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Hi all! This is actually the first time I have ever posted on a forum (despite scouring them for years). I hope you will have some patience while potentially providing me with some much needed advice.
As far as dog experience goes, I have had miniature schnauzers all of my life. Last year, my beloved schnauzer passed away from old age. In attempt to fill the void, we (husband and I) brought home a Doberman Pinscher pup a couple of months later. (Why doberman: my family owned them before I was born and they always had great things to say. When we moved to the states however, we had to downsize from ranch to apartment, we could only bring along our miniature schnauzer and left the dobermans with the rest of our family overseas to guard the ranch. Fast forward, husband and I live now in a house with ample space.) We brought him home at about 10 weeks and have tended to him since then. During this time he has grown to be a wonderful addition to our little family. We have decided that we would like to get him a little sister. Alongside the Doberman, I have admired the Belgian Malinois. However all of the research that I have done tells people to steer clear of this dog. That it should only be used strictly for police/military. Because of this, we have been on the fence about considering bringing a Belgian, and instead reaching out to other Doberman/ Min. Schnauzer breeders. Our Doberman has done just fine. He has undergone obedience classes, gets exercise every day, and is trained every day by us. My husband works full time and I work part time. Our Doberman gets a run in the morning with dad, then a walk by me before I head out to work, then another walk and training when I get home, playtime, and then another walk when my husband gets home. Then we work on further training and playtime with toys. Our dobe is in excellent shape, and is greatly socialized. I am scared that I won’t be giving the Belgian the type of stimulation it needs to strive and will give it a horrible life. I have done extensive research but fear that perhaps this dog will run circles around us and make us potentially regret our decision. Can anyone perhaps offer insight between the relationships the Belgian had with their other dogs, if they found that, coming from experience with a Doberman, the Belgian was increasingly difficult to satiate? Should we instead, in your opinion, get another dobe or a miniature schnauzer? And something that is important more to me than my husband: I’d like a loving dog. Our dobe for example will come and place his forehead on my knees so that I may stroke his head. When he stays still (the rare times he does, ha) I will lay on him or we will just sit together and enjoy each other’s company while he mauls one of his toys. I had read that many Malinois are hard dogs. Some will work to work, as opposed to other breeds who will work to please.
FYI: We are considering miniature schnauzer solely because it is a breed that we have a great deal of love and respect for, not because it is smaller or easier to handle. My old pup Maggie would have put our Doberman in his place. She was a firecracker, ha.
Another important point to consider: husband's parents family have young aged children and Alaskan Malamute mix puppies. My mom has cats. We also have a squirrel. It is important to us that our next dog can get along with everyone as our dogs usually come with us everywhere we go. The puppy will be socialized with all sorts of creatures from the start but I prefer not to live in fear of finding a gruesome sight.
Thank you for your responses!
As far as dog experience goes, I have had miniature schnauzers all of my life. Last year, my beloved schnauzer passed away from old age. In attempt to fill the void, we (husband and I) brought home a Doberman Pinscher pup a couple of months later. (Why doberman: my family owned them before I was born and they always had great things to say. When we moved to the states however, we had to downsize from ranch to apartment, we could only bring along our miniature schnauzer and left the dobermans with the rest of our family overseas to guard the ranch. Fast forward, husband and I live now in a house with ample space.) We brought him home at about 10 weeks and have tended to him since then. During this time he has grown to be a wonderful addition to our little family. We have decided that we would like to get him a little sister. Alongside the Doberman, I have admired the Belgian Malinois. However all of the research that I have done tells people to steer clear of this dog. That it should only be used strictly for police/military. Because of this, we have been on the fence about considering bringing a Belgian, and instead reaching out to other Doberman/ Min. Schnauzer breeders. Our Doberman has done just fine. He has undergone obedience classes, gets exercise every day, and is trained every day by us. My husband works full time and I work part time. Our Doberman gets a run in the morning with dad, then a walk by me before I head out to work, then another walk and training when I get home, playtime, and then another walk when my husband gets home. Then we work on further training and playtime with toys. Our dobe is in excellent shape, and is greatly socialized. I am scared that I won’t be giving the Belgian the type of stimulation it needs to strive and will give it a horrible life. I have done extensive research but fear that perhaps this dog will run circles around us and make us potentially regret our decision. Can anyone perhaps offer insight between the relationships the Belgian had with their other dogs, if they found that, coming from experience with a Doberman, the Belgian was increasingly difficult to satiate? Should we instead, in your opinion, get another dobe or a miniature schnauzer? And something that is important more to me than my husband: I’d like a loving dog. Our dobe for example will come and place his forehead on my knees so that I may stroke his head. When he stays still (the rare times he does, ha) I will lay on him or we will just sit together and enjoy each other’s company while he mauls one of his toys. I had read that many Malinois are hard dogs. Some will work to work, as opposed to other breeds who will work to please.
FYI: We are considering miniature schnauzer solely because it is a breed that we have a great deal of love and respect for, not because it is smaller or easier to handle. My old pup Maggie would have put our Doberman in his place. She was a firecracker, ha.
Another important point to consider: husband's parents family have young aged children and Alaskan Malamute mix puppies. My mom has cats. We also have a squirrel. It is important to us that our next dog can get along with everyone as our dogs usually come with us everywhere we go. The puppy will be socialized with all sorts of creatures from the start but I prefer not to live in fear of finding a gruesome sight.
Thank you for your responses!
