NYC Woman’s Family Adopted a Belgian Malinois. They Did Not Expect Their Dog to Climb Trees: ‘He is Military Software’

Some people find the cutest dog in the world and take it home without a second thought. But Madeleine McAdam’s (@madeleine9270) story is a word of caution for fur parents who intend to adopt a dog on a whim.

“My parents adopted a Belgian Malinois thinking that it was, like, a regular family pet. This dog is not a dog,” McAdam, who’s from New York City, told TikTok.

“My dog can climb trees,” she added. Was the dog a cat? Not exactly, but McAdam was conveying that perhaps her family chose a pet that is way more energetic than they had expected.

“We had no idea. He just got back from camp. He was at a six-week intensive training camp. We had to get him puzzles; we had to get him brain games,” McAdam continued. Many dogs become loyal family pets without needing intensive training. There are also dog breeds in which excessive activities would be disadvantageous.

But Belgian Malinois are known to be working dogs. Without much activity, they might redirect their energy into destructive behavior, such as chewing on furniture or digging around the yard.

“My mom is dying. She FaceTimes me when he’s down for his nap. She has to put him in the crate for an hour in the day to nap so she’s able to do things around the house,” she said. It seems that the family is in shambles over their dog. McAdam’s story trended online, with many weighing in on the situation.

Accidentally adopting a navy seal

There were several people on TikTok joking lightly about the situation. Although Belgian Malinois are popular active dogs, social media couldn’t help but sprinkle a bit of humor in McAdam’s situation.

One commenter said, “The first 2 years are the hardest. The rest are just hard.” They made it sound like McAdam’s family got a toddler, not a dog. But for an active dog, the statement applies.

Another wrote, “Navy SEAL, you’ve adopted a Navy SEAL.”

Someone else commented, “He is military software.” Jokes aside, Belgian Malinois are the most used and trusted companions by the Department of Defense. It’s also the only breed of dog that the Department of Defense actively breeds and raises in San Antonio, Texas.

According to the Department of Defense, the Belgian Malinois is preferred for its high energy, trainability, and work ethic, among other qualities. Essentially, the dog is military software. This isn’t the type of dog that people with a sedentary lifestyle could handle.

Why would anyone adopt a dog without researching?

Some people on social media were blaming McAdam’s family for picking out a Belgian Malinois without prior research. But McAdam clarified the situation in a separate video. They had chosen him, thinking that he was a German Shepherd.

It’s a common misconception for those looking into getting a German Shepherd. Both dogs share the same, distinct features—they’re also both working dogs. However, German Shepherd dogs are more compact.

“We got him from a shelter. He was a puppy. We thought he was a German Shepherd. He’d been hit by a car and abandoned. He had fleas, he had worms, his hind legs didn’t work—he was in terrible shape—and we literally fell in love with him and brought him home,” McAdam said in her follow-up video.

Prior to adopting their dog, the family didn’t know what a Belgian Malinois was. Despite their dog’s high energy and specific needs, the family isn’t on the verge of giving up. According to McAdam, he is attended to and cared for.

“But! Spread the word on Belgian Malinois. Because in the wrong hands, it’s a really scary thought,” McAdam cautioned. These dogs aren’t for everyone, but they will thrive in the right home.

(featured images: Fernando Lacerda Branco, Madeleine McAdam)

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