We’re here to give you bits & pieces of the Belgian Malinois. But before we start, here’s Rufus, barking loudly about his fellows Malinoises:
Bow wow there! I’m Rufus, the Malinois! I have unique qualities that set me high on the scale of the most intelligent and obedient dogs of the planet, although some people mistake me for a German Shepherd! I’m one of a kind!
🐕 Rufus, the Belgian Malinois
Stick with Rufus to read all you can about the beautiful Belgian Malinois!
Temperament & Personality
The Malinois dog breed has found great popularity as a service dog in recent years, although the breed itself was created long ago.
The Mal is a vocal dog; it can bark, growl, howl and chirp literally for any reason. But its excellent traits such as obedience, intelligence, and herding instinct combine to create a versatile, powerful dog.
It has an alert temper, suitable for active owners. Its obedient nature and natural watchful instinct make it easy to work with.
It is a loyal dog, that forms indestructible bonds with its family or handler. Because of this particular reason, it’s preferred to have only one handler during its lifetime.
Due to its affectionate nature, the Malinois may develop separation anxiety if left alone for long periods. This may translate into destructive behavior, anxiety, and endless howling and barking.
Compatibility with Kids & Other Pets
Though it may not seem like a suitable family dog, the reality is the opposite. It has a native loyalty and protective instinct making it great for families with children. But the dog needs to be taught how to behave with children, especially babies.
Due to its loving and affectionate temper, the Malinois loves engaging in games with children. It loves being around them, maybe because it’s keeping the herding instinct active.
This may sometimes count as a minus, though: the Mal might be tempted to bite at the heel as if it were guiding livestock. This behavior can be corrected with proper training and attention from the owner/handler.
Family games and activities keep it entertained and stimulated. Keeping it in the center of the family equals a happy Malinois.
Physical Characteristics
The Malinois is a medium-sized to large active dog, with an athletic figure and a well-proportioned muscular body. Its proportions are almost perfect to fit it into a square.
Males are 24 to 26 inches (61 to 66 cm) in height and weigh 60-80 lbs (27 to 36 kg), while females are 22 to 24 inches (56 to 61 cm) at the withers and weigh 40-65 lbs (18 to 29 kg).
The head is big, with a long slim muzzle. The ears have a triangular shape and medium size. They are erect, and because of them, the Malinois is sometimes mistaken for a wrongfully colored German Shepherd.
The chest is wide viewed from lateral and narrow viewed from the front. Its muscular, long legs allow it to jump at great heights.
The coat is short and bicolor, with various shades of brown that go from fawn to mahogany, combined with black hair tips. While short on the face, legs, and torso, it is longer on the front part of the chest, back legs, and tail. The undercoat is even, short, and dense.
Some individuals’ heads and ears are entirely black.
Obedience, Trainability & Intelligence
The Malinois is obedient and eager to satisfy its owner/handler.
It has a notable intelligence and can learn commands and tricks faster than most dogs. With the Malinois, the more means the better.
It loves working, learning new things and commands, thus staying mentally stimulated and engaged. It does well with cognitive tasks such as puzzle trays, obstacle courses, and objects find-and-seek.
The Malinois is a resistant dog, which, combined with its native intelligence, can easily resist sustained daily exercise and complex training.
However, its protective instinct can be exacerbated during some situations, so more work is required to introduce this dog to social events.
Energy Level & Exercise Needs
The Malinois’ athletic figure means it requires active owners, which can support its need for exercise. The Mal isn’t an apartment dog. Although it may love lounging on the sofa, this dog breed requires at least 2 hours of exercise daily, apart from the long walks.
Vigorous outdoor play sessions using balls or string toys are highly appreciated, due to its excessive energy level. It loves chasing and retrieving games that keep its prey drive alert.
The lack of stimulation and exercise can turn this great dog into a house destroyer because it gets bored easily.
Malinois Puppies
When buying a Malinois puppy, consider only reputed breeders, that care about genetics and can provide papers for their litter. These might be pricier, but at least you’ll be sure you won’t buy a sick puppy.
With these droopy-eared puppies, sooner means better. These beautiful, but vicious and stubborn creatures need early house training and socialization, from 8 weeks old. They require daily commitment from the owner, starting the moment they arrive home.
They get bored easily, so they need permanent activities to stay mentally and physically stimulated.
Mal puppies tend to chew on things, so try rope or rubber toys to keep them busy from eating your couch. Feeding balls filled with quality treats also keeps them busy for longer periods.
Mal puppies require three daily meals, with quality food for large-sized dogs. This type of food meets the daily nutrient requirements to sustain rapid growth.
The Malinois’ ears will begin straightening during teething. This phase starts around 4 months and can last up to 6 months of age but, by then, the ears must be completely erect.
To achieve a well-balanced adult dog, early socialization is required. This means they will be exposed to different places, people, and other animals. By early exposure, the dog learns what is good and what isn’t, how to react to various situations, and doesn’t become aggressive as an adult. Most dogs tend to be aggressive towards the unknown.
They’re capable of learning basic commands at this age as well, but consistency is the key. The eagerness to satisfy their handler, combined with positive reinforcement and treats opens the path to success.
Malinois puppies mature completely around the age of 2.
Lifespan, Health Issues & Nutrition
The average lifespan of the Malinois is 14-16 years. Though it is a sturdy, resilient breed, it has some health and genetic issues.
This dog is at dental risk; many develop tartar, dental disease, and infections that can later trigger renal insufficiency.
Among the more common genetic issues are hip and elbow dysplasia, which can lead to lameness, pain, and degenerative disease of joints; cataracts and progressive retinal atrophy, which can both lead to vision impairment and blindness; epilepsy and hypothyroidism.
Another genetic predisposition is to degenerative myelopathy. This happens because some Malinoises carry a gene, called SOD1, that can suffer mutations. This is a progressive, not painful, and untreatable disease, which leads to the inability to walk.
Unfortunately, this dog is prone to a specific type of cancer, called hemangiosarcoma. This is a type of cancer derived from the vascular endothelium. This is a silent cancer that is usually discovered too late.
In terms of nutrition, the Malinois is a greedy fellow. This, combined with insufficient exercise, predisposes the Mal to obesity.
An adult Malinois needs two daily meals of large dog food. Quality should always prevail over quantity because low-quality food can trigger certain health problems such as skin and intestinal allergies, intense shedding, liver and gut disease, and even malabsorption syndrome.
Grooming Needs
The Belgian Malinois’ short coat doesn’t require excessive grooming.
The Malinois is a full-time shedder. Brushing should be done daily, to remove the inner winter hair layer, and a de-shedding tool may be handy, along with the usual wire brush or rubber mitten.
Bathing can be done every 3-4 months, to maintain healthy skin. Bathing the dog too frequently removes the natural hair oils and can cause skin disorders.
Nail trimming should be done monthly, to prevent nail ingrowth.
The ears must be cleaned at least monthly, to prevent ear infections and parasites.
Adoption & Rescue Options
Adopting a Malinois in need can be fulfilling, especially if you can’t commit to raising and training a puppy. The right solution for you may be an adult dog. If you’re considering this option, you’ve got a few choices.
Breed-specific rescue organizations save dogs in distress and facilitate the adoption process, by matching dogs with the perfect owners:
- https://www.malinoisrescue.org/
- https://www.petfinder.com/dogs-and-puppies/breeds/belgian-malinois/
- https://www.malinoisrescueleague.org/
- https://www.facebook.com/MalinoisAdoption/
- https://www.facebook.com/groups/1389286684645077/
- https://www.woofproject.org/availabledogs
- https://www.madrescueinc.org/
They also vaccinate, microchip, test for heartworms and neuter dogs put up for adoption, so you’ll spend less money in the end.
They use their members and breed lovers’ donations to achieve this.
You can always pay a visit to your local dog shelter. You may find a purebred Mal that needs a foster or forever home and, if you’re into mixed dog breeds, you’ll definitely find one.
Cost of Ownership
A purebred Malinois price varies, from $1,000 to $10,000, depending on the breeder and bloodlines. It’s very important to consider reputable breeders that have responsible breeding programs and obtain high-quality litters. Some even do genetic testing on their puppies, to ensure their health.
Besides the buying price, a big dog comes with big expenses. It will eat more than a poodle, so add around $60-$90 monthly for dog food. Another monthly expense is parasite control, around $30-$50.
Accessories are important too: the dog needs a dog bed, a leash, a harness or collar, water and food bowls and toys. These may add another $300-$450 to your bill.
Also, consider core vaccinations, if not already provided by the breeder, microchipping, and training, another $500-$1200. These one-time costs include neutering, another $300.
Annual costs include vaccinations and regular check-ups, around $120-$200.
You may consider pet insurance, for unexpected costs.
Interesting Facts & Quirks
The Malinois can fulfill dangerous tasks like bomb and drug detection, prison guard dogs, human and asset protection, and rescue missions.
Many people mistake the Malinois for a German Shepherd. However, they do share common ancestors.
The Malinois was, originally, a herding dog breed. It was used for herding livestock. During World War I, the Malinoises were used as messenger carriers, ambulance dogs, and even pulling machine guns.
The 2022 film “Dog”, directed by and starring Channing Tatum, featured a Belgian Malinois dog as the main character.
The Malinois dog is one of the four Belgian Shepherds; based on coat type and color, three more distinct varieties belong to this breed: the long-haired Groenendael; the Laekenois, with rough, whirly hair, and the Tervuren, which has long hair.
These varieties are considered separate breeds by some international organizations and not varieties of the same breed. They are anatomically identical, but the coat differs. Each variety bears the name of the region it was developed in.
Malinois Names
The Malinois is native to Belgium, which has three official languages – Dutch, German, and French – you can start to find your inspiration here.
For instance, you may find one of these French names, such as Beau, which means “beautiful in French”, or Marvel, which means “wonder”, or for a female Malinois, Belle, the French for “beautiful”, Nadia for “hope” or Odette.
Here are some Dutch-inspired names, such as Coen, meaning “bold advisor”, Dirk for “ruler of the people”, Markus, as in the Dutch version of Mars, the Roman god of fertility, or Barend, the Dutch name for “bear”. For a female Malinois, you can try Anneke, the Dutch for “grace” or Lara, the Dutch for “citadel”.
If you’d rather pick a German name for a male, you can try Gunther, meaning “warrior”, Egon meaning “strong with a sword” or Emo, the German for “serious”. For a female, try Adele, the German for “noble”, Petra, the German for “rock” or Irmgard, the German for “war goddess”.
Regardless of the name you choose for your Malinois, always make sure a puppy name will fit an adult dog as well.
Breed History & Origin
The Belgian Malinois originates from local herding dogs in the northwestern region of Belgium. It wasn’t until the late 19th century this dog breed began developing in the city of Mechelen, pronounced “Malines” in France, from where it got its name.
A dog that could handle everything on the farm, from herding to guarding, was necessary. So, local farmers began their quest to obtain this magnificent dog from the herding dogs from which the German Shepherd was obtained.
The breed was introduced to the US in 1911, with only two Malinoises. Others followed from the European breeding stocks, but the process was stopped by WWII.
The current breed standard was adopted in 1959 in Europe and it specified the four varieties known today. It wasn’t until 1963 that their number began to increase in the US and participate in competitions.
The breed was officially recognized in the US in 1959.
