Belgian Malinois: Your Complete Guide

The Belgian Malinois is one of the four Belgian shepherd dogs. It is also the most popular. Belgian Malinois are intelligent, athletic dogs with a high drive to please their owners, making them an excellent fit for law enforcement agencies and the military.

Also known as Mals, Belgian Malinois can be an ideal dog breed for individuals and families living an active life. Our article will cover the breed characteristics of this European dog breed, going over their history, physical features, temperament, and more.

Read to the end to know if the Belgian Malinois is the right dog breed for you.

Quick Look at the Belgian Malinois

Below is a quick table summarizing the characteristics of the Belgian Malinois. We’ll cover each point in a more detailed manner in the coming parts of the article.

What Is the History of Belgian Malinois?

The Belgian Malinois descends from regional Belgian sheepherding dogs. They resemble European dog breeds like the German shepherd and the Dutch shepherd.

When the breed numbers of regional Belgian sheepherding dogs neared extinction in the late 19th century, Adolphe Reul, a professor at the Cureghem Veterinary School, formed the Club de Chien Berger Belge (Belgian Shepherd Dog Club) in 1891 to standardize the breed.

The Belgian Malinois is believed to be the first variety of the Belgian shepherd dog with set qualities after standardization and became well-known throughout Belgium in the early 20th century. The Belgian Malinois was so well recognized that the varieties after it were called other than Malinois (autre-que-malinois).

The first Belgian Malinois made their way to the United States in 1911. They gained popularity until the start of World War II, and the American Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1959. Today, Belgian Malinois are mainly adopted as pets or working dogs for law enforcement and the military. The breed ranked 33th in the AKC’s most popular breeds of 2023 list.

What Do Belgian Malinois Look Like?

The Belgian Malinois is a muscular dog breed with a lean body, appearing much like an endurance athlete. The coat ranges from fawn to rich mahogany, with some having darker spots throughout the body. Belgian Malinois have a dark mask with charcoal-colored pointed ears that give them an alert facial expression.

Since the appearance of the Belgian Malinois is similar to the German shepherd, these two distinct breeds are often mistaken for each other. If in doubt, you can easily tell the difference by looking at the body type and coat. Belgian Malinois are much leaner dogs with well-defined muscles and have shorter coats than a German shepherd.

What Size Is a Belgian Malinois?

The Belgian Malinois is a medium-to-large dog breed, standing 22 to 26 inches tall and weighing between 40 and 80 pounds. Belgian Malinois is around the same height and weight range as the other Belgian shepherd dogs. The only distinction between the Mal and others is the coat type and length, which we’ll cover below.

What Is a Belgian Malinois’ Coat Type and Length?

The Belgian Malinois has a straight, short-length coat that is quite coarse to the touch. The breed is the only variety with short hair among the four Belgian sheepherding dogs. Others, the Laekenois, Groenendael, and Tervuren, all have longer coats.

The short coat of the Belgian Malinois is easy to care for, requiring brushing only every other week. We’ll also touch on the exact grooming needs of this breed in the later parts.

What Is a Belgian Malinois’ Temperament?

The Belgian Malinois are hyper dogs like the border collie and Jack Russell terrier with a big drive to work and please their owners. They live for action and variety in their lives.

Like many other working dogs, Belgian Malinois needs regular work to live a fulfilling life. They thrive when they have a job, and underemployment can open the door for various behavioral issues, especially if not exercised or mentally stimulated enough.

Overall, alertness, confidence, protectiveness, and desire to work endlessly are the highlights of this breed. While this gives an idea of what to expect from the personality of a Belgian Malinois, there’s more to cover about their temperament. Below, you’ll learn about these dogs’ family life, aggression, and barking habits.

Are Belgian Malinois Good With Kids?

The Belgian Malinois can be good with kids, but they aren’t the most suitable breed for families with young children. They are high-energy dogs that may act disorderly when aroused or excited during playtime.

Since Belgian Malinois are also fairly large dogs, bumping into children can cause injuries. For these reasons, Belgian Malinois is better suited for families with older children, particularly energetic ones.

Nevertheless, supervision is essential when a Belgian Malinois and kids spend time together, regardless of age. Children in the family should also be taught to respect the dog’s space and boundaries. Otherwise, a Mal may experience anxiety and snap or growl at children as a result of that.

Are Belgian Malinois Good With Other Animals?

Whether or not a Belgian Malinois will get along well with other animals depends on socialization. They are naturally protective dogs that are wary of strange animals and people. These dogs should be provided plenty of socialization to get to know new dogs. When this is done properly, a Belgian Malinois can get along well with your existing dogs and others they see during walks.

With animals besides dogs, it mainly comes down to their size. Due to their lineage and hyper personalities, Mals have a very high prey drive. If you have prey animals like Guinea pigs or rabbits, they should be kept in a place unreachable to a Belgian Malinois to prevent unfortunate outcomes.

They may also act similarly towards cats, but most Belgian Malinois that grew up with cats don’t have a desire to chase away cats during walks. While some of these traits can pose challenges during walks, the breed’s trainability makes it easy to curb such behaviors, which we’ll discuss below.

Are Belgian Malinois Aggressive?

Belgian Malinois have a predisposition to aggression like other dogs in the herding group but not as much as livestock guardian dogs. Since they have a high drive, Belgian Malinois are also likely to become reactive dogs.

Although reactivity can have an easy fix with guiding a Belgian Malinois in the right place, it shouldn’t be confused with aggression.

Socialization is essential with the Belgian Malinois to make these dogs well-rounded and help them overcome their anxieties and fears when meeting new dogs and people. With proper socialization, you won’t need to worry about your Belgian Malinois getting aggressive in social situations.

Do Belgian Malinois Bark?

The Belgian Malinois tends to bark quite a lot. This mainly comes from their hyper personality that wants to get the attention of anything they see as interesting. Belgian Malinois may also make grunting noises at things that grab their attention.

Guttural noises may be more manageable than barking, but the Belgian Malinois still doesn’t make good pets for individuals and families living in apartments with noise restrictions. Their tendency to make noise frequently can cause conflict with neighbors.

Are Belgian Malinois Affectionate?

Belgian Malinois are energetic dogs that enjoy being in the presence of their owners. Like every dog, they appreciate receiving pets and praising words, but Belgian Malinois are more hyper than affectionate. You may only see their loving side after a day of vigorous exercise, where they will then become lap dogs.

However, the affectionate side of a Belgian Malinois is only for the people and animals they know. Belgian Malinois tend to look at strangers with suspicion or don’t acknowledge their presence at all when they have something in their minds.

Are Belgian Malinois Intelligent?

Belgian Malinois are naturally curious and alert dogs with high trainability. They understand hand gestures and human emotions well, making them an ideal dog breed for advanced training types. The intelligence of the Belgian Malinois is one of the reasons the Belgian Malinois is one of the most popular police dogs.

While dog intelligence is a favorable trait for many, it can be too much for some dog owners. These dogs require a lot of variation in their lives. If they aren’t getting enough mental stimulation, a Belgian Malinois may develop behavioral issues, even if they get sufficient physical exercise. This should be a major consideration for those planning on adopting a Belgian Malinois.

Are Belgian Malinois Energetic?

Belgian Malinois are one of the most energetic dog breeds. These dogs need at least two hours of physical exercise every day to stay fit. A combination of daily walks, running, playing, and mentally enriching activities is a must to ensure a Belgian Malinois gets enough exercise.

However, younger Belgian Malinois, especially young puppies, don’t need as much physical exercise. As a general rule of thumb, about five minutes of physical exercise per month of age should be enough to benefit Belgian Malinois puppies.

Are Belgian Malinois Easy to Train?

Intelligence, high drive, and eagerness to please make the Belgian Malinois such an effortless dog breed to train. These dogs can learn various complex tricks and tasks faster than many others.

Sometimes, these dogs can learn so quickly that trainers may not even be able to keep up with them. With this level of trainability, the Belgian Malinois flourishes in the hands of experienced dog owners. A Belgian Malinois can learn it all, from off-leash walking and advanced recall to executing multi-step tasks.

Since training can be an excellent mental exercise for dogs, it should be incorporated throughout the life of a Belgian Malinois to benefit their health. By training a Belgian Malinois regularly, you’ll meet their mental stimulation needs while ensuring they listen in all situations.

Are Belgian Malinois Good Watchdogs?

Belgian Malinois are inherently good watchdogs. They keep an alert eye and will let you know if anything out of the ordinary happens. Since these dogs also have a loud bark, intruders will think twice before attempting anything.

These traits make them great candidates for protection dog training. In fact, the Belgian Malinois is one of the go-to dog breeds for protection work with their high trainability and inherent desire to guard.

Are Belgian Malinois Good Service Dogs?

Whether or not a Belgian Malinois can be a good service dog depends on individual temperament.

Most Belgian Malinois are not ideal for service animal work due to their high energy and drive, whether for hearing assistance or psychiatric service animal training. They are too hyper dogs that want to run around and use their athletic bodies rather than patiently wait.

The athletic capabilities of a Belgian Malinois may be beneficial to assist an individual with a disability, such as for mobility assistance work. The trainer should select a Belgian Malinois puppy that’s calmer and easy-going than others for training. Belgian Malinois with a calmer disposition are more likely to finish service animal training.

That said, while most Belgian Malinois don’t make great service animals, their qualities may be beneficial in specific circumstances. The Belgian Malinois is a dog breed more suitable for law enforcement and police work where athletic abilities and protectiveness are a priority.

How to Care for a Belgian Malinois?

All dogs demand attention from their owners, but the Belgian Malinois requires more. The main care needs of these dogs aren’t grooming, though they need it just as much as any dog. The Belgian Malinois is a breed that requires hours of daily exercise, mental stimulation, and training.

Prospective Belgian Malinois owners should expect to spend at least two to three hours with their dogs to meet their daily needs – without fail. If they aren’t provided enough input, a Belgian Malinois may get bored and develop behavioral issues.

With their essential care needs in mind, here’s more on what it takes to care for a Belgian Malinois, focusing on coat care, shedding, health, and feeding.

Do You Need to Groom a Belgian Malinois?

The Belgian Malinois doesn’t have much grooming needs. Brushing the coat once a week is enough to keep it in top condition. However, you may want to up the brushing to two to three times a week to maintain shedding during seasonal changes.

As energetic dogs that love running around, Belgian Malinois don’t need their nails trimmed as sufficient physical exercise will keep their nails at an appropriate length. Still, you should check for nail growth and trim when needed.

Besides these, Belgian Malinois need dental care, whether by brushing or using chew toys or bones, and bathing when dirty.

Do Belgian Malinois Shed?

Belgian Malinois are moderate shedders. They shed their undercoat twice a year during seasonal changes. You can easily keep shedding in check by brushing frequently and bathing once a month.

Since the Belgian Malinois sheds, this dog breed isn’t hypoallergenic. If you have pet allergies, they may not be the best breed choice. Instead, consider similarly large hypoallergenic dog breeds to adopt.

What Health Problems Do Belgian Malinois Have?

The Belgian Malinois is generally a healthy dog breed. Only a couple of health conditions may affect these dogs. Namely, these are hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, and eye problems. Belgian Malinois dog breeders should screen their dogs for these conditions that may be inherited.

Additionally, Belgian Malinois are prone to ear infections and dental issues. Ear cleaning and dental care should be a part of their grooming routine to prevent problems.

How Long Do Belgian Malinois Live?

As they are healthy dogs, Belgian Malinois have a fairly long lifespan. These dogs can live anywhere between 14 and 16 years.

What Should a Belgian Malinois Eat?

Belgian Malinois should be fed high-quality commercial dog food or a carefully balanced homemade or raw diet. Consider consulting your vet to find the best diet for your Belgian Malinois. Upon examining your Mal’s health and checking their health records, your vet can point you to the best diet.

Is a Belgian Malinois the Right Dog for Me?

The Belgian Malinois isn’t a dog breed for everyone. These dogs require an owner who will be involved with their dogs for several hours every day, without exception.

These dogs need several hours of physical exercise and mentally enriching activities to enable them to use their intelligence. Without these, behavioral issues are bound to happen. Therefore, Mals aren’t ideal for individuals living a busy life.

If you’re up for the physical and mental demands of the Belgian Malinois and want a loyal furry friend who will keep you active, this dog breed can be a great choice. They are energetic dogs that can absorb training like a sponge and become well-behaved dogs with proper training and socialization.