Belgian Malinois Shepherd Dog
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The Belgian Malinois is a medium size dog of elegant appearance and proud demeanor. He is muscular, limber and strong, but without looking heavy and is often described as being of square-looking structure, probably in reference to his well balanced proportions.
The are four different varieties of Belgian Shepherd dogs - the Groenendale, Laekenois, Tervuren and Malinois - all named for the towns from which they originated. They vary in their coat color and coat type, the Malinois being of short coat, highlighted by a black mask around the head and ears. At first glance he may appear similar to the German Shepherd, but a closer look reveals differences in the bone structure, color, size, head and ear shape.
The Malinois' is derived from working sheepdogs and his abilities include herding, tracking, agility, obedience, and police detection work.
Appearance:
Height 22-26 inches Weight: 61-66 pounds
Color Variations: Rich Fawn, Mahogany
Coat & Care:
This breed has a short dense double coat that is waterproof. Easy maintenance involves regular brushing to remove the loose hair that comes about from a light amount of shedding. Seasonal, heavier shedding also occurs a couple of times a year.
Personality & Traits:
The Belgian Malinois likes to enjoy a high degree of interaction with his human family, but he also needs to be well-socialized from a puppy. While he can be an excellent family companion, he is not a dog for owners that have little time to spend with a pet and won't enjoy being left for extended periods of time.
On the other hand, if you are a family that enjoys a lot of outdoor activities, especially things that could include your dog, you will be delighted with the enthusiastic response of the Malinois. He is a sensitive and intelligent dog that needs training to direct his high energy, especially if you can give him a job to do. Some activities to consider include agility, flyball, herding, obedience, tracking and any other game-like activities. He has also been successful in police detection work, as well as search and rescue.
The Malinois does best with experienced owners who have a sound knowledge of the best practices for dog training. A firm, but never harsh training approach works the best with this breed. He has natural protective instincts and made a good watch/guard dog without being aggressive.
Space Needs:
Does best in home with a reasonable yard. This breed can be outside some of the time, but really prefers being inside with the family.
Dog Toys To Consider:
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Activity:
The Malinois is a quick and agile dog with high energy. They need vigorous walks every day, and ideally other high energy activities as often as can be provided. In addition, opportunities to run freely in a safe area, are highly recommended. He also makes a great buddy for jogging/running.
Children:
The Belgian Malinois does best with children if he is raised with them from a puppy. A parent should take into consideration that this breed is highly active and quite large. As with any breed of dog, it is recommended that interactions between pet and children should always be supervised.
Elderly:
Not recommended for elderly owners or sedentary environments,
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