As you wipe the tears from your eyes, you are in awe of the amazing dog you just saw on your weekly movie night with your family. You’ve been thinking of adopting a puppy and have been checking out different dog breeds, learning it’s a Belgian Malinois you saw, not a German Shepherd like you first thought. “Wow!” you think to yourself. “I’ve seen this dog breed in more movies, TV shows, and all over social media. They’re so smart and well-trained! I bet my family would love one!” You immediately begin looking at available Belgian Malinois puppies to adopt, intending to pick the cutest one you see and figuring you’ll read up about the dog breed later.
Wait right there! Let’s pull back on that leash for a second! Seeing a highly trained canine actor dazzle people on-screen does not mean this dog breed is right for you and your family, as reality is completely different from what you see in Hollywood.
The Belgian Malinois (pronounced “mal-in-wah” and often called a “Mal”) is a dog breed renowned for its versatility, intelligence, and unwavering work ethic. It is the most recognizable out of the four Belgian Shepherd dogs alongside the Groenendael, Tervuren, and Laekenois.
Active families looking for an energetic, athletic dog with brain power seek out Belgian Malinois as family companions. A Belgian Malinois puppy is great for an experienced handler and requires owners to be in tune with them on a deep level to read their cues through bonding. Many new puppy owners who are not experienced with dogs may be overwhelmed by the care, exercise needs, and extensive training required for a happy, healthy Belgian Malinois.
A Belgian Malinois puppy is a spectacular, attentive dog that is also a great family companion with the right training and an unbreakable owner bond. Discover what it’s like to live with a confident, alert, and loyal Belgian Malinois puppy in our ultimate Belgian Malinois puppy owner guide.
What is the History and Origin of Belgian Malinois Puppies?
Belgian Malinois and their other Belgian Shepherd counterparts hail from Malines in the rural northwestern region of Belgium and were originally bred during the 17th century to be herding and livestock guardians. They thrived at this task thanks to their sharp senses, athletic ability, and intelligence, all traits necessary for farmwork out in the pastures.
It wasn’t until the turn of the 20th century that Belgian Malinois began to be of service outside the farm gates protecting more than just livestock. Five Belgian Malinois puppies joined The New York Police Department in 1908 as one of the first K9 units in US law enforcement. In World War I, Belgian Malinois dogs were employed by the military in Europe for various tasks, including message delivery, ambulance duties, and guarding. Their unmatched bravery, loyalty, and adaptability made them invaluable assets on the battlefield, earning them widespread acclaim and recognition for their contributions to the war effort. World War II added the duties of search and rescue, bomb detection, and patrol work.
Meanwhile, returning soldiers brought the Belgian Malinois back to America, and they experienced a surge in popularity in the 1920s. However, the Great Depression and World War II halted importing Belgian Malinois, and the breed was in danger of becoming extinct as numbers dwindled.
Thanks to the effort of a few key breeders, Belgian Malinois slowly gained in popularity as their numbers increased. These days, while Belgian Malinois are not as popular as German Shepherds, they are still a beloved dog breed in America and have enjoyed a rise in popularity. They rank #33 between the Chihuahua and the Basset Hound on the AKC’s List of Most Popular Dog Breeds of 2023. Popular movies and TV shows starring Belgian Malinois have sparked interest in this breed in recent years. In Dog, Channing Tatum stars as an Army Ranger who embarks on a cross-country road trip with his faithful Belgian Malinois companion, Lulu, to attend a fellow soldier's funeral. Along the way, they encounter unexpected challenges and forge a profound bond. Social media sites and news outlets provide countless stories of Belgian Malinois heroes that are a testament to this breed’s noble, protective nature.
Modern military and K9 service
Today, the Belgian Malinois is a preferred breed among the military, law enforcement agencies, and search and rescue teams worldwide. Their unmatched drive, intelligence, and trainability make them indispensable assets in various roles, including police work, security, and detection tasks.
Countless Belgian Malinois have received the highest military and K9 awards, medals, and honors for bravery and courage during their service. From Navy Seal K9 Cairo who helped capture Osama Bin Laden to Yoda who found escaped convict Danelo Calvalcante, read more about the accomplishments of military and K9 Belgian Malinois in our guide to famous military working dogs.
Characteristics of Belgian Malinois Puppies
A Belgian Malinois puppy is often confused with a German Shepherd, and many wonder if they are the same breed. They are totally separate breeds hailing from different regions with varying characteristics. A German Shepherd is a bigger dog with longer hair, a sloping back, and a distinct black saddle. Belgian Malinois have a short, straight coat, a square body, and come in colors like mahogany, red, fawn, red sable, and fawn sable according to some kennel standards. They also come in black, grey, cream, and silver.
While they’re bred primarily for temperament over looks, Belgian Malinois have a regal, dignified stance, powerful muscles, and light, agile movement. Their ears stand on top of their head, always listening and alert to their surroundings. A fully grown adult Belgian Malinois can weigh 40-80 pounds and stand 22-26 inches. A Belgian Malinois puppy will have large, inquisitive, dark eyes and a slightly bushy tail.
Fun Facts about the Belgian Malinois
Getting to know the Belgian Malinois breed will help you decide if they’re the dog for you to become your lifelong companion. Here are some fun facts about Belgian Malinois that will help you learn more about these lively, trustworthy dogs.
Skydiving canines
In addition to utilizing their tenacity and eagerness to please, the military prefers them because Belgian Malinois make great skydiving partners. They can even be trained to safely jump solo! They’re lighter than German Shepherds while offering the same work ethic and drive. Once they’re on the ground, they take instruction well and fearlessly execute the tasks given to them in an agile, smart manner.
Not just for the military
While Belgian Malinois are renowned for their bravery in combat, they’ve also held some interesting jobs. They work alongside anti-poachers protecting endangered animals such as tigers in India from poachers. Belgian Malinois detect invasive species like the harmful plant Scotch broom and oak wilt from threatening native plant areas. They can also sniff out pests like termites and bed bugs!
Amazing jumping abilities
You already know they’re athletic, but Belgian Malinois are impressive jumpers and can surprise you with their height. Belgian Malinois can jump 6-8 feet, easily scaling a typical suburban fence! Jumping is one activity you can work on with your Belgian Malinois, especially in agility. They’d definitely win a “barkour” competition!
Excellent guard dogs
Even though they’re sometimes depicted in a light that shows them as being aggressive or vicious, a Belgian Malinois is not naturally aggressive or fearful. Although their facial expressions may appear intimidating, particularly when baring their teeth, it's important to emphasize that well-trained Belgian Malinois puppies should never display aggression or initiate attacks unless specifically directed by a professional trainer. They’re excellent guard dogs ready to protect their loved ones. Belgian Malinois can be wary of strangers at first but can warm up quickly with a proper introduction from someone they trust.
Kid-friendly when raised together
Belgian Malinois form tight bonds with their families and do well in a household with older children if raised alongside them. Because they are herding dogs, they may nip at the heels of young children, which should be corrected right away. Teach children how to properly handle a puppy to ensure safety and bonding. Get them involved in training your Belgian Malinois puppy so everyone is on board!
The emotional bond is unbreakable
“Intense devotion” describes the bond Belgian Malinois have with their owners. They are so incredibly alert and attentive, watching their owners for subtle movements and listening sharply for commands. Always eager to obey, it’s like a Belgian Malinois can read your mind and anticipate your moves before you even experience the thought!
How Active is a Belgian Malinois?
The short answer – very! Lace up your running shoes because you’re going to need them!
As a Belgian Malinois owner, it’s extremely important to understand the natural high activity level and intelligence of this dog breed. In fact, they are at the top of the list of dog breeds with the most energy, even topping one particular research inquiry. One study by Whistle, a GPS and activity-tracking dog collar company, found that out of 15,000 participants, the Belgian Malinois dog breed was the most energetic on a daily basis out of all the dogs monitored with an average movement of 102 minutes and 52 seconds a day! You’ve got to be prepared to “drain their batteries,” as a tired Belgian Malinois is a happy Belgian Malinois. They’ll need owners who can commit to and provide ample time for meeting their needs.
Belgian Malinois puppies thrive when given a “job” to do, as you must keep them mentally stimulated daily. Without an outlet, a Belgian Malinois puppy can become destructive, anxious, bored, agitated, aggressive, fearful, or even depressed.
Belgian Malinois love exploring nature and going on adventures with new sights, sounds, and smells. However, they need to remain on a secure leash unless in an area with a sturdy, high fence. Belgian Malinois love to escape and go on their own adventures. They can also dart toward prey like cats and squirrels if not trained properly, dragging you behind! One study found they can run up to 30 mph in short bursts, so hold that leash tightly. Leash training for uneventful walks should start as early as possible for good manners on outings.
Providing your Belgian Malinois puppy with the right kinds of daily exercise can be a real treat for active families! There are so many opportunities to have fun with your Belgian Malinois while keeping their brains sharp and their bodies healthy. They make great running and hiking partners, love to visit dog parks, and play interactive games.
Belgian Malinois puppies excel in a variety of dog sports they can participate in with their owners thanks to their intelligence, athleticism, and ability to follow directions. Activities for a Belgian Malinois puppy you may want to check out are:
- Rally
- Agility
- Herding
- Tracking
- Sledding
- Obedience
- Schutzhund
- Dog Dancing
- Conformation
- Other Protection Sports
Belgian Malinois can be slow to mature, so they may have a phase of extended puppyhood, making staying on top of their activity level and training even more important during those first few years. You’ll want to make sure they do not overexert themselves due to their body’s joint and bone development.
Training Your Belgian Malinois Puppy
Your training journey with your Belgian Malinois puppy can be an extremely rewarding experience. They form deep bonds with their owners and handlers and are eager to please. Because this breed requires early socialization, you should start the very first day you are with your puppy, teaching basic training commands for dogs. Starting early ensures you establish yourself as a leader while your puppy gains confidence and learns to obey.
Belgian Malinois do not respond well to harsh training methods. Despite their confidence, they can be very sensitive. Positive reinforcement techniques with a rewards-based approach work the best with consistency and plenty of patience.
Once your Belgian Malinois puppy has mastered basic commands, it’s highly advisable you continue training efforts to keep your puppy engaged. A Belgian Malinois will not be satisfied if mentally stimulating opportunities end after graduating from puppy kindergarten classes. Further training gives them a purpose and a way to direct their attention and energy in a positive way.
Belgian Malinois puppies as working dogs
As we learned with their decorated K9 and military history, Belgian Malinois puppies can be raised to perform a variety of useful tasks to humans to be of service in ways humans cannot.
In addition to their service as military and K9 police dogs, Belgian Malinois are versatile dogs used in a wide range of fields, including:
- Sentry
- Herding
- Drug detection
- Securing locations
- Search and rescue
- Retrieving information
- Locating invasive species
- Identifying explosive devices
- Tracking and finding enemies
- Service dogs for veterans & civilians
- Protecting endangered animals from poachers
Grooming Your Belgian Malinois Puppy
Belgian Malinois puppies are easy to groom and thankfully do not require frequent, expensive trips to a professional groomer. Most of their grooming needs can be done once you learn how to groom a dog at home.
A Belgian Malinois has a thick, gorgeous double coat. Their coarse outer layer of guard hairs is waterproof, and the soft, downy undercoat provides insulation and helps regulate their body temperature. For this reason, you should never shave your Belgian Malinois! You’ll remove their protection and possibly damage their coat since the hairs grow in at different rates.
Instead, you can take care of their coats with regular brushing every 2-3 days with a pin brush and an undercoat rake brush if needed. Brushing has several benefits, including removing dirt and debris from their coats, stimulating the skin, redistributing natural oils, and building your bond with your puppy. Belgian Malinois are moderate-to-heavy shedders and will blow their coats twice a year. You’ll need to be prepared with a stash of lint rollers and a good vacuum!
At-home grooming also includes learning to clip their nails, check their paws, clean their eyes and ears, check for skin infections, and bathe them. Some owners do opt to take their Belgian Malinois puppies to the groomer for nail trims, particularly baths.
Your Belgian Malinois should be bathed every 2-3 months or when they develop a doggy odor. However, you should follow a process for bathing a Belgian Malinois puppy rather than a quick scrub-down to get the most out of your grooming session for a healthy, clean coat involving brushing, de-shedding, two rounds of baths, and a blowout with a dryer. Begin by brushing and blowing out loose hairs if needed. The first bathing round should remove dirt and debris, returning the coat to a neutral state. The next round will focus on conditioning the skin and thoroughly cleaning the coat. It’s important to dry your Belgian Malinois completely. With a final brush and leave-in finishing product, your puppy will be refreshed and look and smell amazing!
Regardless of how you groom your Belgian Malinois, get them used to being handled as young as possible. Touch them all over, especially the paws and face, giving them treats and praise while touching so they associate it with a positive experience. The groomer is not the time when their paws are touched for the first time, especially since Belgian Malinois puppies can be protective.
Caring For Your Belgian Malinois Puppy
With proper veterinary care and proactive measures you take to keep your Belgian Malinois healthy, they can enjoy a long life of 14-16 years old. Establish a relationship with a licensed veterinarian when you bring your puppy home. Giving regularly scheduled flea, tick, and heartworm prevention medication, feeding a nutritious diet for high-activity breeds according to weight, and providing adequate exercise and mental stimulation are great ways to enhance your Belgian Malinois puppy’s well-being.
However, there are some health concerns of Belgian Malinois potential owners should be aware of when raising a puppy. Belgian Malinois can experience hip and elbow dysplasia, bloat, hypothyroidism, dental issues, epilepsy, eye problems, and potentially more. Making yourself aware of possible health issues can help you know what to look for when wondering if you should call the vet. When in doubt, always call your veterinarian for concerns you have about your Belgian Malinois puppy rather than turning to the internet!
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