Endeavour Malinois FAQs
Over the years, we’ve received many questions from future puppy owners about our breeding dogs, reservation system, and training support. This page is designed to provide clear, honest answers so you can feel confident in your journey with Endeavour Malinois.
Yes, this will be in the contract that it is REQUIRED that we receive the dog back for whatever reason if you cannot keep it. We will screen any potential homes the same way we did as puppies to find the right placement.
We would like to clarify what homes may qualify for our puppies.
While we understand people want to start with one at some point, we want to make sure that our puppies are going into the correct home and although they can make a good house dog and companion, this is when it’s also working, physically and mentally. That means it needs activity appropriate to its age, several times a day, and structured training as an outlet for its drives and working abilities. A strictly pet home that does not provide the working part of the equation and therefore does not produce a balanced working Malinois.
We breed working line Malinois and many of our dogs siblings or offspring excel in sport, police or military dogs. What makes a Malinois a top working dog are its attributes, its drive, intelligence, energy, reactivity, character, possessiveness, resiliency, and athletic ability and these attributes can make a Malinois in the hands of someone who is not familiar with the breed a disaster in the making. And we have unfortunately seen inexperienced trainers telling owners to euthanize their 15 week old puppy due to these behaviours which is normal.
Malinois puppy will likely display instinctive behaviours that we are looking for in a working dog, such as chasing, biting, picking and carrying a variety of objects, possessiveness (guarding) intensity in physical interaction with others and dominance. Belgian Malinois requires commitment to time, proper socialization, regular training and patience from the handler and should not be added to the household without careful consideration.
A Malinois that does not have a daily outlet will quickly become bored and will find things to do, which may include chewing your house, digging or pulling plants in your yard and re-arranging your furniture. Not to mention could develop neurotic behaviours such as spinning, barking, biting parts of its body, constant pacing, etc. And we have seen some regularly sedate their dog in crates due to these behaviours.
Pet Store puppy class is not going to fulfill a malinois. Our puppies will be sold to people involved in a competitive sport such as IGP and train not just weekly but during the week on your own plus socialization and other physical stimulations. If you have a dog currently and are interested in competitive dogs sports we suggest you start with the dog you have. Take the time, learn the sport, make mistakes with the dog you have and see that it’s a lifestyle and you are up to the task. Saying you are waiting for a Malinois to get into sports when you have a dog that could do a BH on them. We are looking for someone who is actively training their current dog in sports. We have seen poodles, cattle dogs and golden retrievers compete for their BH.
Defined by the Canadian Animal Pedigree Act, a purebred dog is a dog that has parents of the same breed that is registered by the Canadian Kennel Club.
Someone can NOT sell a dog as a purebred dog without papers from the CKC. It is also ILLEGAL in Canada to charge extra money for those papers.
As a reputable breeder in Canada and as a members of CKC we adhere to their policies, procedures and their Code of Ethics. You can always contact them for membership status about us or any particular breeder.
Guardianship ensures our top breeding prospects grow up in loving, individual homes, not kennels. This produces healthier, better-socialized, and more balanced dogs while allowing families access to a world-class Belgian Malinois at a reduced cost.
- Your puppy will come with their first vaccination-DHPP
- Canadian Kennel Club non-breeding registration ( approx 6 months, depending on the CKC’s backlog)
- The bill of sale via Quickbooks is emailed at the time of payment.
- A copy of the Contract
- Pet Insurance offers through Trupanion (Go Home Day must be activated within 24 hours)
- microchip
- Health booklet from the vet.
- De-wormed
- Access to an owner’s Facebook group.
We are looking for a guardian home with experience in dog training and a commitment to working in the sport of IGP. The guardian must be actively involved in training and trialling the dog to meet the following milestones:
- By age 2: BH (or equivalent)
- By age 3–4: IGP1
- By age 5–6: IGP3 (or equivalent)
Exceptions may be considered in the event of significant world events or circumstances that prevent participation (e.g., COVID-19).
- High drive
- Intelligence
- Energy
- Reactivity
- Possessiveness
- Resiliency
- Athleticism
- Intensity
- Chasing
- Biting
- Grabbing and carrying objects
- Guarding resources
- Intense physical engagement
- Social dominance
Guardianship is best suited for:
- Experienced working-dog homes committed to training (preference for IGP with experience)
- Families who want to be part of preserving and improving the Belgian Malinois breed
- Homes within a reasonable distance of Endeavour Malinois for travel and training commitments
- People who are responsible, communicative, and excited about a long-term partnership
Our cost is still to be determined but will be around $3000-$4000 plus HST
We don’t plan on making a living off our puppies but we have spared no expense when it comes to the cost of purchasing dogs, importing them to Canada, importing semen for breeding and stud fees, raising puppies, and holding puppies back to add to our breeding program, health checks, food bills, vet bills, training, equipment, competition, travel, membership fees, etc.
If any puppy is here longer than 10-12 weeks they will be started on a training program. The price of these puppies will be higher.
A guardianship home is a special partnership between Endeavour Malinois and approved families. Instead of purchasing a Belgian Malinois outright, a guardian family provides a loving, permanent home for one of our top breeding prospects while Endeavour Malinois retains breeding and ownership rights.
The dog lives as a cherished family companion, while still contributing to the future of our program through training, titling, and (if successful) breeding. Once the dog’s breeding career is complete, full ownership is transferred to the guardian family.
Puppies are scheduled to go home at 9 weeks of age. This allows them to receive the appropriate early development, socialization, and care before transitioning to their new homes.
If a puppy needs to remain with us beyond 9 weeks for the buyer’s convenience, they will be charged Endeavour K9’s standard boarding rate for each additional day. This helps cover the continued care, feeding, cleaning, and management required while the puppy remains with us.
When the dog has finished his breeding career, the guardian family:
- Pays for his neuter (or signs a non-breeding agreement if kept intact)
- Becomes the full, registered owner of the dog
At this point, the dog is 100% yours, for life.
We hope that new owners will care for their dog’s health as much as we do. Our dogs receive a variety of supportive care, including canine fitness, physiotherapy, acupuncture, massage, and chiropractic care, along with a focus on proper nutrition.
Our preference is to feed raw food, as we believe it supports overall health and development. However, for training purposes, we often find it more practical to keep kibble in our pockets as rewards.
We understand that every home and location is different, and we cannot require owners to feed the same diet we do. Depending on where you live, the foods we use may not always be available. Our goal is simply that every dog receives a balanced diet that supports long-term health and well-being.
Our puppies are typically fed either Inukshuk kibble or Iron Will Raw Puppy Formula before going to their new homes. For training treats and snacks, we often use Ziwi Peak, Smack, or Jay’s Raw Dehydrated foods.
Puppies are also usually given a chiropractic adjustment prior to leaving, as our chiropractor regularly visits to work on our adult dogs as well. This is part of our commitment to supporting proper structure, movement, and overall health from an early age.
We are dedicated to giving you the best puppy possible and have them on the right path.
- We do early neurological stimulation and follow most puppy culture & Avidog guidelines.
- Puppies are socialized to other dogs
- Puppies are socialized to people
- Puppies will be understand a clicker means food.
- We offer a variety of exposure to our puppies (air compressors, large trucks, different scents, our disaster area for hunting food or toys and different textures to walk on, uneven or wobbly surfaces). Please see the video above. This is only some of the things we do
- Puppies will be started on crate training to make going home easier.
- Puppies will be litter trained, potty training started in nicer weather.
- Puppies will be exposed to kennel and home environment.
- Puppies will be exposed to car rides
Guardian families are responsible for all normal pet care costs, including:
- Daily care, feeding, and training
- Routine veterinary care, annual vaccines, and health checks
- Insurance (Trupanion, with Endeavour listed on the policy)
- Flea/tick/heartworm prevention as approved
- Safe housing, proper fencing, and no use of dog parks/daycares
Endeavour Malinois covers all breeding-related expenses, such as health testing, stud use, and showing.
Chances are if you contact us looking for a puppy “right now” we will not have anything for you. Therefore it is important you contact us through our puppy inquiry to get on a waiting list to put down a deposit once pregnancy is confirmed.
Our first litter pending health tests and titles would be in spring 2024. We would be looking around 2026 for Neila’s final litter. We have plenty of interest in our pairings years before we plan to breed. Kinna we are still determining if we want to breed her.
Guardianship dogs live with their families full-time. Occasionally, Endeavour Malinois may request the dog for:
- Training or competition
- Health testing or veterinary visits related to breeding
- Breeding or semen collection
These visits are typically coordinated in advance and are usually short-term.
- Purchase price: Guardianship families pay a reduced cost compared to a full-purchase puppy.
- Ownership: During the dog’s breeding career, Endeavour Malinois remains the legal owner. After the breeding contract ends, ownership is transferred to the guardian family.
- Breeding rights: All breeding decisions remain with Endeavour Malinois. Guardians may not breed the dog under any circumstances.
- Commitment: Guardians agree to follow training, care, and veterinary requirements to ensure the dog is healthy, well-socialized, and prepared for their role.
On rare occasions, we have shipped puppies; however, our preference is always to have puppies picked up in person. This allows us to meet the new owners, review important information about the puppy, and help ensure a smooth transition into their new home.
If shipping is required, all travel arrangements are the buyer’s responsibility, including researching airline options and any import requirements for their province or country. We are happy to assist where we can, but the buyer must coordinate the logistics. We will work together to confirm a time that works for both parties so it does not interrupt our regular training business or require cancelling lessons for other clients.
The buyer is also responsible for all shipping-related expenses, including but not limited to:
- Veterinary health certificate
- Airline-approved crate
- Flight costs
- Any additional travel or documentation fees
Prior to travel, the puppy will receive a veterinary health check, and you will receive the health booklet and a signed letter from the veterinarian confirming the puppy’s health and approval for travel.
All of our puppies are sold with a non-breeding contact. We do not sell puppies with breeding rights.
The puppy’s owner may have the NON-BREEDING RESCINDED based on specific requirements.
Should the buyer wish to breed the dog, the CKC Non-Breeding Agreement may be rescinded by mutual agreement with the buyer and seller only if the following conditions are met:
- The dog is at least twenty-four (24) months of age, and
- The dog has obtained OFA or PennHip x-rays of their hips, and
- If OFA, the results is Excellent, Good or Fair, or
- If Pennhip, the results is equal to or better than a distraction Index of 0.35.
- The dog has obtained OFA x-rays of their elbows and the results are Normal
- The dog has obtained OFA Spine – the results are Normal
- The dog has obtained OFA Passing Result for ECHO – the results are Normal
- The dog has obtained OFA Dentition – the results are Full
- If the dog has had yearly OFA CERF eye exams and achieved their CHIC number – the results are Normal
- The dog has obtained Embark DNA screening, and the result is that they are clear of and/or are not carriers for all genetic diseases for the Belgian Shepherd.
- The dog has obtained their Behavior Propensity results from UC Davis
- Free from any disqualifying faults per the FCI Standard No.15-Belgian Shepherd Dog breed standard as it exists at the time of the request; and
- The dog has successfully completed the full requirements of level (2) with proof of excellent/pass results in a recognized protection sport. The recognized sports are: IGP, French Ring, Mondio Ring, Belgian Ring, NVBK, KNPV, or PSA; of is a verified Police K9, or is a certified search and rescue dog/avalanche dog; or other non-mentioned disciplines upon application by the buyer and approval by the seller; and
- Is only being bred to another registered Belgian Shepherd Dog with at least five (5) generations of pedigree; and
Despite any of the above, if the seller and buyer agree in writing to waive the Non-Breeding Agreement, they may do so in writing and properly waive the CKC Non-Breeding Agreement. Any costs applicable to waiving the Non-Breeding Agreement are solely the buyer’s responsibility.
I know everyone has to start somewhere and when we originally got our first malinois she was as an active companion. However, she did agility, was titled in sport scent detection, she has her BH in IGP and her Novice and Intermediate Trick Title. She is also my helper in teaching classes and working with problem dogs.
Our current female and any of our future dogs in our program are far from a pet. She is full working dog, many of her family are in Search & Rescue, protection sports, police work. They are not pets and would not do well in a pet home.
Our goal is to breed our next competition dog. We breed the type of dog that we would want to live, train and compete with ourselves. ALL of our puppies are ‘work’ bred, athletic, energetic, high drive dogs. If you are looking for a mellow, low energy and/or show type Malinois, none of our litters will be a good fit for you.
So, to answer the question…. No we do not sell our dogs to pet homes.
It would be unfair to the puppy to put it in a pet home. Without daily training and daily exercise it would make for a very unhappy and possibly destructive dog that we feel could come back with behavioural problems. And because of this, ethically we cannot sell to pet homes.
We are going to be very selective for our puppy homes.
No. Anyone considering a personal protection dog should first speak with a qualified lawyer in their area, their municipality and their insurance provider. Laws and regulations vary by province, state and country, so owners must understand the dog-owner liability laws where they live. If a dog bites or attacks someone—or is directed to attack—the owner could face serious civil or criminal consequences. The dog may also be ordered confined, muzzled or euthanized.
We do not place our puppies for personal protection because our contract requires the owner to return the dog to us if they can no longer safely keep it. Behavioural euthanasia without notifying us and giving us the opportunity to assess and reacquire the dog would also be a breach of contract. However, if a court orders the dog euthanized following an attack, we may lose the opportunity to bring that dog home. A dog trained to engage people can also be extremely difficult and potentially unsafe to assess and rehome. For the safety of our dogs, their owners and the public, our puppies are placed in approved sport and working homes—not for personal protection.
We are not responsible if the puppy contracts any communicable diseases after leaving the breeder’s possession. The puppy must see a licensed veterinarian within 48 hours (or two (2) business days) after leaving Endeavour K9’s premises. All puppies will receive a Veterinarian Health Certificate, providing they are healthy at the time of possession while on Endeavour K9’s premises. If the Owner fails to comply with this requirement, it will invalidate any Health Guarantee.
We stand behind every puppy we produce; our Hip & Elbow health guarantee requires that all puppy buyers receive their OFA CHIC # and OFA Advanced Cardiac at 2 years of age, so this information can be used to make breeding decisions for the next litter. Our breeding decisions are based not only on the parents’ health but also on their siblings, aunts, uncles, and any past offspring they have produced and previous generations. The owners who have health checks done on their dogs have helped shape our program and the decisions made to produce the pups of the present and future.
Besides genetic factors that affect Hip Dysplasia are
- Nutrition
- Excessive exercise
- Overweight
- Repetitive exercises like jumping, fetch
- Too little exercise
- Environment
- Growth Rate
- Muscle Mass
- Hormones
No, we make our money as a professional trainer since 2010 and in 2021 we opened our 12,000 sq ft exclusive boarding & training facility.
We love the Malinois breed but the cost of purchasing dogs, importing them to Canada, breeding fees, stud fees, raising puppies, holding puppies back to add to our breeding program, health checks, food bills, vet bills, training, equipment, competition, travel, membership fees, etc. Selling an occasional litter of pups every few years doesn’t even come close to breaking even.
But that is ok with us. It’s about the breed, not about making money for us.
Our process is to
- fill out our puppy inquiry
- do an interview
- we contacted you’re references
- we put your name on a list to contact once the the pregnancy is confirmed.
Our official wait list will be those who have sent in their puppy inquiry, passed our application process and have been approved to get a puppy from us. Once the litter is whelped those who have passed our application process will be contacted to send in their $500+ HST deposit to officially reserve a puppy. The remaining money will be required when you pick up your puppy and sign our contract.
If you would like to know what our plans are, we suggest that you follow our Facebook Page, or fill out our puppy inquiry on our website.
For the litter of Triumphant Von SchutzArt and Taybo, we might be looking for a co-own/guardianship for a male. This person will need to be local to us. We would require the dog to be titled in a protection sport and complete specific titles within a certain time frame.
The dog will be owned by Endeavour K9 (Shanna Hoffer), and the dog will be transferred to you once breeding has been completed.
Contact us at info@endeavourmalinois.com if you are interested.
Each puppy is registered though the Canadian Kennel Club with a non-breeding agreement.
We would be happy to discuss removing this with you when your dog is older to make sure they would be a good fit to be bred first. To do this we would need to submit the Cancellation of Non-Breeding Agreement which we will do if have have come to an agreement and you have titled your dog more than a basic title (ie, an IGP1-3 not just a BH)and have done all the same health clearances we do on our dogs.
If any fees are required to remove the non breeding the cost are at your expense. Approximate cost $63
