helpful products, tips & tricks
Is there a toy that my Malinois cannot destroy?
Finding things that can withstand the love and attention of a Belgian Malinois is an on-going journey! This journey can become quite expensive! We know, we've learned the hard way! Even though no product is "Mali-proof," there are some pretty durable ones on the market! In an effort to help you from the distress of trial-and-error shopping, we are placing some of the products we found successful here for easy reference and purchase. Please note that we may earn a commission for some products sold via this website, for other things we just want to be helpful!
Work hard, play harder! There's nothing more important than play! For that reason, we are listing some of our favorite things! Keep in mind that when you're playing with balls, always try to play with balls with strings. If the dog swallows it, the string allows you to get the ball out of the throat if the dog is choking. In addition to a life-saving advantange, balls with strings can be thrown farther and faster than traditional balls, giving your dog more distance, endurance and speed!
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This is Shadow's favorite toy! This incredible ball glows in the dark and makes a whistling sound while it's flying in the air. Using the Chuck It! Pro Ball Launcher (below), this ball flies far and away, giving it time to bounce in front of the dog, reducing the choking hazard. It fits the standard ChuckIt Launcher of the same size. We use size XL. -
Save your arm and get the Chuck It! Pro Ball Launcher. You will get great speed and distance with the aid of this launcher. Comes with the Standard Chuck It! Ball. We use size XL.
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Monster K9 Indestructible Ball
This ball has lasted us over 2 YEARS! Shadow, Zeke and now Genny love to play chase and catch as well as posession games with this multipurpose ball. It's 5.5" diameter fits perfect with their snout, allowing for a good grip.
Solid rubber ball on paracord. Multiple sizes and colors available. We use L/XL.
This is a great game to play with your dog to build excitement and motivation, and help teach rules for possession games. Note: We have not tested this particular product, but have used similar ones when teaching the younger pups.
Zeke is absolutely obsessed with this 14" ball! He will dribble it all over the property and even made it to the neighbor's pond once before we were able to catch him! Be careful though, they will exhaust themselves with this one, so supervision and breaks are a must. Also, it is made of hard plastic and they can gouge the plastic if their nails are long, which can result is cuts on their face and muzzle.
Easily the favorite toy for indoor play, this tuff tosser ball has lasted much longer than I expected! It came as a free gift from Jolly Pets and boy was I pleased! Zeke and Genny love to chase each other to play with this ball (even though we have more than one)!
West Paw toys are great because they are durable, bright and FLOAT! They are a great tool for learning water games, like dock diving. If you get this for the pool, get orange! The blue and green ones are hard to see in the water!
Help maintain the integrity of the working Belgian Malinois, dog training and dog sports! Every day across the US and the world, legislation is introduced to limit dog training abilities. If you know anything about dog training, you know that it is NOT a one size fits all regimen. Trainers need the option and availability of tools to teach and keep dogs safe, especially when off leash and in public. Joining clubs and participating in events helps keep our dogs and their training safe.
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Since 2000, the AWMA has been dedicated to preserving the legacy and promoting the power of the working Malinois across the United States. Join a community that celebrates drive, determination, and the ultimate working dog.
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The IACP was founded in 1999 and promotes its primary goal of setting setting high standards for the industry and providing resources and support to its members. The IACP offers a wide range of educational programs, certifications, and networking opportunities to help professionals enhance their skills and knowledge in working with dogs through diverse education, development and support of industry professionals. It is one of the leading professional associations for dog trainers, behavior consultants, and other canine professionals around the world.
Just like everything else, costs for working gear and equipment can range greatly. Get the best you can afford, even if that means saving up. There are many sites that sell working gear and equipment, these are just a few. If you're handy, save money by making some things yourself!
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Tether Tugs are the best if you want to save your shoulders but still allow your dog to pull their hardest! This is the original American made company. All of the other tugs shown on Amazon are fake. Please help this small business if you are in the market for a good, quality tug toy. -
Another American made product, 4 Legs 4 Pets makes custom place pads for your pet! They have over 200 combinations to create a one-of-a-kind products for your special pet! Special designs and logos too!
Headquartered in Maryland, Kuranda has been making quality pet products for over 35 years. They are washable and durable. We won one at an event in Oct 2024 and it has held up well to Shadow, Zeke and Genny!
Hallmark K9 sells lots of gear and equipment, from beginner toys to competition bite suits. They are the largest authorized dealer for Gappay and Frabo in the US!
Active Dogs serves all dynamics of dog, including therapy to service, agility to protection, nosework to tracking and even police equipment. They also sell personalized items, which I may or may not have a ton of!!!
American made equipment and gear for the dog and its owner. Their agitation harness is rumored to be the best in the industry. This site also has great educational videos on a variety of topics
The best in retail training equipment! We get all of our prong collars from Herm Sprenger.
If you need a quality, custom made to fit bite suit, Demanent is a leader in the industry.
Finding things that can satisfy your dog's desire to chew is important. Otherwise they will find their own outlet, which can cause conflict in your home. Be proactive and get them an outlet! The two chews below are the only products I let them have in their kennels.
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Buffalo Horns
These durable treats last a while and can keep your dog occupied. -
Antlers
Antlers can be a good chew outlet for your dog. What's best, if you know someone who hunts, they can be free! -
Spill Proof Water Bowl - 10 litre
This is the largest water bowl I have found on the market! This one stays in the dog room during the winter when I can't have water through the outdoor spigot. I highly recommend a spill proof bowl for our 4-legged friends. Although not 100%, it's a lot less mess than a regular water bowl! -
Spill Proof Water Bowl - 2 litre
A smaller version for in the house... In fact, we have two! -
Portable Water Bowl
This is an excellent bowl for traveling! It stores the water and allows for it to be drank out of the same container. Win-win when traveling and room is tight! -
Heavy Duty Kennel
All of our dogs are trained using wire and plastic kennels, but sometimes these kennels are not strong enough. This kennel is good for cell block 6, at an affordable price.