Belgian Malinois
Herding Group

Height at Shoulders
Females 22-24 in, Males 24-26 in
Weight
Females 40-60 lbs, Males 60-80 lbs
Life Expectancy
14-16 yrs
History
The Belgian Malinois originated around the city of Malines in northwest Belgium in the 1800's. It is one of four AKC-registered shepherd breeds from Belgium. While they were originally bred as shepherds, Malinois are versatile workers that have since been used for explosive and narcotic detection, tracking suspects for police apprehension, and search and rescue missions. They are currently used by the U.S. Secret Service to guard the White House grounds.
Breed Characteristics
While not all Belgian Malinois share the exact same personality and temperament, there are certain generalizations that can be made about the breed. In addition to genetics, a dog’s environment, training, socialization, and many other factors all contribute to their personality and behavior.
Intelligence
Affection Towards Family
Friendliness Towards Strangers
Friendliness Towards Other Dogs
Exercise Needs
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★☆☆
★★☆☆☆
★★★★★
Energy Level
Sensitivity
Noise Level
Prey Drive
Shedding
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★☆☆☆
★★★★☆
★★★☆☆
Intelligence
★★★★★
Affection Towards Family
★★★★★
Friendliness Towards Strangers
★★★☆☆
Friendliness Towards Other Dogs
★★☆☆☆
Exercise Needs
★★★★★
Energy Level
★★★★★
Sensitivity
★★★★★
Noise Level
★★☆☆☆
Prey Drive
★★★★☆
Shedding
★★★☆☆
Common Traits
Happy, lively, and goofy
Intelligent, quick learners who are eager to please
Very alert with a strong herding and protecting instinct
Affectionate and people-oriented- they are happiest when they can spend the majority of their time with family
Tend to be sensitive and don't respond well to harsh training or scolding
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- Noise fear
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- Excitability