08/22/2026
I saw this and thought it was a good insight to what a lot of people go through with a new Malinois puppy. Just thought I would share it. It's from a trainer responding to a lady about her 6 month old Malinois puppy going to 100% when coming out of her crate.
Jenn…. I’m going to say this nicely…. Let me introduce you to your Malinois.
1. Stop talking to her in her crate. Don’t tell her you’re leaving. Don't say hi when you arrive. Calm and boring.
2. Stop letting her out of the crate upon your arrival or appearance or when you first get home. Ignore her. No talking. No eye contact.
When I get home I don’t immediately run to the crate and let mine out. I ignore him until I’m all settled in and then he comes out. This way they stop associating your appearance with being let out.
3. Put a slip leash on her before you let her out so you have control and can correct bad behavior.
4. Never open the door when she’s not sitting and calm. As long as it takes. If you go to open it and she gets excited you move away and wait. She needs to learn its calmness that gets her out.
5. Crate her more often to let her out more often and desensitize her to it being a part of daily life. Bathroom, crate. Shower, crate. Dinner, crate. Get the mail crate. Give her meals in the crate. Make it more desirable to be In it. Don't just make it something that happens when you leave the house. Practice this especially after the puppy gets exercise.
6. Never let your puppy leave the crate or bolt out an open crate door. If they try, slam it in their face until you can open the door and they wait. Then give permission.
7. Your basic obedience trainer may or may not understand the needs of this breed. Think of most Malinois in their crate being like shaking a bottle of soda. They’re contained, but have built up pressure that needs to be released so they aren’t fizzing out of the bottle.
One of the most beneficial things to do will be to immediately divert your Malinois’ energy immediately into work. Grab their favorite tug training toy or treat and redirect them immediately into a few minutes of obedience to earn play with the toy or the treat reward. Ask for back to back commands and get them channeling that energy into working engagement with you.
I don’t ever discourage my Malinois from wanting to engage with me. I use that energy and opportunity to my benefit.
You’ll get some of your best obedience if you present them with something that motivates them. So pick one special toy and this toy only comes out when you’re working together. It gets put away after. No free access to their favorite toy. They gain access to play with you and the toy through obedience.
You can immediately start a game of tug and practice your out/bite commands, place command, sit, heel, down, send, etc.
I hope this helps someone I thought was good insight and tips for something a lot of owners experience. I have had pups that were great from day 1 and others that I had to work with until they were 2 and started to mature before I got consistent behavior I wanted.
