Question:I ask this cause I have an 8 m/o Belhian Malinois... and well I think she's still a big puppy but my dad says she's too hyper! as she distracts very easily... and she never seems to be paying attention to commands, I have another dos a miniature schnauzer but 1 year and a half and she's very obedient so my dad sometimes gets very annoyed by my other puppy lack of control I keep on telling him that she's just a puppy that she needs to grow up and mature mentally so she can fully obey commands and stuff... I'd like to know what age does this breed reaches mental maturity?
Answers:
I think what you have on your hands is a teenager. Teenage dogs sometimes act like teenage humans. They don't always listen and they are preoccupied with other interesting things. If she has not been spayed, her hormones may be kicking in.
Many dogs that I have seen in training classes hit a spot after 6 months old when they begin to test the limits of their owners. Some of them seem to forget everything they ever learned. Others just give the owner a "maybe I will or maybe I won't" look when asked to do something. Be very patient but also be consistent.
Some dogs, depending on the breed will chill out after one year old and seem very settled and mature. Other breeds may act like young dogs or puppies for a couple of years - Labradors come to mind.
A Belgian is a working dog and a smart dog. She needs a job and to be able to use her instincts as she was bred to do. If you have the ability, enroll in a training class. That will give both of you an opportunity to learn and explore new skills.
never in my opinion
my dog is 13 years old and he is still crazy
Most dogs Ive had over the years have usually starting calming down and being more obedient around a year old. Good luck!
The answer is that their is no particular age. The dog must be trained to stop hyperacticivty, growling, or whatever problem a dog has.
A malinois at 8 months is like a dog on crack and speed combined. I have had malinois for 30 years, not a better dog anywhere, but, what a pain in the butt to live with if you don't know what you are doing. At this age your dog is still a puppy and it will be one til about 2 years of age. Malinois peak between 6-8 years old. There will not be much calming down, don't get your hopes up. I have no idea what bloodlines she is out of, I would love to know though, so that I can tell you more about her. Let me know if you are interested.
Some dogs never do reach "mental maturity" just like some people.
It's in the breeding. A pup's personality is formed at the time of conception from the gene's inherited from the sire and dam. Environmental factors influence the mental and physical growth of the pup from the time it's born, ie, litter mates, illness, mother's care and nurturing, owner's handling, availability of food and water, parasites, physical environment, mental stimulation, etc.
You can help your pet by obedience training. Trained dogs know where their limits are, and are happier and more stable than dogs that are not trained and never know their boundaries. I highly recommend you join an obedience club in your area and train both dogs. This is a life long encounter and one few dog owners consider when taking on this responsibility. Obedience training never stops as long as the animal is alive. A few pet stores offer obedience classes for a 6 week stretch. 6 weeks is not enough time to train a dog. It's barely enough time to train the owner, and only in the very basics.
You have to continue on your own if there is no obedience club near you. The 6 week courses will get you started. You will have to work with your dog about 10-15 minutes a day to teach them obedience to commands. Dogs forget and have to be reminded until they have the commands down, then it's brush up now and then. Good luck.
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