Belgian Malinois
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ACR
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AKC
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ANKC
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APRI
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CKC
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CKC
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FCI
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KCGB
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NKC
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NZKC
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UKC
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Living with a Belgian Malinois
Temperament: The Belgain Malinois should be confident, showing neither shyness nor aggressiveness in new situations. The dog may show signs of being reserved with strangers but should be affectionate with people he knows. They are naturally protective of their owner and property. They have a strong desire to work.
Family Dog: The Belgian Malinois can make a great family pet for the right family. They are watchful, alert and loyal dog who are good with children if they are socialized with them as a puppy.
Shedding: The Belgian Malinois is a light shedder with heavy shedding periods two times a year.
Grooming: The smooth, short coat of the Belgian Malinois makes it easy to groom. They should be brushed regularly with a firm bristle brush and bathed only when necessary.
Weather: The Belgian Malinois does best in cool climates, but can adapt well to others. They can live outdoors but would do much better as a indoor family dog.
Exercise: The Belgian Malinois is a working dog because of this they require lots of daily exercise including a long walk and off leash play in a safe area. They are a highly intelligent dog who can learn new things very quickly and would do best with a 'job' to do.
Living Conditions: The Belgian Malinois can live in an apartment provided they are given sufficient exercise daily. They are moderately active inside and should have a good size yard in which to run.
Belgian Malinois Appearance
Appearance: The Belgian Malinois is a well balanced dog with an elegant square appearance. The head is carried proudly. They are strong, agile, muscular dogs who are alert and full of life.
Size: A male Belgian Malinois stands between 24 to 26 inches tall, with females standing 22 to 24 inches tall at the shoulders. They weigh between 55 to 65 pounds when fully grown.
Head: The head of the Belgian Malinois is clean-cut and strong without heaviness. The overall size should be in proportion to the size of the body. They have an overall intelligent, alert expression. The top of the skull is flat with the width being approximately equal to the length. They have a moderate stop.
Nose: The nose of the Belgian Malinois is black in color.
Eyes: The eyes of the Belgian Malinois are brown in color, medium in size and slightly almond shaped. The rims are black in color.
Ears: The ears of the Belgian Malinois are close to the shape of an equilateral triangle. They stand erect and should be in proportion to the size of the head. The outer corner of the ear should always be above the center of the eye.
Muzzle: The muzzle of the Belgian Malinois is moderately pointed and approximately equal in length to the skull with the top of the head on the top of the muzzle being parallel to each other. They have strong and powerful jaws. The lips are tight and black in color with no pink showing on the outside.
Teeth/Bite: The Belgian Malinois has strong, white teeth that meet in a scissors or level bite.
Neck: The neck of the Belgian Malinois is round and of ample length to allow the head to be carried proudly. It should narrow from the body toward the head.
Body: The body of the Belgian Malinois should give the impression of power. The chest is deep extending to the elbow at its lowest point. The underline follows a smooth curve from the chest to the abdomen which is moderately developed. The loin is short, broad and strong, blending smoothly into the back. The topline is level.
Forequarters: The Belgian Malinois has muscular forequarters with long, oblique shoulders that lay flat against the body, forming a sharp angle with the upper arm. The legs are straight and parallel to each other with oval bone. The pastern is strong, medium in length and very slightly sloped.
Hindquarters: The angulation of the hindquarters matches that of the forequarters. The angle at the hock is relatively sharp however they should not have extreme angulation. Both the upper and lower thigh bones should be approximately parallel the shoulder blade and upper arm respectively. The legs should be in proportion to the dog's overall size with oval bone instead of round. The legs are parallel to each other with well-muscled thighs.
Gait: The Belgian Malinois has a free and easy gait exhibiting facility of movement rather than a hard driving action. As the dog approaches a fast gait all four feet will converge under the center of the body while the topline remains firm and level. The Belgian Malinois shows a tendency to move in a circle rather than a straight line.
Feet: The Belgian Malinois has round, well padded, cat-like front feet with toes that curve close together. The rear feet are slightly elongated with well padded toes that are curved close together. The toes are of medium length, strong, and slightly sloped. The nails are strong and black in color except in dogs that have white toe tips where they may be white. The front dewclaws may be removed. The rear dewclaws should be removed.
Tail: The tail of the Belgian Malinois is strong at the base. When in action it is raised in a curve forming a strong curve toward the tip.
Color: The coat of the Belgian Malinois can be a rich fawn to mahogany in color with black tips giving an overlay appearance. The mask and ears are black in color with the underneath of the body, tail and breeches be a lighter shade of fawn. The tips of the toes may be white and they may have a small white spot on the chest.
Coat: The coat of the Belgian Malinois is short, straight and weather resistant with a dense undercoat. The coat should be very short on the head, ears, and lower legs with longer areas around the neck and on the tail and back of the thighs.
Belgian Malinois Facts
Category: Herding
Life Expectancy: The average life expectancy of the Belgian Malinois is about 12 to 14 years.
Characteristics: The Belgian Malinois makes an excellent police and guard dog as well as a great family pet if given proper physical and mental stimulation every day.
Belgian Malinois Health
Health: The Belgian Malinois is a hardy breed with very few major health concerns. They can have trouble with skin allergies, eye problems, hip and elbow dysplasia.
Litter Size: A Belgian Malinois has an average of 6 to 10 puppies.
Belgian Malinois History
History: The Belgian Malinois got its name from the Belgian city of Malines. The Belgian Malinois is still rather rare in the United States but they are very popular in Belgium whey it originated. They are among one of the four varieties of Belgian Sheepdogs (Belgian Malinois, Belgian Tervuren, Belgian Groenendael and Belgian Laekenois) who all share a common origin. Most breed clubs recognize all four as the same breed with different varieties of coat types except for the AKC who recognizes all of them but the Belgian Laekenois as separate breeds. They are highly intelligent and versatile dogs that excel at police work, protection, schutzhund, search and rescue, obedience, agility, tracking, herding, sled pulling and guide work. Today all four sheepdogs are popular in Belgian with the Laekenois and Malinois being used more as working dogs than the Groenendael and Tervuren.
