Belgian Malinois is a breed of sheepdog from Belgium. This breed is seen in many police and military forces of many countries worldwide.
The Belgian Malinois dog is one of the dog breeds chosen by pet owners as a companion. Let’s learn about the Belgian Malinois with DailyPets.net through this article.
Learn about the Belgian Malinois dog breed
The origin of the Belgian Malinois dog
The Belgian Malinois (Belgian Becgie) is one of the four types of Belgian Shepherd. The other three are Groenendael, Tervuren and Laekenois.
Today’s Belgian Malinois originates from the cross between the German Shepherd and the indigenous Shepherd breed of a shepherd named Adrien Janssens in 1885, more than 200 years ago.
The original purpose of breeding the Belgian Malinois was to herd sheep and raise cattle. Later, in the process of raising and training, people discovered many great qualities of this breed and put it into the army and police to perform many important tasks.
The Belgian Malinois dogs are popularly raised in many countries around the world. With intelligence, Belgian Malinois is used while performing search and rescue and crime detection missions.
Characteristics of the Belgian Malinois dog appearance
The body of the Belgian Malinois is almost square and balanced, showing strength. The head of the dog is quite long because the length of the snout is almost equal to the length of the skull.
The eyes are brown, and the nut shape looks quite fierce. Belgian Malinois ears are usually protruding; when mature, the ears are erect and triangular. The nose is straight and long, has a good sense of smell. The legs of the Belgian Malinois are straight, long, well-proportioned, and strong.
Male Belgian Malinois usually have a height of 61-67cm and a weight of 25-34kg. The female Belgian Malinois usually has a height of 56-61cm and a weight of 20-30kg.
The Belgian Malinois’ coat is quite short and has two coats. The outside is a protective layer, which helps to avoid impacts from the outside, so it is quite hard. Inside is an extremely thick fluff, strong enough to withstand harsh weather conditions.
Personality traits of the Belgian Malinois dog
The Belgian Malinois is a loyal and affectionate dog for its owner or loved one. However, with strangers, they are quite cautious and wary. They have a great protective character, so they are very respected as working dogs. They can be ready to rush into combat to protect their owners when in danger.
The Belgian Malinois is a very intelligent and agile dog. They can feel the owner’s thoughts and comfort him when he is sad by swooping in his lap or running around wagging his tail when he knows he has good news. In addition, they can understand the intentions of strangers through their gestures. When they detect danger, they will attack to protect the owner.
Belgian Malinois are active and run around, so they are interested in training. They are adaptable to environmental changes; thick coats can withstand extreme temperatures. In particular, they also have high endurance and tenacity.
How to take care of a Belgian Malinois dog
Belgian Malinois dog food
You should feed your Belgian Malinois 3-4 meals a day, and you should set up a fixed meal time of the day so that they can control the amount of food the dog eats into the body each day. The amount of food per meal may vary depending on age and activity level.
Belgian Malinois’s diet should include foods rich in protein, fortified with essential fats, vitamins, starches, and minerals. In addition, you should provide enough water for them when they are active continuously.
The foods you need to limit include milk, dry food, canned food, fishy seafood, and fatty foods because they are not good for the health and physique of Belgian Malinois.
How to care for and hygiene for the Belgian Malinois dog
You should brush your Belgian Malinois 3 times a week to keep the coat healthy and prevent fleas. Belgian Malinois will shed a lot in the fall and spring, so you need to brush them daily.
You should clean your Belgian Malinois’s ears and eyes weekly with a dog eye care product.
You should trim their nails every quarter.
You can bathe Belgian Malinois twice a month or when the dog has just returned from playing in a dirty place.
Every day you should spend about 30-60 minutes taking your Belgian Malinois dog outside to run, jump and play. Because they are active species, they will become irritable and crazy if kept in one place for too long, typically barking and biting furniture. You can walk your dog, run after the car, play hide and seek, and some home games such as catching balls, chasing lasers, etc.
Common Belgian Malinois dog health problems
Hip Dysplasia: Belgian Malinois has this condition when the femur bone is misaligned with the hip joint causing them pain and a limp. This genetic disease can flare up if you’re on a high-calorie diet or because of an injury during activity.
Belgian Malinois may have progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) that can lead to blindness.
The genetic disease in the Belgian Malinois breed is elbow dysplasia, a condition in which the elbow joints develop unevenly.
The Belgian Malinois has a thin layer of fat, so it is very sensitive to anesthetics compared to other dogs, so it will be very dangerous if they are anesthetized and can even lead to death.
Another common illness that occurs in Belgian Malinois is pneumonia. If you find them showing signs of prolonged coughing, weak breathing, or fatigue, take the Belgian Malinois to the nearest veterinary facility for a checkup.
Notes when taking care of Belgian Malinois
This is a very active breed, so if you do not have time for about 30 minutes to 1 hour to play with them, you should consider it when choosing a Belgian Malinois as a pet. Because if they don’t have fun, they will be uncomfortable and destructive.
You should be vaccinated and dewormed fully on a regular basis. Don’t forget to check your pet’s vet every 6 months or 12 months.
Only buy Belgian Malinois dogs from reputable sites, do not have genetic problems, and only bring them home when they have been vaccinated with 2 full doses of vaccines.
Notes when buying Belgian Malinois
Depending on the place of breeding and the level of purebred, the Belgian Malinois dog has different prices. You should only buy in reputable places; do not buy online because scamming is easy. It is best to go to large breeders or pet shops with reputable brands to buy.
You should carefully identify the characteristics, shape, and health of the Belgian Malinois dog before buying and consult the price.
