Hi everyone, so I got a Belgian Malinois puppy a week ago. But when she starts chewing the sofa or taking things she shouldn't... I tell her off, then she growls at me and lunges. But if I just leave her to it, she destroys everything.
I've tried scruffing her, giving her a bit of a shake, or even putting my hand in her mouth, but nothing works—she's back at it again two seconds later.
Also, she eats her own poo in the morning and evening; I'm guessing she must be hungry, but I'm giving her the amount of dry food recommended on the bag (56g across 3 meals). The brand of kibble is a natural, grain-free one.
I would also like to know when the puppy nipping phase usually ends?
Thanks for any advice, she's lovely otherwise.
Translated from French
The forum content is sometimes translated from another language, and posts may concern countries with different animal laws. Do your research before making any decisions.
Since the forum is translated by AI, the translations may contain errors.
I agree with Misanthrope—you need a dog behaviourist.
Also, have a look at the thread "my dog is trying to get the upper hand"; that’s the kind of confrontational relationship you're heading for if you carry on like this.
You need to strip things back to basics and get off on the right foot!
Sarada, I hope you’re weighing your Malinois every now and then; you haven't exactly picked a small dog. He needs to be eating the right amount in grams based on his weight!!
No animal likes being grabbed by the scruff of the neck; try to build a rapport with him using simple words. This puppy seems a bit lost and disorientated in your home. That’s why he’s nipping at you; he doesn’t yet know who he should be listening to or who to trust. They’re magnificent dogs when they’re happy and settled. And please, don’t shout at him—quite the opposite, in fact. You’re going to need a lot of patience and a gentle touch. Keep your cool and get in touch with a good behaviourist. Does he have any bones or chews for teething? Best of luck and stay positive. gigi397
is this a troll???? she only eats 2oz of food 🤪 otherwise i think you need to start from scratch.... 3 toys is nowhere near enough for a puppy, you need to go for much longer walks, Malinois are very active.... and as for scruffing her.... no, there’s no point in punishing her and even less in hurting her, otherwise i think you need to see a behaviourist as soon as possible....
Is this a troll post???? She’s only eating about 2oz of food 🤪 I think you need to start from scratch... three toys is nowhere near enough for a puppy, you need to be going on much longer walks as Malinois are very active dogs... and picking her up by the scruff of the neck... no, there’s no point punishing her and even less point in hurting her. I think you need to see a behaviourist as soon as possible...
@Lhadi45812, there's no point just copying and pasting; your post isn't helping anyone.
@Sarada, as others have already mentioned, you aren't quite handling your puppy correctly, and there's a real breakdown in communication. Or at the very least, things are going very wrong; you and your pup just aren't on the same page.
I’m not sure if you did much research into the breed before getting this puppy, but they have very specific temperaments and needs. A Malinois isn’t the easiest dog to train, but if you manage to train them properly, they turn into fantastic dogs.
You should get in touch with a behaviourist who really knows the breed (don't just pick the first one you find); they’ll give you the foundations and the tools you need to succeed with their training. But with a Malinois, you're going to have to put in a massive amount of effort.
I think these people would have been better off getting a goldfish, or maybe a Chihuahua at a push; they're just not cut out for a dog that requires proper training and boundaries. I also reckon breeders should really vet the kind of people they're dealing with and definitely shouldn't be letting those sorts of dogs go to people like that.
Don't go thinking Chihuahuas are easy to train... I've got one myself and believe me, he’s got a real mind of his own! 😁
As for toys, my two small dogs have about a dozen between them.
Besides, when a puppy is nipping, your techniques won't work – he's just teething, just like a baby biting on a rattle. Your pup needs proper teething toys to chew on.
Yes, it's 0.12 lbs per meal. She hasn't learnt to walk on a lead yet. She has three toys, including a Kong which I fill with some Dairylea.
Three toys really isn't enough; your dog needs to burn off energy not just on walks but through play as well. I think providing her with more toys would help keep her occupied (and specifically distract her so she doesn't eat her own poo or wreck the furniture).
