German Shepherds/Belgian Malinois.... I have a 'slight' fear and bias attitude towards them?

Because a Malinois of good lines will have an excellent temperament. Yes, Belgian Shepherds take longer time to mature mentally than German Shepherd, have a higher drive and need to be handled differently and more expertly than German Shepherds - and I would say that a young German Shepherd is easier to work than a young Belgian Shepherd, but a Belgian Shepherd from a good working lines will match a German Shepherd in nerves and temperament any day. There is definitely a problem with the temperament of Belgian Shepherds, but do not let anyone tell you that Belgian Shepherds are supposed to have weak nerves and weak temperaments, dogs like that are inferior and do not meet the breed standard. Think of what this dogs were bred for, to independently herd (often the shepherd would merely show the way and leave the dogs to do their job), guard and protect livestock. A nervous, insecure and instable dog would never have been able to perform this task. Avoid weak temperament dogs like the plague. You wouldn't buy a GS with visible HD or from parents with HD over A or B, right? Do the same with the Belgian Shepherds, make sure that you meet at least the mother dog and preferably both parents, that they have passed a mental test and that the puppies are given a puppy mental test and have been socialized before you get them,also it is preferable that the parents have some kind of sports or working dog background. For the German Shepherd check for allergies and HD. Don't be satisfied with just HD-free parents, but check both parents' HD index. If possible check up on as many puppies as possible which have left that particular breeder as well. Competition or working dogs suddenly stopping to perform during their best age or a high young dog mortality rate is suspicious. Both the German Shepherd and the Belgian Malinois are superb working dogs each in their own right. I would much rather that all dogs of these already excellent breeds would start to live up to breed standards by people refusing to buy inferior puppies, puppies from inferior parents, and puppies from parents that have not been sufficiently tested against the breed's weaknesses.

That dominance ****, don't listen to it. It's not true at all.

Anyway, It's understandable that you don't like the type because of a bad experience. I had my dose of that with labradors for a while. But yes, it's common for American show line, badly bred, and poorly socialized shepherds to be skittish dogs. Skittish can also turn into fear aggression, so watch out for it.

However, a well bred shepherd, Belgian or German, is a well rounded animal that has incredible intelligence and drive to work. (Though Malinois have a much higher drive than GSDs, and require a much more experienced trainer) The shepherds work so well with positive reinforcement methods. They LOVE to work with people and they love to learn.

I have a 4 year old German shepherd dog that was not well bred, so he has serious dog aggression and fear reactivity. But I have seen plenty of well bred German shepherds that were social butterflies, were sweet as can be, and they didn't have any form of skittishness.

Good on him he's getting a good line from overseas.

I rather like the German lines the best, even the showlines still have many of the characteristics of the original breed.

Stubborn?

Oh yes they are incredibly stubborn and strong willed dogs. It's all to do with the right training.

I find that a solely positive-reinforcement training does not work for these dogs. They're incredibly smart, and will quickly take advantage of you- you have to learn to say 'no' to the dog.

Aggressive?

Hmm, unfortunately lots of bad breeding of unstable dogs makes your common BYB GSD an aggressive dog. However if you get a pup from a good line (again, I prefer the German showlines) you shouldn't have a problem.

Skittish?

It's a fault in the show ring to be skittish- but I have seen many fearful dogs winning CH titles *sigh*

It's like a child- give them plently of good experiences with other people and dogs, and they will learn to love them. Keep them locked up away from it all they will grow to fear the outside world.

My German Showline has nerves of steel, but as a puppy was never socialised.

When we got her at a year old she was a skittish, nervous wreck. After a year of reintroducing her to other people and dogs, she's bombproof around them.

She's a good size, 'oversize' by standards, but the dogs are see in the showring are tiny little things.

My American working line boy is.... Very nervous, very fearful.

He came from a simmilar situation. Not socialised out of the breeders kennel.

He loves people, strangers are his best friend, and he loves to cuddle up to anyone. Other dogs.... He's a socially awkward dog- he doesn't seem to know what to do when meeting another dog, he freezes up.

He can be leash-aggressive with other dogs, but we're working on it and he's been slowly getting better.

They need ongoing training. Not just as puppies. Actually, I don't like starting training as pups- basic things such a sit, down, no, heel. I prefer to work with year old dogs, ones that have had a positive experience as a puppy and who is comfortable with their surroundings.

But I serious do not recommend this breed as a first time dog. Any dominant breed in fact, especially when one side is fearful of the dog.

It's a recipe for disaster

Skittish and fearful aggression are 2 very common traits in Show Dogs. Pretty much non-existent in a German Shepherd Dog. These ARE 2 separate breeds going under the same breed name. Unfortunately, the bad rep follows the real side of the breed. GSD's have maintained a much better breeding program than any other breed for over 100 years...not counting the show dogs. The level of consistency in working ability, health, temperament and nerves is higher than any other breed...not counting show dogs.

When purchasing from Europe, you need to understand that they are selling the bottom of the barrel unless you have people doing it for you. We have dealt with the same people for over 30 years. Plus, if you are not a colleague operating on the same level with them, they have no problem selling the turds to people overseas...especially the U.S. The brain dead people here that purchase show dogs for UNFATHOMABLE amounts of money is their "meal ticket".

As far as aggressive in general, I'd say you're more likely to run into that with a Malanois. It really boils down to what do you want the dog for? How well can he train? How much unending energy can you deal with?

A working-lines Malinois is not the dog to get if you have any fear of a dog body-slamming or biting you. They are naturally a very physical breed. Also, is your husband planning on WORKING this dog or is he training for a triathalon and the dog will train with him? If not, then this is probably a horrible idea.

Show them you are the leader. Approach them with calm and assertive energy. F you are fearful they will sense that and know they can take dominance over you. Show them you are therected to care for them. And not to cower from them. As soon as they sense that fear fulness you will lose control. Dogs are our companions not our overlords and let them know you are equal. And you then should have no issues.