Are Belgian Malinois good family dogs? Yes, they can be. However, like any other dog breed, they need proper training and early socialization to become well-rounded adults.
This intelligent, energetic, and protective breed is still more of a working dog than a companion. They have a strong drive to work. The Belgian Malinois makes an excellent farm dog, watchdog, police dog, and herding dog because of their instinct to protect their family, home, or whatever else they are trained to protect.
Their name is pronounced MAL-in-wah. They are one of four Belgian Sheepdogs and are very work-oriented and protective of home, family, and livestock.
Belgian Malinois Appearance
The AKC recognizes the Belgian Malinois in the colors of fawn, mahogany, to red with a black mask, ears, and tips. Minimal white on the chest and feet is permitted.
They’re a medium/large size dog that weighs between 40-80 lbs and is between 22″ to 26″ in height.
Grooming
The short, smooth, straight, and hard outer coat and dense undercoat require minimal grooming and are very easy to care for. Regular washing is not recommended as their coat has water proofing.
Belgian Malinois Personality
Belgian Malinois are intelligent and energetic dogs that require a lot of attention from their owners. They are very loyal and affectionate towards their families, but they also need to be socialized as puppies so they can be friendly towards strangers.
Belgian Malinois are very protective of their families and are not suitable for homes with small children. They do not tolerate teasing or rough play from kids and may become aggressive if they feel threatened by anyone in their household.
Belgian Malinois have a high tolerance for pain, which means they can sustain injuries without showing it. This makes them great working dogs because they don’t let pain affect their performance, but it also means they may ignore minor injuries until they become serious problems.
Belgian Malinois are very intelligent and eager to please, which makes them easy to train as long as you provide plenty of positive reinforcement when your pup does something right. However, some Belgian Malinois can be stubborn about learning new commands if they don’t see the point of doing so. It’s important to keep training sessions short so your dog doesn’t get bored or confused by too many commands at once.
Belgian Malinois Training and exercise Requirements
Early, consistent, firm, but not harsh training is important. They are harder for a novice to train than someone who is more experienced.
The Belgian Malinois has a lot of energy and loves to be on the go. They require a yard and plenty of room to run and play. They are not meant to be indoors all day. They enjoy being with their family and are not meant to be left alone for long periods of time, as they will get bored and find some way to fill their time.
Belgian Malinois Rescue Organizations
If you’re searching for a Belgian Malinois, the first place you can look is PetFinder.com and PuppySpot. If you don’t see any on there or would like to pursue other resources, check out the following rescue organizations:
Is the Belgian Malinois Right for You?
The Belgian Malinois is popular in Belgium and is used for herding, police work and as a search and rescue dog. A breed with such a strong work drive, protective instinct and high energy makes an excellent watchdog and farm dog. They do best with families that are active and will meet their work and exercise needs. An active, busy Belgian Malinois is a happy Belgian Malinois.
One thought on “Belgian Malinois Training and Breed Profile”