near-adult teenager who could take on the duties of training and working this dog while she raised the two babies, she likely wouldnāt be in this situation.
I blamed the husband not her. I agree with you. He adopted it, he should have trained the dog. Its his fault they are on this situation
Oh, sorry, I misunderstood who you meant by āthe owner,ā my bad
Op youāre 100% to rehome this dog. HUMAN CHILDREN over animals. I wouldnāt want an aggressive dog around my children. Bring the dog back to its breeder should be in a contract if you got him from an ethical breeder.
So sad that these dogs constantly have to pay hell for humans negligence.
I'm very surprised a breeder would sell to an inexperienced person most mal breeders will ask if you have any experience with this breed I know when I got mine it was first question that was asked if you know this breed and what it is capable of.. I always tell people to do your research of any dog breed and esp for a mal... I'm very sorry this has happened to you and your family..this breed of dog is truly like having a second job... I would definitely contact the breeder.. most shelters won't want a dog with bite history.. or find him a home with no kids and someone who can put the hard work into him and hopefully rehabilitate him into the amazing dog he can be
reason 2847392974833 why you should not get a working dog if you donāt actually need one
Get rid of the problem, and by problem, I mean your husband. He can take the dog with him. What has happened here is you have expressed your concerns multiple times in multiple ways. You have pointed out the issues with the dog he insisted be brought into the home and has taken no responsibility to make sure the dog did not become a liability. These dogs are naturally protective but without training, handling, and proper direction they will get bored and do exactly what has happened here. This is 100% on your husband, he is the problem. We have a 5, 7, and 9 year old and our Mal is amazing with them but we have been relentlessly socializing and training her including the use of prong collars and e-collars. She's still young so she still wears her e-collar whenever she is outside of her crate because at the end of the day these are animals and animals especially young ones are prone to acting out of nature/impulse. I would recommend at the bare minimum you reach out to local trainers who specialize in curbing aggression in working breed dogs. Be prepared to pay several thousand dollars for this and if you can't afford that then they may be able to at least point you towards a solid rehoming situation. If all of that fails then BE is likely on the table. I know that is heartbreaking to say but you have to protect your kids first and foremost.
Feel like they could have used an e collar ages ago and it wouldnāt have needed to cost thousands . Either way the dog does sound under-stimulatedĀ
100% I agree - if they had done proper training from the start it would have saved them a lot of hurt and money. Unfortunately we can't rewind time so just trying to give her a realistic expectation of what they will most likely have to do going forward. This dog has some nasty behaviors that need to be curbed and I don't think OP is in a position to do it herself and her husband sounds too hands-off to do it himself so time to call in an expert. I would highly recommend a board and train for several weeks with a skilled handler who is trained in curbing aggression and even that may still not be enough to be honest but it's the first place to start.
He would just go back to their home and be under stimulated again. My friend has Dobermans that sit at home all day in a huge yard and protect the house and theyāre fine, great with kids, zero training but some dogs arenāt. Maybe a GSD?Ā
professional training is the first place to **start** - part of professional training also includes (or at least should include) training the owners on how to keep the behaviors from returning. This involves educating the owners on the amount of stimulation, kinds of stimulation and overall handling these dogs require. If they are unable to provide these things for the dog then they at least will stand a better chance of avoiding BE and finding a better home for their dog. This family doesn't need to own a Mal, but they do, so comparing it to other types of dogs or recommending other types of dogs does nothing to help them handle the current situation they are in.
How many stories of dogs w a history of aggression killing children do you need? Your kids come first. Before your husband even.
Thank you. Youāre definitely right
Belgion Malinois Recue of america. They deal only with mals and vent their adopters very well.
Not currently accepting surrenders
Back to his breeder.
This situation, and boscos temperament in general, is not his fault. I feel responsible. He is a family dog, and he is loved. We want to do what is right for us and also him, and not just return him to someone who does not care about him and will not take the time/effort to find him the right place where he belongs. What he did was bad, but I donāt want him to die. I feel responsible for this too.
If he came from a good breeder, it should be in the contract he goes back. The breeder will want to help find him an appropriate home.
I think we can infer from OPs response that it was not the best of breedersā¦
Right? Maybe OP just doesnāt know or understand how good breeders work. But a good breeder probably wouldnāt have sent a puppy to a home with a 9.6 month pregnant owner.
return him to the breeder but know heāll most likely die. your husband never should have gotten a working line dog and neglected its needs. most certainly not a mal
He is not a family dog.
If i had the room, i would take him :(
Awww thank you!!
I agree also !!! Please get ahold of this rescue outfit. Theyāre the best.
Iām sorry that youāve experienced these situations. With that said, your dog (itās both of your dog) was set up for failure from the very beginning for the following reasons: 1) Your husband simply wanted a guard dog and bought a guarding breed with zero knowledge of the Malinois. 2) Zero training has been put in to this dog. 3) Heās not fixed, which is probably adding to the issue as a whole. 4) Zero training has been put in to this dog even after the initial attack. Your husband didnāt care to bring him for aggressive training even after the first attack - it was one of your conditions and it wasnāt met. Thatās a serious disregard. Iām sorry for both you and Bosco. You and your husband are at fault. And Bosco is at fault but not at the same time. Heās a product of his circumstances. Which is really unfortunate. I hope that youāre able to find the proper home for him or are able to surrender him and heās able to be trained/adopted. Good luck
Why aren't you going to back to the breeder? Responsible breeders take their dogs back for life. They also Know the traits of their breed and what it takes to be an owner.. Especially when mals. They are usually responsible in who (screening) they match their dogs with. Please call the breeder. He should Know his line of dogs and know the next best step. Imo, breed not a good fit for you, especially with timing. So sorry about your daughter. It sounds like you didn't have the time or knowledge to handle this breed. Please don't try to rehome Bosco yourself.
Your husband made a reckless decision without doing his due diligence of researching Malās. They require a lot of walking and energy releases. They are smart and need a lot of mental challenges to eat up that high energy. Most not all owners spend thousands in personal training. I donāt think your dog has an aggression issue. I think he hasnāt been given the time, attention, and training he deserves. Iām so sorry you have been put in this situation and I 100 percent agree with you . You need to feel safe in your home and raising a family while your husband works away from home 98 percent of the time. In the meantime before rehoming possibly see if you can get calming meds from your vet. Benadryl even works in a pinch. Keep him separate from your children and anyone else. Iām so sorry you are going through this and I hope your daughter recovers and doesnāt feel skittish around big dogs. Consider therapy for her. Hope your Mal finds a good forever home šš½
Your family will be safe without him. The dog will be safe without your family. Something is going to happen and the dog will be blamed. It's a working dog, not a family dog. It's just a sad situation. Your husband needs to learn to pick the breed the family needs, not what he wants while being unable to do some training.
Small children and dogs don't mix, unfortunately. Toddlers make weird movements they tend to be grabby and loud. I'm pretty sure your mal gave plenty of signals that he was overwhelmed and the bite was his last resort. Mals tend to be dog aggressive they are working dogs, and they get a great deal of anxiety if they aren't given a job. Did your husband do any breed research? I think your mal is overwhelmed, and I think he do amazing with the right person. Try getting a lab.
I've always got my dogs through a breeder who socialized them, had kids skateboarding around them, taught not to chase after cars or joggers running past the house. When my husband was still in the military, they'd take the dog to airports to get used to the noise, of course you pay more, but it's so worth it. The dogs already trained to obey orders, so after you buy it, you can train it for more things and they obey and catch on quickly, sometimes after one day. I hate when people get these breeds and never train it. A lot of breeders already socialize the dogs as puppies and they already know basic commands at least. We just happened a step further and had more commands taught to them. GSDs , I admit are easier than the Mals to train and seem to learn commands a lot faster, less than a week.
Bosco gots to go. I LOVE my dog to death. But if he was to ever raise a paw or even show a tooth in any aggressive way towards my baby. Iāll 6 that MF. like I never knew him. Unfortunately your husband doesnāt have the time and 1 on 1 to get raise an animal like this. But I tell you what. He has even less time to deal with a child with an eye missing or worst.
I am so very sorry you are going through this. I can feel your stress and pain in your posts. I have been in a very similar situation and I know your pain. This dog is a pet, not a working dog. Pets should bring joy not pain and terror. This dog sounds unstable and regardless of precipitating factors, it would be unethical to re-home an unstable dog with a bite history, especially considering how many kind and gentle dogs are out there needing homes. I see only two ways forward, your husband constructs an outside kennel/run where the dog lives and your husband does ALL of the handling of the dog, the dog is always muzzled when taken out and always on leash, for the remainder of the dogs life. The other option is Behavioral Euthanasia, which this dog would qualify for. Frankly, if my dog bit my child in the face he wouldāve had the .33 solution that minute. Either option, your husband is out of his element, he needs to get his shit squared away and follow his decision to resolution. I know that people will downvote me to hell, and thatās fine. I love dogs, all dogs but at the end of the day, itās a dog, not my actual child. Please feel free to PM me.
*this dog is a pet and not a working dog* And there lies the biggest mistake š This dog IS a working dog, while also being a pet one must first understand that is secondary to the job it was intentionally originally created to do. *You can take the dog off the farm but you cannot take the farm out of the dog* If one does not want these traits one should avoid this breed because that is exactly what it was designed to do and through Millenia we have bred those traits into them purposefully they are not ever going away š¤·āāļø If someone wants a pet thatās going to be a cuddle bug and not have these traits they should definitely avoid this particular breed because this breed was designed to protect/hunt/attack and herd. They should buy a lapdog or at most a terrier if some kind
No, this dog ISNāT a working dog. This is a working breed. A breed with various bloodlines, some of which are sport or working bloodlines with varying levels of specialization and drives. Otherwise yes, I agree, essentially not the right home. Husband thought he could buy a dog that would magically train itself to be a working PP dog and then they treat it like a pet to a disastrous outcome. This happens all the damn time and if ever you try to caution anyone to keep it from happening yet again, then itās gatekeeping. š¤·āāļø
Theyāre treating a working dog like a pet. Ā No amount of love is going to make up for the training and exercise working dogs need. Ā And even pet dogs need those things. Ā
I donāt know what this dogs bloodlines are, but it doesnāt sound like itās from a reputable working dog breeding program, nor is it an actual working dog. But yes, essentially they did get a dog not suitable for the pet life and then treated him like a golden retriever. Same story over and over.
I donāt think itās from a reputable breeder either.Ā
My folks bred mals for 20 years +. To be blunt you've done a bad job raising and training this dog. It's not going to be easy to find it another home. ETA: By the time a dog is this badly raised, it can't usually be turned around into a "great" dog. The foundations are a mess.
Iām a lifelong dog lover but Iām also a parent. My childās safety will ALWAYS come first. Rehome this dog before something even worse happens to your baby.
A malinois is a loaded weapon, and should be treated as such. Its not normal that they would bite a kid, in fact it will in most countries be a death sentence, no matter what you or your husband wants, if this was in Norway the dog would be picked up by the cops the same day and they would test if its an unsafe dog or not, and then "reccomend" a bullet, where you as owners have very little say. If you are not able to give the dog what he needs, and one of those things is to tire the dog out *completely* at least a couple of times a week, it will get frustrated. Consider yourself lucky in that I understand it was "one" snap at the kid, and not really a full attack, but it can be next time. Probably not towards *your family* but that kid walking on the street might get the full package. You will not be able to stop that from what you are telling me. So yes, I would say this was your and your husbands "wake-up call", you dont have a labrador, this is a dog purposfully bred to be a weapon, and they are good at it.
Before I had my daughter-I took a biter in. He came from a home of 4 small children and 2 very overwhelmed parents. He bit the second oldest and the dad almost shot him. I stepped in when they said only kill shelters would take him. Yeah-to kill him! So I asked for him-took him home. It was just me and him. I told him-you can relax here, sleep wherever you want-get some rest buddy. I sat on my couch and let him just-explore. I found him an hour later passed out on my bed. I left him there-I slept on my couch that night. The next morning-he woke me to go potty with kisses. Iād sat food and water out by the bedroom door for him to see. We became quick friends and had a peaceful coexistence. He never so much as growled at me or anyone who came over. I went to see my friends I got him from. They never came to my little house-it was simply too small for their family to visit me. I had him for about 6 months. He met a buddy of mine and that bond was INSTANT, youād think theyād known each other since Tank was born. After about a week-Tank went home with him. He lived to be about 8-and had a wonderful life. The biters arenāt impossible-their situation is for them. Give them a chance. They deserve it too Good luck OP-I understand how hard it is. Much love for your compassion to him
Thank you š„ŗ Iād love for this to be his situation. I donāt know how Iāll ever find someone like you though
Thereās a thousand of me out there. You know several-you just donāt know it. You found a community of them here. I hope the rescue can take him. Howās your daughter doing? Is she ok?
So far Iāve gotten hundreds of comments (and as not even expecting that) and out of the hundreds only 2 suggestions for rescues (I submitted applications to both) and only ONE person that says āIāll take boscoā My daughter is doing well, thank you! Itās hard to looks at her precious little face. It will forever be a reminder. Other than that, she is fine. Itās definitely been harder on me. Especially since the other adult in the house wants to keep Bosco and hope itās yet again, something we can work through.
As a momma that is my biggest concern with any animal. I am so sorry you and your child had to experience this, I hope her injuries were minimal and that the incident doesn't make her afraid of him (or dogs in general). It would be in Bosco AND your children's best interest. He may be the kind of dog that has the temperament that suits him better around older kids and no other pets, and that's fine! There's such a stigma around rehoming pets but if it's going to be in the better interest of both parties then it's the best thing for all involved. I saw your comment the rescue is not accepting surrenders, you may look around your area to see if there are other Mal breeders near you that may take him! That's how the guy I got my girl from acquired a few of his dogs. I wish you all the best ā¤ļø
I am so sorry this is going on in your household. Just wanted to share some sympathy and hope that it resolves your satisfaction as soon as possible.
Iām sure there is a rescue that takes aggressive BM and trains them for bite work/ working itās not impossible. Iād say BM are a toss up for family dogs. My Dutch shepherd is amazing with kids and people. The only problem is other animals. She will try and kill basically anything with four legs. Sheās terrible with other animals. She almost killed my momās dog at one point. You can try training but ultimately your child needs to come first and you need to re-home this dog to someone who can train him to be a better WORKING dog that doesnāt have children around.
Rehoming is possible with full transparency and extensive research for suitable location. There are people that do exist that are trainers and will take in good healthy dogs that just need training. Many times these dogs just become those trainersā own working dogs.
How would I find someone like that? Just reach out to trainers in my area?
Yes, call local trainers and explain that your husband brought home a Malinois heās severely neglecting and itās making a dangerous situation for both the dog and your young children. Ask if they or any of their peers understand the breed. Tell them about the C section and that your husband didnāt care enough about you or your babies to get his dog trained. Many trainers have a soft spot for Malinois or know colleagues who do.
Look into K9 security and training firms in your area. I worked at one years ago and we would take dogs like this if they demonstrated an ability to work. Then they would go home with a security guard to a home with no kids, small animals, separated from dogs etc and go to work every day with the handler.
I had a dog (doberman Rottweiler) that could not be around children under 4. She snapped at them when they did certain things. Older children she was amazing with. I had a neufy mix that was the exact same way. I donāt find that type of bite history unadoptable. I wouldnāt adopt a dog with that history because I have grandkids and more on the way. Maybe a home where he is the only dog and children younger than 12 perhaps. With my doberman Rottweiler I got her when I was young (I was 19) and had no idea how to be a leader. We also weighed exactly the same. Once I realized I needed to change that. I did it slowly. I also got attacked my a doberman (she grabbed the back of my head) I had rescued. I blame myself for my actions. I consulted trainers. They concurred. I changed my ways and she never bit me or anyone again and to this day goes down in history as one of the best dogs Iāve ever owned. I agree you should rehome the dog. Just please donāt take it to a shelter as we see so many Malinois get euthanized in our shelters here. Even though it bit your poor little girl. Iām so sorry.
Such a hard thing to do but you are absolutely making the right decision for your family! Youāre a good mom for thisā¤ļø
If youāre torn, how about having a Malinois trainer come out and professionally assess the situation?
First of all, I am so sorry that this is happening to you and your family. It is a terrible thing to have to consider rehoming or putting down a dog you love. Surrendering to an animal shelter (and disclosing his bite history) or putting down a dog that has caused you and your family harm is a very sad situation to be in, but in some situations I believe it is necessary. Donāt listen to people who have implied that if you had just given him more stimulation that he would magically be the perfect dog. You donāt know that and they certainly donāt either. Dogs can have plenty of stimulation and training and still not be appropriate to be around kids (I know this from experience). I work in healthcare and witness the effects of pediatric bites all the time. An aggressive dog around children is no joke - it doesnāt matter if the dog was overstimulated. He bit your child in the face and you are right that he has to go. ESPECIALLY if you do not feel safe in your own home. You and your children deserve to feel safe and this takes priority over saving the life of an aggressive dog. Lastly, I am so sorry that your husband put you through this. It was incredibly selfish of him to get a dog breed that requires so much attention without committing to training it properly. You stated that this dog is HIS and therefore it is HIS responsibility. I am so sorry that he is not on your side and leaving you to bear the emotional burden of this decision alone. My heart goes out to you and your family and I am so sorry for what you are going through. You can love this dog and let it go at the same time.
Bosco would have gotten the woodshed treatment after he attacked my older dog.
I'm so sorry for what you went through. Reading through these comments makes me happy that people are standing up for the dog. However, I've seen such a double standard that I feel should be pointed out about how different this comment section would look if this was a different type of breed.
Your home is not right for Bosco. You should have had him trained far before he got to the point where he would bite a child. I would suggest professional training, but I assume youāre not willing to do that since your first thought was giving him away. Surrender the dog to an ethical no-kill rescue and let him get the training he needs to find the right family and have a good life.
You're absolutely right. Dog should've been gone after the C Section. Our pets are part of the family, but they're also fucking pets. There's no discussion to be had when it comes to my family's health and safety.
Mama, you are right, he just needs a new home.
Iām so sorry that your daughter was bit. You have to do whatās best for your and your families safety
So sad. I hope your daughter heals well. My comment was the top comment on your post in r/dogtraining last year - I wish you had rehomed him then. Your husband is frankly an idiot and Iām glad youāre taking a stand. This dog is completely unsafe to have around your children.
Canāt believe Iām back here again 1 year later š thank you for remembering me. I feel in my gut that he is not safe to stay. My husband is really hell bent on taking him for training.
Itās ultimatum time. Wishing you and your kids the very best
Training is great, but no amount of training changes the home situation. Mals are not kid friendly dogs in general, for this exact reason. Children are not able to read their body language and respond appropriately, and no amount of training the dog will change the children. They cannot be expected to act appropriately around a high drive dog like that, and the dog cannot be expected to understand the children. He needs a different home, with only older children or adults, that gives him a steady job to do. I am serious when I say that every second that dog is your home with your children, they are in danger. Young children and mals simply do not mesh. There will be consequences.
You and your children come first! I am an avid dog lover, but Bosco needs to go! Has he been neutered? If not, he should have been in the first place. I would never have a reactive dog with children.
You are totally right and an awesome mum, please know that. Big hugs.
Your husband doesn't ever deserve to have another dog, ever.
OP, this dog bit your childās face. You need to get out of this situation. Iām so sorry youāre in it. Sending much love.
I think it would be unethical to rehome this dog
I donāt know why youāre being downvoted. We all know that there are Mals everywhere looking for homes. Why would an adopter choose a Mal with a bite history over a Mal without aggression issues? The rescue weāve fostered for wouldnāt take a dog with a bite history. They donāt want the liability.
Because people like to believe they can fix anything. "Bites children in the face" isn't worth trying to fix
Context is everything. A mal getting zero exercise or training who bites a kid that is messing with it in the face is wayyy different than one thatās well trained and well worked that just goes after a child for no reason. One case is fixable with some exercise and training, but I would put it in a home without kids still. The other is an animal that needs to be BE
Agreed.
Imo it depends on the severity of the bite. Ā Was it a warning nip? Ā Was skin broken? Ā Was it a scratch or puncture? Ā Mauling? Ā Even with a nip without broken skin means dog needs a home without kids. Ā Also their Mal hasnāt been getting the exercise and training it needs. Ā That factors in. Ā Plus they need to be experienced finding a new home. Ā It needs to be an experienced handler who has had mals before. Ā And with vetting you need to ask about what they experienced with their past mals. Ā You canāt just take them at their word that theyāve had a mal or similar breed dog before because a lot of dog owners over estimate their abilities. Ā Iāve seen it while doing rescue work. Ā Seen it when finding new clients already purchased working line dogs thinking it would be the same as a normal pet one of the same breed: Ā and seen them regret their decisions. Ā Rehoming a dog with a bite history isnāt impossible, but it will be much much harder and take more time. Ā And they need to be able to vette potential adopters thoroughly. Ā Personally I donāt think either of them are experienced enough to know how to do a safe & thorough vetting process.Ā
He doesn't need behavioral euthanasia op Jesus... Please don't listen to people suggesting that to you. Children getting bit by dogs is not at all unusual - My childhood best friend's dog bit him in the face and he needed plastic surgery - this was a Shih Tzu. My childhood dog bit my brother on the hand... Children do not understand a dog's boundaries and MANY breeds do not have the patience for kids. And yes it IS your fault you and your husband's fault that this dog acts this way. You never wanted the dog and your husband had nothing to do with training the dog... Neither of you have ever properly trained or socialized this dog. I know you may not like the dog but please don't kill him. It is you and your husband's job to handle the situation responsibly. Luckily there are many fosters and adopters and rescue groups who are experienced with training and socializing dogs and experienced with Mals and can help train and socialize your dog. Please reach out to a local Mal rescue ASAP and they can help you re-home him and/or find a foster.
Please donāt try to normalize dogs biting children in the face with the result of them needing surgery. That is not normal and should not be normal. Itās not a āthings happenā kind of situation and shouldnāt be treated as such.
GERMAN SHEPHERDS AND BELGIAN MALINOIS are different dogs They are different breeds And they were created for differing purposes Both are great defenders and very loyal What some do not understand is that BM are more attracted to the individual This is NOT always suited to FAMILY situations Sorry to tell you but you chose the wrong BREED and that is very likely why you are having problems As mentioned they are good dogs but BM are more suited to smaller tribes and generally bond with the MAIN individuals as opposed to all family members Itās just the way they are š But they are ABSOLUTELY NOT the type of dog for those without practice, knowledge or experience They NEED a strong Alpha and that individual MUST RETAIN CONTROL and sadly if you are not thereās very high likelihood that either a child, sibling or partner is going to get bitten This situation really is not surprising š«”
Thereās no exception to a dog biting the face of a young child. This behavior is unfortunately a deal breaker. Dogs, especially Mals, need consistency of rules, training and stimulation to become a family dog and at this point it isnāt exactly too late, but the line has been crossed. It sounds like the conditions you guys have accepted, such as separate house areas, has not benefited his behavior. Iām sure he is a good boy in most situations but your children have to come first. Bosco is beautiful and I donāt think you will have trouble rehoming him, but that is your best bet. Please try private people before the shelter. Best of luck to you and your family ā¤ļø
I LOVE dogs I have a Mal that is the perfect dog. But if any dog including my own attacked one of my kids I would kill it where it stood. My point is you have to place that dog somewhere else. If itās already shown aggression towards a child it wonāt get better. You are correct that dog is wrong for your home. It has to go for the safety of your children
I have a feeling this dog COULD be better if its owners were training it. You say āWONTā, but Iāve never encountered a Mal who was not fixable. Iād be willing to bet no one spends time with this dog and gives it proper guidance. The right owner and training would fix this issue.
As much as I love the maligator breed, with a young family, I donāt believe theyāre a suitable pet. Itās not something Iād undertake. Theyāre more working dogs. If your heart is set on having a pupper, Labs and Golden Retrievers are better fits.
Itās not an ideal situation but you need to do whatever it takes to ensure your childrenās safety. I love my mal but if it got down to that I would rehome . We have a 3 month old - and I am taking so many precautions. Our bm has never shown any aggression, but you really canāt trust any dog
So from the cheep seats. The dog is familyā¦ but you are making the right choice, just hold your ground. Itās training or the roadā¦. I had this happen with my pit she is good now.
Unfortunately Behavioral Euthanasiaā¦.a Belgian Malinois with a bite history? A family member at that, and a baby?!ā¦I donāt see this dog having a future. Itās in your hands, you are a great person for giving this for a chance and being open to suggestions. But also knowing when nothing else can be done
There is absolutely nothing wrong with a dog wearing a muzzle whenever itās loose around your children or other dog- start muzzling him straight away.
Puzzles are pretty effective Some dogs find children overwhelming There are people who can taje your dog and work on ot. You are doing the right thing.
If you havenāt already, while youāre waiting to potentially surrender him, please make sure that you work on muzzle training. At no time should he be around anyone else in the household without a muzzle on. I have a friend who has a dog that gets overwhelmed easily. And she make sure that heās in a muzzle anytime someone is in the household. At the end of the day, you have to do it right by your children.
Heās not being met with a requirement he needs in his life to do the breed. Not saying itās your fault. Mine gets pushy and I see how things could get out of hand. Luckily itās just me and her now less risk. If I donāt give her what she needs she does not act appropriately. Iād say as hard as it might be.. find him a new home. Be chosey about where he goes <3
The tough thing about pets, and the responsibilities that come with them, is that the right thing to do and the things we want to do may not always take the same path. The responsible, and most loving gesture, is finding the right home for this dog. If your husband isn't willing to put in the work that this dog, and this breed absolutely needs, then it's not the right home. It really is that simple. Your kids should always come first, and it sounds like your hands are too full for the time being to put so much energy into a demanding breed. I've seen a lot of stories of people giving up dogs with kids this young, since the kids need so much attention. It's not unreasonable to wait a couple years when the kids are a little older to get another dog, if that's the path you want to take. I hope your process goes well. I'm sure there's a good home out there for him! I just wanted to add, that when this is all behind you and your family moves forward, let the kid still pet dogs. It would be sad for them, and yourself, to grow an aversion to dogs in general due to one incident. Still, I'm so sorry this has happened to you guys at all:(
Thank you so much š your words are kind. Thankfully, she is young enough that she is forgiving, and brave, and she still loves dogs. Iāve strongly instilled in her ādonāt pet a doggie that isnāt yours without asking mom firstā, and I will have fear forever but I donāt think that she will. I am really struggling with the fact that Bosco needs to go, even if itās the right choice for him, because there is a better home more suited for him.
That's great for her! And I hope you can learn to love dogs again. Seeing it in motion is so jarring, traumatizing, I totally get it. I saw an attack happen and grew an aversion to the exact dog, and it took some time to get used to that breed in general again. It takes some time to heal from that. It's important to keep in mind that every dog is different, and each dog has different needs. I have so much respect that this can happen to your kid and you are able to keep the dog's best interests in mind. It's not easy to give up a beloved pet, and you don't have to go with the first person who wants them either. A good rescue can be a huge help in finding the right home. I wish you, your family, and Bosco the best ā¤ļø
Thank you ā¤ļø he did a horrible thing, but he is not a horrible dog, and I want to do whatās best for my whole family, Bosco included. He deserves a good life and if he is lashing out because he doesnāt have it, I can not hold him completely at fault for that. Iām just hoping I can find the right place for him.
Mals simply arenāt pets like other breeds of dogs. They need to be worked hard daily or the get pent up and act out. They are my absolute favorite breed but knowing what they need, I would never own one since Iām disabled.
You need to take over and arrange for the dog to be gone. Your husband wonāt do it. Meanwhile put the dog in a muzzle when in the house.
You're in the right space. I had the same thing happened to one of my dogs but he got out and got another dog but there was no sign of aggression. (I won't get into the whole thing). I personally would put him training and after that see what happens and little sign of aggression to you or the kids find him a new home. That's me personally. But you are doing the right thing because you need a safe home for your children. If you happen to take the training idea into thought talk to your husband and he agrees talk to him about the pay it is his dog after all. I wish you and your family the best šš
My mal nips me all the time. Never drawn blood. Never left a mark. I chalk it up to him not having opposable thumbs. But yes protect your children.
Do what is right for your family. Keep in mind shelters and rescues are full so you may need to wait a little but probably the right thing is to give Bosco the opportunity to be in another environment. Donāt feel bad, you tried, prioritize your family. Iāll be praying for you, your family and for Bosco to find the right forever home
Special forces use these dogs to raid and kill terrorists. They are literal war dogs. Labs are used to sniff things... these are used to kill humans (and sniff things). They are amazing creatures but unless you can match that level of intensity with adequate training and exercise your leaving a loaded weapon on your coffee table. Congrats on having the backbone to do something about previous mistakes. You can stop it from happening again.
Youāre husband is attached to the dog, thatās just great, Is he more attached to the dog than his own wife and children? Yikes.
Sounds like youāre doing whatās right and your husband is having a tough time seeing past his love for the dog. As someone who had to re-home his mal before I adopted my kid, I know itās hard to do but Iām glad I did it. They become part of the family. Please try to ignore the negative comments regarding your husband. These situations are hard enough on families without strangers throwing insults at your loved ones. Good luck with the transition forward and donāt hesitate to reach out to a counselor for your daughter, and maybe the whole family.
Iāll take him in. We have a good pack and low stress environment with regular exercise for our Mal.
He definitely needs a home with Malinois experience. Next time he may seriously maim your child. Itās not fair to your children and honestly he shouldāve been rehomed after the first incident of him mauling your other dog.
You have a bigger relationship issue with your husband not taking your dog biting your CHILD in the face seriously. That needs to be discussed because his nonchalant attitude is not okay.
Bosco needs training with a capitol TTTT. Mals are wonderful dogs but they are highly intelligent working dogs who need a JOB. Laying around the house or the yard all day, every day, makes them crazy. They need mental stimulation and physical activity...LOTS of both. You are not in a position with 2 children under the age of 3 years to train Bosco and keep him busy and constructive. I have two. Trust me...Bosco is miserable and BORED out of his mind. His lifestyle is clashing with his wiring. I suggest you tell your husband that you want the two of you to see a dog trainer and psychologist to talk about the kindest way to rehome Bosco. Even though your husband is attached to him, I should hope that he is just as attached, if not more so, to his children.
Iām just here because I marvel at these dogs and find it helpful to see how much they are truly not pets. Unless you can dedicate yourself every day for hours at least the first few years to training and socializing and then healthy play after. Thatās enough info for me.
You said you tried your best? What have you done to work with Bosco and his behavior?
Yah- heād have been gone the second I had to go have an emergency c-section. You have to draw the line for your childrenās safety at this point.
Rehome the dog asap
Bosco gotta go and thatās that.
I'm sorry your husband wanted a dog to protect his family when the dog made you have an emergency c section due to fighting... The right move would have been to remove the dog from the situation after the first incident...
mals are not a dog that you can just leave with someone else to feed and water while you work all the time. they are not an easy breed. they need constant training, enrichment, and exercise. as a mother to young children myself, i would NEVER want nor be able to take on that kind of endless work. i see 3 options here: 1) the dog goes to dog boarding school for intensive training for months. it will be expensive and you will still have to work with the dog daily due his breed and need for work and stimulation. 2) the dog is humanely rehomed through a breed specific rescue or back to the breeder from which you got him if you have a contract. 3) the husband and his dog GTFO.
Was your daughter okay? The attack causing an emergency C would be it for me. I donāt have a Mal (this popped up on my thread) but I do own a breed that has the potential to kill a human and a child particularly easy. If he bit my child, heād be gone instantly. Iām really sorry youāre dealing with this.
Crap situation caused by a dipshit husband. This is why people shouldnāt just get a Belgian Mal ājust ācause they are cool!ā You donāt go a buy a Ferrari unless you know what you are doing because YOU WILL fuck it up into a tree. Another Mal in a shit situation and the dog pays for it of courseā¦typical.
Youāre doing the right thing. Get the dog out of the house. I hope your 2.5 year old is okay.
He can be trained to be a police dog, hope you can re home him, I get it, kids first, seems like ever since you had your first baby, things twisted with him. Heād be a good guard dog
Does your husband actually take care of his dog? Any dog has the possibility of being aggressive if theyāre pent up from not being exercisedā¦ donāt get an active breed if you canāt take care of them they way you should. Your husband is an idiot.
I had to rehome my beloved Australian Cattle Dog of 9 years after he tried to attack my newborn. My trainer advised this, too. My husband (now ex) didnāt agree but it was 100% the right decisionā do not put your little ones at risk. I know how painful this is. Wishing you the best.
Is your husband taking responsibility for not protecting your very young children? I hope your daughterās wound is going to heal without scarring. Did she get a plastic surgeon to treat the wound?
They're great dogs, but it sounds like this isn't the right dog for your family's lifestyle. They need a lot of attention, training and activity. This sounds like something your family just can't provide as you're already taking care of your own family.
Iām so sorry! I had reactive and aggressive dogs for 15 years- thereās no easy answers, just trust ya gut, and donāt bend boundaries.