The Belgian Malinois is one of the best security dog breeds present today in the entire world. These dogs are being used by various law enforcement agencies in different parts of the world. And, their excellent watchdog ability and trainability is the reason for their increase in demand in the Indian households as well. These Malinois dogs are an awesome option for anyone looking for a guard or security dog. Also, they are extremely tolerant to high temperatures and heat, hence they will have no problem thriving in India.
The Belgian Malinois is an exceptionally well-balanced breed of dogs who are well-muscled, strong and fairly quick and agile. These dogs are solidly built, somewhat elegant in appearance and like to carry their heads high with pride. Official standards for the Belgian Malinois are as follows:
The average weight of a Malinois dog is around 18-36 kg. Males are visibly heavier and grander than the females. But there is not a lot of difference between the stature of male and female Malinois dogs. Their average height is between 22-26 inches.
|
GENDER |
WEIGHT |
HEIGHT |
|
MALE |
26-36 kg |
24-26 inch |
|
FEMALE |
18-26 kg |
22-24 inch |
The Belgian Malinois dogs are double-coated with a somewhat woolly undercoat and a thick outer coat having a firm texture. The coat is mostly quite short in length and is evenly spread all over the body. But, the hindquarters have relatively longer strands of hair and also, the tail is fairly feathered and bushy in appearance.
They have a powerful and sturdy body with a slightly elongated neck which is well-muscled and sits firmly on the shoulders. The chest is deep and well let down and the back region is strong and straight. The forelegs and hind legs are well-boned and robust and provide stability to the whole body.
They have a fairly long head which is finely chiseled. The eyes are slightly almond shaped and medium in size and mostly, they are found in dark brown color. Their Ears are triangular in appearance, remain erect and high and are moderately sized.
They have a well-developed jaw region with strong teeth firmly set inside the mouth. The muzzle is of medium length and is slightly tapered towards the nose.
The Belgian Malinois dogs are known for their watchful and protective nature towards their owners and family members. They are very friendly and affectionate with their loved ones including small children. These dogs remain very alert and vigilant almost all the time and thus are one of the best security dogs out there. They do not mix very well with strangers and other canines especially of the same gender and thus early socialization and proper training are very important for them. But, training them is not that hard and an experienced trainer can make them learn various new things in no time. Some temperamental traits of the Belgian Malinois are listed below:
These canines hailing from Belgium are highly intelligent and trainable dogs who are widely used as police and military dogs in many different areas of the world. They are sometimes classified as a type of Belgian Shepherd dog instead of a separate breed.
The Belgian Malinois dogs are extremely hard-working and diligent in nature and thus they perform any kind of task or activity with utmost sincerity and dedication. And, apart from being awesome service dogs, these pooches are also very suitable as house pets. They love and respect their owners and close ones will protect them from any kind of harm, are excellent watchdogs and are also very careful with the infants present in the house.
But, it is also important to note that, these dogs have a tremendous amount of exercise needs. They are highly energetic and thus loves to spend their energy on some physical activity. And, hence, regular high levels of exercise are necessary for them and if they do not receive proper and required amount of work and movement, they may become slightly frustrated and destructive by nature.
The Belgian Malinois is itself a type of Belgian Shepherd dogs with the other types being the Groenendael, the Laekenois, and the Tervuren.
Also, the Belgian Malinois dogs are mostly found in the colors which are listed below:
|
Adaptability |
**** |
Sensitivity Level |
***** |
|
Affection Level |
**** |
Potential for mouthiness |
*** |
|
Apartment-Friendly |
** |
Drooling Potential |
* |
|
Barking Tendencies |
*** |
Energy Level |
***** |
|
Friendly towards dogs |
** |
Health Issues |
*** |
|
Friendly towards other animals |
** |
Intelligence |
***** |
|
Child Friendly |
**** |
Playfulness |
***** |
|
Exercise Needs |
***** |
Shedding Level |
*** |
|
Grooming Needs |
** |
Social Needs |
**** |
|
Good for novice owners |
*** |
Stranger Friendly |
*** |
|
Trainability |
***** |
Watchdog Ability |
***** |
|
Tolerates Heat |
**** |
Tolerates Cold |
*** |
A high-quality feeding material rich in proteins and nutrients is good for any breed and that includes the Belgian Malinois. These dogs can be given home-cooked or commercially prepared meal, whichever suits their health and taste-buds. Also, it is important to keep their calorie consumption under control as some dogs are prone to getting obese and overweight.
As mentioned, these dogs were meant to work and be involved in some kind of physical task and hence they require a very good amount of exercise to remain fit and healthy both physically and mentally. They are most happy and peaceful when they are spending their energy on some work or activity. These dogs are fond of long running sessions in the park, playing catch the ball with their owners and loves to be a part of any activity that leads to spending their energy.
They love to learn new things and tricks from their owners/trainers. They are always eager to please while getting trained and because they are extremely intelligent and smart, they can learn various things in no time. They are fond of getting rewards or general appreciation for their efforts and thus reward-based training methods are very effective while training them. If treats are being given to them as rewards, then it should be given in limited amounts.
Their short coat requires little maintenance and grooming. Weekly brushing with occasional baths and trimming of nails is more than enough for them. They do shed twice a year and that too in good amounts, hence, during that period, the frequency of brushing of coat should be increased to remove extra loose hair and to avoid mat formation.
The Belgian Malinois dogs are normally quite sturdy and healthy and only suffers from a few health-related problems, some of which are given below:
These dogs are not required to be taken to a veterinarian’s clinic on a frequent basis.
Around the 1800s, several Belgian breeders in search of a perfect Shepherd Dog started breeding various pastoral canines. This breeding resulted in the formation of four closely related breeds: the Laekenois, the Tervuren, the Groenendael, and the Malinois. These four breeds were collectively called as ‘Chien de Berger Belge’.
The Malinois received their name from the city where they originated, Mechelen which in French is called Malines. These dogs were the first to be used by the law enforcement agencies of Belgium and were very good for guarding purposes.
During the 1st World War, they were heavily used as carrier dogs, messenger dogs, and Red Cross dogs by the military. Around the 1930s, many people were impressed by the abilities that these canines possessed and hence, they started to get exported to other countries as well.
Today, the Belgian Malinois is recognized globally and is part of the military and armed forces of numerous countries. They are also considered to be wonderful house pets and companions and are well-respected and admired by most people.
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