Belgian Malinois – Everything You Need To Know About This Breed

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What dog owners love about this breed?

The Belgian Malinois (pronounced mal-in-ois) is among the dog breeds that are known for its intelligence, loyalty, and obedience. These Belgian breeds are also known for being protective of their family and home.

Belgian Malinois

This Malinois dog breed has incredibly good tracking abilities and is considered an obedient dog breed, making it one of the preferred breed choices of police officers for search and rescue tasks. According to the American Kennel Club, the Belgian Malinois is a herding breed.

What you need to know about Malinois Health

Malinois are a healthy breed of dog but do have some health concerns that potential owners should be aware of. Some common health problems seen in Malinois include hip dysplasia, bloat, and pancreatitis.

Types of health concerns

They may also suffer from allergies, ear infections, and eye problems. To help keep your Malinois healthy, make sure to provide him with regular exercise and proper nutrition, and take him to the vet for checkups at least once a year.

Malinois temperament and personality

malinois, belgian shepherd dog, dandelion meadow

Temperament

The Belgian Malinois temperament is often described as intense, alert, and active. They are considered to have a strong work ethic and are very loyal to their owners. They are also known for being very intelligent and easy to train.

Personality

The Malinois personality is typically confident and outgoing. They are very enthusiastic about life and love to play and work. They are also known for being very protective of their families and can be aggressive toward strangers.

Tips from Belgian Malinois Parents

Some tips from Belgian Malinois dog parents include:

Excercise

-Make sure you provide your Malinois with plenty of exercise. This breed is very active and needs a lot of exercise to stay healthy and happy.

Socialize

-Be sure to socialize your Malinois puppy early and often. This breed can be shy around strangers if they are not socialized properly.

Training

-Train your Malinois using positive reinforcement methods. This breed is intelligent and responds best to positive reinforcement training methods.

Home security

-Make sure you have a secure fence in your yard as this breed is known for being very adept at escaping from yards.

Shedding

-Be prepared for shedding season. This breed is known for shedding its fur twice yearly, so be prepared to vacuum!

American Kennel Club recognition

The American Kennel Club recognized the Belgian Malinois in 1912 and created a breed standard for this herding dog.

malinois, pooch, belgian shepherd dog

Breed standard

The breed standard for the Belgian Malinois is that they are to be “of medium size and substance, with a well-proportioned, balanced build. They are athletic and powerful, without appearing coarse or bulky.

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Height

Males should stand 22-26 inches at the shoulder; females 20-24 inches.

Weight

The weight range for males is 60-80 pounds; for females, it is 40-60 pounds.

Coat

The coat is short and hard, of good quality, with a dense undercoat.

Colors

The acceptable colors are black, fawn (a light tan), and mahogany (a rich red). The dog’s expression should be alert and intelligent.”.

How to Care for a Belgian Malinois?

A Belgian Malinois needs plenty of exercise and should be taken on a long walk or run every day. They should be fed a high-quality diet and given fresh water to drink.

Belgian Malinois may be prone to hip dysplasia and other health problems, so it is important to take them to the vet for regular checkups.

Belgian herding dogs need plenty of training and socialization, and should never be left alone for extended periods of time. The exercise requirement for Belgian Malinois is high, should be taken on a long walk or run every day.

Basic Malinois grooming

Grooming a Belgian Malinois is relatively easy because their shorter coat is easily maintained. They shed twice per year. Brushing more often will help prevent your dog‘s hair from falling off the floor.

Best way to groom

The best way to groom a Belgian Malinois is to use a slicker brush and a pin brush. First, use the slicker brush to remove any mats or tangles in the coat. Then, use the pin brush to groom the coat and make it shine.

malinois and border collie, belgian shepherd dog, playing dogs

The history of the Belgian Malinois

The Belgian Malinois dog breed originated in Belgium. They are a working dog breed and are used as a police or military dog, and in search and rescue. They are also used as service dogs and are popular as pets. The Belgian Malinois is a very versatile dog and can be used for a variety of purposes.

Malinois origin

The Malinois name came from the city of Malines. Malines is a city located in the province of Antwerp, Belgium. It is the capital of the district of Malines. The city has a population of approximately 118,000 people.

Top questions about the Belgian Malinois

malinois, dog, water

Is Belgian Malinois a good family dog?

Belgian Malinois are good family dogs, but they require a lot of exercise and training. They can be protective of their family and make good guard dogs.

Are Belgian Malinois better than German shepherds?

Although his fawn coat with black masks makes him often confused by the German Shepherd, they are not the same breed. The Malinois dog breed is smaller than German Shepherds, but neither of these herding breeds is considered small dogs.

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Differences between the two breeds

The key difference between the Belgian Malinois and the German Shepherd is that the Belgian Malinois is smaller in size. Even though they have a slightly similar appearance to German Shepherds, those who are not familiar with both breeds may not realize that Malinois’ are separate breeds.

Both are bred as working dogs, but the Belgian Malinois is more often used in police work due to its higher intelligence and agility. The German Shepherds are a better choice for guard dog duty because of their larger size and imposing appearance.

Breed characteristics

There are key differences in the breed characteristics between the Belgian Malinois and German Shepherds such as the coat type, weight, height, and life span:

Belgian Malinois

  • 40-80 pounds up to 21 inches tall
  • life span ranges from 14-16 years
  • smooth coat
  • short dog hair

German Shepherds

  • 50-90 pounds up to 26 inches tall
  • life span ranges from 7-10 years
  • double coat
  • medium length coat though some shepherds are long haired dogs

Are Malinois dogs smart?

Some people may consider Belgian Malinois dog breeds to be smart because they are able to learn commands quickly and obey them, while others may not consider them to be very bright because they are not able to perform complex tasks.

Are Malinois friendly dogs?

The Malinois dog breed can be quite variable in terms of personality. Some Belgian Malinois are friendly and outgoing, while others can be more reserved and aloof. Overall, they can make good family pets providing they are properly socialized as puppies.

What two breeds make a Belgian Malinois?

The Belgian Malinois is made up of two breeds: the Belgian Sheepdog and the German Shepherd Dog. The Belgian Sheepdog is a breed of dog that is used as a working dog.

They are bred for their herding abilities and are used in many different ways, such as guarding, search and rescue, and law enforcement.

Belgian Sheepdogs are a medium-sized breed, averaging about 22-26 inches in height and 50-70 pounds in weight.

They are a muscular dog with a long, narrow head, and they can be either short or long haired dogs. They are considered to be a very versatile breed that is good for both working and companion purposes.

Are Belgian Malinois a healthy breed?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the health of a Belgian Malinois will depend on a variety of factors, such as diet, exercise and genetic disposition.

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However, in general, Belgian Malinois is considered healthy. The Belgian Malinois has a life span of around 14-16 years, which is in the longer end of life expectancy for most other dogs.

Some conditions that this breed should be screened for by a veterinarian include hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, and certain eye problems. As with all dog breeds, regular ear checkups to check for signs of infection are needed.

Do Belgian Malinois shed a lot?

Belgian Malinois shed twice per year. The amount of shedding may be considered moderate.

Is a Belgian Malinois hypoallergenic?

The Belgian Malinois is not considered to be hypoallergenic dogs.

How much does a Belgian Malinois puppy cost?

The cost of a Belgian Malinois puppy varies depending on the breeder but can range between $1500- $3700. Some breeders may charge more for a puppy because the dog is purebred.

Are Belgian Shepherd and Belgian Malinois the same?

The Belgian Shepherd is a working dog that is used in a wide variety of roles, such as herding, search and rescue, assistance in disability, narcotics detection, protection and more.

The Belgian Malinois is also a working dog breed but is most commonly used as military dogs and law enforcement agencies due to their high level of energy and trainability. They are very versatile dogs that can be used in many different areas.

Do Belgian shepherds bark a lot?

There is no definitive answer to this question because barking behavior varies from dog to dog. Some Belgian shepherds may bark more than others, but this isn’t necessarily a characteristic of the breed as a whole.

How can you tell if a Belgian Malinois is purebred?

There are a few different ways that you can tell if a Belgian Malinois is purebred. One way is to look at the dog’s pedigree. You can also check to see if the dog has been registered with a breed club.

Belgian Malinois Roundup

The Belgian Malinois is an obedient, intelligent, and loyal dog breed. The Malinois is among the most well known of pet breeds in the United States because they are a herding type dog that was originally brought over from Belgium. They have incredible tracking abilities and are considered very obedient by many owners. This makes them popular for work with police officers as search dogs or protection at home or on duty.

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