The dog breed known as Belgian Malinois is renowned for its abilities as a military dog, police dog, protection dog, and unquestionably a loving family member.
They are powerful, athletic, and intelligent friends who require a lot of exercise and energy. In small spaces like apartments and for first-time dog owners, Belgian Malinois might not be the best choice.
If you’re considering getting a Belgian Malinois and want to know if they make good family pets or if they are aggressive, read on.
If you want to learn more about the Belgian Malinois’ personality, temperament, history, care advice, and other information, such as why it is used as a police dog, then read this post all the way through.
In the city of Malines, in Belgium’s northwest, the Belgian Malinois breed was first developed in the late 1800s. Belgian Malinois is one of the varieties of Belgian Sheepdog. Four varieties are:
The American Kennel Club (AKC) recognizes three varieties as one breed, with the exception of Laekenois, whereas the United Kingdom recognizes all varieties as one breed. Since 1959, the American Kennel Club (AKC) has recognized Malinois as a distinct breed.
In his native country, the Belgian Malinois is revered as a herding canine. They were brought to America in 1911. The Mals were popular until World War II began. After 1960, their population and popularity increases.
Due to their varied temperaments and levels of aggression, Belgian Malinois have a very diverse range of personalities. It is influenced by a variety of variables, including education, ancestry, and socialization.
The most well-known characteristic of Belgian Malinois temperament is that they are extraordinarily hard-working canines who were primarily bred to guard livestock. An educated Belgian Malinois is perceptive, sociable, and capable of acting as a great protector.
Being a family dog, the Belgian Malinois finds it challenging to live in kennels. For their human family, they always remain protective and assured, but they are reserved around strangers. Malamutes make great guard dogs and will use force if necessary to protect people and their property.
Puppies who have been socialized early with dogs, people, sounds, sights, and experiences can be playful and loving with people. Socialization will decide how your dog will behave.
The Belgian Malinois is a canine that is muscular, alert, strong, and agile. When you first see a mal, they resemble a German shepherd because they are a medium-sized dog. They have short, beige hair with a black mask. They have an elegant appearance with a proud head carriage.
The Belgian Malinois needs to exercise a lot, as was already mentioned, so this should provide ample opportunity. Mals enjoy the cold, but they can also thrive in warm climates.
Always keep them inside. Pick the fence areas if you want to give your dog some off-leash exercise. For the Belgian Malinois, 20-minute workouts three to four times a day are ideal because they require 60 to 80 minutes of exercise, but in three to four phases. Puppies need less exercise.
Rather than taking a leisurely stroll, they prefer to jog. You must train the Belgian Malinois in agility or obedience. Don’t be surprised because they enjoy running in circles, just like their ancestors did.
Keep a cool, firm, and consistent demeanor around mals during training because they are sensitive and very trainable. Never use physical force and anger during training.
The Belgian Malinois is generally considered a healthy breed. Like all breeds, Mals are prone to certain health problems. By getting the puppy from a reputable breeder and examining the health certificate, you can reduce the risk.
The following are a few ailments that can frequently affect Belgian Malinois, including:
The National Breed Club advises breeding Belgian Malinois to undergo these tests to ensure that the puppies are healthy.
There are a few things to think about if you have decided to adopt a Belgian Malinois for your family. The Belgian Malinois is a breed that constantly requires a caretaker who can give them daily mental and physical stimulation.
The Belgian Malinois breed of dog can make a wonderful pet for our family if you can take care of its physical needs. In actuality, they can be the most dependable, astute, and helpful friend for you and your family. But the Belgian Malinois can become aggressive and destructive if you don’t take care of them.
Although distant and gregarious, Belgian Malinois never exhibit shyness, fear, or aggression. The Belgian Malinois is a renowned watchdog with the capacity to defend when required.
Belgian Malinois might be tolerant if you trained them from a young age Without socialization instruction, they might become aggressive if you leave them.
Due to their dedication to their work and their laser-like focus, Belgian Malinois dogs are increasingly in demand as police and military dogs. In addition, the Belgian Malinois is thought to have fewer health issues than German Shepherd Dogs because it is smaller and more active.
Due to their similar appearance and furry coats, German shepherd and Belgian Shepherd Malinois are frequently confused. They differ in lifestyle, behavior, and physical characteristics.
Belgian Malinois is smaller and more aggressive compared to GSD. German shepherds are difficult to train, but Belgian Malinois are simple to handle and train.
The Belgian Malinois is extremely expensive because of its superior pedigree. The puppy costs between $1,000 and $2,500. The cost will rise significantly if you’re looking for an adult dog that has received training. The cost of a trained guard dog is typically around $20,000.
Belgian Malinois is a confident, versatile, and world-class worker. Before adopting a dog, you should educate yourself on its characteristics, needs, and needs in order to have a wonderful experience later on.
Can a Belgian Malinois Be a Family Dog?
This breed of dog is a hardworking and dedicated breed. They enjoy being active and engaging in mental activity. They were herding dogs when the breed was first developed, and they still possess that instinct today.
The ability to act as a watchdog is one of this breed’s most recognizable characteristics. Belgian Malinois are used by police and military personnel to protect not only themselves but also those around them.
The Belgian Malinois needs to be socialized from an early age, just like all other dogs. To help your dog develop into a well-rounded dog, it’s crucial to expose them to a variety of sounds, people, and sights when they are young puppies. You run the risk of a timid or combative Belgian Malinois if you don’t do this. These two problems affect all dogs, but in this breed they may manifest as destructive behaviors.
Going to puppy kindergarten or training classes is a great way to socialize them and improve their socialization skills. Taking your dog out to meet new people and sights in parks, dog-friendly shops, having guests over, and having visitors are all fantastic additional methods.
However, you must be cautious of your herding instinct. They frequently want to herd animals and small children by biting at their ankles. With training, though, this behavior can be corrected and avoided.
Get to Know the Belgian Malinois
To help you decide whether the Belgian Malinois would be a good choice for your home, let’s take a closer look at this powerhouse. The American Belgian Malinois Club’s breed standard says:
The Belgian Malinois is a square, well-balanced dog that is also alert, strong, agile, and well-muscled. The working temperament of the Belgian Malinois depends on having the right temperament. The breed is unafraid, showing neither shyness nor aggression in unfamiliar circumstances. The dog may be reserved around strangers, but he loves his family. He naturally guards his owner’s person and possessions without being overly hostile. The Belgian Malinois has a strong desire to work and responds quickly to his owner’s commands. ”.
Who wouldn’t want a dog like that? It sounds perfect. However, the Malinois is not created in a Belgian Malinois Stamping Factory, where each one is a replica of the last. The Malinois has always been adaptable and capable of performing a variety of tasks. These different jobs require an emphasis on different characteristics.
Clubs Offering:
The author, Carilee Moran, and her Malinois, BISS Ch Avonlea Burning Love UDTX RA AX OAJ, are shown in the picture.
The participation of Conan, the Navy SEAL dog, in the raid that resulted in the death of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in Syria has once again thrust Belgian Malinois breed onto the national stage. Positive press for the Malinois breed has a double-edged sword: it raises awareness of this still unusual breed, which could help it by increasing the number of capable, dedicated owners. However, a “cool dog” boom also draws buyers who haven’t done as much research on their potential pet as they would a new dishwasher.
In response to this latest wave of celebrity, worried Malinois fanciers are redoubling their efforts to educate the pet seekers about the nature of the breed, hoping to prevent a new cycle of “Saw it-Loved it-Bought it-Hated it-Dumped it,” a problem that recurs whenever a dog breed becomes newly fashionable. When reality bumps into last year’s fashion, disappointed buyers who cannot manage their cool new toys dump them onto rescues such as the American Belgian Malinois Rescue (ABMR). Surrenders to ABMR have increased steadily since 2011, from around 100 dogs per year to well over 200, according to Marcia Tokson, Rescue Coordinator.
Dogs from Malinois lines that are typically bred for protection sports enthusiasts, private protection companies, narcotics detection, border patrol, and military/police use make up about 90% of the surrenders. Some of these dogs had significant health issues or behavioral problems. Others were working dogs that were unsuitable for the work. But in the majority of cases, the dog either had behavioral issues related to a lack of socialization and training or simply did not fit into the pet home because of their high levels of drive and energy.
FAQ
Is Belgian shepherd a good first dog?
Before going into detail, it is not advised for a first-time dog owner to get a Belgian Malinois. They are “a lot” of dog, which denotes that they are powerful, active, protective, and have a strong work ethic.
Are Belgian Shepherds family dogs?
Belgian Sheepdogs are alert, devoted, and protective. They can be great family companions because they are also very affectionate and sensitive. However, they do require a lot of physical activity and mental challenge to remain content.
Do Belgian Shepherds like to cuddle?
These dogs have a reputation for being dogs that always want to be with their humans wherever they are, and they can be surprisingly affectionate with their human family.
Are Belgian Malinois good with kids?
Belgian Malinois are tolerant of children and will happily accompany you on any family outing while providing security for everyone. It’s crucial to be aware that Belgian Malinois puppies have a propensity to nip should you get your protection dog as a puppy. But this is just a phase, and they can easily learn to change this behavior.