Originally, Belgian Malinois dogs were bred to be herding dogs. As well as being police and military protection dogs, they are also loved by their owners and work as a member of their families.
When trained by an experienced dog owner, these dogs are intelligent, athletic, and intense companions. However, their high energy levels and exercise requirements may not be suited to apartments or small spaces. The breed is not suitable for first-time dog owners. If these pups are adequately trained and given plenty of physical and mental activity, they will remain loving and loyal for the rest of their lives.
Famous Belgian Malinois:
The Belgian Malinois, Cairo, was a U.S. Navy Seal Team member who was pivotal in the attack on Osama bin Laden’s compound.
Belgian Malinois in Movies:
Dog (2022), starring Channing Tatum
John Wick Chapter 3 (2019)
Acts of Vengeance (2017)
Music Video for Bryan Adams’ “Please Forgive Me” (1993)
“Bear” on the TV Show Person of Interest (2011 – 2016) was the canine sidekick of “Mr. Reese” was played by a Belgian Malinois
Famous Owners: Eva Mendes, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Gerard Depardieu, Michael Schumacher
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Belgian Malinios History
In the late 1800s, Belgium developed four types of Belgian sheepdogs, including the Belgian Malinois. Malinois (fawn-mahogany, short coat with black mask), Laekenois (fawn, rough coat), Tervuren (fawn-mahogany, long coat with black mask), and Groenendael (black, long coat) are the four varieties. All four dogs are recognized as one breed by the United Kennel Club (UKC) except the Laekenois.
In September 1891, the Belgian Shepherd Dog Club was formed to determine which of the many different types of dogs were exclusively Belgian shepherds. Breeders and enthusiasts on the outskirts of Brussels examined shepherd dogs from the area in November of that same year. According to veterinary professor Adolphe Reul and a panel of judges, the native shepherd dogs of that province had square, medium-sized ears with well-set triangular shapes and very dark brown eyes, and they only differed in texture, colour, and length. The findings were similar in other Belgian provinces as well.
In 1892, Professor Reul published the first Belgian Shepherd Dog standard, which recognized three varieties: long-coated dogs, short-coated dogs, and rough-coated dogs. Despite asking the Societe Royale Saint-Hubert (Belgium’s equivalent to the AKC) for breed status, the Club du Chien de Berger Belge was denied. The Belgian Shepherd Dog was ultimately recognized as a breed in 1901.
Current Malinois dogs can be traced to a breeding pair owned by a shepherd from Laeken named Adrien Janssens. From a cattle dealer in northern Belgium, he bought a pale, fawn, rough-haired dog named Vos I, or Vos de Laeken. Lise (also known as Liske de Laeken or Lise de Laeken in Dutch) was a shorthaired, brindle-brown dog bred by Janssens to herd his flock. Vos I was bred to his daughters, resulting in very homogeneous dogs with rough gray hairs, short hairs, and rough fawn hairs. Belgian Shepherd Dogs, as well as Bouvier des Flandres and Dutch Shepherd Dogs, can trace their ancestry to Vos I and Lise de Laeken.
Different Belgian Shepherd Dogs were given other names by their breeders. In 1898, Malines formed a club to promote fawn shorthair Belgian Shepherds. “Malinois” became synonymous with the fawn shorthairs because of Louis Huyghebaert, the “godfather of the Malinois” (and the Bouvier).
Huyghebaert proposed in 1897 that shepherd dogs should have field trials showcasing their intelligence, obedience, and loyalty since there weren’t many sheep left in Belgium. This recommendation led to the implementation of dressage trials for shepherd dogs that tested their jumping ability and other abilities. M. van Opdebeek and his Malinois won Malines’ first dressage trial, Cora van’t Optewel.
Also, Belgian Shepherds were used for guarding and draughting purposes. The Belgian police first used these dogs. Several Belgian dogs won prizes in international police dog trials in Europe before World War II.
The military used many Belgian Shepherd dogs during World War I, including messenger dogs, Red Cross dogs, ambulance cart dogs, and light machine-gun cart dogs.
Belgium was home to several excellent Malinois kennels during the 1920s and 1930s. Exports of Belgian Shepherd dogs to other countries mainly were Malinois and Groenendael in the first decades of the 20th century. Many were shipped to the Netherlands, Switzerland, Canada, the United States, France, Argentina, and Brazil at that time.
The first dogs were imported in 1911 by Josse Hanssens of Norwalk, Connecticut, as “German Sheepdogs.” The name was changed in 1913 to “Belgian Sheepdogs.” He sold the two to L.I. De Winter of Guttenberg, New Jersey. Under the Winterview kennel name, De Winter produced several litters of Malinois.
AKC registrations increased rapidly after World War I when American service members brought back Malinois and other Belgian Shepherd Dogs from Europe. In 1924, the Belgian Sheepdog Club of America was formed and soon joined the AKC. AKC Gazette articles by Walter Mucklow, a Jacksonville, Florida lawyer, popularized the Malinois in 1924 and 1925. For a brief time, he also bred Malinois under Castlehead Kennel.
The Groenendael and Malinois Belgian Sheepdogs reached their peak popularity by the end of the 1920s. The initial Belgian Sheepdog Club of America was dissolved during the Great Depression when dog breeding was an expensive luxury. AKC registrations of Malinois trickled in during the 1930s as imports trickled in. During the Great Depression, there were so few Malinois (and interest in the breed had dropped) that the AKC classified them as Miscellaneous.
Another Belgian Sheepdog Club of America was formed in Indiana in 1949. The Netherlair kennel was started by John Cowley that same year after he imported two Malinois. Several people became interested in his dogs after he showed several of them. Breeding and showing Malinois became more popular in the 1960s. AKC parent club status was granted to the American Belgian Malinois Club in March 1992.
As a result of their work in the military, drug detection agencies, and search and rescue operations. In police forces around the country, Belgian Malinois dogs have received much attention recently. The U.S. has imported many Malinois over the last few years.
Belgian Malinois Traits
A Belgian Malinois is a medium-sized Belgian shepherd dog that resembles a German Shepherd at first glance. A Malinois is a shorthaired, fawn-coloured dog with a black mask. Since 1959, they have been shown in the United States as a separate breed out of four types of Belgian herding dogs.
They are highly stamina-demanding and genuinely enjoy working. Their intelligence and activity make them excellent at many tasks. Aside from herding, they are also good at police work, search and rescue, and agility events.
German Shepherd Dogs (GSDs) and Malinois often appear similar but differ significantly in their body structures and temperaments. A Malinois is a smaller dog with lighter bones. The Belgian Malinois dogs stand on their toes, which gives them a square body, in contrast to today’s versions of the GSD, which have a long, sloping back and carry their weight flat on their feet.
Usually fawn, red, or brown with black tips on their hair, Malinois are tan with a black saddle, while GSDs are typically black with a tan saddle. Malinois also has smaller, triangular ears and a more refined, chiselled head than GSDs.
Malinois are said to be more alert and quick to respond than GSDs. Moreover, they don’t respond well to harsh training methods. Some Malinois are friendly and assertive, while others are reserved and aloof. Temperament shouldn’t be fearful or aggressive.
The Malinois is only recommended for people who have experience training dogs and have previously owned dogs. Malinois are very intense dogs who enjoy being included in family activities. Those who work long hours or often travel, leaving their dogs home, may not find them suitable.
Your Malinois should be exposed to a variety of people, dogs, other animals, and situations as soon as possible if you decide it is the breed for you. It would help if you enrolled your Malinois puppy in puppy kindergarten, followed by obedience training.
Belgian Malinois are quick learners and eager to do whatever their people ask. They excel in obedience, agility, tracking, flyball, showing, herding, Schutzhund and other sports, search and rescue, and police work. They love to play, and whatever you ask them to do is play to them.
Malinois may be aggressive out of fear or shy when not adequately socialized. When well socialized, Malinois are good with children, primarily if raised with them. Be mindful that they may tend to nip at the heels of children and try to herd them when playing.
Health
Belgian Malinois are generally healthy, but like all breeds, they’re prone to specific health conditions. Not all Malinois will get any or all of these diseases, but it’s essential to be aware of them if you’re considering this breed.
- Hip Dysplasia
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
- Elbow Dysplasia
- Anesthesia Sensitivity – Belgian Malinois are very sensitive to anesthesia. Their muscle-to-fat ratio has a higher-than-average death rate when put under anesthesia. Ensure your veterinarian understands this sensitivity before allowing your Malinois to have surgery or clean their teeth.
