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COURTESY POST:

Handsome Handsome is approximately 8 years old. He is in perfect health, and on all standard monthly preventatives. He was neutered just before coming into my care as his foster mom, after which we successfully completed heartworm treatment together—no small feat for a Mal!

He currently splits his time between the city of Atlanta, GA and a farm in Quincy, FL. You already know which of the two he prefers. He is the perfect Mal in every way with the exception of a bad case of “stranger danger".  Like most Malinois, he needs slow, controlled introductions to new people and other dogs.

He was found at an abandoned house, malnourished on a short chain outside with no shelter, food, or water, skin and bones. Skeletal remains of numerous dogs inside. He was a court case dog which means he was held at the shelter as a piece of “property” evidence, literally climbing the walls of his kennel. I got him on his D-Day about 45 minutes after the deadline. That was January 2024.

Handsome knows basic commands like sit, stay, come, and also find it. He is extremely obedient and has remarkable recall—even on a farm when spotting deer and many other critters. He LOVES the water, so a predator-free swimming area will be his dream.

Handsome requires an experienced Mal handler who understands his needs and is willing to take seriously the responsibility that comes with a Mal who was not properly socialized. He needs structure and routine. He’s a normal Mal who only wants to be helpful and therefore needs jobs. He needs love and affection, mental stimulation, and silly play time where he can be his complete and utter goofball self. He is a clown.

I muzzle him on public leashed walks, so we are both more relaxed. It is important to disclose that he has a history with another dog. We had an extremely unfortunate case of bad timing. A man and his small male dog appeared on the sidewalk before sunrise, and when my small female senior dog barked, Handsome switched into defense mode. He attacked the small male dog who suffered internal damage, though it was not visible at the time, and each of us walked away, seemingly unscathed. The other dog is fine, thank goodness, but there was a vet visit and bill. We now take precautions to prevent this type of unfortunate meeting.

I love Handsome. I truly love him, and he brings a great deal of joy to my life on a daily basis. I CANNOT keep him. I am in the process of selling my house in Atlanta and moving home to be primary caregiver for my brother who has very special needs from a traumatic brain injury. Handsome needs an experienced Mal lover to step up and be his human.

Please contact Sarah McCoy 504.432.6424 if interested in adopting Handsome

ABMR thanks you for taking the time to look at our malinois available for adoption.