The Top 5 Reasons Belgian Malinois Are the Perfect Guard Dog

Belgian Malinois are dedicated, protective, and territorial dogs that have massive hearts. Read this article to learn about the top 5 reasons the Belgian Malinois are the perfect guard dog.

Belgian Malinois Origin

The Belgian Malinois was first born in Malin, Belgium, where they were bred from Shepherds in the 19th century. They were originally bred for herding livestock but, in later decades, became a companion to the home.

These protective yet caring dogs grow to be 22 to 26 inches in length and weigh up to 80 lbs.

Belgian Malinois can live for up to 12 to 16 years if there is an adequate diet, exercise, and proper care.

Due to their dedicated work ethic, they are a first-class choice for policemen and the military. At the same time, they are loving companions to their owners and are known to have an unstoppable connection to their owners.

If you’re looking for a dog that is a powerful protector and gentle canine, you may consider adopting a Belgian Malinois to protect your home and adore your familial unit. On the contrary, they do have predatory instincts that are easily stimulated by vehicles and younger children. Therefore, if you have younger children who live at home, a Belgian Malinois may not be a viable option.

5 Reasons Why Belgian Malinois Are the Perfect Guard Dog

Want to know why the Belgian Malinois are the perfect guard dog? Here are 5

They Are Territorial

Belgian Malinoises are protective of their environment. In essence, if you live in a high-crime area, own a farm, or have children, they will protect your home and keep you safe.

Eager to Please

Belgian Malinoises live to work. Therefore, they are prideful and want to make sure you are satisfied with training them. 

Belgian Malinois Are Smart

Their intelligence makes it easy for them to learn new cues, tricks, and training compared to other breeds, which may take longer to learn. For instance, policemen often adopt a Belgian Malinois puppy because they can be trained to sniff out bombs, drugs, and gas. 

Skilled Athletes

These muscular pups have sleek bodies that are packed with power. For example, If you want a workout buddy, they’ll never say no! These dogs enjoy agility training, soccer, and even running!

These Pups are Great at Camouflage

Belgian Malinois are beautiful dogs that come in a wide range of colors. From earthly browns, deep blacks, and reds, you will have a dog who can disguise itself with the color of the environment. For instance, they can help you find a fugitive while blending in with the environment.

Tips on Training Your Belgian Malinois 

One perk about owning a Belgian Malinois is that they are willing to train and eager to please you. What’s more is that these pups can handle advanced training that you won’t find in most basic dog training schools. 

For example, you can train your dog to search and rescue people. They can also learn how to play hide and seek, as well as earn blue ribbons at agility challenges. Finally, they can also be trained to interact with humans and animals without being aggressive.

Know Their Needs

Before you can start training, it is important to learn what they need to be trained on. Do they need to learn how to welcome people into your home without becoming overly aggressive? Do they need to socialize to be around other animals without the risk of an accident waiting to happen? Are you raising a puppy and just need basic commands and respect to be learned? The most important part of training is being able to provide the training your pup needs.

Use Positive Reinforcement

Negative reinforcement only makes your Malinois intimidated. Furthermore, negative reinforcement can worsen aggression and bad behaviors. 

Positive reinforcement, such as rewarding them with praise such as a treat in an enthusiastic tone of voice, will provide reassurance and help them to associate you with good things. Plus, positive reinforcement can help increase the trust and connection between you and your dog.

Pay Attention to Their Communication

Know when your dog has had enough training for the day. Overexerting your Malinois can not only cause unnecessary stress but can create hesitation to train with you. Look for signs such as raising their hackles, lack of paying attention, and growling can all be signals that they have had enough training.

Be Patient

Training any dog can be rewarding, yet excruciatingly frustrating, when they make a mistake or refuse to listen. However, it is essential to remain calm and patient during the training process. If you find yourself getting overwhelmed, it is better to stop training and calm yourself rather than keep going and risk lashing out at your dog.

Start Training Young

You can begin training your Belgian Malinois at 8 weeks old. In fact, it is better to start them out at a young age since it will stick longer. However, if you adopt a Belgian Malinois and they are older than a puppy, they are still trainable.

Feed Them a High Protein Diet

Active dogs such as the Belgian Malinois need a high-protein diet for optimal health and muscular support. Feeding your dog a high protein that has a healthy source of proteins such as chicken, duck, and beef. A high protein diet will also aid them in having the energy and nutrition they need for basic training and the more intensive training such as search and rescue.

Training Is Not Enough as Exercise Alone

Unless you’re training your dog for agility competitions, training will not be sufficient exercise alone. Belgian Malinois are energetic dogs that require a minimum of 40 minutes per walk a day. Making sure they are gaining the necessary exercise every day will not only help to improve training sessions, but it will also remove chances of bad behaviors such as digging, aggression, and destroying the house. 

Be Consistent

Training your Belgian Malinois must be a consistent task. Performing the session every day, at the same time of day, and for the same amount of time per session will help your dog learn the training quicker and easier. Lastly, keeping a consistent schedule will provide the mental stimulation these pups need to keep them out of trouble.

Never Leave a Child to Alone With Them

During the training period, it is important to monitor them around children. Not only does this help protect the child’s well-being, but it also protects your dog’s. Due to their instinctive predator behaviors that are influenced by moving objects, they could mistake your child playing as a threat.

How to Train Your Belgian Malinois to Search and Rescue

If you live in an area that is subjected to harsh and unpredictable weather, training your Belgian Malinois can be a useful aid in cases of missing people due to destructive weather. 

Engage Them in Hide and Seek

Begin getting your dog acquainted to find you in the house. Next, head to a closet or bedroom and call for them to come find you. Make sure to praise them positively when they do find you. 

Continue this training 3-5 times a day for a month, and then move to step two.

Move to Outdoors Using Objects

Once your dog has perfected seeking you in the house, it is time to move them outdoors. Bring one of their favorite toys and let them smell it. Then, hide it somewhere outdoors and let them find it. 

Repeat this for as long as you did in step one, and then move on to step 3.

Join a SAR Class

Once your dog has perfected hide and seek, if you want them to become a highly skilled SAR( Search and Rescue) dog, enroll them in a class. If you are unsure of where to find your dog a SAR class, you can always ask your local vet for recommendations.

How to Train Your Dog to Improve Their Social Skills

Your Belgian Malinois will need to learn the difference between knowing when to guard the house and protect you and when it is time to accept guests into the house. By teaching them the difference, you can prevent an accident from happening.

Take Your Dog to a Dog Park

Before you can begin to socialize your dog around other people and animals, they need to be exposed to the outside world. You can start by taking them to a dog park and keep them in a safe distance from people and dogs. Plus, this will allow your dog to become acquainted with the world around them, overwhelming them. Only take them for 15 to 30 minutes at a time.

Slowly Introduce Them to Strangers and Pets

When your dog is not performing guard dog duties, it is a good idea to get them used to people and pets. For example, if a dog comes up to them from a safe distance, and they behave accordingly, give them a treat or a pat on the back for a job well done. Over time, they will learn how to greet guests and other animals without jumping right to guard you from them. 

For lessons on how to train your Belgian Malinois to be a guard dog, it is better to approach a professional handler who can teach you and your dog how to train to be a top-notch security pup.

5 Reasons Why Belgian Malinois Make Great Guard Dogs Table

Belgian Malinois make great guard dogs due to their athletic build, eagerness to learn, and limitless loyalty. Be sure to stay consistent with training, praise, and exercise, and you will have the best guard dog that you could ask for.