Dog Breeds :: Belgian Malinois

Owning
The Belgian Malinois is proud, agile, strong, and full of life. The Belgian Malinois's coat is short and straight. The coat is easy to care for, but should be groomed regularly to keep healthy. The Belgian Malinois is a very confident dog. He is naturally possessive of his owner, but he is not an aggressive dog.

Temperament
Correct temperament is essential to the working character of the Belgian Malinois. The breed is confident, exhibiting neither shyness nor aggressiveness in new situations. The dog may be reserved with strangers but is affectionate with his own people. He is naturally protective of his owner's person and property without being overly aggressive. The Belgian Malinois possesses a strong desire to work and is quick and responsive to commands from his owner.

Did you know?
The Belgian Malinois was bred around the city of Malines, Belgium from whence the name is derived. In 1911, the first shorthaired Belgian Shepherds (Belgian Blackie and Belgian Mouche) were registered with the AKC. The Belgian Malinois is one of four types of Belgian sheepherding dogs registered in Belgium and France as the Chien de Berger Belge. The other varieties are the Tervuren (longhaired fawn), Groenendael (longhaired black) and Laekenois (wirehaired).

AKC Recommends
The American Kennel Club recommends that anyone interested in a breed should take the time to thoroughly learn about that breed, talk to responsible and knowledgeable breeders and seek out the resources of the AKC national club formed by individuals devoted to preserving and protecting their breed for future generations. The AKC offers links to the official national Club of this breed - the club's officers, breeder referral, and breed rescue contact persons.