Malinois (Belgian Shepherd Dog)

Belgian Malinois

A Belgian Malinois in the snow.
Other names	(Chien de Berger Belge) Mechelaar Mechelse Herder Mechelse Scheper Pastor Belga Malinois
Country of origin	Belgium
Traits Weight Male 25–30 kg (55–66 lb) Female 20–25 kg (44–55 lb) Height Male 61–66 cm (24–26 in) Female 56–61 cm (22–24 in) Coat short Color fawn to mahogany with black markings Life span 10–12 years
Classification / standards FCI Group 1 Section 1 #015 standard AKC Herding standard ANKC Group 5 (Working Dogs) standard CKC Group 7-(Herding Dogs) standard KC (UK) Pastoral standard NZKC Working standard UKC Herding Dog standard
Dog (Canis lupus familiaris)

The Malinois /ˈmælᵻnwɑː/ is a medium to large^[1] breed of dog, sometimes classified as a variety of the Belgian Shepherd dog rather than as a separate breed. The name "Malinois" is derived from Malines, the French name for the breed's city of origin.^[2]

The breed is used as a working dog for tasks including detection of odors such as explosives, accelerants (for arson investigation), and narcotics; tracking humans for suspect apprehension in police work; and search and rescue missions. The U.S. Secret Service uses Belgian Malinois to guard the grounds of the White House.^[3]

Appearance

A Malinois with a black mask.

A Malinois puppy.

Belgian Malinois at 10 weeks

The Malinois is a medium to large-sized^[1] and square-proportioned dog in the sheepdog family. The Malinois has a short mahogany coat with black markings. It has black erect ears and a black muzzle. It has a square build in comparison to the German Shepherd.

Coat and color

Due to its history as a working dog (i.e., being bred for function over form), the Malinois can vary greatly in appearance. The acceptable colors of pure-bred Malinois are a base color fawn to mahogany and tan with a black mask and black ears with some degree of black tipping on the hairs, giving an overlay appearance. The color tends to be lighter with less black agouti or overlay on the dog's underside, breeching, and inner leg. White markings are also allowed on the tips of the toes and the chest, as long as the white on the chest does not extend up to the neck.

The other varieties of Belgian Shepherd are distinguished by their coats and colors: the Tervuren is the same color as the Malinois but has long hair, the wire-coated Laekenois is fawn and lacks the black mask and ears, and the Groenendael (registered as Belgian Sheepdog by the American Kennel Club) has long hair and is solid black.

Size

Males are about 61–66 cm (24–26 in), while females are about 56–61 cm (22–24 in) at the withers.^[4] Female Malinois are said to average 25–30 kg (55–66 lb), while males are heavier at 29–34 kg (64–75 lb).

Temperament

Malinois in the ring competing in dog agility

Well-raised and trained Malinois are usually active, intelligent,^[5][6][7] friendly,^[5] protective,^[6] alert and hard-working. Belgian Malinois exhibit energy levels that are among the highest of all dog breeds. A typical Malinois will have puppy-like energy until the age of 3, though it is not uncommon for them to exhibit this energy level until the age of five. Many have excessively high prey drive. Some may be excessively exuberant or playful, especially when young.^[5][6] They can be destructive or develop neurotic behaviors if not provided enough stimulation and exercise. This often causes problems for owners who are unfamiliar with the breed and are not prepared to provide the exercise they require or a job for them to do. They are medium-sized, strong dogs that require consistent obedience training, and enjoy being challenged with new tasks. They are known to be very easy to train, due to their high drive for rewards.^[5][6]

Working dog

A Belgian Malinois working with Naval Security.

In Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and other European countries, as well as in the United States, Canada, Australia and Hong Kong, the Malinois is bred primarily as a working dog for personal protection, detection, police work, search and rescue, and sport work like Schutzhund. The United States Secret Service and Royal Australian Air Force^[8] use the breed along with other working lines such as Dutch Shepherd, and also GSD.^[9][10][11] In the United States Armed Forces, German shepherds lead the way, but close behind follows the Belgian Malinois.^[12]

In India, The National Security Guard (NSG) commando unit have inducted Malinois breed into its K-9 Unit.^[13]

The dog is also used by Israel Defense Forces. Malinois are the perfect size to be picked up by their handlers, while still being able to attack their enemies, and their shorter coats and fair and neutral colors make them less prone to heatstroke.

United States Navy SEALs used a Belgian Malinois war dog named Karo in Operation Neptune Spear, in which Osama bin Laden was killed.^[14][15][16]

On 18 November 2015, Diesel, a seven-year-old Malinois RAID assault dog employed by the French police, was killed in a shootout with suspected terrorists in the Saint-Denis area of Paris, while searching for suspects involved in the November 2015 Paris attacks.^[17]

Activities

A U.S. Air Force Belgian Malinois atop an M2A3 Bradley Fighting Vehicle in Iraq in 2007.

Malinois can compete in dog agility trials and in flyball, herding, obedience, showmanship, and tracking events, and are one of the most popular breeds used in protection sports such as the Schutzhund. In America herding is a popular activity.

Herding instincts can be measured at noncompetitive herding tests. In 2011 alone, the AKC awarded 39 new herding titles to Belgian Malinois.^[18][19]

Health

The average lifespan of the Belgian Malinois is 10–12 years.^[6] Notable health problems prevalent to the Malinois include cataracts,^[7] epilepsy,^[7]<ref name =sup "BSDCC faq">"Health and Temperament". The Belgian Shepherd Dog Club of Canada. Retrieved 2011-05-07. </ref> thyroid disease, progressive retinal atrophy, hip dysplasia,^[6][7] and pannus, although these problems have been minimized through selective breeding.

In popular culture

Literature

• Kane, the co-star of James Rollins and Grant Blackwood's Tucker Wayne series, is a Belgian Malinois.^[20]

Television

• The American science fiction crime drama television series Person of Interest features a Malinois named Bear as a regular cast member.^[21]

Film

• The titular character of the 2015 feature film Max is a Malinois, returning from service with the US Marine Corps.

Notable Belgian Malinois

The police dog killed in the aftermath of the Paris terrorist attacks was a Malinois named Diesel who was given a funeral with full honours.^[22]

See also

• Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael)
• Belgian Shepherd Dog (Laekenois)
• Belgian Shepherd Dog (Tervuren)
• Schipperke

References

Further reading

• Hartnagle-Taylor, Jeanne Joy & Taylor, Ty (2010). Stockdog Savvy. Alpine Publications. ISBN 978-1-57779-106-5. 
• Kaldenbach, Jan (June 15, 1997). The Malinois (1st (paperback) ed.). Detselig Enterprises. ISBN 1-55059-151-7. 
• Linzy, Jan (October 2003). Belgian Malinois Champions, 1996–2002. Camino E E & Book Co. ISBN 1-55893-126-0. 
• Pollet, Robert Pollet (September 1, 2005). Belgian Malinois (Comprehensive Owner's Guide) (Comprehensive Owner's Guide Kennel Club). Kennel Club Books. ISBN 1-59378-650-6. 

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Belgian Shepherd Malinois.

• Malinois (Belgian Shepherd Dog) at DMOZ

Dogs originating in Belgium Extant Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) Belgian Shepherd Dog (Laekenois) Belgian Shepherd Dog (Malinois) Belgian Shepherd Dog (Tervuren) Bloodhound Bichon Frisé Bouvier des Flandres Bouvier des Ardennes Griffon Bruxellois Schipperke Extinct Talbot Bullenbeisser