Welcome to an exciting conversation with Anne Apelmeier . Anne is a breeder of Malinois working dogs and shares her experiences in dog sports and breeding with us.
K9andSports: Hello Anne, great to have you here. To start with, could you briefly introduce yourself to our readers?
Anne:
Hello everyone, thank you for the invitation. I'm Anne Apelmeier. I'm originally from Wesel, where I discovered my passion for dog sports at the age of twelve. This enthusiasm has never left me since. In 2015, I finally got the chance and began breeding Malinois under my own kennel name. Since then, I've specialized in breeding high-performance dogs that demonstrate their abilities in various disciplines.
K9andSports: Which dog sports have you been involved in so far?
Anne:
I started with dog sports like agility and tournament dog sports (THS). When I was about 15, my first Malinois came along, and my life and the direction of dog sports changed. With her, I discovered Schutzhund sport, then called VPG (Protection Dog Training) and now known as IGP (Protection Dog Training). Over time, my interest grew so much that I finally decided to delve deeper into the breed.
K9andSports: A Mali at 15? How did that come about?
Anne:
I still vividly remember the moment I first saw a Malinois at the dog park. This dog's charisma captivated me. A short time later, I had the opportunity to adopt a three-and-a-half-year-old female Malinois that was available for adoption. She demonstrated a strong bond with her handler and an enormous willingness to work. I was absolutely captivated by her demeanor. Added to that was her appearance—short hair, upright ears, and black mask.
K9andSports: Did your family also practice dog sports?
Anne:
No, not at all. I come from a family that has no experience with dogs.
K9andSports: How did it go with a Mali at such a young age? Were there any problems?
Anne:
The dog was extremely confident and was originally intended for guard duty. I immediately fell in love with her and promptly took her home without any prior discussion. Hexe was a fitting name for her—she truly was a witch! The decision to keep her was not without controversy, and long discussions with my mother followed. Ultimately, however, it was clear that Hexe would stay, as she had bonded exclusively with me.
K9andSports: That was probably fate! You've already talked about your breeding. What motivated you to breed this particular breed?
Anne:
After my first female, I often had several Malinois at the same time. I helped other breeders raise puppies and enjoyed following the dogs' development. It was fascinating to see how their personalities developed. The desire to breed independently quickly emerged. However, I was still too young at the time, and my living situation wasn't suitable. Over time, however, I was able to create the necessary conditions and realize my goal.
K9andSports: How many litters have you had so far?
Anne:
I've raised ten litters under my own kennel name. But even before that, I was assisting other breeders with their litters and gaining valuable experience.
K9andSports: A large portion of your dogs go into service. How important is it to you that these dogs are also suitable as family dogs?
Anne:
I make a clear distinction between service dogs and family dogs. If a dog is intended for service, its suitability for the job is the highest priority. If it also possesses the qualities of a good family dog, that's an added bonus, but not the primary goal.
K9andSports: What criteria do you use to select your breeding dogs and stud dogs? Is it based on lineage, temperament, or test results?
Anne:
For me, test results or training marks aren't the most important thing. While they can be helpful in assessing the dogs better, they aren't decisive. I prefer to see the dogs in person, especially in their home environment and in their respective areas of work. I prefer dogs with a certain temperament, who aren't too calm, but rather a bit "feisty"—dogs with a bit more fire. I also evaluate the offspring and their health. If all these factors fit, and the lineage is compatible with my bitch, I decide to breed a litter.
K9andSports: What exactly do you mean by "roughly"? Can you elaborate?
Anne:
By "excited," I mean dogs that are extremely alert, responsive, and skeptical. They are naturally motivated, enjoy working with and without toys, and require little encouragement to be active. These dogs naturally want to work.
K9andSports: You have high standards for your breeding dogs. Do you differentiate between bitches and males in these standards? There are breeders who say the bitch only has to be a good mother, while the performance is primarily expected of the male.
Anne:
No, I don't make a distinction. I think the breeding bitch has at least the same contribution as the male. Especially during the first eight weeks of breeding, the bitch plays a crucial role by teaching and shaping the puppies. Her influence is therefore just as important as that of the male.
K9andSports: You've already talked about the importance of the first weeks in a puppy's life. What are the most important steps to optimally prepare your puppies for their future work from the very beginning?
Anne:
The first weeks of a puppy's life are crucial for their development and preparation for their future work. I begin socializing puppies as early as 4 weeks old, exposing them to different people, animals, sounds, surfaces, and environments. This helps them develop their senses and better adapt to new situations. I carefully observe the puppies to learn their personalities and tendencies, developing their strengths and overcoming their weaknesses.
Here ends Part 1. In Part 2, we talk with Anne about her experiences with litters, the differences between Malinois of the past and today, the everyday life of service dogs, and her views on temperament tests.