I was hiking a mountain with my 55 lb dog on leash. A small lady about 5'2", 110 lbs at most, was walking behind her 2 rottweilers off leash. that easily weighed over 110 lbs each. It was dark, so when my headlamp reflected their eyes, I thought they were coyotes. When she saw me, she hurried to put them on leash. As we were passing each other, she told me she hikes them at night because "sometimes they're not good with other dogs or people". As soon as she said that, they lunged at us, pulled her face down into the dirt, and dragged her 20 feet on her stomach toward my dog, as she frantically screamed at them. They broke free from her grip and came at my dog aggressively. My dog stiffened up nervously and froze as they bombarded her. At first they sniffed, then started growling and snapping at her while trying to pin her down. I dropped her leash so she could escape an attack, while attempting to get a hold of her dogs' collars or leash to stop them from chasing. My dog got away, but the lady scolded me for trying to restrain her dogs (that she no longer had under her control, she was still on her stomach). She yelled "don't touch them, they won't hurt your dog", (after just telling me they don't do well with other dogs). Thankfully, I didn't get bit, but was unsure about my dog's condition. I was very angry this woman obviously couldn't handle her dogs and told her she was irresponsible walking her dogs there if she can't control them. She never apologized. Instead she got defensive and irate as I checked my dog for bite marks. She followed me 1/2 mile back to the parking lot with her dogs pulling her, harassing me the whole way. I had to call the police because she tried blocking me from leaving. This woman was a great example of someone who can't physically handle her dogs. It's great to have dogs for protection, but not if they're untrained and uncontrollable.

Have only owned one Rottweiler. I would see him every day as i drove to and from work. He was chained up at an abandoned shop, in a field. The chain was about 6ft long and he spent his days laying on rocks because his chain was not long enough to get off of them. As summer started and it was reaching triple digits, i started pulling over and making sure he had plenty of water. His food bowl was full of rocks and ants. He was hesitant but soon realised i was not a threat. I brought him food and water everyday for a couple weeks. At this point he would let me pet him and was happy to see me when i arrived. After about 2 weeks of this, i was spending time with him and just unhooked his chain. I walked over to my truck and opened the door and asked him if he wanted to come with me. Never seen a dog happier to get in a vehicle. I took him to the vet and he was in pretty rough shape. Had a stick stuck through his gums on the roof of his mouth that the vet thought had been there for 3-4 months and causing rot. He also had heartworms and bad joints from lack of mobilty due to being stuck on the chain. We got him patched up and he ended up being a part of our family. Unfortunately we had to put him down after about a year due to lung cancer. Cant lie, i was nervous bringing him in the house for a few days. He was 120+ lbs and you never truely know in a situation like this. Happy to say he never gave me a reason to doubt him. Was devastated when we lost him. Cried like a baby. RIP Max. Hopefully he enjoyed being with us as much as we enjoyed having him. Think he did.

"90% of the population cannot physically & emotionally manage these types of dogs..." (paraphrasing). Very On-Point!

After my last GSD passed away, I had wanted another one, or a mal. Then I had started watching you and several other people on KZfaq and took a step back to look at not what dog I wanted now, but what dog breed would be the best fit for my families life with 3 young kids. We have an amazing Labrador now and couldn't be happier. Don't pick whatever dog you want, pick the dog that will be the best fit for your life, and you and the dog will have a better life and relationship.

What I like about Cabral is his willingness to offend naïve dog lovers by telling hard truths. There’s waay too much happytalk BS online misleading people about all aspects of dogs and canine behavior.

When k was born my parents already had a Rottweiler and a Doberman. Though they were both very well trained, my parents still had to keep tabs on me at all times and I was never alone with either animal. It’s very important that people understand the temperament that specific breeds are prone to and that they avoid dangerous situations at all costs.

I know my comment may not be popular, but these days there's people who cannot even manage themselves let alone a medium to large breed dog. The training and management never ends. I have a Labrador. I train him everyday, even if it's for 5 to 8 minutes. I also had a huge Rottweiler, he was maintained and trained every day also... never an issue. You also have to be aware of your dog's body language. Maybe we should bring back pet rocks? I wish more folks would listen and truly understand Robert Cabral. There would be less dogs in shelters and less injured or worse, dead children. Stop living in denial!

Thanks sooo much for not sugarcoating! I'm 65 now, been training all kinds of dogs for almost 30 years. Stopped a couple of years ago since we've been forced by law to ignore the dogs natures and 2 of the 4 learning quadrants. You can't and won't educate (or train, for that matter) a dog with exclusively treats and sweet talk. Greez from Germany! :-D

Thanks to Robert's online training program, my intact male malinois, who I brought home at 8 weeks of age, lives in a house with 4 cats and regards them as family members and actually gently plays with them. The key to get whatever it is you want the high-drive dog to accept, is to get the dog as a young puppy before their brains have formed the pathways that determine which species they will accept.

I'm 5ft 1, 108lbs and I've always dreamed of having a German shepherd but I recently adopted a 26kg dog and quickly discovered he is the absolute maximum size I can physically handle. I now know I can never responsibly own a German shepherd at my size and I'm glad I had that wake-up call before getting one and ending up over my head! It's not just about what you want, but what you can handle, your lifestyle etc too and it's unfair to any dog to take more than you can manage. I can be an admirer of German shepherds without getting one myself!

This has to be the most honest straightforward video about owing a Special Dog / Dangerous Breed! Such life changing advice!!! Finally someone tell it like it is! Thank you Robert for bringing us back to Earth!

Thank you for putting out such an honest and important message. I took in a German Shepherd with medical issues. Lovely girl. Unconditional love and devotion. I am confident in her 99% of the time but that remaining 1% means she goes to her kennel when small children come over. Our children are grown but we have a granddaughter who will be crawling soon and I won't take any risks with her.

Im a single guy who has had my pitbull for about a year. He was ten months old when I got him. My opinion is that as far as pitbulls you have been correct on everything I've seen with my own dog. Don't get me wrong, this has been the best, most loving dog I've ever had, but AT THE SAME TIME. You are right about them. And I have appreciated all of the insights that you have shared. They have been very helpful in raising my pitbull. Thank you.

I’ve had Rottweilers all my adult life. Usually from a good breeder and 4 rescue. When they are in rescue most come back yard breeders because any breeder I dealt with wouldn’t let there dog go there All the rescue took me a long time to get them to a level that they where manageable most where nervous fearful and to get them to a level that they could have a life was an big amount of work in comparison to the ones that where well bred. Genetic has a huge amount to do with it for sure. Thanks Robert for explaining this and being honest.

Great video. I am a 100% American Pitbull terrier and bull breed advocate (not a furmom). I love the breed more then any other, but I still believe that 90% of people can’t and shouldn’t handle them. To have a Pitbull let alone a true game dog is a huge commitment full of intense management. Most people want a dog that can walk at a park and then chill on the couch. Powerful breeds need mentally and physically strong owners who understand them for what they are.

The problem is even though they are not human aggressive, when they are in their "fighting frenzy," they don't know the difference between your leg and the other dog's face. That is what happened to me when I volunteered at a shelter. Later found out, I was the third person she had bitten. Imagine she had been adopted out & had done that to a kid. Still have scars on my legs to this day.

I lived for 18 years yes 18 years with a wolf hybrid. Not one incident but it took an incredible amount of time. In the end she was still a wolf.

How many times and how many ways can you say “Don’t get a dog that you can’t handle or time train correctly?” It amazes me how many people don’t get this.

I think this was a really amazing talk you did Robert. I've been following you for nearly a year since we got our dog and I must say you hit the nail on the head not only as a dog trainer but also as a human.

Fyi, I was involved in a dog shooting in Florida years ago. A pit bull were running loose. I came out my front door to see these idiots charging me. I wasn't about to find out if it was mock charge. I handled my business, and the owner came out acting like I should get bit and not say anything. That's fine because the owner, too, was about to get the same treat I had for his dogs. I actually wound up going to court. It's messy, but I eventually won that case, but it was a pain in the ass. Ironically the dog had a history of bites. Owner had warrant for his arrest, didn't even own the house he was renting and not paying rent. 😒 you know the typical profile of a oitbull owner

Love the analogy of the boxer. That is so spot on!

Such a great video.. some of us need to hear this.. Just seen to many sheltered dogs because the owner had no idea what they were getting themselves into.. My Mal requires a lot of attention and exercise but it's very rewarding when you put in the time .. Thanks for you time Robert... Big fan somewhere in Texas..

I couldn’t agree more. People continue to buy dogs for the aesthetic instead of a dog that truly fits their lifestyle and level of experience! Great watch. 💯

I use to be a “ it’s not the breed it’s the owner” person. But after raising Rotties, Shepards, and Dobermans that has changed. Now I’m it’s the owner, the breed, and the individual dog. I had to put a beloved pet down because it went off the rails at a little over a year old.

Dog will be dogs and we must remember that. Never leave powerful breeds with children. Thanks for the top info Mr Cabral. Greetings from the UK.

What an amazing chat that was so informative, I could of listened all day. Using so much common sense which these days is in short supply with a lot of people when it comes to owning dogs. Here in Ireland & I'm sure all across Europe we are told that p.o training is the ONLY method to be used. It's great that guys like yourself and Haz from shield K9 are pushing back on this narrative. I have adapted my training methods now to include a more balanced structured method. Thanks to you guys 👍

Your honesty and common sense seems so fresh in this correct world! Keep up the great work

Thank you for most valuable advices. I applied the principles I listened from you on my work line GSD from his puppyhood in the last three years. My word to new dog owners: Every single remark of Mr. Cabral reflects the truth. No need to say, I watched many other trainers/experts. Do yourself a favor and apply his principles/ideas. He stands out.

Long time follower Robert and this is the best conversation you’ve ever put out there. Well done as usual 💯

I love the philosophy of "striving for peace" that you mentioned... 30:08 That is SUCH a good outlook!

Best dog I ever got was a 6 month old old shepherd. Best dog ever. Great with kids and everyone. He did not like being in the house. Very protective of a 2 year old.

Thanks for the video Robert is was very truthful and real, I’ve been involved in rescue since the late nineties mostly pitbull/ mixes and I have to say it’s heartbreaking to see how the breed has been exploited. It starred with the hip hop culture in the mid to late eighties and grown into an epidemic,I’d say about 25% of bully breeds in shelters aren’t really adoptable unless you’re willing to adopt and understand you have to keep them under certain lifestyle restrictions, which isn’t always good for the dog or the the adopter.Many people say it’s bad environments improper socializing and abuse that cause dogs to be aggressive and biters, and that, a factors in of course, but the reality sometimes it just the genetics , the hardwiring,and that’s something you have no control over It’s well known that pitbulls/ bully breeds click in at about 2 to 3 years old which means they mature mentally, so a dog that was always playful can start getting scrappy and into fights, I’ve had people say my dog has never done that before and I tell them that dog has matured and knows it’s strengths now, so from now on you’ll have to keep him/her leashed and kept with a watchful eye, this is true of American Bulldogs , Cane Corsos , Presa Canaria and all the hybrids designer breeds like American Bully XL that are becoming fashionable. I also just wanted to mention that this is a people / culture problem, back yard breeding , there’s a a sociol/ economic / cultural group that are attracted to these dogs, these dogs symbolize strength , toughness and being an outsider that gives them a mythical appeal , and I get it , but this group also doesn’t believe in spay / neuter of dogs ,,there’s a lot of machismo going on also , and I’m seeing More Cane Corsos in shelters which seems to be the new pitbull model, and this saddens me also. I advocate and do rescue with bully breeds and will continue to ,each dog is different but just understand what you’re getting into before you adopt/ foster , understand the breed , do you rent or own , are you committed to training , can you afford medical ?Many of these f dogs as hard as it is are better being humanely put to sleep than being adopted out two or three times and ending back in shelters, that’s no life for a dog, sorry for the long comment , but we have an epidemic of shelter dogs in this country right now and heartbreaking because of irresponsible people

Excellent video and info. Been a fan of your channel for a long time Robert. You hit on a point I was wondering about. Our 4 year old Mal (Sam ) gets agitated around children who are running and screaming. That’s the only thing that we’ve questioned about him because other than that he is an awesome dog. We’ll continue to watch him about kids… and squirrels.

Love your honesty! You are one of the greatest experts when it comes to dog behavior and you helped me tremendously getting thru the difficult days of training my German shepherd who could not be helped by positive only people. As a matter of fact, these people almost caused me to give up on him… now he’s 2, the most obedient, balanced, family dog I could have wished for.

Thank you Robert for the worthwhile video on this topic! I enjoyed the whole thing! I've really really gotten a lot out of this today. Thank you! LOVE the hoodie!

So refreshing to hear your words. Why do people not research before taking on a dog. The commitment is huge, So hope people listen to your knowledge.

When I got my GSD I learned how to pick a puppy and how to train it. Can't argue that they're high drive dogs. It took patience to teach her that listening to me was her first priority. I can't complain about her though, absolutely the smartest, most intuitive dog I've ever owned. She is an absolute blast to work with! Nevertheless, I have to give alot of credit to guys out here who taught me how to train them right.

One of the best talks I have seen/heard. Before I got my Malinois I wrote a list of traits I wanted in the dog I would get and a list of how I live my life and where my lifetime of dog ownership landed . Unless something terrible happens this is my last dog so it had to be the right match. In the main I have had herding dogs starting with the dog crew on the ranch I grew up on. My mal ended up on the large size at 85 lbs. In the main he and I are partners with me having the final word when needed. Lots of training that continue on an ongoing and consistent basis. He's not, not a fur baby in any way shape or form and that's fine with me, he is my best friend. He has never had bite training, I'm sure he would thrive if I took him in that direction but I think and I could be wrong but I feel like this would fundamentally change him and I really like how he is now, if I'm wrong in this assessment I would like to know.

Awesome topic.. I grew up in Asia.. worked as a part time decoy and part time assistant to a trainer since highschool to college(mostly Pitbulls, rotties,Dobermans)back in the Philippines. Now I’m in the US and I’m so surprised so many people here have guardian breeds pits, bandogs, Corsos, presas as house pets and these owners don’t do anything with them just coped them up without any purpose.. i have a pit I rescued here which took me almost a year to make her tolerate other dogs( very reactive to other animals). She was returned 2x by adopters bec they cant control her(70 lbs) 3 years later and she walks good on leash and not so reactive anymore. What’s sad is without my experience this dog would have never gotten out of the shelter. People should assess what they can and their experience first before getting a breed and the purpose of having that breed. Too many guardian dogs not being used for what they were intended to be.

Nice to hear someone who's not afraid of the pitmommies. Pits should be with people qualified to handle them. Same with corsos, dogos, rotties, etc. So tired of having to worry about even going in a pet food store or out for a walk. Shame on the shelters for pushing out dangerous dogs every day. Nice to hear your wife does agility. We do to. Former obedience junkie as well

Great live with very informative content. Your personality and spot on analogies make it fun to watch.

Great video! Every trainer and owners should share this with people who want to purchase these types of dogs

There was an athletic woman who engaged in sports competitions that was found on the side of the road being eaten by her rescue dog a couple of years ago. She was middle aged, not old. I can't remember her name, but when I Googled it I got so many hits on "woman killed by family pet/rescue dog" that I stopped looking. Her strength wasn't a huge issue in the story, I just remember being surprised that she wasn't more of the typical, weaker pitmom.

I believe my dog needs to know how to react from the way I react. I have a rescue dog, pointer/hound mix?? since the end of May. She now can walk on a leash along the road (we live in rural, coastal Maine) pass other dogs, people with ease - knowing I am there calmly walking beside her. She is very friendly - loves kids, cats, people. We are now into a routine at home too. It all takes time. I thank you for this video chat. I wish more people thought about the commitment of having a pet, choosing one that is welcome and not a burden.

The best way to select a good dog, is selecting a good owner. Anyhow, more great advice, just like I've heard yesterday, I really appreciate this no nonsense approach 👍🏻🖤🏴‍☠️

Hi Robert, great message- hope it reaches the right ears- God knows there are many that need to hear this well put truth! My current dog (9th over the years) is a good tempered Maly: what an awesome dog! Indeed- I am glad I had the prior experience of labradores, sheppards, etc, because he IS a handful! I also spent a couple years looking and preparing, and I finally found just the right one in South FL. He brings consistent discipline to our home- something very few understand. This breed requires a vigilance, patience, physical proficiency, and spiritual maturity that I would venture very few people have. Love your videos- keep up the great work with your candid, sugar coatless TRUTH !!!

That k you so much for your wisdom 🐾✨🐾

1 year old q & a I still get so much information from this man Cheers

Regarding the type of ears...when replacing our 13yo lab mix who'd passed a year prior, we picked a puppy through a local rescue again wanting a lab mix which is what ours was labeled. Floppy ears of course at 9weeks. They soon erected and per the DNA test he's about half pit bull, with smaller parts lab, shepherd, husky, and rottweiler. NOT a mix we would've picked. Not sure what we should've done differently. Didn't want an adult dog with issues since we have young kids. I've she'd a lot of tears feeling like we got the wrong dog but have put in the work training and he's so much better now still not what we would've chosen. Our next dog (I guess not for another ten plus years) will probably be a golden from a reputable breeder. I love the idea of getting a rescue but it feels like such a crapshoot. Still not sure how to do it right.

Great podcast. Thank you for sharing and highlighting the difficulties with the different dog breeds. Some people do not take the time to research different dog breeds and their personality. There are too many irresponsible people when it comes to how they handle their dogs. Mr Cabral, you are a very good dog trainer with a lot of common sense advice. Thanks again for sharing. It's an interesting video, and good job 👏

Robert, this is such a great video, such good insights on dogs and managing them. It all comes down to honesty and love. If a person has honesty and love, they get a dog that works for them -- one that they can raise happily, whether it's a neutral pet or a strong working dog. Dog's require honesty and love in equal measure. Your podcasts are direct and informative + I'm often laughing at your blunt descriptions of fools and tools. Thank you for everything you've done.

Great information. I rescued my first Malinois 6 months ago. Your videos have been super helpful learning this breed. Thank you.

Glad to see another person say what I have for years now. Even now I own very large powerful dogs (tibetan mastiff and an ovcharka). I have to constantly tell people not to get breeds like this. They see mine friendly on a walk, a store, my business and think they'll make a good family pet... they dont realize these dogs would potentially be disastrous in the hands of an inexperienced handler.

first time i come across this channel you sir are a gem and a legend not because of dogs but as a person and personality

Great video! I have a male Kangal/Boerboel and a female Boerboel/Kangal/Dogo/Dane from my breeder in WA, Olympic Dogs. I got them for guarding purposes for my family. My male is 180 and my female is 110. They definitely need a strong willed owner and are not for first time dog owners. We love them and they have proven that they will go toward a threat and engage if necessary. Awesome shirt btw!

Great feedback for a very knowledgeable man. You would be very well advised to heed his advice.

Bravo - another great talk

Social media has been a curse Robert. Agree 100%

Hi Robert from UK great channel been following your advice long time..thanks

Im 5'2" and 120lbs. I live in a town that gets a lot of people, some not so good, coming through. My guard dog is a 30lbs Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog. Perfect size for me to handle but still strong enough to do her job. Not everyone needs a huge dog to be safe.

I have to explain to every other person that sees my Caucasian Shepherd that, no, they probably don't want one. He's been the best dog I've ever had, and I'm very happy that I have him. They see him acting right in public and being a sweetheart, but they don't see the hours and hours and hours of my work, and the thousands and thousands of dollars of firm training that went in to it. Educating people is both a pleasure and a chore, just like owning this breed. Im 2'1, 200lbs. If I wasn't, I wouldn't own this dog.

Firstly Robert, thank you for your videos and time in doing these helpful videos. I am now a senior citizen and own a 3-year-old Aussie and a 7-month-old Border Collie. My Aussie herds the sheep on our farm. Today, I took them down to our park. While out walking a lady with a fairly young Belgian Malinois (I would estimate about 2 years) came around the corner and once her dog saw my dogs, it went crazy. It was lunging, barking, snapping and dragging that young woman towards us. The only place available for me to go with my dogs was to jump down off a wall to the ground below (not a good choice for me). My Aussie guards my sheep and the aggression caused my dog to get low and growl. Thankfully both of my dogs were under control and I had switched both leashes to my left hand in case her dog got away from her. I kept asking her, calmly, to please turn around and pull her dog away so we could at least get by. Finally, she managed to get him far enough from us that we could get out of there. Think that was the end of it? Nope. After finishing my walk. I'm headed back to the car and here she comes with her dog. She saw us and so did her dog. The dog starts barking and lunging again and she keeps moving forward towards us. Needless to say, we were safe in our car before they caught up. Some people should be banned from owning dogs - she was a complete idiot. I felt sorry for the dog. In my younger years, I had dobie Dogs require responsible owners and the guard dog breeds require people dedicated to teaching them and being able to handle them. I was pretty upset when I got home - my dogs mean the world to me.

I love my Mal and he definitely takes a lot of work to handle him at times but I wouldn’t change it for the world. Smartest dog I’ve owned.

Right now I have a Cane Corso-Presa mix male and a Cane Corso female after having previously owned a Cane Corso, a Presa, a Boerboel and a Cane Corso-Presa mix. So many times I hear “Aaawww they’re always gentle giants those big ones, aren’t they?” “Ahem. NO THEY ARE NOT. You better know what you’re doing. They are battle breeds. They’re bred to fight. And to win.” I always use the opportunity to educate people that these are BY NO MEANS beginner dogs. If you know what you’re doing - they are calm and awesome and beautiful. If you don’t - they’re deadly. It really worries me how popular the Cane Corso has recently become. That’s not good. Most people will not have the understanding and the skills needed to manage and lead these dogs.

Great video & topic! Thank you. And thank you for the flashback...big smile across my face to hear “Bitchin’” as an adjective! You are right, that new shirt is Bitchin’❣️LaterSkater😎

I love my corso mix more than anything. I was never under the impression that she would be a teddy bear forever. I raised her alongside cats, so she had a relatively decent amount of respect for them, but she has her moments where I remember that she’s a guard dog. She protects me from any suspicious people and she gets suspicious of any change in her environment. There was one morning when I had her outside on a leash and she saw that a homeless person had left a shopping cart full of trash on the walking trail down the hill from our apartment. She didn’t want to put her back to it, even though it was about 100 yards away. She also gets defensive around small dogs because she’s been attacked by five small dogs in her short three years of life. I love having her in my life. I also read her body language constantly and I use a prong collar so that if I miss anything, I can still control her. When she’s in her good girl collar, my trainer has said she could pass as a service dog. Because she knows what that collar means, so she behaves perfectly.

I don’t usually comment about anything on u tube but this is the second comment I have made on your channel. I absolutely agree with your comments about never let these powerful dogs KNOW how powerful they are and always manage there environment and give them a job to do I have always had large dogs GSD and pit bulls they have always been wonderful dogs but I insist on good behaviour and manage, manage ,manage their environment they are well trained in obedience and have work to do. After saying that I am now 68 yrs old and I have no intention to ever take on another large dog it is HARD WORK like you said know your limits Next for me is a sweet old rescue dog❤

I am so thankful for your calm demeaner and expertise. You advocate owner education, you advocate for dogs to have their needs met based on that dog's needs. I am not against any breed of dog when it is bred ethically and responsibly with temperament, health and function in mind. That being said, if you want a working, guarding dog, you don't want to buy from a breeder who breeds show lines. You want to get one bred from working lines because they have an entirely different drive and temperament. Too often families get a "guarding breed" because they want to protect their family all while completely ignoring the hours of training that are going to need to go into that dog to make it suitable to protect your family. Your breed matters. Your breeder matters. The discipline you want your dog to do matters whether that be companion, confirmation, performance. Choosing the right dog for you and your family or your sport should be a long conversation with hours and hours and hours of research. Getting an animal is expensive and time consuming regardless of whether you are buying a horse, dog, cat, bird, reptile, or other type of exotic. Dog breed does not dictate behavior or temperament. Just because a Labrador is usually benign and happy go lucky doesn't mean you will get one like that. You may get a lab that has super high energy and prey drive. Likewise you may get a Mal that is completely lazy and lower on the energy scale. Doing your research is important. Talking extensively with the breeder, owners of that breeder's animals and discussing temperament, prey drive, motivation are all very important when choosing the right dog for you. These are conversations you need to have with your rescue organization as well if you are choosing to adopt. As for social media, we see this in the horse world too. Social media is doing the same thing to horses. Women posing half naked on horses. People putting their horses in dangerous situations for likes. Music artists having wild horses herded in and ran behind them literally risking their safety and the horses just to get a video and likes. People posting their expensive horses and trailers and cars and using horses to push this superiority complex. It makes me mad. Horses and dogs are my life and I hate seeing them exploited.

You are correct in your assessment of pit gsd mals

Just found your channel and have listened to a few hours of your stuff and it is just brilliant. As a scientist I love your realistic and evidence based approach and your refusal to bow down to PC rubbish when it comes to the science of dog training. Keep up the great work Rob.

My Malinois didn’t like children. Robert you are correct on all points. Meekness is power under control. I have had a wonderful GSD. Thanks again

I am an experienced dog person and “amateur” trainer. I have dog training certificates and have raised many German shepherds❤, but I know enough to know that I am an amateur. This is simply one of the very best videos from a true professional that I have ever seen. Having to constantly explain to people why I want them to keep their wild, off leash, “pets” away from my dogs is maddening. The comments like: “oh, your dogs aren’t friendly?” Is annoying. My dogs are very “friendly” and “polite” they just are a breed that doesn’t do well with strange dogs running at them head on. I don’t believe that the “pet dog training” community does much to help solve some very basic problems out there…their solution seems to be putting dogs in dog parks and trying to create “doggy friends” which only exacerbates the problem. UGG, I’m done ranting 😊

Hi Robert, I'm new to your channel & have just subscribed. I don't know if you realise this but you are a really motivational speaker. I came here to learn about dogs & incidentally learn life lessons. I love your content.

Over the last 30 years of dog ownership, I've moved from having an English Bulldog and a Shih tzu with kids to owning a Lab, GSD and then Great Pyrenees dogs on a farm, to now being a hermit living with 8 intact Kangals free-roaming indoors, and I can attest that dominance in different dog breeds is definitely a thing. It's taken me a long time to be a competent dog owner of big, aggressive dogs, a lot of watching videos and learning from mistakes, including getting bitten by my big male Kangal once while a female was in heat and going to the hospital for 8 staples for a single bite. I'd NEVER recommend any of the real aggressive guardian breeds for families unless everyone in the family was old and big enough to be part of training for the dog, and prepared to act as strong leaders for the dog to follow for life. It took only one time for my dog to challenge me to send me to the hospital, and I'm a 6' 200# blackbelt trained in TKD and Judo. I'd been slack as a leader, letting him get away with stuff, not using a leash regularly, not making him wait for food, etc, basically just letting him act like my buddy because I loved him. Just part of life, living, getting used to routine and letting things go. Imagine if your Pitties or Cane Corso or whatever decides to challenge you or your kids just once because you've been slack and now something set them off and they don't like you harsh correcting them when you haven't corrected them regularly for things, and they turn their frustration on you and one starts and the others follow. That's how owners and their kids get killed.

Very well said. Maybe this will help people end up with a better match for them.

I took my Red Nose Pit Bull when she was younger to a dog park. She was very timid and non aggressive dog. There were several small and medium size dogs already there yet older than mine. As soon as we came in, those dogs packed up and attacked her. I snatched her up and the dogs started jumping trying to bite her, getting me on the arms instead. I got several bites. The owners just sat on their asses and watched all this. I yelled at them to get their dogs off me, and they still just sat there. I started stomping my feet and said, “I hope your dog doesn’t get under my feet!!” Then the owners started yelling at me for threatening to hurt their dogs. I walked over and put my dog on the picnic table as these dogs continued to swarm around us, jumping and biting me as the owners still sat there watching and doing nothing. One of the dogs bit me in the calf and I spun around and punted it. Now the owners finally got up and ran over to grab their dogs, yelling at me and threatening to call the police. I held up my bloody arms and said, “Call the police. I want you to call them.” One of the obese owners stood off with me like he was going to do something to me, and had the nerve to say, “You shouldn’t bring a Pit Bull to a dog park!!!”. That statement blew me away… my dog gets attacked by random dogs of small to medium size, but my dog was the issue? I let him know that he would shed more blood than I already had if he didn’t back off. The people gathered their animals and left the park, and I let my dog down to sniff around as I went to wash off my bites. After an hour or so, we left and I never went back to that dog park. Too many irresponsible owners who don’t take charge of their dogs, then quick to blame when you defend yourself and your dog from their dog’s aggression.

Thank you for this. Please do a follow up special re: dominant / power breed dogs. Especially regarding appropriate training techniques.

I’ve see grown man not being able to handle a 20 pound rooster so it’s debatable 😂

Thank you for the hard truth

Thank you! I keep looking at my two GSDs, wondering if I can handle them! They are super well trained but huge! I can... Great podcast!

Thank you for the video and for being clear about how important correcting your dog is! I a, so straight up with my Staffy (rescue) dog and give clear directions, but have people allowing little Shi-Tzus, Dachshunds, fox terriers. etc, going awol at him. I'm correcting him when they have a go and he gets nervy, cos they bark at him but other owners don't respond. I put the effort into getting him to ignore aggro reactions, but it's made him nervous around all dogs. Lazy owners of small dogs are a pain in the arse!

Been training dogs 48 years and couldn't agree with you more

We adopted what we were told was a boxer/hound mix at 9weeks old(never wanted a pitbull and never wanted a chowchow) yet that’s what we ended up with. We were very lucky that she is balanced, her prey drive can be tampered down and she lives peacefully with my bird. Now squirrels are fair game though. We contacted a professional trainer and we were trained. She fits our lifestyle, we take her everywhere. Never had a dog like this before. Never will again, she’s ruined all dogs for us.

Since I was a little girl, I always like big dog. My very first dream dog as little girl was Tosa ( Japanese mastiff ). The love for large dog never left me & I have been owning large " dominant " breed through my adult life. I finally got my Cane Corso 2 years ago. This is definitely not a "pet dog" & not for everyone or first time dog owners. "Works" with him never ends & everything I do with him has aspect of training in it. I'm fine with it because I am very aware of what I sigh up for. Some says owning certain dog breed is more like serious " hobby" than pet ownership. That's what it is with my boy & I'm enjoying it. On the return, I am experiencing the deepest bond I ever have out of all the dog I ever own.

Hello I love dogs. However let's face it some of the breeds are dangerous period. Keep educating the public. Your rite spot on. Thanks. Happy holidays. Ron z.

Cane corso owner I’ve only own guarding type dogs that work and let me tell you, it’s when these man stoppers enter pet type homes, it turns into a ticking time bomb because like rob said they are DOMINANT!!!!and will challenge the hell out of you and if you have no dog training experience, please stick to the well bred Labrador !

I've had 4 German Shepherds and they were always very loving to children and little dogs.

Im 190 pound, have two dogs. Standard Schnauzer (30 pound) and English Bull Terrier (48 pound). Bullterrier is friendly with dogs, but in case of aggression from other dog, she reacts quite harsh. when something like that happens, it is quite difficult to handle and stop her. I can imagine what it would be to handle 150 pound dog. Always seemd to me strange to see people with such huge dogs and not all of them are good trained. You are 100% right, owner should be able to control dog physically.

Love your content! I own 2 dogs one from a breeder ( swiss shepherd ). Gave me some problems in the beginning, but it turned out to be a really easygoing sweetheart. The other one is from the shelter. Got confiscated by animal police as a puppy and was sold to me at 4 months as a labrador rigdeback mix. After being with me for a couple of months, i knew it was no labrador mix. DNA test, turned out it was a belgian malinois / ridgeback mix. It grew out to be a 30 inch and 90 pounds beast. took a lot of training to get him under control. I'm really glad I put so much work in it and that this dog found his way to me! His siblings where not so lucky. And have al been taken back to the shelter for being man and dog aggressive. Love big and powerful dogs but like you say there not for everyone

I've had Rottweilers and Belgian Shepherd/Dutch Shepherd. I had to spend a few months 24/7 with my Dutch. A friend of my husband had to re home him, we all knew the dog and he was NOT good with other dogs. We knew he was fine with our Rottie and Jack Russell, so we took him. He would have been put down if we didn't take him, we educated ourselves on the breed and had a trainer for help. I had him so well trained, I was actually the only one he would really listen to and respond to when my husband and boys were home. I made sure my boys were right there using the same training methods and he was very comfortable with them. My husband, not so much. What I noticed is my husband would try to play rough with him, that is a huge NO with these dogs! He tried to roughhouse with me one day, once, my Dutch was on him so fast. The only time he ever showed aggression or lunged was with my husband walking him. My dog lunged at a woman running by my husband on the trail, I told him how to handle that, he didn't listen. My dog grabbed and ripped her shorts, missed her leg thank god!!! He's my ex now lol. Anyway, I've always been 5' 1' 110lb to 115lb. I've always been able to control my big dogs, because I had a wonderful trainer and spent every second I had with my dogs. Everyone in the home has to agree and be aware of the training techniques. If not you're asking for a lawsuit

Beautiful hoodie Robert!! Really good job with that man!

GREAT PODCAST!!!!!!!

Words of wisdom

Immediately getting the hoodie right now! Love from Australia!

Great video. I’ve always loved Malinois from afar, given all the issues you described. The GSD/mal rescue where I volunteer got what they thought was a mal x basset hound with a broken leg. I fostered him because… how hard could a basset hound be, right? Well, turns out Drew is all mal, he just has dwarfism. He’s a handful but I have multiple trainers and watch your videos regularly (I’m a member). He’s a lot of work, but I love him.

I have to say I love watching your live Q&A, your podcasts, and your videos. I do not have any of the breeds you mention, because I personally know that they are way too much for me. Way too much dog. I do have 12 dogs, 8 of which are Australian shepherds. I can use some of your methodology with them. I can see situations that your suggestions help even me. Thank you so much for what you do. I really enjoy watching and learning from you

Thank you. I live in an island with no competent trainer and it is hard to find solutions for my two malinois. We will subscribe to your online class.

Why is this a therapist session for me. ❤️

So glad I found this podcast great content well done 👍 sir. Smooth Fox Terrier owner and Honda Fit driver .

Amazing content! Shooting from the hip. Thank you!