Belgian Malinois
Also called mal.
Frequently mistaken for a German Shepherd and built quite differently — square rather than rectangular, finer-boned, and shorter-coated. It is also a substantially more demanding dog.
- Group
- Herding
- Weight
- 18–36 kg
- Coat
- short
- Ears
- erect
- Muzzle
- long
- Build
- Square
- Origin
- Belgium
What it looks like
Square in outline, lighter and leggier than a German Shepherd, with a short fawn to mahogany coat, a black mask and ears, and erect triangular ears.
The characters that confirm it
- Square outline — height at the withers roughly equals body length.
- Short coat, fawn to mahogany, with a black mask and black ear tips.
- Erect triangular ears in proportion to the head, smaller than a Shepherd's.
- Level topline with no slope.
Temperament
Extremely high drive, intense, and unsuited to most households. Bred for sustained work and destructive without it.
Health
Generally robust. Hip and elbow dysplasia occur but at lower rates than in German Shepherds. Progressive retinal atrophy has a genetic test.
Confused with
Rectangular outline, heavier bone, longer coat, and a sloping topline in show lines.
Brindle rather than solid fawn. Otherwise very similar in build.
Questions about this breed
How do you recognise a Belgian Malinois?
Square outline — height at the withers roughly equals body length. Short coat, fawn to mahogany, with a black mask and black ear tips.
What is a Belgian Malinois like to live with?
Extremely high drive, intense, and unsuited to most households. Bred for sustained work and destructive without it.
What health problems do Belgian Malinoiss have?
Generally robust. Hip and elbow dysplasia occur but at lower rates than in German Shepherds. Progressive retinal atrophy has a genetic test.