Malinois (Belgium Shepherd)
Compiled and researched by Izelle de Klerk (BSc) - Dodgy Dogs & Crazy Cats
Canine & Feline Behaviourist
Canine & Feline Behaviourist
Pic from Malinois Rescue UK, and contact below. if you are looking for one, please do consider rescue first. details for above rescue below, but if not in your area, do search for one closer. Breed rescue orgs are very good at matching the dog and owner. https://www.malinois.uk/rescue.html
The Malinois (pronounced mal-in-wah) is one of four varieties (Malinois, Tervuren, lakenois and Groenendael) within the Belgian Shepherd Dog breed - they are distinguished only by a variation of coat type and colour:
All four originated in Belgium and the Malinois was named after the town of Malines. Because of their fawn-colored coat and black mask they are often mistaken for small German Shepherds, but the Belgian Malinois is a distinct breed on their own. They were carefully bred to be resilient and dependable farm and field workers and were introduced to the United States in the early 1900s, however, they did not truly catch on until the1960s.
Today, the Belgian Malinois is primarily used as working dogs for personal protection, detection of odours (explosives, accelerants and narcotics), police work, search and rescue (tracking), a guide for the blind and assistant to the disabled. They also do well in sports events like agility trials, obedience, showmanship, flyball, tracking, herding and sled and cart pulling.
They are medium-sized, light, square-proportioned dog with a deep chest, almond-shaped brown eyes, erect triangular ears and a strong tail. The weather resistant, double-coat is short and straight and comes in rich fawn to mahogany to black, with black mask and ears.
Personality
Malinois temperament ranges from aloof to outgoing, they are highly intelligent loyal, active, friendly, affectionate and lively with a great sense of humour. They are also obedient, determined and observant with strong protective and territorial instincts but can be reserved at times, especially if they did not receive sufficient socialization when young.
Is this the correct pup for you, which is the best home and why?
The Belgian Malinois will do okay in an apartment if it is sufficiently exercised, however, they need a lot of exercise and will do best with at least an average-sized yard. Because of their high prey drive they will chase cars, so it is very important to make sure they can’t escape from the yard and to let them off lead only in areas in which it is safe to do so. They make great pets for highly-active, high-energy, sporty type families. Although they prefer cool climates, they can adapt well to others and can live outdoors but would much rather be with their family.
These dogs are high energy, extremely intelligent dogs that need proper leadership, to be challenged, and lots of daily exercise. For these reasons they are best suited to an experienced dog owner - and are definitely not for first time dog owners. They can be very demanding and if the owner does not know how to handle them they can become very difficult to control.
Although they have a strong working-dog background, they crave companionship and family time above everything else. It is very important that they be a part of the family, if they feel neglected, they will entertain themselves by, for example, digging holes in your mattress.
They are wary of strangers and incredibly alert, they will notice sights, sounds, and smells that you don't - this makes them excellent watchdogs. They also make good guard dogs as they are naturally protective of their owners, however, they are not excessively aggressive.
Belgian Malinois exhibit energy levels that are among the highest of all dog breeds. They can be excessively exuberant or playful, especially when young, but most calm down a bit between the age of 3 and 5 years
Because of their high energy they need a lot of daily exercise, a normal walk around the block will not be enough - you will have to take them hiking, running or biking. They also have a high play drive and love to run and play in a large open area and games like fetch will keep them busy for as long as you are willing to throw. Other ways of exercising them both physically as well as mentally is by taking part in sporting events like agility, flyball, obedience, frisbee, herding, sledding, rally, and tracking. If they don’t get the exercise and stimulation they need they can become destructive or develop neurotic behaviours.
These dogs will not be happy unless they gets lots of daily exercise and stimulation. They also thrive when they have a job to do, it doesn't matter so much what their job is, as long as they have one. For this reason along with their intelligence and trainability they are often used as police dogs, military dogs, and homeland security dogs.
Socialization is very important with this breed, you need to start while they are still puppies. It will help the dog to be more confident and not overly suspicious, shy or sensitive.
In a nutshell, a Belgian Malinois is for you if you:
Where do I get my pup from?
Only from reputable breeders! One can contact the Kennel Union Of South Africa (KUSA). They have a list of breeders who have puppies available or contact a KUSA affiliated breed club.
Always try and meet both parents of the puppies. This is not always possible as the sire (father) may be an imported dog. Definitely ask to see the mother.
Please read our articles on how to choose a reputable breeder on the Puppies page.
- Malinois - the base colour is fawn to mahogany and tan with a black mask and black ears
- Tervuren - the same colour as the Malinois but has long hair
- Laekenois - wire-coated fawn and lacks the black mask and ears
- Groenendael - long hair and is solid black.
All four originated in Belgium and the Malinois was named after the town of Malines. Because of their fawn-colored coat and black mask they are often mistaken for small German Shepherds, but the Belgian Malinois is a distinct breed on their own. They were carefully bred to be resilient and dependable farm and field workers and were introduced to the United States in the early 1900s, however, they did not truly catch on until the1960s.
Today, the Belgian Malinois is primarily used as working dogs for personal protection, detection of odours (explosives, accelerants and narcotics), police work, search and rescue (tracking), a guide for the blind and assistant to the disabled. They also do well in sports events like agility trials, obedience, showmanship, flyball, tracking, herding and sled and cart pulling.
They are medium-sized, light, square-proportioned dog with a deep chest, almond-shaped brown eyes, erect triangular ears and a strong tail. The weather resistant, double-coat is short and straight and comes in rich fawn to mahogany to black, with black mask and ears.
Personality
Malinois temperament ranges from aloof to outgoing, they are highly intelligent loyal, active, friendly, affectionate and lively with a great sense of humour. They are also obedient, determined and observant with strong protective and territorial instincts but can be reserved at times, especially if they did not receive sufficient socialization when young.
Is this the correct pup for you, which is the best home and why?
The Belgian Malinois will do okay in an apartment if it is sufficiently exercised, however, they need a lot of exercise and will do best with at least an average-sized yard. Because of their high prey drive they will chase cars, so it is very important to make sure they can’t escape from the yard and to let them off lead only in areas in which it is safe to do so. They make great pets for highly-active, high-energy, sporty type families. Although they prefer cool climates, they can adapt well to others and can live outdoors but would much rather be with their family.
These dogs are high energy, extremely intelligent dogs that need proper leadership, to be challenged, and lots of daily exercise. For these reasons they are best suited to an experienced dog owner - and are definitely not for first time dog owners. They can be very demanding and if the owner does not know how to handle them they can become very difficult to control.
Although they have a strong working-dog background, they crave companionship and family time above everything else. It is very important that they be a part of the family, if they feel neglected, they will entertain themselves by, for example, digging holes in your mattress.
They are wary of strangers and incredibly alert, they will notice sights, sounds, and smells that you don't - this makes them excellent watchdogs. They also make good guard dogs as they are naturally protective of their owners, however, they are not excessively aggressive.
Belgian Malinois exhibit energy levels that are among the highest of all dog breeds. They can be excessively exuberant or playful, especially when young, but most calm down a bit between the age of 3 and 5 years
Because of their high energy they need a lot of daily exercise, a normal walk around the block will not be enough - you will have to take them hiking, running or biking. They also have a high play drive and love to run and play in a large open area and games like fetch will keep them busy for as long as you are willing to throw. Other ways of exercising them both physically as well as mentally is by taking part in sporting events like agility, flyball, obedience, frisbee, herding, sledding, rally, and tracking. If they don’t get the exercise and stimulation they need they can become destructive or develop neurotic behaviours.
These dogs will not be happy unless they gets lots of daily exercise and stimulation. They also thrive when they have a job to do, it doesn't matter so much what their job is, as long as they have one. For this reason along with their intelligence and trainability they are often used as police dogs, military dogs, and homeland security dogs.
Socialization is very important with this breed, you need to start while they are still puppies. It will help the dog to be more confident and not overly suspicious, shy or sensitive.
In a nutshell, a Belgian Malinois is for you if you:
- Are an active person and want a dog that can keep up with you
- You have time to give them lots of daily exercise and stimulation
- Are willing to spend time and money training and socializing them
- Want a dog that is easy to groom
- Want a good watch/guard dog
- Want a dog that is good at sports
- Want dog that will go anywhere and do anything with you
- Want a dog that is very family orientated and needs attention
- You want a dog that you can use for working
- Have previous dog experience and will be able to be firm and let the dog know its place
- Continued training with this breed is highly advisable, so be prepared to keep training in place.
- Have a house with a yard
Where do I get my pup from?
Only from reputable breeders! One can contact the Kennel Union Of South Africa (KUSA). They have a list of breeders who have puppies available or contact a KUSA affiliated breed club.
Always try and meet both parents of the puppies. This is not always possible as the sire (father) may be an imported dog. Definitely ask to see the mother.
Please read our articles on how to choose a reputable breeder on the Puppies page.
Which other breeds are most compatible with the Malinois?
If raised and socializes with other dogs they can get along well with most of them, however they tend to be on the bossy side and can be rather dominant toward other dogs.
It will be best to get another dog that is not challenging or dominant themselves – dogs such as Pitbull, Staffie, Bull terrier, German Shepherd, etc. should be avoided.
Is it wise to have two or more of the same breed?
Your best match is one of each sex i.e. male and female or else two males. These dogs need firm handling, although the methods used should always be those of positive reinforcement. Extensive socialization for this breed is a must.
Should I get two pups together?
Is it wise to keep same-sex dogs?
To keep two or more same-sex dogs of a rather dominant breed together, is often a recipe for conflict. They can get along fine, until they are ‘triggered’ by a ball or a bone lying on the lawn, when both might want to take possession of it, or by someone delivering mail and when they rush for the gate and can’t get to the ‘intruder’, they go for one another. As mentioned previously, a knowledgeable, experienced and firm owner is required.
Additionally, as the pup reaches the adolescent stage, its own position in the canine pack will assume much importance. This can lead to fighting between dogs and especially in the case of two females. The fights can be very serious and may not be able to be solved.
Do they get on well with other animals?
The Malinois are not typically an aggressive breed but because of their protective side they can be aggressive towards dogs or other animals they doesn’t know.
However they get along well with other dogs they were raised with, even cats (as long as they don’t run away) and if properly socialized, they can get along well with strange dogs too. But take care with small non-canine pets like rabbits, rats and even with some cats. Because of their high prey drive chances are they will chase and kill them.
Early and continued socialization is a must.
Are they good with children?
If socializes well and/or raised around children, Malinois can be very good and accepting of them. However, young children need to be taught not to run past the dog waving their arms and shrieking, as this may trigger their prey drive and they will chase the children. Also, keep in mind that Malinois are tremendously physical animals and might run into a child accidentally... over and over again. They are best suited to a family with older children who understand how to treat them with respect and should always be supervise with smaller children. They are prone to herding behaviour.
They can be slightly reserved with new people, but tend to relax when they realizes there is no threat to the household. However because of their herding instincts they may try to herd children, visitors, other pets, etc. This includes them nipping and chasing.
If raised and socializes with other dogs they can get along well with most of them, however they tend to be on the bossy side and can be rather dominant toward other dogs.
It will be best to get another dog that is not challenging or dominant themselves – dogs such as Pitbull, Staffie, Bull terrier, German Shepherd, etc. should be avoided.
Is it wise to have two or more of the same breed?
Your best match is one of each sex i.e. male and female or else two males. These dogs need firm handling, although the methods used should always be those of positive reinforcement. Extensive socialization for this breed is a must.
Should I get two pups together?
- This is not a good idea. Most people think that the pups will be happier with a playmate and won’t fight if they are family. The truth of the matter is that your two pups are likely to:
Bond with each other to the exclusion of you - Will stress without the other dog being around
- Fight with each other
- Be more destructive and boisterous
- Two pups together often leads to one being more assertive and the other more submissive. This could well end up in a situation where the more submissive dog will never develop its full potential.
- Mature later
Is it wise to keep same-sex dogs?
To keep two or more same-sex dogs of a rather dominant breed together, is often a recipe for conflict. They can get along fine, until they are ‘triggered’ by a ball or a bone lying on the lawn, when both might want to take possession of it, or by someone delivering mail and when they rush for the gate and can’t get to the ‘intruder’, they go for one another. As mentioned previously, a knowledgeable, experienced and firm owner is required.
Additionally, as the pup reaches the adolescent stage, its own position in the canine pack will assume much importance. This can lead to fighting between dogs and especially in the case of two females. The fights can be very serious and may not be able to be solved.
Do they get on well with other animals?
The Malinois are not typically an aggressive breed but because of their protective side they can be aggressive towards dogs or other animals they doesn’t know.
However they get along well with other dogs they were raised with, even cats (as long as they don’t run away) and if properly socialized, they can get along well with strange dogs too. But take care with small non-canine pets like rabbits, rats and even with some cats. Because of their high prey drive chances are they will chase and kill them.
Early and continued socialization is a must.
Are they good with children?
If socializes well and/or raised around children, Malinois can be very good and accepting of them. However, young children need to be taught not to run past the dog waving their arms and shrieking, as this may trigger their prey drive and they will chase the children. Also, keep in mind that Malinois are tremendously physical animals and might run into a child accidentally... over and over again. They are best suited to a family with older children who understand how to treat them with respect and should always be supervise with smaller children. They are prone to herding behaviour.
They can be slightly reserved with new people, but tend to relax when they realizes there is no threat to the household. However because of their herding instincts they may try to herd children, visitors, other pets, etc. This includes them nipping and chasing.
Training requirements and grooming
Training
The Belgian Malinois is very intelligent and easy to train, they learn new commands very fast and have a high drive for rewards. Start training when they are still puppies and don’t use harsh training methods. They need an owner who is firm, confident and not heavy handed, you need to set clear consistent rules.
Because of their instinctive display of herding behaviour such as chasing, circling, and nipping at people's heels they require consistent obedience training. Teach them to “Come,” “Down-Stay,” or “Leave It”.
Grooming
The smooth, shorthaired coat of the Malinois is easy to groom. They need only a weekly brush to remove dead hair but they do sheds heavily twice a year and will need more frequent brushing during that time to control the amount of loose hair floating around. Don’t bathe them too often, soap can remove the natural oils and waterproofing - bathe him only when absolutely necessary.
As you groom, check for sores, rashes, or signs of infection such as redness, tenderness, or inflammation on the skin, in the ears, nose, mouth, and eyes, and on the feet. Ears should smell good, without too much wax or gunk inside, and eyes should be clear, with no redness or discharge. Your careful weekly exam will help you spot potential health problems early.
Health concerns
This is a relatively healthy breed, some of the health issues they can develop are skin allergies, eye problems (like progressive retinal atrophy or cataracts), hip and elbow dysplasia, thyroid disease, epilepsy and obesity.
“In today’s age, with the rising cost of veterinary care, it really is a wise decision to consider medical insurance for your pets. Depending on the plan you choose, you can ensure that if your pet does develop one of the health issues the breed is prone too, that you will be covered –additionally, just knowing that any accident your pet may have will be covered, will out-weigh the monthly insurance fee for most pet owners. Our own personal choice is Genricpet as they have a ‘no limit’ policy and their rates are comparable to the rest of the industry. To find out the questions and things to look for in a Medical Insurance, please just follow this link”
Life expectancy
About 12-14 years
Interesting Facts
Do`s and Don`ts of this breed
Do’s
Don’ts
Training
The Belgian Malinois is very intelligent and easy to train, they learn new commands very fast and have a high drive for rewards. Start training when they are still puppies and don’t use harsh training methods. They need an owner who is firm, confident and not heavy handed, you need to set clear consistent rules.
Because of their instinctive display of herding behaviour such as chasing, circling, and nipping at people's heels they require consistent obedience training. Teach them to “Come,” “Down-Stay,” or “Leave It”.
Grooming
The smooth, shorthaired coat of the Malinois is easy to groom. They need only a weekly brush to remove dead hair but they do sheds heavily twice a year and will need more frequent brushing during that time to control the amount of loose hair floating around. Don’t bathe them too often, soap can remove the natural oils and waterproofing - bathe him only when absolutely necessary.
As you groom, check for sores, rashes, or signs of infection such as redness, tenderness, or inflammation on the skin, in the ears, nose, mouth, and eyes, and on the feet. Ears should smell good, without too much wax or gunk inside, and eyes should be clear, with no redness or discharge. Your careful weekly exam will help you spot potential health problems early.
Health concerns
This is a relatively healthy breed, some of the health issues they can develop are skin allergies, eye problems (like progressive retinal atrophy or cataracts), hip and elbow dysplasia, thyroid disease, epilepsy and obesity.
“In today’s age, with the rising cost of veterinary care, it really is a wise decision to consider medical insurance for your pets. Depending on the plan you choose, you can ensure that if your pet does develop one of the health issues the breed is prone too, that you will be covered –additionally, just knowing that any accident your pet may have will be covered, will out-weigh the monthly insurance fee for most pet owners. Our own personal choice is Genricpet as they have a ‘no limit’ policy and their rates are comparable to the rest of the industry. To find out the questions and things to look for in a Medical Insurance, please just follow this link”
Life expectancy
About 12-14 years
Interesting Facts
- In 2011 alone, the AKC awarded 39 new herding titles to Belgian Malinois.
- The shorthaired Malinois became quite popular as a herder, and his abilities were later turned to police and military work. Photos at police dog trials in 1903 show Malinois climbing 10-foot ladders and performing other displays of agility. It’s not surprising that many of the dogs were conscripted during World War I.
- Because of his herding heritage, the Malinois tends to move in big circles
- United States Navy SEALs used a Belgian Malinois war dog named Cairo in Operation Neptune Spear, in which Osama bin Laden was killed.
- The TV show Person of Interest features a Malinois as a regular cast member.
Do`s and Don`ts of this breed
Do’s
- Give this dog a lot of daily exercise and mental stimulation
- Start training while they are still puppies - obedience training is very important.
- Socialize them well with as many other people and animals as possible and keep it going.
- Give them a job - be is a sporting event, hide and seek, fetch or search and rescue.
Don’ts
- Leave this dog in the back yard, they need human companionship
- Leave them with nothing to do - they will become destructive
Reference
http://www.petsplace.co.za/malinois.htm
http://www.4pets.co.za/index.php/find/breeders/dog-breeders/97-belgian-shepherd-dog-malinois
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgian_Shepherd_Dog_(Malinois)
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/belgianmalinois.htm
http://www.justdogbreeds.com/belgian-malinois.html
http://www.vetstreet.com/dogs/belgian-malinois
http://www.dogster.com/dog-breeds/Belgian_Malinois
http://www.petsplace.co.za/malinois.htm
http://www.4pets.co.za/index.php/find/breeders/dog-breeders/97-belgian-shepherd-dog-malinois
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgian_Shepherd_Dog_(Malinois)
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/belgianmalinois.htm
http://www.justdogbreeds.com/belgian-malinois.html
http://www.vetstreet.com/dogs/belgian-malinois
http://www.dogster.com/dog-breeds/Belgian_Malinois