The Belgian Shepherd Malinois is one of the four varieties
of the Belgian Shepherd dog breed. Its name comes from the Belgian city of
Mechelen - in Dutch Mechelen, in French Malines -, a town that saw it emerge.
He has aptitudes as a herd keeper, is tenacious and protective, gathering the
necessary qualities to be trained as a sheepdog, guardian, defense and service
dog.
This little-known variety of Belgian Shepherd is a useful
breed appreciated by working dog trainers and people who participate in different
competition tests such as schutzhund and agility. In addition to its civilian
facet, it is also frequently used by the armed forces, state security forces
and armies around the world. Due to its skills and excellent readiness for
work, it is used by a large majority of these agencies - including the German
police.
History
The first standard of this variety was written by Professor
Reul, of the Club du Chien de Berger Belge, being approved in 1892. The
appearance, aptitudes and most of the physical characteristics written in this
standard are almost identical to the current ones. Their origins are the same
as hard-haired dogs.
With great fame and widely used in the field in Belgium and
France, the first Belgian Malinois shepherds in America arrived in the United
States in 1907, to be used by the police, thanks to their temperamental
characteristics.
Its development is closely linked to sport, especially the
French Ring and with its worldwide spread. In fact, in 1900 the first tests
with show jumping, obedience and a bite program were organized and for 1909 in
Paris, the First Ring World Championship is held, from which it takes place
every year.
General appearance
The Belgian Shepherd Malinois shares standard with the other
3 varieties of Belgian Shepherd, differing from these only in the length, type
and color of the hair. His hair is short and hard throughout the body, without
fringes on the extremities or tail, the color is charred brown and he has a
melancholic mask on his face. Its robust constitution allows it to easily adapt
to outdoor life and withstand the environmental conditions of climates as
difficult as Belgian.
Character
For more than four decades, the lines of beauty and work
have not mixed with each other. The Belgian Malinois is above all a breed of
utility and if it is becoming known throughout the world for something, it is
for its good attributes for the job, without stopping to see that it is not a
dog that resists all terrain, in force it is surpassed by the German Shepherd,
but still an exemplary dog. Therefore: it is not a variety whose upbringing is
oriented primarily to the official type that marks the standard, that is:
beauty. This explains that its standard has a fairly wide margin compared to
other breeds classified by the FCI, which is why it should not be surprising to
find specimens that differ in size and height.
Well-bred and trained Malinois are usually active, friendly,
protective, and hard-working. They show energy levels that are among the
highest of all dog breeds; A typical Malinois will have the energy of a puppy
until the age of 3, although it is not uncommon for it to exhibit this energy
level until the age of five. Many have high prey instincts, and some can be
overly exuberant and joyous, especially when young. They can also be
destructive or develop neurotic behaviors if not given enough stimulation and
exercise. This often causes problems for homeowners who are unfamiliar with the
breed and unwilling to provide them with the exercise they require or a job to do.
They are medium and strong dogs that require basic obedience training, and
enjoy being stimulated learning new tasks. They are known for being easy to
train, thanks to their high capacity for understanding.
A Belgian Shepherd (Malinois) during a military Agility
training.
You should start to socialize it from the first moment the
puppy arrives at home. Requires basic obedience training if you plan to have
him as a pet only. They are very energetic dogs that need open spaces to be
able to run and / or frolic. They have a loving character with children, they
like to participate in family activities, although they can be somewhat rough
when it comes to playing, so being careful with small children.
Elimination
defects
Between the
eliminatory defects they emphasize: that they are aggressive or fearful dogs;
overly pigmented nose, lips, or eyelids; ears that hang or do not stand up on
their own; tailless or trimmed; Weak appearance and rectangular body.
Excessively large spots on the legs.
The Belgian
Malinois is an elegant, shapely, natural, square and medium-sized dog.
It gives the
impression of elegance and robustness. It is a vigorous dog, used to living
outdoors so it has a coat designed to resist the harsh Belgian climate. Its
elegance and expressiveness denotes a strong character, which makes it a proud
representative of sheepdogs. The Belgian Malinois is an enthusiastic and speedy
dog with a natural tendency to be on the move. Males measure between 61 and
66 cm at the withers and usually weigh between 25 and 34 kg. Females are
between 56 and 61 cm in size and their weight varies between 18 and 27 kg.
The coat should
be short and smooth, tough enough to withstand the weather, with a very dense
undercoat of fur. The hair on the head, ears and lower limbs is very short. The
hair is longer on the tail, the back of the thighs and the neck, where it forms
a thick necklace. The hair must fit the body without standing on end or
hanging.
The basic color
ranges from bright beige to mahogany, dotted with black hairs. The face and
ears are black. The Belgian Malinois is a breed with a double coat of hair that
usually sheds twice a year. Bathing it when it's dirty, brushing it once or
twice a week and cutting its nails will keep your Malinois in perfect
condition.
Personality:
The Belgian
Malinois excels not only in grazing, but also in protection and as a law
enforcement officer, in drug, gas or bomb detection, search and rescue,
tracking, obedience, sledging, agility, and even as a therapy dog for
disabled, sick or elderly. This dog is very demanding and needs an experienced
owner. It is quite temperamental and can show aggressiveness. They want nothing
more than to be with their family, which makes them unsuitable for living in
cages or kennels.
Coexistence:
The Belgian
Malinois is a very intelligent and obedient dog. It has very strong territorial
and protective instincts. This breed needs good socialization from a young age
and firm training without being too hard. They are instinctively protective so
they must be trained and socialized from puppies. Unless you are specifically
involved in some kind of protective work, you do not need to give your Malinois
any training for it, as it is an instinct that manifests itself naturally.
Belgian Malinois are excellent pets in the right home, where they thrive as
loving companions. Malinois unleash their herding instincts like chasing and
circling by moving for hours and nibbling on people's heels. It is a perfect
dog for work and obedience competitions but not for children who run and
scream. The Belgian Malinois will be constantly trying to keep the child in one
place!
This breed can
live in an apartment if it gets enough exercise. Indoors it is moderately
active but will be better off with a medium size plot or garden. They prefer
cool climates although they adapt quickly. They usually live between 12 and 15
years.
History:
Malinois is one
of the varieties of Belgian Shepherd. They all have the name of Belgian towns:
Groenendael, Laekenois, Mechelar (Malinois) and Tervuren.
The history of
the Belgian malinois dates back to the 80s of the 19th century, when these dogs
(along with the German, French and Danish shepherds) were known as
"continental shepherd dogs". In 1891 the Belgian Shepherd Club was
formed and a group of judges determined that there was a type of native
shepherd dog with a square constitution, medium size with well-established
triangular ears on the head. These dogs only differed in coat texture, color,
and length. In 1892, the first standard Belgian Shepherd was described
recognizing 3 varieties: dogs with long hair, short hair, and hard hair.
The Belgian
Malinois, along with the Groenendael, was the first breed to appear in the
United States in the early 1900s. The Belgian Sheepdog Club of America was
formed (the Malinois, Groenendael and Tervuren were considered the same breed
at that time) and the breed began to be exhibited at the American Kennel Club
(AKC) in the early 1950s. In 1951 they separated in the 3 breeds that the AKC
recognizes today: Pastor, Tervuren and Malinois.
Belgian Malinois Photo :
German Shepherd VS Belgian Malinois
Source:
https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pastor_belga_malinois
https://www.hillspet.es/dog-care/dog-breeds/belgian-malinois