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Malinois dog

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Belgian Shepherd Dog Malinois
A Belgian Malinois
Other namesBelgian Malinois
Chien de Berger Belge
Mechelaar
Mechelse Herder (Mechelse Scheper)
Pastor Belga Malinois
OriginBelgium
Kennel club standards
Fédération Cynologique Internationale standard
Dog (domestic dog)

The Belgian Shepherd Dog (Malinois) (/[invalid input: 'icon']ˈmælɪnwɑː/) is a breed of dog, sometimes classified as a variety of the Belgian Shepherd Dog rather than as a separate breed. The Malinois is recognized in the United States under the name Belgian Malinois. Its name is the French word for Mechlinian, which is in Dutch either Mechelse herdershond (shepherd dog from Mechelen) or Mechelaar (one from Mechelen). These dogs are popular in use of police departments, as are German Shepherds.

Appearance

Like 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 color

Due 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. There used to be dogs with grey and black shorthairs but they no longer meet the breed standard

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 Dutch Shepherd Dog or a mixed breed, although the possibility exists that it is a throwback, this is a common misconception with the appearance of the breed.

Size

Malinois dogs are about 24–26 in (61–66 cm), while Females are about 22–24 in (56–61 cm) at the withers. 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 dog

File:Defence1.jpg
A Malinois being trained for protection work.

In 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 working dog for personal protection, detection, police work, search and rescue, and sport work (Belgian Ring, Schutzhund, French Ring, Mondio Ring). The United States Secret Service and Royal Australian Air Force[1] use the breed exclusively.[2][3][4] In the United States Armed Forces, Malinois (along with German Shepherds) are preferred breeds for use as working dogs.[5]

The dog is also used extensively by Unit Oketz of the Israel Defense Forces. Oketz favors the slighter build of the Malinois over that of the German Shepherd and Rottweiler 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.

A Belgian Malinois is believed to be the dog which accompanied the special forces unit which killed Osama Bin Laden on May 1, 2011.[6]

Temperament

Well-raised and trained Malinois are usually active,[7][8][9] friendly,[7] protective[8] and hard-working. Many have excessively high prey drive. Some may be excessively exuberant or playful, especially when young.[7][8] 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 Malinois enjoy being challenged with new tasks. They are known as being very easy to obedience train, due to their high drive for rewards.[7][8]

Activities

Malinois can compete in dog agility trials, obedience, showmanship, flyball, tracking, and herding events, and are one of the most popular breeds used in protection sports such as schutzhund, French Ring, and 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.[10]

Health

The average lifespan of the Belgian Malinois is 10–12 years,[8] 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 Dog. Notable health problems prevalent to the Malinois includes cataracts,[9] epilepsy,[9][11] thyroid disease, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), hip dysplasia,[8][9] and pannus, although these problems have been minimized through selective breeding.

See also

References

  1. ^ http://www.airforce.gov.au/sfs/mwdtf/mdw_dogs.html[dead link]
  2. ^ "The U.S Secret Service Today". National Archives and Records Administration. Retrieved 2011-05-07.
  3. ^ "Belgian Malinois Dog Breed". GoPetsAmerica.com. Retrieved 2011-05-07.
  4. ^ Melanson, Philip H. (2005). The Secret Service: the Hidden History of an Enigmatic Agency. Basic Books (via Google Books). p. 189. ISBN 0786716177. Retrieved 2011-05-07.
  5. ^ "How 'Super Dogs' aid Navy SEALS". WKYC. May 7, 2011. Retrieved 2011-05-07.
  6. ^ "Belgian Malinois: The Dog That Took Down Osama Bin Laden?". Huffington Post. May 5, 2011. Retrieved 2011-05-07.
  7. ^ a b c d "Frequently Asked Questions". Belgian Shepherd Dog Club of Canada. Retrieved 2011-05-07.
  8. ^ a b c d e f "Faqs | Abmc". Malinoisclub.com. Retrieved 2011-05-07.
  9. ^ a b c d "The Northern Belgian Shepherd Dog Club - About Belgian Shepherd Dogs". Nbsdc.co.uk. 2004-01-01. Retrieved 2011-05-07.
  10. ^ Hartnagle-Taylor and Taylor, Jeanne Joy, and Ty. Stockdog Savvy. Alpine Publications. ISBN # 978-157779-106-5. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  11. ^ "The Belgian Shepherd Dog Club of Canada - Health and Temperament". Bsdcc.org. Retrieved 2011-05-07.

Further reading

  • Belgian 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.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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