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Nestor is a little over 3.5 years old and is currently located in Brandon, Florida. He is up-to-date on his vaccinations, has been neutered, and gets his monthly preventatives for flea/tick and heartworms (heartguard and simparica). He has his basic obedience on leash and has begun off-leash training on e-collar but has not completed that yet. His language for obedience commands is in German.

He came from a working dog kennel where it was discovered that he was not a good candidate for police/military work and had been there from 4 months old when he was imported from Slovakia until he was 3.5 years old. As he was not a working candidate, he spent the majority of his time in a 500 series plastic kennel and a concrete run outside of the kennel so did not receive a lot of socialization during that important time-frame. He can be a little nervous and cautious of strangers and especially shy of men but once properly introduced, warms up to them in time. He takes a little bit to bond and trust new people because of his time in the kennel but bonds deeply once he knows you’re sticking around and being patient with him – he’s very sweet, loving, and wants to please once he trusts you and knows you’re his person. Being in a house is new to him as he had never lived in a house before coming into rescue on November 18, 2019, and never had toys, a bed, or a yard to run and play in. He has since discovered that he LOVES toys and loves to grab a toy and hold it in his mouth while he circles around inside the house….and he was so surprised when he got his first dog bed – he finally had something soft to lay on! He is beginning to learn that he can settle down in the house and will lay on his bed or cot inside of the house with a nylabone or ball while we watch TV or eat dinner. His favorite toy to carry around is either his blanket or his ball. He is crate-trained and has not had an accident in the house since his second week at home with us and has done very well with following a schedule for potty time. However, since this is his first time in a house, he is still earning his free-time and not left alone in the house unsupervised at this moment in time. When in the house he is a good boy and gets along with our two female dogs (8 year old shepherd mix and a 2 year old Malinois) and the four cats but not our male Labrador (3 years old) and has been very good at making good decisions recently. However, he is still learning table and counter manners so he eventually won’t go counter-surfing or table-surfing with his nose when people are eating.

He is good with female dogs who are not overly dominant and has the potential to get along with male dogs with a very slow introduction period. It is recommended that he be fed separately from other dogs as he was never fed in close proximity to other dogs and always in his crate for three years at the kennel so may try to resource guard his food a little bit around other animals. I can reach in his crate and get the food bowl, put my hand in it, and pet him when he eats….but he thinks that the other animals might try to take his food so it’s best if he’s fed in his crate or another room as that’s what he’s most comfortable with.

He can get a little rambunctious when grabbing for toys and can be a little mouthy like a typical Malinois so would not be placed in a home with small children.

He is crate-trained but has specific rules when coming in and out of his crate that are recommended to be followed. When told “kennel” he walks in and is asked to “platz” (down) and hold that position while you close and latch the door before you then release him from the command with “okay”. When exiting the kennel, first tell him “platz” (down) and once he’s settled in the down you can open the door to let him out with the release word “okay”. In the environment that he was rescued from, he had a little barrier reactivity….however, has not displayed any of those behaviors since he’s been out of that environment.

If he trusts and starts to like you, he can sometimes forget his manners and jump up and give you a hug. He loves to jump up and hug the people he cares about as love and affection is what was used to train him as he is not overly food or toy motivated. He very recently started taking cheese and hot dogs as training treats so now we’re able to do more that he’s motivated and more willing to let himself relax and have fun. He is very smart but can be clumsy and a bit of a goofball at times, too. 

On a Malinois scale of 1 - 10, he has an energy level of a 6 or so as long as he gets some physical and mental activity, he is easy to live with. He loves to run and could make a good running or hiking partner but will need some conditioning to build his endurance. Since he lived in a crate and small run – he gets winded easily in the heat during activities but loves to do them. After a workout, he has the tendency to try to drink too much water so has controlled water intake after going running or playing in the heat. He just loves to be part of the family and around wherever his people are. He loves to choose when he wants to come over and get love and does not really like to be hugged and held onto for a long period unless he came over and initiated cuddles or a snuggle session. He takes time, and needs someone patient with him, but eventually warms up to you and comes for treats (he loves cheese) or will bring you his ball. Due to how his early life was and not having proper body handling done….he is getting some desensitization work on body-handling. If you’re his person, he will let you handle him and touch his head, mouth, legs, paws, body, etc...but doesn’t like it if a stranger (ex: a vet or vet tech) tries to do it. Therefore, he is muzzle-trained and wears his muzzle to get his nails done and go to vet visits as he gets anxious and freaks out when vets try to touch him so it’s for everyone’s safety as he’s a strong boy. He does not mind his muzzle at all though.

Nestor is friendly but gets shy and nervous around strangers….and is easy to shut down so needs a handler who is gentle with corrections but firm in giving a command, patient, and willing to give affection as a reward for good behavior. He has opened up SO much in the time that he has been in rescue. He loves to be told he’s a good boy. He’s a pet-quality malinois and not a candidate for bitework as that would stress him out. He likes a low to moderate energy family and plays well with non-dominant, balanced dogs with good energy. I have all of his health records and pedigree and would prefer he go to a calm house with experienced owners. He currently lives in a house with four cats and does well with them so could live in a house with cats if he is properly introduced – our cats are used to dogs and do not run so I do not know how he would do with a cat that is prone to running. He prefers to eat in his crate and does NOT share his crate – that is his safe place. He has a bubble and that needs to be respected – he will come over to you when he wants love and wants to play but should not be forced to. He does not get along with pushy or overbearing dogs and if made to, will assert himself.

Let’s find him his forever home! We know his perfect family is out there…so if you feel you can give Nestor a proper home, please apply for him at www.4luckydogs.org. A $100 donation fee to the rescue is suggested for the rescue. 

Nestor will come with his collars (fur-saver, prong collar, and flat collar), leash, dog cot, paperwork (health records and pedigree), muzzle, continued training lessons (if in the area), and a bag of the food he’s eating so he can continue eating what he’s used to until he’s switched to a new food, or if kept on the same food, doesn’t force adopters to have to immediately go buy food and they can focus on bonding with him.