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Link has found himself back in rescue through no fault of his own and is again looking for his forever home! His adopter was heartbroken to have to return him but had no choice as they were being transferred overseas for their job.

He is a very sweet boy and wants nothing more than to be with his people. He is good with all people (adults and dog-savvy children), other dogs and even cats. He walks well on a leash and is a great running and hiking partner. He has even been taught to run alongside a bicycle. Link is also clicker trained and knows basic obedience. He crates well and is generally nondestructive in the house. The only exception is when he hasn't had enough exercise that day and is bored, he might find something to chew on and entertain himself with. If you are looking for a loyal buddy who loves to go hiking and then lounge on the couch with you, Link is your boy.

He does, however, require an experienced handler due to his past. Link was pulled from an overcrowded shelter in Georgia last year displaying spinning and other neurotic behaviors. Due to consistent behavior modification training by his first foster, which has been continued by his adopter and current foster, these behaviors are currently under control but they require maintenance to prevent them from recurring. Any prospective adopter will have to have some knowledge of behavior modification techniques or be willing to work with an experienced trainer in this context.

Related to his personality as it was shaped by his past, Link is also very sensitive to handler demeanor. When handled by calm, confident people he will mirror this demeanor and remain calm himself. But excitement, such as enthusiastic/animated praise, will overstimulate him and cause his neurotic behaviors to briefly resurface. He also seems to prefer lower pitched tones of voice over high-pitched ones. Therefore it is important that his handlers are aware of how their body language and tone of voice come across and be able to adjust them accordingly.

For Link, we are looking for an experienced home who will appreciate how loving this little guy is, and will commit to helping him live his best life despite his special needs. We are hoping that whoever adopts him would be able to spend a lot of time with him. Someone who works from home, is retired, or only works part-time would be ideal. Link has lived in cities but currently really seems to enjoy the quiet of a rural area, so a home in the country would be fantastic. Link has been an only dog but loves to play, so a home with other dogs is preferred.

Link is currently in foster in Michigan and is not a candidate for long transport (over 6 hrs total) because too many stimuli in the form of changing drivers/handlers increase his anxiety. If you have previously applied for Link but were told the transport was too long, please contact jfry.malinoisrescue@gmail.com and we will look up your application. You do not have to resubmit.

You can submit an application for Link: https://malinoisrescue.org/forms/form?formid=6574

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