Loyal and devoted, a Belgian Shepherd Dog Malinois is a great pet for active households who have lots of spare time. They crave human companionship, are gentle with children and will even befriend other pets.

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Pronounced Belgian Shepherd Dog ‘Mal-in-wah’, this dog was originally bred to herd and guard fields where valuable linen cloths were laid out to dry in the sun, but are now wonderful family pets. They are highly affectionate dogs and want to spend all their time with their family. They are loyal and protective of their home, not to mention highly intelligent.

They have a naturally dominant personality, so gentle positive training from a young age is ideal. Socialise your Belgian Shepherd Dog Malinois from a young age and they will be warm and friendly to other animals. They are fantastic with children. They aren’t known to bark excessively, but will let you know if someone approaches the house.

Fun fact: Their coat is weatherproof and protects the dog from all elements.

Chuck out the remote control and explore a new walking or running track as your canine needs lots of exercise. Highly intelligent, your dog will benefit from obedience training and agility. A great workout routine includes a morning run and an afternoon romp at the park. Don’t leave your Belgian Shepherd Dog Malinois alone all day as they become very stressed and bored. You may need to keep the vacuum out as this breed sheds heavily. Brush weekly. They are not hypoallergenic.

Scheduled six monthly health checks and visits to the vet are important to ensure your dog is healthy and happy throughout all life-stages. It’s important that together with your vet a preventative health care program is determined and maintained based on the individual needs of your canine companion. While a relatively healthy and hardy breed, these dogs can suffer from hip dysplasia, skin allergies and eye problems.

Size

They are a large-sized breed weighing 27.5-28.5kgs with an average height of 61-66cm.  

Space

This breed needs to have access to a yard due to their high-energy needs and exercise requirements.

Energy Levels

They have high-energy needs. A long daily run and lots of games will keep this dog happy.

Difficulty Of Training

Intelligent dogs with a mind of their own. They tend to be stubborn so consistent training with positive reinforcement is best when teaching your dog.

Family suitability

Great family pets, loyal companions and good watchdogs.  

Suitability to other pets

If socialised from a young age, your dog will befriend other pets.

Need for company

They have a high need for company and enjoy playing games with their family.

Hypoallergenic dog breed?

No

Coat and grooming needs

This breed is low maintenance. Brush weekly. They have a short smooth coat in fawn, red, or grey with black shading on the hair tips, face and ears.

Shedding

They shed heavily.

Tendency to bark

They have a moderate tendency to bark so expect some noise.  

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