TheBelgian Shepherd Dog (Malinois)( dog , sometimes classified as a variety of the Belgian Shepherd Dog rather than as a separate breed. The Malinois is recognized in the Belgian Malinois . Its name is the French word for Mechlinian, which is in Mechelse herdershond (shepherd dog from Mechelen ) or Mechelaar (one from Mechelen ). These dogs are popular in use of police departments, as are German Shepherds.
AppearanceLike all Belgian Shepherds, the Malinois is a medium-sized and square-proportioned dog in the sheepdog family. The Malinois has a short mahogany coat with black overlay. It has black erect ears and a black muzzle. It has a square build in comparison to the German Shepherd .
Coat and colorDue 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 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. Dogs with grey and black shorthairs used to meet the Malinois standard, but are no longer considered to do so.
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. There are (occasionally and historically) solid black, black-and-tan (as with Dobermans and German Shepherds ), or other colored short-haired Belgian Shepherds, but these are not technically Malinois.
If a dog represented as a Malinois is brindle (clear stripes of different colored hair) it is probably a or a mixed breed, although the possibility exists that it is a throwback, this is a common misconception with the appearance of the breed.
SizeMalinois dogs are about 24 26 in (61 66 cm), while Females are about 22 24 in (56 61 cm) at the . Female Malinois are said to average 25 30 kg (55 65 lb), while sires are heavier at 29 34 kg (65 75 lb). They are squarely built.
Working dogIn Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and other European countries, as well as in the United States, Canada and Australia, the Malinois is bred primarily as a detection , police work , search and rescue , and sport work (Belgian Ring , Schutzhund , Mondio Ring ). The and use the breed exclusively. In the , Malinois (along with German Shepherds ) are preferred breeds for use as .
The dog is also used extensively by Israel Defense Forces . Oketz favors the slighter build of the Malinois over that of the German Shepherd and which were employed formerly. Malinois are the perfect size to be picked up by their handlers, while still being able to attack their enemies and for their shorter coats and fair and neutral colors making them less prone to heatstroke, all these are advantages over the previously used dog breeds.
Operation Neptune Spear , in which Osama bin Laden was killed.
TemperamentWell-raised and trained Malinois are usually active, friendly, protective and hard-working. Many have excessively high . Some may be excessively exuberant or playful, especially when young. They can be destructive or develop neurotic behaviors if not provided enough stimulation and exercise. These are large, strong dogs that require consistent obedience training, and enjoy being challenged with new tasks. They are known as being very easy to obedience train, due to their high drive for rewards.
ActivitiesMalinois can compete in dog agility trials, obedience , showmanship , flyball , herding events, and are one of the most popular breeds used in protection sports such as schutzhund , Mondio Ring . In America, herding instincts can be measured at noncompetitive herding tests. Belgian Shepherds exhibiting basic herding instincts can then be trained to compete in herding trials.
HealthThe average lifespan of the Belgian Malinois is 10 12 years, and there are a number of health problems and disorders that are associated with the breed, though the breed's health is generally considered better than that of the German Shepherd. Notable health problems prevalent to the Malinois includes cataracts , epilepsy , hip dysplasia , and pannus , although these problems have been minimized through selective breeding .
See alsoBelgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael)
Belgian Shepherd Dog (Laekenois)
Belgian Shepherd Dog (Tervuren)
Referencesdead link ]
National Archives and Records Administration . Retrieved 2011-05-07.
. GoPetsAmerica.com. Retrieved 2011-05-07.
Melanson, Philip H. (2005). .
. . May 7, 2011. Retrieved 2011-05-07.
Viegas, Jennifer (2 May 2011). . Discovery.com. Retrieved 5 May 2011.
Seattle Times. Retrieved 7 May 2011.
. . May 5, 2011. Retrieved 2011-05-07.
^ . Belgian Shepherd Dog Club of Canada. Retrieved 2011-05-07.
^ . MalinoisClub.com. Retrieved 2011-05-07.
^ . Northern Belgian Shepherd Dog Club. 2004-01-01. Retrieved 2011-05-07.
Hartnagle-Taylor and Taylor, Jeanne Joy, and Ty (2010). Stockdog Savvy. Alpine Publications. ISBN .
. The Belgian Shepherd Dog Club of Canada. Retrieved 2011-05-07.
Further readingBelgian Malinois (Comprehensive Owner's Guide) (Comprehensive Owner's Guide Kennel Club), written by Robert Pollet, published by Kennel Club Books; Limited edition (November 30, 2005), 160 pages, ISBN 1593786506
The Malinois (Paperback), written by Jan Kaldenbach, published by Detselig Enterprises; 1st edition (June 15, 1997) 94 pages, ISBN 1550591517
Belgian Malinois Champions, 1996 2002, written by Jan Linzy, published by Camino E E & Book Co. (October 2003), 121 pages, ISBN 1558931260
Hartnagle-Taylor, Jeanne Joy, and Taylor, Ty (2010). Stockdog Savvy. Alpine Publications. # 978-157779-106-5.
American Working Malinois Association
Malinois in Ukraine (Ukrainian)
American Belgian Malinois Club
ABMC Belgian Malinois Rescue
(Spanish)
(Spanish)
from
