Monday 2 January 2012

Belgian Malinois








The Belgian Malinois is one of four
varieties of Belgian Shepherd dogs.
This breed was developed in Belgium in the
mid- to late 1800s as both sheep herding and
guardian dogs. In the early 1900s, they ....


were used by both the Brussels police and Belgian army.
The Malinois stands between 22 and 26
inches tall and weighs between 40 and 80
pounds, with females smaller than males. The
head is strong, and the eyes are almondshaped
and dark brown. The ears are pricked
and large. The body is as long as the dog is tall
at the shoulder, and the legs are strong. The
tail is curved and reaches the hock. The coat is short and hard and is fawn to mahogany, with black
tips, mask, and ears. There is a dense undercoat.
The Malinois needs twice weekly brushing for most of the year, but during spring and fall when
shedding is at its worst, the coat should be brushed more often.
The Malinois is a high-energy, active breed. Vigorous daily exercise is an absolute must. Jogging
alongside a bicycle, plus a game of flying disc and a couple of walks, is the minimum. This breed
excels at canine sports and does best in a home where people are active and want to play games
with her every day.
The Malinois is the most driven of the four Belgain
Shepherd varieties; she has an innate drive to work. Her training
should begin early and continue into adulthood so that she
has a focus and a job to do. She can also be very wary of
strangers and quite protective, so socialization should start early,
too, and continue into adulthood.
The Malinois is too much dog for a first-time dog owner;
she requires an active, experienced owner who understands what
she needs. She can be a good family dog but tends to bond more
closely with one person in the family. She may not be good with
other dogs; she wants to be in charge. She should not be trusted
with small pets; she has a strong prey drive. Health concerns
include hip and elbow dysplasia and eye and thyroid problems

BREED IN BRIEF 

Registries: AKC, UKC, CKC
Occupation: Herder
Size: 22 to 26 in tall; 40 to 80 lbs
Longevity: 12 to 14 years
Exercise: Vigorous daily exercise
Training: Easy; needs to work
Grooming: Easy




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