Belgian Malinois

Quick Take

• Belgian Malinois helped take down two of the world's most wanted terrorists, and their real-life heroics go even further than most people realize.
• Owning one could backfire badly if you make a common training mistake that even experienced dog owners get wrong. See training requirements →
• They look like German Shepherds, but the differences between these two breeds matter a lot more than appearance. Compare the two breeds →
• Their herding instincts never fully switched off, which has unexpected consequences for families who think they're ready for one. Explore herding instincts →

The Belgian Malinois is a medium-sized sheep-herding dog originating in Belgium. It is one of four varieties of the Belgian Shepherd dog, which also includes the Groenendael, Laekenois, and Tervuren. In the United States, the term ‘Belgian Sheepdog’ refers specifically to the Groenendael variety. They look similar to German shepherds but have a more slender and elegant build. Dogs of this breed come in four different varieties with coats of different textures, colors, and lengths.

These brave and loyal dogs have served with distinction as military service animals in both World Wars and more recent conflicts. They make excellent guard dogs and respond well to firm, loving training, but can be domineering with children, other dogs, and unconfident owners. The Belgian Malinois can adapt to living indoors but requires a lot of exercise. This is a dog that needs an attentive, consistent owner, but when properly trained, will reward your effort by being a loyal and loving companion.

3 Pros and Cons of Owning a Belgian Malinois

The Best Dog Food For Belgian Malinois

Regardless of breed, it’s important to provide your dog with a high-quality food with all the healthy ingredients needed for development at all ages.

Dry or wet dog food, or both mixed together, are fine. Meat scraps and meat broth can be added to food to make it tastier, but in moderation. Overfeeding is a common problem that leads to obesity in dogs, causing more health issues as they age. Many commercial brands have special formulas for puppies, adult dogs, and seniors.

Size and Weight

The Belgian Malinois is a medium-sized dog with a solid build. Males stand 24 to 26 inches tall and weigh 55 to 66 pounds. Females are smaller, at 22 to 24 inches tall and 44 to 55 pounds. They are athletic, strong, and carry themselves confidently. Their appearance is slimmer and more elegant than that of a German Shepherd.

Common Health Issues

This is considered to be a healthy breed with comparatively few health problems. They can live for 12 to 14 years. Some of the problems reported include skin allergies, eye problems, and hip and elbow dysplasia. Belgian Malinois should also be tested for epilepsy. All dog breeds should receive regular veterinary checkups and grooming, and have their nails clipped and teeth brushed. These preventive measures will help protect your pet from bacteria and infections and catch any health issues early.

Temperament and Behavior

This breed is intelligent, athletic, protective, and loyal. They love pleasing their owners and are easily trained. Any activity that stimulates their mind, such as learning tricks, solving puzzles, searching, and fetching, is interesting to them. They are mostly friendly with strangers but can become aggressive if they feel their owner or territory is under threat.

They are very energetic and need a great deal of exercise, mental stimulation, and companionship with their owner. Lacking these, they may bark excessively and engage in destructive behaviors. They do not do well living outdoors, separate from a family, because they thrive on attention and socializing. Apartment living is not a great choice for them because their frequent barking will surely annoy neighbors. The best environment for them is to live with their owners in a house, with daily access to the open countryside.

How To Take Care of a Belgian Malinois

Maintenance and Grooming

The Belgian Malinois comes in four varieties that differ by hair type and color. Varieties include long-haired, short-haired, and rough-haired. Their coats do not require a great deal of maintenance, but this depends on their activities and family lifestyle. Most of the time, they just need an occasional brushing, but twice a year, when they are shedding, owners should brush them daily to remove loose hair. Their coats have two layers that make them water-resistant. When washing them, owners or groomers need to lift the layers of the coat so the water can penetrate to the skin. When drying, lift the hair to make sure moisture evaporates off the skin and undercoat. Owners should also trim their nails and brush their teeth on a regular basis.

Training

Belgian Malinois have been described as bright and obedient. Their intelligence and eagerness to please make them easy to train, if done properly.

They are highly alert and have strong guarding instincts. These traits make them outstanding guard dogs and working dogs for the police and military. However, they do display domineering behavior toward children, other pets, and owners who do not understand alpha behavior and intentionally maintain that role for themselves. If trained inadequately, they may engage in herding behavior: chasing, circling, and nipping to control the movements of people or pets they see as lower in the pack hierarchy.

Controlling such behavior requires a great deal of socialization and intentional training, which can make them into agreeable, loving companions and family pets. Remember, though, that this is a sensitive and intelligent breed. Owners who are too harsh or heavy-handed with them will find their pet quickly becomes uncooperative. Try to build a relationship of mutual respect, with clearly defined boundaries that are firmly and lovingly enforced.

Exercise

Belgian Malinois need a great deal of vigorous exercise daily. Walking them daily is not enough — they need to run, jump, and do drills and jobs that stimulate their mind as well as their body, and let them bond with their owner. The ideal owner for this dog is someone with a physically active lifestyle and the time to invest in daily workouts and bonding with their pet.

Belgian Malinois and Children

These dogs have been bred for generations for herding and guarding, not as family pets. These instincts are still just below the surface, so they may chase, snap, and grab running things, including other animals and children. They can also be aggressively territorial toward neighbors, guests, and passersby.

With careful training and socialization, a puppy can learn to moderate these behaviors and become a more congenial family pet. But overall, they are only a good match for households with adults and older children who can understand and cooperate in consistent training. This breed is not well-suited to families with smaller children.  

Dogs Similar to the Belgian Malinois

• Bouvier des Flandres: A herding dog indigenous to Belgium and France. It is similar in temperament, size, and weight to the Belgian Malinois but requires more grooming.
• Dutch Shepherd: A rare breed about the same size as the Belgian Malinois. It has a wiry coat that requires little grooming, and it rarely barks.
• German Shepherd: An extremely popular and easy-to-find breed. Males are heavier than the Belgian Malinois. They shed a great deal and are sensitive to disruptions in the household routine, such as guest visits.

Famous Belgian Malinois

U.S. President Herbert Hoover owned a Belgian Malinois named “King Tut.” King Tut was the President’s favorite dog.

Belgian Malinois have earned great distinction as military and police service animals. Here are a few examples:

• “Cairo” helped the US Navy SEALs’ operation that killed Osama bin Laden.
• “Conan” assisted the US Army in capturing and killing Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
• “Kuga” received an award after capturing a terrorist, despite having been shot, during the war in Afghanistan.
• “Kuno” saved British soldiers’ lives in Afghanistan, despite having been shot.
• “Mali” completed a mission for the British Army while injured in Afghanistan.
• “K9 Killer” received a gold medal for helping to capture 115 poachers in South Africa’s Kruger National Park.