If you are considering adding a Belgian Malinois to your family, Ruidoso Malinois is truly exceptional. Irene genuinely cares about where her dogs end up and takes the time to understand both the dogs and the people adopting them. She has an incredible instinct for matching the right dog with the right home, which makes all the difference with a breed like the Malinois. Owning a Malinois is not a decision that should be taken lightly!!! They are incredibly intelligent, high energy dogs that require patience, structure, training, and a lot of love. What impressed me most about Ruidoso Malinois was not only how well cared for the dogs are, but how much emphasis is placed on preparing the owners as well. Irene and her staff make sure you have the tools, knowledge, and confidence needed to handle and understand these amazing dogs. The trainers and staff are excellent, and it is obvious the caretakers form real personal bonds with the dogs. When I brought mine home, they even rushed out to say goodbye, which really showed how much they truly care. I loved my first dog from Ruidoso Malinois so much that I ended up getting a second. I cannot recommend them highly enough. read more

Ruidoso Malinois - Pet Training Near Me - Capitan, New Mexico

My husband and I contacted Irene about a family companionship dog. She promptly returned our request with a possible match and photos of one of the most beautiful boys we had ever seen!! After hearing about Hank's training and temperament we immediately agreed he was the one for us and headed down to NM. We loved our stay in the Ruidoso area and meeting our new dog. The training they offered was rewarding and informative. They worked with us individually to ensure we were both comfortable handling such a powerful and intelligent boy. Knowing we had another Malinois waiting for us at home, both Irene and our trainer worked with us on how to slowly introduce them to each other in the home to ensure they respected each other. We followed their suggested slow pace and specific instructions to a tee and they are the very best of friends now! Hank is an absolutely wonderful dog and We adore him. People stop us almost daily to ask about him. ( Did I mention how gorgeous he is?) We also do dog sports with him. He is highly ranked both state and nation wide in barn hunt. As well as being a highly competitive and driven dog, he is a well-mannered and loyal family pet. He is very civilized and even tempered in public, but is also a very serious and formidable looking dog. We want to thank Irene for matching us up with this wonderful boy. He is arguably the best dog we've ever had. While we don't even want to think about this, when the time comes that we are looking for another dog, Irene will be our first call. read more

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I first met Irene in 2020 when I purchased OYA, a female Belgian Malinois. My experience with OYA was so positive that I returned this April and purchased DANNO a male Belgian Malinois for personal protection. After a week of training with DANNO at Irene's "Handler School", I returned home to Colorado with two of the finest lifetime companions anyone could want. An important event happened recently with DANNO in the back seat of my truck. I left the rear right window open while inspecting part of my property. A neighbor drove up to me. He had a recent tragedy and I grabbed him to console him and express my regrets. DANNO, concerned for my safety, jumped out of the open truck window and alerted as trained. He was unsure if I was in trouble. Recognizing he had alerted and was coming to protect me, the training from "handler school" kicked in and I immediately turned and reassured DANNO that everything was ok. After a brief introduction to my neighbor, DANNO calmly walked with us and the situation was normal. My two dogs bring joy, comfort, and fantastic companionship to me and my family. They enjoy playing fetch and walking with my grandchildren. I highly recommend Irene and her staff. I wouldn't purchase another dog anywhere else. Tim Storey read more

I was referred to Ruidoso Malinois through a network of marine vets and police departments. As anyone who researches Malinois knows, they have a reputation preceding them of being high energy, agility, aggressive, working dogs. My opinion has been both solidified and changed. As logic would tell it,  dogs have a wide a range of purposes and personalities as humans and to say a single breed is a single type is just wrong. They may have similarities, but they are as unique within those traits as you could imagine. I went into the situation, beginning with a phone call and speaking with Irene. After a LONG call she asked a million questions and said Uto would be the dog I needed based on my energy, lifestyle, and goals for a working dog. All of my friends told me how much of a bad idea it was,  and how crazy these dogs "are" the entire 4 months he was being trained for me. And I'll admit the nerves got to me a bit. Upon arrival in New Mexico, I met Irene, the facility,  Tony (the trainer), and finally Uto. He was standoffish at first,  circled the apartment, wasn't very interested in me, even tried marking my suitcase (we fought). But by day 2, we were friends,  exploring commands along with the mountains and deserts in the area (he loves rock climbing we discovered). By day 3 even Tony was noticing the difference in the bond and we began teaching new tricks at home and becoming more fluid. By the time we started bite work on Wednesday we were comfortable and confident enough with each other and now (2 months later) the bond is still growing daily. (He drops his kong/ball if he thinks I'll give him any affection,  and he'd be willing to destroy you for a ball,  so...) We are fully mobile,  public access, live alerting for type one diabetes (45 minutes ahead of any blood sugar swings) and about 30 minutes ahead of seizures. We work on Thursdays with the Raleigh Police department for bite work,  and I will say,  he isn't bite happy,  he breaks down situations very very well and goes off my vibes and tones to tell him if he should be worked up in live situations. However,  bite suit out,  and there is no greater joy than biting someone. He is energetic,  but behaved. Willing to please with no off switch. Food motivated but not aggressive.  Defensive and alert but not jumpy or insecure. Dog neutral as hell, will look at another dog barking at him and never break a heel or stay. Not the most kids neutral,  loves my daughter (6yo) because he has learned she delivers snuggles without requiring an executed command prior to.  But other kids he is NOT good with. They run, point,  talk loud,  move alot, have balls,  scream,  cry,  he doesn't know what to do with them and requires intense leash control. But its not aggression,  it's uncertainty, curiosity,  and we are working through it slowly. I wouldn't consider it a problem,  just HIS problem. Overall,  I'd give the ruidoso Malinois team a rocking 5/5. Wouldn't trade Uto for the world.  Literally. read more

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the Owner Irene Howcroft is simply the worse person I have dealt with, the way she talks on the phone just not pleasant at all! Do yourself a favor and just go somewhere else, people who breed dog is already terrible enough and she's the worst of the worst!! read more

Our Mal is now 2, this review is after 8 plus months of knowing RM. Our family has known Irene for almost a year, we own one of her incredible male Belgium Malinois. We couldn't have been more pleased with our dog, he is absolutely amazing, the training in NM was so rewarding and beneficial to my entire family. Since owner our Mal, we have been in close touch with Irene, she has been a great wealth of knowledge and helps with our Mal. These dogs aren't for everyone, the effort needed to keep them healthy and happy is high, but so are the rewards! If you're looking for a Mal, I would highly recommend her. She also supports our vets (trainers) and the breed - I met someone recently that was paid to drive over 500 miles to pick up a Mal that was sick and the family wasn't able to afford the treatment, and it wasn't one of her dogs. read more

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I am a retired Army SGM and disabled combat veteran; I have long admired the Belgian Malinois breed but became slightly obsessed with the breed after seeing them in action during my combat tour in Afghanistan. Unfortunately, post combat, I was diagnosed with PTSD that left me constantly in a state of hyper vigilance; a feeling that there was an endless threat of unknown harm to myself or my Family. This affected my quality of life severely; as a single woman of a certain age, I no longer felt safe taking walks alone, traveling alone. Even attending church was problematic; that strong sense of being vulnerable to a threat I couldn't name but my brain held me hostage over. I avoided crowded events like the plague. I couldn't sleep soundly and felt that I constantly needed to be alert and watching for danger. I was wintering in Mexico when I happened upon Ruidoso Malinois during a Google search and I called the owner, Irene Howcroft the next day. From our first phone interview, Irene understood my plight and actually identified one of her Mals, Larry, that she said would be perfect for me. Larry would be ready in a few months; however, I explained I needed to get my knee replaced and heal before I could pick him up and attend the 5-day handler training. Irene, without hesitation, kept Larry for me, until I was healed and able to come for him; she felt that strongly that Larry was my dog. She was right! I traveled to NM to meet and train with Larry; the handler training was amazing. Chris, a Marine veteran, provided excellent training and upon our departure I felt equipped with all the knowledge and tools to bring Larry back to MT. I am so grateful I found Irene and Ruidoso Malinois! I cannot speak more highly of her business, expertise; I'm beyond grateful for Larry. He's become my best friend; what a sweet disposition he has. I love him and trust him and I'm pretty sure the feeling is mutual! We spend time taking long walks and he couldn't be happier chasing after balls. He's energetic and eager to please, loves car rides and is extra alert for any danger. I haven't slept this well in years. I now feel confident to go anywhere as long as Larry is with me. I have no doubt he will protect me. I have the best companion, service dog and protector! Thank you, Irene! read more

I am very impressed with my pup from Ruidoso Malinois. We have owned working line German Shepherds and purchased our fully finished Belgian Malinois protection dog three years ago. After my oldest dog died we knew we were up for a challenge of a Malinois puppy. Irene's dog is superb in every way. Our pup was 15 weeks old when we picked her up; very stable temperament, confident and happy. Irene is excellent and the gold standard for me. She knows this breed and the dogs show it. I'm seasoned in basic training so our follow up is a family trip back to Ruidoso when the pup is ready to start bite work. read more

I will start by saying, "Rome wasn't built in a day." As clique as it may sound, Ruidoso Malinois are experts in their trade and strive to fit the right dog for the right person, and vice versa. While I have waited with painstaking anxiety for months, but "Little Max" was well worth the wait. As an Air Force Veteran, High school teacher, and mother to a 1.5-year-old I wanted to have a dog that fits perfectly into the mix. My requirements were to have a protection dog that was friendly with children, could perform PTSD service work, love loves, and is fierce when needed. Little Max is the PERFECT fit. Irene will tell you, I was impatient and nervous because of the wait, and I sincerely apologize! Not every dog could fit what I was looking for, and I did not understand that at the time. When the day finally came to attend Handlers Training, I was nothing but impressed. I met my match, Little Max, and we bonded over the five days. Tony, our trainer is amazing. He was patient with me and answered every question thrown at him with the knowledge, precision, and application of a true professional. All I can say is thank you to the amazing team- Irene, Tony, and Hans- for training and caring for Little Max. Bottom line, if you want a quick transition to add a well-trained dog into your life, you are most likely not a good fit for the amazing brilliance Ruidoso Malinois offers. Just breathe, be patient, and TRUST the team at Ruidoso Malinois. read more

Ruidoso Malinois - Pet Training Near Me - Capitan, New Mexico

Three years ago I came close to buying a mal from Ruidoso for an assignement overseas and ended up being given another mal from my employer. I regetted it and have since sent anyone asking my about mal to Irene. All the advice Irene gave me was 100% correct, from the age of the dog to get, to temperment, to the signficant investment and time needed to raise/train a top dog. These are amazing dogs and deserve the best. Pricing of her K9s is fair---decoys are highly skilled and costs. Vets cost. Rasing a dog to 2/3 years old costs. There are no shortcuts. read more

GREAT EXPERIENCE WITH RUIDOSO MALINOIS! Ruidoso Malinois made it easy to get the right dog for what I needed. Irene listened well as was evident in the male Malinois I got. She set the expectations right, the training that was needed by her associates, the on time delivery, the amazing follow-up to assure I was happy. I really enjoyed the onsite experience in handling of my new partner. The process was as she explained and any questions were quickly answered. My dog is wonderful and now 16 months later am happier with my friend and companion in knowing he will be ready to protect me yet welcoming to my friends and family. Thank you Irene! read more

Irene knows her Malinois dogs!! When it comes to responsible pet ownership of one of her animals she speaks her mind and tells the truth...some can't handle that. I purchased from her a male pup that was shipped across the country to NJ. He arrived healthy, happy, secure, and confident as can be!! He loves bite work play and has already taken to basic obedience training. If you want a good dog, look no further. JW read more

Irene knows her dogs and will not blow smoke no matter how much you offer or beg. If she does not think you would be a good Ruidoso Mal parent she will tell you so. I had to go to The Michael Ellis School for Dog Trainers in Santa Rosa, CA. before she would agree to sell me one of her 'Top Shelf' war dogs. Thank goodness she stood firm as the Michael Ellis training changed my life and the way I deal with dogs (and people). It wasn't cheap but I now have a gorgeous and well mannered BFF. 90 pounds of pure Malinois who draws OMG comments from spectators when he unwinds out of my car and goes to contact heel. He's a nice guy and basically likes everyone; so far I haven't had to say the German 'P' word that flips his switch. Hope I never do. If you want a 'nice pet' there are a lot of them around. I wanted more and got him. read more

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My wife and I purchased Sniper, a family protection Belgian Malinois, from Ruidoso Malinois and we could not be more satisfied. We spent 4 days in handler training and it was invaluable. Sniper is all business when he's working, but when he's not he is the sweetest thing you've ever seen. Irine and her staff are amazing and genuinely care about the well being of their dogs and that they go to the right home and are the right fit! I have nothing but good things to say about this business and when I need another dog, this is where I will come to get it. read more

Kind lady loves her dogs. Well trained and keeps you informed when getting a dog dogs are utd shots .

We are so happy we got our dog Adad through Ruidoso Malinois! Before Adad, we had a once in a lifetime dog who passed. We knew we wanted to fill that hole, but we were a little nervous about looking for a new dog after having her. We told Irene about our family and what we were looking for and she immediately said, "you want Adad." Amazingly, Adad is another once in a lifetime, special dog. He is incredibly well mannered, calm, confident, intelligent and affectionate, just like they said. He's also the softest most handsome boy. Irene really picked the perfect dog for our family. He has been great with our son. We've had a great experience with Irene. Yes she is protective, but she is actually a very warm person, she just wants to make sure her dogs are going to good responsible people. These dogs are athletic, intense, sensitive, and capable. They could do a lot of damage with an irresponsible pet owner. It would be irresponsible and unfair to not vet someone first. I found her criteria very reasonable as she understands dogs, especially after the nonsense we went through when we considered adopting from a shelter. If you're an inpatient person, you should know the process of them training your dog until receiving them takes a while. Irene seems pretty busy with her business and sometimes takes a little to get back to you too, but she will get back to you. We understood and it was totally worth it. I also really appreciated the handler's course! I've taken some Michael Ellis courses online, but nothing beats learning how to teach your dog, in person, with a dog trainer watching and correcting you. I learned a lot in about our dog and training in general in a few short sessions. I could not give this kennel a stronger recommendation. We're over the moon about our new buddy. read more

Ruidoso Malinois - Pet Training Near Me - Capitan, New Mexico

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I wanted a blend of protection-companion. I thought my list of desires from a dog was impossible to achieve - sweet yet ready for action, silly yet compliant, a hard worker with an off-switch. Most people think these traits in a Mal are mutually exclusive. I want this to be both a thank you to you and your amazing trainers as well as a testament to others who might be considering your services to help them understand, from a customer, what they can expect. Really, I just want to brag openly about Jerry, because Jerry is literally the bestest boy in the world. . Jerry is proof positive of that you can have a true companion-protector. He is a complete goofball around the house and is known by name by all of the 200 or so people who live in my building. Jerry is so kind to other dogs that he drop-rolls his ball to them upon meeting them, but is fearless to the point that he was attacked recently by someone's overweight retriever while walking down the sidewalk and he simply pawed the other dog's face, shoved it to the side, and kept trotting down the sidewalk - his ridge hairs didn't even move. . Jerry is so kind to other dogs that he drop-rolls his ball to them upon meeting them, but is fearless to the point that he was attacked recently by someone's overweight retriever while walking down the sidewalk and he simply pawed the other dog's face, shoved it to the side, and kept trotting down the sidewalk - his ridge hairs didn't even move. . In the house, Jerry is quiet, patient, and calm. We play with Kong balls. He's so smart that he knows the curvature of my floor and can roll his ball from the bedroom clear to the kitchen and arc the ball to hit me in the foot - his way of assuring I know he wants to play. He can discern footsteps on carpet outside of the door to the point that he knows if it's a building staff, neighbor, or stranger. He only alerts to strangers. He waits at the door for me on hearing my car 16 floors down - I confirmed this via my Nest Cams. Jerry doesn't get on the couch nor the bed during the day. He barks once when I leave to let me know he's anxious that I return. When I get home, he plunks in my lap at the door for a snuggle fest. . Jerry loves going outside - he patiently sits next to the hook holding his collar. We have a routine at my building where he knows there's a ball in my pocket but ignores it until we get downstairs. Once outside, he does a 3' vertical jump onto a rock by the door, sits, and waits for his ball. After that, it's romp time. Jerry stops and sits at crossings and if he bounces his ball into the street, he stops and waits for me to walk him over, check traffic, and release him to get the ball. Jerry does barrel rolls and backflips for his ball. He brings it back directly without fail, and if he is working agility, he resets himself if he didn't get the section correct. In the field, Jerry runs so fast after his ball that people remark they've never seen a dog move so rapidly. Back at the building, neighbors watch from their windows and clap at his tricks in our tiny grassed area and ask how in the world I got such a good boy - while I've taught Jerry some new moves, it's all great genetics and really great base training. Jerry sits at the door, waits for his collar to come off, and won't come in with the ball in his mouth - he knows there are inside balls and outside balls. Jerry inspects the apartment and comes back to let me know it's clear, only grabbing his inside ball after the sweep. ( he was trained for building clearance) Jerry knows the colors of his balls and the sizes of his tire toys. He will go get the one I ask for - big tire, tiny tire, red ball, black ball, etc. He will even put a ball into a tire if I ask. . Jerry runs with me on the mountain bike - he can sustain two miles going faster than I can pedal before grabbing a drink and getting ready to play. He loves the water and swims like a champ. Jerry does hikes, hangs out for bouldering, and sits patiently in his harness for belay/rappel. Jerry loves the airport, airplanes, conferences, and hotels. I never need to leave Jerry anywhere if I don't want, because he's so quiet and compliant (service cert was part of my order, so Jerry goes anywhere/everywhere). Jerry isn't the dog in a restaurant that people complain about...he's the one that people whisper, "wow, I had no idea there was a dog in here," as we pass to leave. . Jerry is intact, but he doesn't mark and isn't dog aggressive. He probably has an unhealthy interest in brown squirrels...what can you do... When it's snowing outside, I show Jerry his snow boots (essential for a Mal) and rolls into my lap to give me his feet to boot up. When it's cold (Colorado mountain cold), he waits for his jacket. Jerry adores my girlfriend and molds his demeanor to her - more gentle, slower, cuddlier. . In short, Jerry is a dream come true and we're a team.You can follow Jerry on Instagram if you want (@Jerbtaterchips). Irene, You. Rock! read more

Recently, at just over two years old, we unexpectedly lost our boy, we are absolutely devastated!!! I am trying my best to live my life in honor of our boy and be the person he always believed me to be. That said, I feel it important to share our experience with this breeder. After having provided a deposit, I arrived to pick up our boy. This was our first foray into dogs and after having gotten our pup, people we ended up meeting informed us of concerns with a Ruidoso Malinois. Aside from the litany of negative online reviews, more about the breeder than the dogs, we were told that a legit Malinois breeder would have never given us a dog without having ever met us, learned of our lifestyle, housing and work arrangements. It is now my understanding that these are areas a legitimate breeder would have interest so that the dog doesn't end up in a bad environment, abused or in a shelter! You will likely discover, as she seems to have a history of doing, a sudden increase in positive reviews on this and other pages reviewing Ruidoso Malinois. Kudos for her ability to rally the troops to attempt to push down the negative experience(s) of those she has injured. She DEF is savvy and posses skills in this regard!! But, end of the day, none of these people have any idea of what our experience was with this breeder, aside from the clipped and edited texts she's seen fit to post. But, again, kudos to her for pulling them together to bash us and our post based solely on her request! If they wish to post their experience, that's great. But, to assume they know our experience...meh At any rate, I arrived to pick up our boy, video in hand to record the exciting event, as most people do these days! I was approximately 30 minutes early and was approached by a VERY dirty, nice, but VERY dirty young girl wearing hip waders stained to the knees with dog crap. She told me the breeder refused to come out and meet me because I was early - after driving from Denver, I just wanted to conduct my business and get on the road home. Well, I received a number of texts messages, followed by a call from the breeder and as she went on a tirade asking why I was early, she accused me of trying to spy on her...paranoid much? Given her attitude, I told her that I would be happy to just accept a refund and be on my way. She advised me there are no refunds and I "Have to accept my dog or forfeit deposit". Once I returned, upon arriving at the breeders house, I was overwhelmed with the pungent smell of dog poo!!! Walking up the short dirt drive, I passed three makeshift wire fence pens, each circling a tree and each containing a single dog going pretty much batshit crazy, as I have since learned Malinois do when they are penned up with no attention. There was also an out building about 50 yards from the house which seemed to house 20 or so barking adult dogs, the pens seemed to be..."overflow". As I approached the house, I found another three makeshift pens, which contained a number of pups living or at least in dirt and poo, old, dirty toys, etc. In total, there were probably 40-60 pups on the ground. At the time, being new to the dog world, I thought this to be the norm. I've since been told...not so much. What we've described to other breeders, and showing them the video I took when picking up our boy, we're told these conditions are "Deplorable" and, "The epitome of a puppy mill". Fast forward to our dog's second year...he was titled as per our contract and we inquired about breeding. We were put off, made promises, all of which were never followed thru on. Last brush-off would have been in Nov. '18 when she advised she would reply in a week due to out-of-town family. Never heard back, even after reaching out! After having lost our boy, reputable breeders we spoke with suggested that the breeder of our dog may have known he had potential health issues, which could explain why she refused to allow us any breeding rights - she also failed to provide us with health certs of the sire or dam, which I am told is a HUGE red flag! Irene Howcroft has been pretty ugly this entire time! She has responded to others who have made negative posts about her by randomly blasting their employer (attempting to jeopardize their employment by doing so, then claiming THEY are seeking revenge against her!!??) and personal phone number(s) of those who have posted negatively about Ruidoso Malinois. Without fail, she refers to everyone as a liar and suggests there is some conspiracy against her. Always posting some protracted reply making note of how stellar her business is, but fails to touch on the points where she is deficient - there are a number! You will also find that she has an astonishing number of positive reviews after any negative review(s) as she does rally friends to post and attack those who post negative experience(s). And while these people may have had good experience, this doesn't make others poor experience any less valid or relevant!! read more

We adopted Raiden (now Griz) from Irene in August 2019. We have 2 rescues (a dutchie and a GSD) and gave Irene the background on each dog, details on our lifestyle and what we were looking for in our next dog. She described Griz to us and he seemed like the perfect fit. We've had him 3 months now and couldn't be more pleased - he's exactly how Irene described him. Griz is well-socialized, well-mannered, not at all reactive, laser focused and a cuddler. He's been the best addition to our family! Many thanks to Irene and Ruidoso Malinois. read more

If you are in the market, or know of someone who is looking to add a Belgium Malinois to your family ... Irene is the one to see. Irene is incredibly professional, personable and knowledgeable when it comes to this breed and her dogs. We picked up our Remi last year and not only was Remi the perfect k9 for us, her facility is beautiful. It sets a standard for what you want your k9 to come from. Located on a georgous ranch, it was clean and spacious. The other dogs there are very well taken care of and very happy. We just dropped off our boy for the 1st part of his training. Although we miss him, I feel at ease that he is in good hands and is getting the best training. Belgium Malinois is a breed that takes lots of work. Incredibly active and extremely intelligent, not everyone is a good fit for this breed. We consider ourselves blessed that we sought out a breeder who is knowledgeable and who cares, not only about the family, but her her dogs well being. Irene is very direct. Her business ethics are in tack. She has rules that sets her standards high for anyone that wants to purchase her dogs. This is what you want in a breeder. Ethical with good moral conduct. We look forward to working with Irene and our Remi for years to come. read more

This Breeder is terrible and probably the biggest b***h I've ever heard. Very judgmental on the phone and didn't even give us a chance. Made my poor fiancé cry after just losing our dog. Has clearly no idea what she is taking about and shouldn't be breeding dogs. Do yourself a favor and go somewhere else..... we found an amazing breeder elsewhere and this terrible human being is not worth the time. read more

Irene is a very knowledgeable, friendly and professional. She really loves her pups and does the proper questioning to ensure the pup gets the attention needed and is going to a home that's a great fit. Tell her what you desire and she will ensure you get the perfect match. She understands taking care of a dog is a big responsibility and will not let the dog go home to just anyone. Rest assured she will take care of yo. read more

We purchased a 2-year-old female dog from Ruidoso almost three months ago, and we could not be more thrilled with our new life. Our family of four traveled to New Mexico and were trained on property, two sessions per day for our five-day handlers training. Many different options for skills were presented. We were able to discuss and select the skills important to our family, and she was trained for around 10 weeks on only those commands we agreed upon. That is the business side of things. It has been surprising to me how attached our family has gotten to our dog. She has brought our family a ton of joy, as well as security. She is wicked smart - I swear she has telepathy. That being said, Ruidoso Malinois not only perfectly found the right dog for our circumstance, but they also delivered upon their promise to train and provide an extremely well-trained dog. Irene and her staff truly love the breed. They made us feel safe and welcome, considering the stress of training to handle and maintain a protective canine. We have owned many different breeds of dogs - English Mastiff, Labrador, Weimaraner, Beagle, Pug, and Dachshaund. There are only two things to say about Ruidoso Malinois. I will never purchase any other breed of dog other than a Belgium Malinois. I will never purchase another Belgium Malinois from anyone but the best . . . and the best is Ruidoso. Our family gives Ruidoso a ten out of ten stars. read more

For anyone who is wanting to get a Belgian Malinois I full recommend Ruidoso Malinois and Irene. I have a German Shephard that I bought hoping he would be a good service dog for me because of my PTSD and anxiety, I recently had to retire him due to his anxiety with being in crowded places. Because of my anxiety and what I have been through its hard for me to go out and not feel terrified. After finding Irene and her kennel online and talking with other people who have the breed I was excited to get the call back from Irene. After telling her about my family and what I have been through she told me she had the perfect Belgian for me, and she was right. My fiancée and I made the drive to her kennel from Utah and when we got there we were greeted by one of her trainers and a couple of her puppies. I was nervous because the only dog I have ever had a strong bond with was my great pyreneese. I was hoping to have that same bond with the female she picked for me. When I met ketty it was love at first sight and she new that she had found her family. Words can not describe the connection we have. Irene was right when she said she had the perfect dog for me. I pick ketty up next month and I can not wait to have her home. Irene has kept me posted on her progress and sends me pictures of her weekly. Again I fully recommend Irene and her kennel for anyone looking at getting a Belgian malinois. read more

Ruidoso Malinois - First day I met Ketty. - Pet Training Near Me - Capitan, New Mexico

This review is way overdue! We picked up our BM back in April. From establishing a relationship with Irene over the phone and via email, she matched us with the right Belgian Malinois. We were a bit nervous at first, but once we got to Capitan and met Irene, and met our Belgian we were in awe and in love with our Belgian Malinois. You can tell that Irene and her staff are experts in Belgian Malinois. Once we met our Belgian, Irene paired us up with an amazing trainer, named Tony. Tony went over the training with us in a span of 3 days doing 2 a day training sessions. The training and guidance on how to treat and train our Belgian was amazing. Our Belgian is fitting right in with our lifestyle. She keeps us on our toes. Belgian Malinois are one of the smartest, intelligent breeds around. Ruidoso Malinois does an amazing job in training for your needs. Companion, Protection or K9. Our Belgian is amazing, and it's all thanks to Ruidoso Malinois and staff. Thank you Irene. And Big shout out to Tony, who is an amazing trainer. (Expert Trainer). read more

Carrie R., Arizona                                                                                                                                March 28, 2021 I did as much research as possible prior to speaking with the owners of multiple training facilities/breeders of protection dogs in the country. From my first phone call with Irene Howcroft at Ruidoso Malinois, I knew she was more interested in matching me with the right dog for my needs and lifestyle than any other trainer/owner. Irene interviewed me and I continually interviewed her over the next two months. We need a dog that I can take hiking/camping and who is also well-mannered in public. Our son is a highly competitive athlete so our dog would also need to able to sit through sporting events with lots of people. I spoke with previous clients, both civilian and LEOs, to see how their dogs were performing and if they transitioned well into the families they went to. Everyone was honest and felt their dog was a great match for them. In December 2020 we committed to purchasing a trained dog from Irene.  We met Hokey on February 22, 2021, a month ago. My first impression was two-fold. After the initial demonstration, I was confident that he was well trained for bite work and that he would not hesitate to protect his handler. On the other hand, the first night we had him, we were unsure of his "domestic" training and possible health issues. The next day we insisted that the trainers and Irene go into extreme detail with us about his training. We explained our observations/concerns then they calmly and professionally addressed every single one of them. Irene even made a vet appointment for us before leaving New Mexico. (Turned out to simply be allergies as it was quite dusty and pollen was starting to drop when we got him. The vet had nothing but good things to say about Hokey's health and behavior. He even let us muzzle him with no problems.) With every training session Hokey became more confident in us and us in him. The handler's course was fun and enlightening. Our trainers, Hans, Matt, and Tony, are absolutely amazing! They were very patient with us without sacrificing the intensity needed for proper handling of our new protector. Hans was able to answer all of our questions about situations we may find ourselves in with training tips and real-life scenarios he has dealt with.  Due to COVID-19, it was challenging to provide opportunities for the trainers to expose a dog to the scenarios we expect him to be in, i.e. sporting events, but the training we received while at Ruidoso Malinois has proved invaluable in making sure we expose him correctly. Hokey has no issues with public access, is crisp on command, and has already learned a few more commands than he left New Mexico with. He knows his place in our "pack" and is a confident member!  I cannot express how happy we are that we stuck with the training after our initial impression. Hokey is a confident, intelligent, loving gentleman! Irene provided me with exactly what I asked for and needed! As a first time owner of a service/protection dog and Maliniois, I can confidently recommend Ruidoso Malinois to potential clients. read more

Two weeks ago we received our new puppy from Irene. Just like our two and a half year old male, also from Ruidoso Malinois, she is fabulous!! Irene picked out our perfect puppy. Having talked to Irene over the past 21/2 years and after Irene picking out our male based on our exceptions and needs we knew this new puppy would be everything we wanted. Ruidoso Malinois is a top notch working Malinois kennel. It is impressive and professional. Irene is so knowledgeable and has expertise that is unsurpassed. Her passion for the breed and love of her dogs provides you with the confidence that the dog you purchase will be the dog you are. looking for. Our puppy is beautiful and her temperament is solid, friendly and confident. She is going to be so much fun to work with. Like our male we will train in obedience, nose work, bite work and agility. She has everything she needs to be successful and really good at all of these sports. Thank you Irene for entrusting us with two of these most impressive and wonderful dogs! If you are looking for a Malinois of the highest quality look no further than Ruidoso Malinois. read more

If you are serious about a personal protection dog, Ruidoso Malinois is the place to go! Irene worked with us for months by phone before we were ready to proceed with buying a Malinois from her. We are in the middle of our 5-day training in New Mexico and Irene has far exceeded our expectations. Our dog, Sita, is amazing! The time Irene spends with us training twice each day, and answering our numerous questions is unbelievable. Irene went with us to our cabin the day we met Sita, to ensure the transition to our cabin went well. She also went to lunch with us to demonstrate how Sita should be instructed in a restaurant. Irene is clearly an expert in her field - we can't wait for our training tomorrow! read more

Where do i start? This place is simply amazing Irene and her staff not only met but exceeded our expectations. We purchased Scotch a male Belgian Malinois trained at her facility. We fell in love with scotch the first day. His bite skills and energy and stamina is mind blowing. Tony his trainer and Matt worked the bite suit put on nothing short of amazing skills and training with this beautiful dog. We spent one full week twice a day training and getting to know our dog. From building searching to daily visits to the store and park just on leash walking and obedience training he performed flawlessly. I would recommend Irene and her staff to any one looking for great training and a friendly atmosphere and clean kennels. Oh and a little inside joke for Tony hope JERRY is doing ok in the local police department. read more

Very bad business, my husband and I purchased our mal in february told would be here at a certain we finally received our puppy a month later than orginally told. We have not received our puppy's pedigree paperwork, we have reached out numerous times with no response. The communication with her is absolutely horrible. read more

I reached out after having lost my shepherd 3yrs prior to finally get another working dog. To just be blunt this has been the worst experience I've ever had. The puppy i was supposed to get at 14 weeks was not until much later. I can't be specific due to the owner will not supply any paperwork. My family has been terrible disappointed and we have much more to share on Irene's misleading ways that has me with a puppy that I paid 2500.00 for up front and no pedigree paperwork to support her claims on what she has sold me. We think Anneke is 10 months. Please fill free to contact me at 850-287-3188 or email balkcumm@gmail.com. please be aware that something is not right with this business. We have all the text and emails to prove that they are just delaying in hope we will go away. 2 months since last text promising I will have documents to prove pedigree. Nothing still thks for the lies and huge let down Irene. read more

OUTSTANDING! Our entire experience, from meeting Irene Howcroft, visiting her Ruidoso Malinois kennel, and purchasing our Tara, was exceptional! First, Irene and I spoke multiple times before we decided to travel out to meet her and Tara. We wanted a trained dog and luckily Irene had a perfect two year old for us. I had done a lot of research, and Irene's knowledge of the breed was outstanding... it totally set her apart! We were so impressed with the kennels, staff, and facilities at Ruidoso Malinois! Irene took time to throughly describe the background of the breed and explained in detail the requirements that owning a Belgian Malinois would entail. Irene invests her heart and soul in her dogs and she wants them all to have the very best life. My daughter instantly fell in love with Tara and the feeling was mutual! We returned six weeks later for training and Tara has been a wonderful addition to our family ever since! Honestly, we have never seen a dog bond with a person as quickly as Tara did with my daughter! From day one she was her girl! Irene and I have kept in touch and she is truly one of the most kind hearted dog lovers I have ever met! If I could... I would give Irene a million stars! Irene Howcroft is an expert and we would highly recommend anyone considering adding a Belgian Malinois to their family to contact Irene and visit her kennel! We could not be happier with our entire experience with Irene and our Tara is everything we hoped for and more!! read more

Ruidoso Malinois - Pet Training Near Me - Capitan, New Mexico

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I have done alot of research on the top Belgian Malinois Breeder and after a few months I found Ruidoso Malinois. I called and talked with Irene and I learned more about the breed in a half hour then I had during my research. Irene is more than a breeder she takes pride in the breed and strives for perfection. We purchased a new puppy Nana from her, I was not disappointed. We received our new family member who is very intelligent and eager to please. Irene has become part of my family. I can call her for advice anytime.If you are looking for the best I highly recommend Ruidoso Malinois and talk with Irene. read more

The best dog we have ever had (already saying this and it's only been 5 months) ...... also, the most professional and kind process of purchasing a life-long companion. read more

Coming from a science background I use facts, evidence, and common sense to make decisions and come to conclusions. As such, when my mom and I decided we wanted to get a protection dog, I did my due diligence looking at many facilities and trainers. However, I was most impressed with Irene and Ruidoso Malinois. Of course, I was dazzled by her dogs, the training videos, her philosophy, and all of the glowing reviews. Nonetheless, what struck me as a true testament to Irene's character was the fact that she posted a copy of a lawsuit that had been filed against her previously on her site. The charges were determined to be unfounded and the suit was dropped. Additionally, Irene won a countersuit. Most proprietors only want to advertise the positive aspects of their business, but Irene was willing to put this information out there in order to let her clients know that she is on the level and has nothing to hide. I found this type of honesty refreshing. Moreover, it was remarkable the way she would respond to those who had left negative feedback, not with harsh words, anger, and emotion; but with facts, logic, documentation and/or their lack of documentation. In doing so, it demonstrated to me that her reputation truly matters to her, which is hard to come by these days. With all the research behind me, I contacted Irene. We discussed why I felt we needed a protection dog, our home and family situation, as well as our lifestyle. It was evident to Irene that we required one of her dogs, but because my mom has Parkinsons, in addition to a host of other medical issues, it was imperative that we have the right dog. Luckily, Irene prides herself on carefully matching her clients and dogs. Irene assured me that she actually already had the perfect dog, Ardy. She described him to be mild mannered and very loving, yet still incredibly fierce when necessary. Furthermore, Irene informed me that due to my mom's condition, she and her team could even train Ardy to be a service dog. I was overjoyed! This was going to change our lives! Irene and I spoke several more times as we worked out all of the details regarding training, payment, documents needed, etc. Irene was incredibly patient and helpful, always taking the time to answer all of my questions or address any concerns. I found her to be very thorough and completely professional. In fact, there was a hold up at the bank with part of my payment. When I called Irene, I was extremely frustrated and upset because I am the type of person that believes it is important to uphold your obligations, yet Irene was nothing but kind and understanding. Throughout the training process, Irene regularly updated us as to how Ardy was progressing. When mom and I arrived the first morning for "handler school" we were filled with anticipation and a bit of nervousness, not knowing exactly what to expect. Irene greeted us warmly, but was concerned that my mom was much frailer than she expected. She did not think it was a good idea to have her handling the dog, so she wanted to make me the primary handler. She was exactly right! While some people may have been angered by this, I work especially hard to keep my mom healthy and safe, so I was greatly appreciative for her honesty. Again, this served to demonstrate her integrity and desire to keep both her clients and her dogs protected. Though, my mom was not actively participating in much of the training, Irene and her team consistently made sure that she was involved. My mom felt like she was just as much a part of the training as I was. It was an outstanding effort, which made the experience all the more fulfilling. As for me, the trainers made sure that I was not only comfortable, but confident when handling Ardy. It was an extraordinary experience! Speaking of Ardy, he is as advertised. I don't believe Irene could have matched us with a more perfect dog. He is wonderfully mellow, exceedingly loving, and still extremely fearsome. The work Irene and her team did to prepare him to work with my mom is nothing short of amazing. He is so good with her. Ardy needs a couple of good walks each day, and my mom usually accompanies us on one of them. It is magnificent to see her getting some fresh air and vitamin D. Additionally, we have many home healthcare workers in and out of our home regularly. During "handler school" Irene and her team walked me through how to introduce them to Ardy so that everyone would be comfortable. The transition was seamless. We had absolutely no problems and everyone thinks Ardy is exceptional! In truth, I have actually had several people already inquire as to where we got him because they are interested now too! To conclude I simply want to say that if you want a phenomenal dog trained by somebody who has a passion for what she does, her clients, her dogs, and surrounds herself with outstanding people, then you won't go wrong with Irene Howcroft and Ruidoso Malinois! read more

Our experience with Ruidoso Malinois was exemplary. Irene asked a lot of questions during her screening process. Irene has a serious nature and seems very passionate about her work. My brother is disabled. Irene took the time to ensure she matched up the dog with his needs and abilities. Irene is overly cautious in the safety department. Irene made special accommodations so that we could stay as long as needed to become confident handlers. Her staff were all very friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable. We were especially impressed with how well the grounds where the dogs are housed and trained were kept. The kennels were clean and disinfected. Dogs have clean water and food daily on a schedule. Ayko has become a very important part of our daily lives and family. We are so grateful for him. He is highly intelligent and well trained. Thank you Irene for the love and passion you have for your work. The Elledge family read more

I am in love. There is no other explanation for it and it's all Ruidoso Malinois' fault. They trained the most amazing and loving dog I have ever met. Tyson, a male Belgian Malinois, was heaven sent for me. Tyson is dual use- he is trained as a service dog for me as well as personal protection. He's equal parts chill partner at my feet monitoring my health and wellbeing for my affliction while I write inside and strong protector of me and my family outside. Let me tell you how this love affair started. I began speaking to Irene, the owner of Ruidoso Malinois, five years ago because my girlfriend at the time had a stalker. I also told her that my doctor had recommended that I consider a service dog as my affliction was getting worse as I got older. I wasn't ready for the dog at the time but we began communicating and I explained that I lived an unusual life-- I am a filmmaker and I travel a lot, mostly overseas. Irene explained that this was not a problem. Last year, I told her I was ready for a dog and she explained that she had the perfect dog for me. After some fits and starts, I was finally ready to meet my dog this fall. Irene sent extensive material on diet and dog products to read. I went to New Mexico to meet and work with Tyson. It takes about a week to work with your dog before you understand the entire gamut of its training. Ruidoso Malinois is one of the world's leaders in training Mals. They are spectacular and have deep, granular knowledge of what makes a successful dog for people from years of working with and the training of Malinois dogs and thoroughly understanding the specific needs of the clients. Its tough for a woman to be the leader in a traditionally male run community but Irene is strong and yet leads her team with intelligence and elan. She has a psychology background which I am sure she leveraged to fully understand me which, in turn, ensured that the dog she trained for me was exactly the one I needed. Day one, I met Tyson and his skills were demonstrated for me. It was impressive. I returned in the afternoon and had my first session working my dog. Tyson looked directly into my eyes and l knew he would be perfect. He is amazingly affectionate and we were a pair immediately. I took him back to my airbnb that night and he slept like a log on his dog bed. The team recommends you bring his crate with you but Tyson was happy and comfortable to sleep on the dog bed that I brought with me. For the next four days, I had two sessions a day learning to work with Tyson. Tyson is highly trained and it was important to spend as much time with the team so I could learn and be comfortable handling Tyson with confidence and ease. Tuesday was advanced obedience, working step by step on sit, stay, lay down, come, break, etc. Then to understand the service dog cues. The team builds your confidence step by step so by Tuesday, I felt comfortable with Tyson in all sorts of obedience requirements. Tyson is amazingly obedient and wants to perform for me. He loves to play and be affectionate and yet is capable of handling serious situations. A protection dog is particularly complex and the rest of the week was working with the team and Tyson so I became at ease with the protection elements. There are two sessions a day. Wednesday I worked both sessions on the protection skills. Thursday was really a day to learn how to evade confrontations. This is important because not every threat is going to come for you. Sometimes a warning is enough to keep bad people at bay or maybe they were actually not a threat to begin with. Friday was redoing the protection techniques as well as learning about how to use the dog when there are two suspects or a carjacking. Tyson is completely at ease with my living situation and the rest of the people in my household. I return to Paris this year to shoot a film and Tyson will be joining me the entire way. (Tyson came fully prepared with all his shots, proof of vet visits, and chipped-- ready for a year or two of international travel at my side.) Thank you Ruidoso Malinois for the friend I never thought I needed and for the one I now cannot live without. read more

My experience with the owner and her staff have been absolutely wonderful! Every detail about my family, need for a trained dog and experience were heard and considered. It has been an excellent experience and I feel like she runs her business so that both the dogs and the new owners are set up for a life-long and wonderful partnership. I appreciate the time and considerate training and transition process that I went through after buying and receiving my dog--it was perfect, and went smoothly. My dog--I never knew he could be so wonderful! He is sweet, intelligent and enjoys his job as protector. He is agile physically and mentally and has unbelievable self-control. Not only did he come extremely well-trained, but adapted further with additional training by me, which has been pretty easy. He amazes me! After having the dog for awhile, I've had some questions and I had the easiest time getting my question hear and responded to. I'm still receiving the high level customer service that led me to confidently purchase and recommend Ruidoso Malinois without reservation. read more

GREAT DOGS & KENNEL, WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE First of all, I would like to state that I have had a wonderful experience in purchasing my beautiful Lucianna from Irene / Ruidoso Malinois. I have owned a Malinois Family Protection Dog in the past but found my experience with her kennel to be far superior. I first began speaking with Irene about a dog in October 2018 and was amazed at her knowledge, willingness to take the time to fully answer my endless questions, and caring to kindly respond to my more ignorant moments. Over the months I have spoken with many client references from people who have purchased both puppies as well as fully trained Protection & Working dogs. The response from the people I spoke with was universally "over the moon" with their "members of the family" or in the case of working dogs, their Partner. I have had the opportunity to visit the Ruidoso facility on several occasions. The first was to meet and feel comfortable with the kennel and on the second occasion to go through the 5 day handler training that comes with every protection dog. The kennel was extremely clean, well maintained and healthy, and great for raising and training dogs and puppies. Puppies are initially raised in the house with Irene, and at 10 weeks the puppies have their 2nd set of inoculations and move outside to big group pens so they can experience the outside while being located just outside the front door so they have close supervision by Irene and her staff. The adult dogs have outside pens (many bigger than my backyard!). The business aspects of the purchase of my dog were very clearly stated with regard to both the non-transfer of breeding rights and health warranties and workability of my dog. I was given copies of all X-rays and health certificates of Lucianna. I understood the breeding restrictions as I do not support the "backyard" breeding of these top bloodlines either. Great care should be taken to preserve and protect dogs of this quality and capability. In my view, all aspects of the "business side" of the transaction were straightforward, clear and in all aspects, transparent. Simple. In summary, I feel fortunate to have found Ruidoso Malinois, have been able to learn from Irene and most importantly to have found Lucianna, a wonderful protection companion to spend my future years loving. Secondly,..... I find several aspects of the negative communications on the Ruidioso Malinois Facebook page and Trust Pilot review to be very sad. First and foremost is the death of a well loved dog. I think we can all understand Andrew P.'s (Andrew Pancroft in other posts) grief. Secondly, I find Andrew P.'s focus on Ruidoso Malinois to vent his grief sad as well. This is clearly the result of vindictive intent. I have studied the communications between his troll (Ani Austin) on the Ruidoso Facebook page as well as the numerous edits he has been making to his negative reviews (making it more and more negative with each edit) on other websites and find them to be a clear and concerted effort to demean the reputation of a quality breeder and trainer that has provided so many dogs that have brought such joy and/or protection to many families and people. To readers of this message, if you have any doubts about Ruidoso, either review the facebook communications or simply call Irene at Ruidoso and talk to her. Also, review the Ruidoso Malinois Website. It is very informative and transparent with regard to all aspects of it's business as well as the Malinois breed. Andrew is an ex employee / consultant to Ruidoso who seems to have an axe to grind. As an "imagine & reputation" expert consultant on the internet, it would seem that he is simply using his skills to attack Ruidoso Malinois. To Andrew, this is becoming silly and mean spirited. I doubt this is who you are trying to be. Lets all love your dog, and wish you the all the best with your new/future family member. To end this review, I would just like to state how happy I am to be working with Ruidoso Malinois, in fact while at my Handler's school I fell in love with another puppy. I may well end up with TWO dogs by the middle of this summer. read more

I met Irene Howcroft of Ruidoso Malinois at a Police Canine conference where she was one of the conference speakers. I found her to be one of the most dedicated and knowledgable presenters. Its not very often you come across someone who is extremely intuitive about the breed she trains and the methods she uses. Wanting to know everything about training a protection dog I sat up and listened. When you need help you remember those who made an undeniably lasting impression. I contacted Irene. She listened carefully to my story and said , " Anna, l have the right dog for you". Irene was right. Aisha is a female Malinois that is extremely vigilant in her protection ability. She is very obedient and lovingly affectionate. Irene and her loyal team are at the forefront of excellence in training both dog and handler. My whole experience with Ruidoso Malinois was wonderful from start to finish. I want to also thank Tony and Matt for the amazing training sessions. The handler direction was excellent and customized to my situation ( we had a few good laughs too ). Aisha and l have a special bond that will continue to grow in the coming years as well as my friendship and appreciation for Irene and her staff. read more