How to Identify A Belgian Malinois

The Belgian Malinois is the earliest of the four known breeds of Belgian Sheepdogs and is named after the city of Malines. This is a very intelligent and energetic working dog that is best kept for work rather than as a pet. They excel as police dogs, guard dogs, and drug detection dogs. Because of their physical similarity to other species, they can often be mistaken for other types of dog, so here is a guide on how to correctly identify a Belgian Malinois.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Dog
• Your Eyes

Identifying A Belgian Malinois

1. Begin by looking at the dog’s general shape and build. It should be about 25 inches high at the shoulder and about as long disregarding the tail. A Malinois can weigh anywhere between 55 and 65 pounds. The dog should be large, thick boned, and muscular, though not heavily built. The hind legs should be especially strong and have pronounced muscles in the haunches. It should have a deep chest that reaches all the way to the elbows, rounded hindquarters, and a near perfectly straight back.

2. Look at the dog’s fur. It should be short, straight, and weather resistant with a dense undercoat for warmth. This fur shortens along the head, ears, and lower legs. The Malinois can be anywhere between light tan to mahogany brown. Each hair should have a black tip giving a mottled or overlay appearance. The tips of the ears, muzzle, and throat should be black. White spots on the lower chest and the tips of the toes may appear as well.

3. Examine the dog’s head. It should be best described as looking at a German Shepherd’s head. The skull should be flat and parallel to the plain of the muzzle. The muzzle tapers, but only slightly, and is very long. The ears should be large and form equilateral triangles, standing erect high on the dog’s head. The eyes should be small, almond shaped, and very expressive. If the dog matches this description then you’re looking at a Belgian Malinois.

Tips & Warnings

• Some people say the Malinois is a distant relative of the German Shepherd which would explain the physical similarity. This breed is most similar in behavior and personality to the Belgian Laekenois, meaning it should not be let into contact with other animal species and small children. It should also be socialized as early as possible to avoid violent or erratic behavior around humans.
• This species is naturally defensive and territorial, tendencies which are a boon in a sheep dog, but not good for a pet. To counter this, the Malinois needs very strong socialization and training from an early age. They should not under any circumstances be harshly treated regardless of their actions as they will ignore any commands or instructions they are given afterward. This is a difficult breed to keep and train, so if you are not particularly familiar with dogs and dog training, you might want to reconsider keeping one as a pet.

Resources

• List of Reliable Belgian Malinois Breeders

[Karsun]

on 10/1/2008 We have twin Belgian Malinois...great article!