Stray Belgian Malinois picks hooman to save him, and even though she couldn’t give him the furever home he deserved, she quickly found someone who could, says: ‘He’s so gentle with everyone both human and pup. Most of all, he’s loved.’

Author image for Laurent Shinar
Laurent Shinar • Writer and Editor
Aug 18, 2026 10:45 AM EDT

It is rare to come across a stray Belgian Malinois, most notably due to the intense amount of training they require. Making them highly prized working dogs. So the fact that our rescuer came face to face with one who was abandoned is rather peculiar.

So peculiar in fact that this story was originally posted on Reddit's Dog Advice subreddit. A very reasonable place to post such a perplexing story. As briefly mentioned before this breed of doggo needs a lot of training to satisfy their high energy and high intelligence. Like literally constant training and working that is all they can handle. Too much time off and they can go off the rails. So to see one so calm, so curious and gentle, while being totally alone is a truly special occasion.

But that is exactly what our rescuer witnessed, and more than that, this pupper literally chose her and followed her home. In a show of determination that is typical of the breed this pupper waited for two hours in the cold outside this woman's home. Waiting patiently to be let inside or saved by someone else. Thankfully, someone else would soon turn up and give this pup everything it ever deserved. Something that so few lost doggos are lucky enough to experience, no less a pedigree pup who had absolutely no place on the streets to begin with. And while his new life might not be full of work. We are sure that there will be enough adventure and intrigue to keep this canine satisfied. 
 

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  • 01
    WHE LITERALLY GAVE ME HIS PAW TRYING TO CONVINCE ME & MY HEART MELTED!!!"
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    Belgian malinois lying on grass next to road

    Dog depicted by model

  • 02
    I was reading at the park and noticed this stray pacing back & forth the street out of my peripheral, right? No sense of cars passing by and eventually crossed the street. I look up from
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    my book and see him walking towards me and get scared (mind you, I'm thinking things gonna go south FAST) but he doesn't get closer, instead lays down about 3 yards in front of me.
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  • 04
    Okaaaay. Wasn't displaying any signs of aggression and that's when I started to record since I was kinda in disbelief. Out of curiosity I called
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  • 05
    him over and he got up with no hesitation. Ever since then he has not left my side and I instantly fell in love. Let's call him Pluto from now on. Sooo, I walk a few laps around the field to see if he was
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  • Aw shucks, it hardly comes any sweeter than that now doesn’t it. To go through that cycle of emotions from wondering what a dog is doing walking around unleashed, to then that dog approaching you (a scene that no one pawticularly enjoys or is prepawed for), but then for the whole thing to turn utterly wholesome and the dog melt in her arms like butter is just unreal. But what is even more unreal is that this dog is behaving like a heavily trained Malinois. These are dogs that receive intense training to help keep up with their high energy levels and intelligence. Without said training they get bored and go on destructive rampages. So the question is how did this dog get so smart but end up on the streets?
     

  • 06
    genuinely following me and there he was! No. more than 2 paces behind me. Occasionally ran a little ahead but would look back shortly before returning to my side. This started at 5pm okay??
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  • 07
    After playing with Pluto for no more than 30 minutes I decided to go home since I could feel myself getting attached to him. I was already heartbroken knowing I couldn't take him home
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    (for a multitude of reasons, especially since I can't provide the life this sweet boy deserves). By the time I reach the gate to my house he's nudging me to let him inside:( HE LITERALLY
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  • 09
    GAVE ME HIS PAW TRYING TO CONVINCE ME & MY HEART MELTED!!! Around 6pm I poke my head out the gate to check & see if he's still in the area and he's literally pacing the
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    sidewalk in front of my house. Okayyy. Strange. I thought he would've left by now...but I humor him since he's a cutie. One of my neighbors noticed Pluto's pacing
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    and asked if that was my dog. Apparently he's seen the dog in the neighborhood past couple days and thought I was the owner because of how stuck to me he was. I explained my situation
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    Cheezburger Image 10655331584
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    and this godsend of a man decided to watch over the dog for the night while I tried to find a suitable home without involving a shelter. Luckily!! I have a friend
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  • Wow, now this is a good spot of luck right here. Honestly, we do not know how this woman had the heart to leave the doggo outside, but at least she was watching over it. Though from the doggo’s side it must have been so heartbreaking, so confusing that the one hooman who had not shooed him away, still did not seem to want him. Nonetheless, a hooman and a home have been secured, even if only for the night and that is wonderful. 
     

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    who's had 3 pitbulls before (they all passed away from old age) and is willing to take him in tomorrow to see if he's a good fit!! Things were finally looking up for this handsome boy! Now,
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  • 15
    around 10pm, my neighbor texts me saying his German shepherd (whom allegedly has reactivity issues) had a problem with Pluto and can't keep him for the night. S - .s, ik. Especially
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    since Pluto has shown no signs of aggression or lack of control around other people & animals. He releases Pluto back to the park we found him at. I leave my house at 12am
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    and guess who's laying down in front of my house? Yeppp, it's Pluto. Broke my heart seeing him refuse to leave because he's (understandably so) scaring my other
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    neighbors. When I say he was trying his hardest to get into the car with me . Came back home at 2am. You already know who was waiting for me. He woke up from hearing my car and walked right
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    Cheezburger Image 10655331840
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    up to me. I've been keeping my friend updated and he appears to be set on taking Pluto in to the vet and claiming him so long as he's not chipped! If, heaven forbid, things
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  • 21
    don't work out, I don't know what to do with poor Pluto:( it feels wrong to drop him off at the park. For one, he's gonna camp in front of my house when I can't take him in. Two, he's making
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    my neighbors extremely nervous. I don't know anyone else who could take him in and provide this handsome boy with a suitable life. I need advice
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    on what to do should he have nowhere to go. Should I call animal control if he's got nowhere else? Maybe take him to the shelter? He seems to be slightly trained since he could sit
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    Cheezburger Image 10655332096
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    on command so I'm hoping he wouldn't have problems getting adopted? I can't stomach leaving him to roam the streets:(
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    Pluto camped outside my house for 2 days. He slept under my car to shield himself from the heat. When he'd hear me come outside, there he was. It broke my heart seeing him with nowhere to go.
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    As for everyone suggesting I keep him myself, there was NO possible way I could provide this boy the life he deserves. I don't have the space or time to train him how he needs. Let
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    Cheezburger Image 10655332864
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    alone the money to provide vet care etc etc. Aside from that, I called every shelter in the area to no avail. No replies to my posts about a missing Malinois.
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    With that being said, despite being the sweetest thing to ever exist, he was scaring my neighbors. I needed to find him a home and fast. Animal control started patrolling my
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    neighborhood looking for him. Luckily, my friend was more than willing to take him in. The LASSTTTT thing I wanted was to put him in a shelter. He has the space, time, and money to
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    Cheezburger Image 10655332352
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    provide Pluto with a happy life. He knows what goes into owning a dog of this caliber. So, I brought Pluto to him, and even in the week (give or take???) he's been in my friends care, he's been
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    ontop of things. He took Pluto to the vet and he was not chipped. Turns out he's (around) 2 years old. He starts training sometime soon! He's always at the park. Has his own space to roam.
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    He's so gentle with everyone both human and pup. Most of all, he's loved. I'm close with his new owner so I'll be seeing him soon too! Best believe I'm bringing a care package, how could I
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    Cheezburger Image 10655333120
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    not? But overall, Pluto had a happy ending and that's all that matters. Thank you for everyone's support and encouragement! It really
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    helped me seek how I could help him without having to take him in as my own, no matter how bad I wanted to :,) If I couldn't keep in contact with Pluto I would be much more heartbroken
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deserved quick Belgian Malinois stray dog found hooman reddit story save someone dog story furever home
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