The Belgian Malinois is one of four varieties under the Belgian shepherd breed. Today, as well as herding livestock like their ancestors once did, the Malinois is regularly employed as a protection dog, a search and rescue dog, a bomb and drug detection dog, and a service dog. It didn’t take long for people to notice the Malinois’ work drive, trainability, and versatility, which ultimately opened doors for the breed. Luckily for the Mals, they had some admirers, and in the 60s, their numbers once again began to rise throughout America. The first records of the Belgian Malinois stepping foot in America were in 1911 when they were shipped over from Europe to assist shepherds in herding their livestock.īefore the Second World War, the Belgian Sheepdog Club was formed, and Malinois flourished in the U.S., with their populations growing steadily, however, when the war halted the breed import, the Malinois population numbers inevitably dwindled. The Chien de Berger Belge’s panel of experts analyzed 117 dogs and came to the conclusion that there was a consistent type of Belgian shepherd breed which led to the first Belgian shepherd dog standard and the variations being named after the towns in which they originated. The club got to work and began to research whether Belgium actually had a national native shepherd dog type. One of the most monumental years for the Belgian shepherd breeds was in 1891 when The Chien de Berger Belge (Belgian shepherd dog club) was founded. History of the Belgian MalinoisĪlthough The American Kennel Club recognized the Malinois as a separate breed in 1959, their history dates back to 1882 when what is believed to be the very first Malinois, Salmo, was born. Today, despite Belgian shepherds being once predominantly herding breeds, the Malinois has found its way into more serious and challenging professions, as well as into our hearts and homes as family pet. Malinois may be the same height as their doppelganger German shepherd counterparts, however, German shepherds can weigh up to 10 pounds more and typically sport medium to long coats. If you were to stand a German shepherd and a Belgian Malinois next to one another, you would easily be able to pick up differences in their builds and coats.īelgian Malinois have short double coats, lean, square-shaped, slightly smaller bodies, more triangular ears, and narrow, longer faces. With intelligent minds and a determined work ethic, the Malinois fulfilled its purpose of being a herding dog, capable of rounding up sheep and cattle in northwestern Belgium close to the city of Malines.Īt a first glance, these dogs may share similarities to the more well-known German shepherd, but the two are not directly related. Herders initially bred the Belgian Malinois to be strong, agile, and alert. The registry of purebred dog pedigrees in the United States, The American Kennel Club, however, classifies the Groenendael, the Tervuren, the Laekenois, and of course, the Malinois as separate breeds, which you can tell apart by their distinctive coat lengths and, colors.īelgian Malinois dogs, despite their need for regular exercise and mental stimulation, are low-maintenance dogs who are good with children, as well as other dogs, as long as you properly introduce them to one another. The Belgian Malinois is one of four Belgian herding dogs, which many people categorize under one breed, the Belgian shepherd. Breed Status: Ranked 36 on the American Kennel Club’s most popular dog breed list for 2021.Energy Level: High-energy requires plenty of strenuous exercise and mental stimulation.Female Height: 22 to 24 inches at the shoulder.

Male Height: 24 to 26 inches at the shoulder.Here are the Belgian Malinois’ vital records and statistics: Belgian Malinois Temperament and PersonalityĪlthough the Belgian Malinois was initially bred for herding, these smart and versatile dogs have excelled in other professions, like protection and law enforcement, search and rescue, and therapy assistance.Traits and Characteristics of Belgian Malinois.

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