Belgian Malinois
Updated October 14, 2024
Belgian Malinois
Updated October 14, 2024
Belgian Malinois thrive on mental stimulation and structured activity. Known for intelligence and versatility, they make excellent working dogs. These loyal dogs are ideal for experienced pet parents seeking a trainable companion with a high energy level.
Energetic, Possessive, Fearless
Male: 60-80 lbs
Female: 40-60 lbs
Male: 24-26 inches
Female: 22-24 inches
14 to 16 years
Fawn, Mahogany
Imagine your perfect Saturday: You start out with a five-mile run, you grab a protein shake, then head out for a mountain hike or trail ride, and you don’t come home until the sun goes down. The energetic, fearless Belgian Malinois would make an ideal companion for those excursions. These extremely active, powerful dogs were born to run, and they are up for anything, making them great exercise buddies, police K-9s and guard dogs. Whether at work or play, the Belgian Malinois will give 110 percent—and they’ll need someone who can handle all that intensity. From hiking to dock diving to search and rescue, these dogs are ready for new experiences with you. Are you up to the challenge?
Belgian Malinois Characteristics
Belgian Malinois Appearance
The Belgian Malinois’ alert gaze and powerful build show they’re ready for action whenever you are. A Mal sports a thick, short coat in fawn or mahogany with black at the tips. With a swift, sure gait and their heads held high, a Belgian Malinois is proud to protect and serve—and play all day.
- Ears
Belgian Malinois ears are erect and triangular and sit high atop their heads.
- Eyes
Belgian Malinois eyes are either brown or dark brown in color, medium in size and slightly oval in shape.
- Nose
A Mali's muzzle is somewhat pointed in shape, and the nose is fully black.
- Coat Length
The Belgian Malinois has a short-haired coat that's straight with a thick undercoat and longer fur around the neck, which is called a collarette.
- Coat Color
This breed's coat color is black-tipped at the ends and may be fawn or mahogany. Their colors should never include brindle markings (often called "subtle tiger stripes") and should never be a solid white or blue.
- Tail
A Belgian Malinois' tail is long and strong. Their tails slightly curve when they are in action.
Belgian Malinois Temperament
The Belgian Malinois’ personality is as spirited as they come, making them a good fit for pet parents who love to be on the go. Ready to toil tirelessly at any task, a Mal dog has a strong work ethic and is quick to respond to their human’s cues and commands.
The Belgian Malinois’ intelligence sets them apart, and their competency is a big reason why this herding breed is hardly ever unemployed. Originally, the Malinois served as a watchdog on farms and ranches, though today their career opportunities have expanded into public service. In fact, you almost want to salute these pups as they join search and rescue missions alongside the police and military.
While they make great guard dogs, it’s wise to supervise children around this breed. If you’d like to mix a Belgian Malinois with kids and babies in your home, know that compatibility rests heavily on early and consistent training and socialization, as well as teaching children how to interact with dogs. Other animals, strangers and sudden movements could startle this alert, watchful canine. Know too that the Belgian Malinois dog breed has a naturally high prey drive, which means they’ll chase moving objects (think toddlers, cars, cats and other dogs), so a firm hand and lots of obedience lessons are critical.
Raising a Belgian Malinois puppy is indeed rewarding, in part because their intelligence and trainability make them a joy to teach. If you select this breed as your own, you’ll quickly see why their reliability and razor-sharp smarts are prized by so many.
How to Care for a Belgian Malinois
Belgian Malinois grooming won’t consume your days as their relatively short coat is easy to manage. But the time you save on hair care will have to be spent outside, whether in your backyard, at the park or on a hiking trail. Yup, exercise is no afterthought with this dynamic breed, so lace up your sneakers!
Grooming
Training
Diet
Exercise
Environment
Belgian Malinois Health
Fortunately for those looking to add a Belgian Malinois as a pet, this breed is considered healthy. Still, as with any dog type, certain conditions may arise based on this animal’s genetics and physicality—and reputable breeders should screen for them. Here’s more about the Belgian Malinois health issues you may encounter in your pup, including signs to watch for and how they’re treated.
- Hip and Elbow Dysplasia: Both hip and elbow dysplasia are caused by abnormal development of the affected joint. In hip dysplasia, the ball of the femur isn’t properly positioned in the hip socket. Both types of dysplasia can lead to pain and lameness in your Mal. While these two health concerns are genetic in nature, excess weight gain may also be a contributing factor. Treatment may include weight management, medications, joint supplements, physical therapy, or in more serious cases, surgery.
- Eye Disease: Many dogs, whether they’re purebred or mixed breeds, can develop ocular conditions. In the Belgian Malinois, the three that are typically seen include cataracts (cloudiness in the eye’s lens), chronic superficial keratitis or pannus (a condition affecting the cornea) and generalized progressive retinal atrophy or PRA, which is the degeneration of the retina that can end in blindness. While there is no current treatment for PRA, dogs with this condition often adjust well to vision loss. Drug therapy or surgery are the go-to treatments for cataracts and pannus.
- Cancer: Hemangiosarcoma, which affects the cells that line the blood vessels, is a common cancer in dogs. This condition can develop anywhere in the body, but it’s usually found on the skin, spleen, liver and heart. This cancer’s tumors are usually blood-filled and fragile, and may spread to other parts of the body. If the cancer isn’t extensive, surgery may be recommended to either remove or shrink the tumor, along with a course of chemotherapy.
Belgian Malinois History
Recognized as an official American Kennel Club breed in 1959, the Belgian Malinois’ origin can be traced to the city of Malines, Belgium, which is responsible for the dog’s name. Their history is also closely linked to other similar sheepherding canines, including the Belgian Sheepdog and the Belgian Tervuren (both long-haired dogs), and in other countries, these Belgian breeds share common physical characteristics.
Mals made their name as stellar herders of livestock back in Belgium and were valued as hard workers on farms and ranches, keeping track of sheep and cattle herds. This breed journeyed to the US in 1911 and grew in popularity until World War II, when the importation of European dogs was halted. This animal’s post-war popularity was low until the 1960s, when fans of the Belgian Malinois decided to bring the breed back into fashion.
Today, while this pup isn’t nearly as well-known as their near-doppelgänger, the German Shepherd, the Belgian Malinois’ talents and temperament are highly coveted by police and military, and they’ve been put to good use as service dogs. One example of the breed’s exceptional bravery is the role that Cairo, a Belgian Mal, played in 2011. Along with members of the US Navy Seal Team Six, this special pup took part in the raid that captured the infamous terrorist Osama Bin Laden.
If you’re considering adding one to your family, keep in mind that the Belgian Malinois’s price varies, depending on where you live and which breeder you contact. A general price range for a Mal pup runs from $1,500 to $4,000. For that, you usually are getting a dog who’s been screened for health and temperament issues, and they might even come with pedigree papers. You can find a reputable breeder at the AKC’s website. Of course, if you’d rather bring home an older dog, local rescue organizations and animal shelters are always worthy options. You can search Chewy’s database of adoptable dogs in your area, too.
FAQs
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Expert input provided by: Dr. Jerry Klein, DVM, American Kennel Club’s Chief Veterinary Officer and Mary R. Burch, PhD, Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist and AKC Family Dog Director.
Breed characteristic ratings provided by veterinarian Dr. Sarah J. Wooten, DVM, CVJ, a veterinarian at Sheep Draw Veterinary Hospital in Greeley, Colorado; dog trainer and behavior consultant Irith Bloom, CPDT-KSA, CBCC-KA, CDBC, owner of The Sophisticated Dog, LLC, in Los Angeles; and certified animal behavior consultant Amy Shojai, CABC, in Sherman, Texas.
The health content was medically reviewed by Chewy vets.