Training Our Belgian Malinois: A 2-Week Obedience & Calmness Plan for the Family 🐕‍🦺

Posted by: Pinoybuilt.com – Sharing Knowledge & Culture for the Fil-Am Community

As part of our ongoing mission to pass on helpful knowledge to the Filipino-American community, I wanted to share a two-week training routine I developed for our 20-month-old Belgian Malinois, Akira. This isn’t just for experienced dog trainers — it's a practical, family-involved plan that works especially well if you’ve got kids or teens around to help.

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🇵🇭 Why It Matters to Us 🐕‍🦺 

In many Filipino-American homes, dogs are more than pets — they're bantay, kaibigan, and kasama sa buhay. But raising a high-energy, high-intelligence breed like the Belgian Malinois comes with its challenges — especially when it comes to excitement, obedience, and calm behavior around children.

🎯 The Problem: Excitement Urination and Overstimulation

Our Akira would sometimes pee when she saw our kids, especially during greetings. This is a common issue known as excitement urination, often triggered by overstimulation or submissive behavior.

✅ The Goal

• Build calm behavior in high-distraction situations
• Reinforce obedience commands in daily life
• Involve the whole family in the training process — including your anak!

📅 2-Week Daily Training Plan for Belgian Malinois (or Any High-Energy Breed)

Total Daily Time Commitment: 1.5–2 hours per day (spread throughout)

🕖 Morning Routine (30–40 min)

• Structured Walk (20–30 min): Practice “heel,” “wait,” and “place” on curbs or natural surfaces.
• Place Training Indoors (10 min): Dog remains in place while family moves around. Calm gets rewarded.

🕛 Midday Session (15–20 min)

• Impulse Control Game (pick one):
  • It’s Yer Choice (resist grabbing treats)
  • Toy Wait (don’t chase until released)
  • Door Wait (must stay until released)
• Obedience Drill Mix: Sit → Down → Place → Wait → Recall — keep it fun and upbeat with treats or toys.

🧘 Afternoon Calm Exposure (10–15 min)

• Dog stays in “place” while kids are active (TV, conversation, reading).
• Reward calm behavior. Reset calmly if she breaks command.

🌆 Evening Session (15–30 min)

• Distraction Training with Kids (15–20 min): Walk around dog, make sounds, move toys. Dog must stay in “place” or “down.”
• Controlled Greeting Practice (5–10 min): Kids enter quietly. Dog must sit or stay before any attention is given. Calm behavior = permission to interact.

🌙 Nighttime Wind-Down (5–10 min)

• Use a snuffle mat, Kong, or calming activity in “place” bed.
• Create a “chill” routine before sleep.

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👧🏽 FYI for Kids and Teens Helping with Training

Kids, you’re part of the pack — and your calm energy matters!

• No high-pitched greetings — keep your voice low and steady.
• Wait for permission before petting. Only greet when the dog is sitting calmly.
• Be consistent — don’t allow jumping, rough play, or free access during training.
• Celebrate wins — helping a smart dog learn self-control is an achievement!

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💡 Final Notes

This training plan helped our Akira build emotional balance while strengthening her obedience. With just two weeks of consistent effort, she became calmer, more reliable, and better around our family — all while still being the loyal, energetic companion we love.

If you’ve got a Malinois — or even just a high-energy dog that acts like one — this plan may work for you too.

🎥 Working on better impulse control with Elsa my Belgian Malinois

This real‑world training session demonstrates how to build impulse control and calm obedience.

📌 For more family training tips or Filipino-American parenting insights, follow us at Pinoybuilt.com.

By: J.F.R. Perseveranda

#PinoyBuilt #FilAmVoices #FilipinoAmericanStories