Malinois

[Laurelin]

Originally Posted by Aleron

Is this what most people consider "no off switch"?

I always get confused when people say their dog 'has no off' switch. I think it get thrown around a lot and people mean different things by it. If going by the above criteria then Mia 'has no off switch', even though I think she does. If she's lying still and I so much as move, squeak a toy, or make like I'm going to say something, she's up in a flash, tearing around the room screaming. It takes about a split second to get her from completely at rest to mach10 screaming papillon. But I don't think that means she doesn't have an off switch. She just 'turns on' (for lack of a better word) easily.

When I think of 'no off switch' I think of the dog that paces or spins or is doing something all the time. Am I just using that word totally wrong?

[Linds]

When I think no off switch I think of the video Adrianne posted of Backup circling. The inability to quiet their body or mind.

The Koolies have great off switches even demon child. But both of them will lay, stare and jump up at the first sign of movement.

[JacksonsMom]

Originally Posted by Laurelin

I always get confused when people say their dog 'has no off' switch. I think it get thrown around a lot and people mean different things by it. If going by the above criteria then Mia 'has no off switch', even though I think she does. If she's lying still and I so much as move, squeak a toy, or make like I'm going to say something, she's up in a flash, tearing around the room screaming. It takes about a split second to get her from completely at rest to mach10 screaming papillon. But I don't think that means she doesn't have an off switch. She just 'turns on' (for lack of a better word) easily.

When I think of 'no off switch' I think of the dog that paces or spins or is doing something all the time. Am I just using that word totally wrong?

Nothing to add to this thread other than when I think of "no off switch" I also think of a dog who rarely lays down or sits still - spinning, pacing, etc.

Jackson is not quite as "on" as Mia, but kind of close. He can sleep all morning if I'm just sitting on my computer until noon or so, but if I walk into the kitchen, he gets up and follows me. He's not like right up my butt, but likes to keep an eye. Or he could be sleeping and I could jump up and say "let's run!" and he will, LOL... but he has a very nice off switch, I think.

[Southpaw]

Originally Posted by Laurelin

I always get confused when people say their dog 'has no off' switch. I think it get thrown around a lot and people mean different things by it. If going by the above criteria then Mia 'has no off switch', even though I think she does. If she's lying still and I so much as move, squeak a toy, or make like I'm going to say something, she's up in a flash, tearing around the room screaming. It takes about a split second to get her from completely at rest to mach10 screaming papillon. But I don't think that means she doesn't have an off switch. She just 'turns on' (for lack of a better word) easily.

When I think of 'no off switch' I think of the dog that paces or spins or is doing something all the time. Am I just using that word totally wrong?

That is my definition as well. For a while Juno didn't have an off switch - she wasn't good at lying down and relaxing on her own, she would pace the house whining if she didn't have something to DO. Nowadays, if she's lying down and chewing on a toy, I consider her "off" even though she's still ready to get up and go (which she always is, even if she's passed out in a deep sleep).

But, the only thing I know about mals, is that I don't want one

[Aleron]

I agree the no off switch thing seems to mean different things to different people. My dogs do a lot of pacing, circling obsessive behavior when out in the fenced yard. When indoors though, they can and do chill out. But they're up and ready if they think you're about to let them outside or feed them or do something fun. I consider them to have off switches and be pretty easy in the house. As mentioned earlier, they turn on easily. The Belgians anyway, Savvy is a bit more hyper but even he can settle down as long as he's getting enough exercise and interaction.

[Panzerotti]

I wonder if an "off switch" can be trained into most Mals. I know it would be impossible with some no matter what, but one of Michael Ellis' instructors, Lindsey Sommer, seems to specialize in it. This is taken from their website..."Lindsey believes strongly in the value of training dogs to be both outstanding performers on the trial field as well as functional family members."

Pan has now turned into an amazing apartment-dwelling Mal, but she was horrible and not much fun as a puppy, and I do a lot with her every day. And, oh yeah, have we mentioned you can't be scared of getting bit?

She is always ready for action though, you never know when a "snake" might need killing.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-s9Vw3IpEI

[stardogs]

Yea there are always exceptions to the rules; Aeri generally has a fabulous off switch and was an easy puppy - way moreso than either of my cattle dog mixes for sure! Of course all of my dogs have good off switches so I must be doing *something* right. LOL

[Aleron]

Originally Posted by stardogs

Yea there are always exceptions to the rules; Aeri generally has a fabulous off switch and was an easy puppy - way moreso than either of my cattle dog mixes for sure! Of course all of my dogs have good off switches so I must be doing *something* right. LOL

Foster pup has a great off switch too and is a pretty easy puppy. To me anyway. He's wild and never quits when playing, paces the fences line when he's excited but happily lays around the house and grooming shop when nothing is going on. And he sleeps in

[AdrianneIsabel]

Michael Ellis also says "While training an off switch is important (by never playing in the house) it will not work on all malinois."

French Ring and Rally-O are extremely different sports to aspire for.

Backup has a horrible off-switch, we've been trying to train it in for a long time and frankly it's not successful.

He can sleep at night nicely but the rest of the day.... Well... I have to put him in a down stay to get ANY peace. He will not, absolutely will not, offer a chill out and relax.

This is no exaggeration. This goes from this pacing and panting to occasionally dropping the toy, screaming, frantically attacking it and resuming the video. Honestly the most annoying part of Backup is the panting, that sound drives me up the walls some days.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5n_pxuT_kg

Needless to say this dog spends a fair amount of time in down stays, in crates, or in the yard but if left alone in the yard he'll bark and spin doing wall turns off the glass door.

See puppy version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FldK2wr5U1g (except now he knows how to spin and deliver a flyball turn off our doors, yay)

Sloan is actually more annoying than Backup in some ways, Backup can pace at a distance, Sloan can lay down and chew a bone but 90% of the time she's in your face with a toy for fetch.

Sloan however no long is crated at night because this became way too annoying.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqYAxSpqvvI

Of course Malinois can vary and they can get better with age, it will also be effected by what you want from your dogs, what your priorities are.

If these excite you and don't annoy you then think about it, but if these make you at all uncomfortable then I'd walk away.

The mals in the yard
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDv2XsmQl98

The mals in the house
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_qJ55n4-f4

Sloan needs high walls
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLvBO_OGI94

Backup is annoying, again this is his version of off switch
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5-R_A8g8cg

Oh look, it's backup pacing again, this time with trash in his mouth. He never gets in the trash but if it's on the ground it's free game as a toy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Kd0eAZo1w8

I made an attempt to take a bath, Backup decided it was time to play
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEkba4qNI9E

Nothing stops them
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1rxRCkSObQ

For a long time we used what we called "doggy jail" when we wanted to chill and watch tv
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkdLzd9aT2M

Sloan isn't video'd as much as Backup for silly things but she's still similar, just a quieter busy who is much easy to focus and work
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qZtfl2ODtU

Backup at work "collecting", he like many belgians has an obsessive oral fixation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGfsDv-x_ug

Sloan doesn't like to OUT, it's the bane of her existence
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkD7mQ1iWlQ

Sloan is a PITA too (She keeps us laughing though )
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZf3uUs64LM

She's persistent
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyvc_4af_u0

A normal Backup scene
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_pK5dNvcoM

Again... normal Backup
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pku6nvDEVtA

Sloan V the broom
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qkHcTNwHuE

Sloan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSZc3rWtmZM

Backup coming home
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nw19QoTOrk

Sloan hates wipers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XedVeDGLS0w

And that should hold anyone over.

[Laurelin]

I love the video of Backup jumping over Shamoo on the couch. Moo is a saint.