did you feel the ground shake?

[stardogs]

DH just said that we could look into fostering for malinois rescue to see if we can handle living with one!:thumbsupsmileyanim:

This is the same DH who thought that he wanted the next dog to be more couch potato like, but he's obviously not as wedded to that idea as I thought.

Soooo we currently foster for ACD rescue, have one ACD/GSD?Mali? mix, a corgi mix, and I had a ACD/BC mix until losing her to cancer. I've read the "so you want a malinois" thread and I did work with an oversized malinois boy years ago. Is there anything else I should look at/be aware of before emailing the rescue to inquire about fostering with them?

Anyone foster for malinois rescue? We don't have a fenced yard yet, though we may have a temporary field fence set up in the next few months, and I'm wondering if that might be an issue. I already have one jumper and Maggie was as well, so any fosters would be on leash even in a fence until I knew that they weren't inclined to climb, regardless of fence height or type (eventually we'll have a 6' privacy fence).

 

[corgipower]

One thing to consider is that it's not uncommon for Pemmies and Belgians (all varieties from what I've heard as well as Bouvs) to not get along well. I don't know how Cardis fare, I don't know which corgiX yours is or if the mix will make it easier and certainly sometimes it works out fine, but you should be prepared for issues.

Plan for a lot of activity and training and stock up on sturdy toys - especially balls, tugs and kongs - because if a mali gets bored it can get ugly fast. Read up on how to work with reactivity just in case you need it.

 

[stardogs]

Do you know why corgis and Belgians have more issues than other breed combos? Ziva does set rules about rough play but is not generally snippy. She's the dog I use in puppy classes since she has such a nice protracted warning when dogs are rude and she is my neutral dog for CGC. No idea of her actual mix, but she has traits from Corgi, JRT, Border Collie, and maybe beagle; she's 25lbs.

Got reactivity issues covered - Maggie was quite human and dog reactive for her first few years with me and then went on to be a therapy dog for 7 years.

Got the toys covered as Kes is pretty hard on things - kongs and similar rubber toys, chuckit balls, Orbees, nylabones, and jolly balls are the only toys that are left out in our house.

My biggest concern right now is crate destruction since I think it was mentioned several times on the thread about living with a Malinois. We have both wire and plastic crates, but would not be able to buy anything sturdier due to tight finances.

 

[corgipower]

Do you know why corgis and Belgians have more issues than other breed combos? Ziva does set rules about rough play but is not generally snippy. She's the dog I use in puppy classes since she has such a nice protracted warning when dogs are rude and she is my neutral dog for CGC.

Nope...I can only theorize based on my own experience, which isn't a lot. I suspect it has to do with corgis not tolerating in-your-face exuberance and that is pretty much how Belgians approach everyone. But there may be more to it. I've heard it though from a number of people who have pemmies and have malis or tervs or groens or bouvs, so there's something to it.

My biggest concern right now is crate destruction since I think it was mentioned several times on the thread about living with a Malinois. We have both wire and plastic crates, but would not be able to buy anything sturdier due to tight finances.

Not all malis destroy crates.

 

[stardogs]

LOL I'm surprised that ACD females and belgians don't have problems then since I'm very aware that many of them are quite space conscious as well. V. Interesting!

Glad to know that crate destruction may not be an issue!

 

[corgipower]

LOL I'm surprised that ACD females and belgians don't have problems then since I'm very aware that many of them are quite space conscious as well.

Maybe they do. I don't know anyone with ACDs and Belgians.