Belgian Malinois
Characteristics, & Facts
Belgian Malinois, breed of herding and working dog developed in the Malines area of Belgium in the 1800s. The Belgian Malinois is a sturdy well-muscled dog of almost square proportions. It stands about 22 to 26 inches (56 to 66 cm) tall at the withers and weighs from 40 to 80 pounds (18.1 to 36.2 kg). It has a thick coat about 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm) long, which ranges in colour from yellowish brown to mahogany with black-tipped hairs; the breed typically has a black mask and ears. The Belgian Malinois is valued by police departments and militaries for its strength and stamina, its dexterity, its loyalty, and its eagerness to please. The breed is the subject of the 2022 film Dog, highlighting the breed’s abilities as a protector and companion. Belgian Malinois dogs are known colloquially as the Mal in the United States.
| vital statistics | breed facts |
|---|---|
| other names | Mal |
| area of origin | Malines area of Belgium |
| breed group | herding |
| height at withers | 22–26 inches (56–66 cm) |
| weight | 40–80 pounds (18–36 kg) |
| life span | 14–16 years |
| Did you know? | Belgian Malinois are highly sought after as police dogs and are especially prized by militaries for their intelligence and strength. In 2011 a Mal named Cairo was instrumental in helping a U.S. Navy SEAL team kill Osama bin Laden. The U.S. Army Airborne & Special Operations Museum in North Carolina features a life-size bronze statue of a Belgian Malinois dedicated to all Special Operations dogs. |
The Belgian Malinois is one of four types of Belgian shepherds that were initially differentiated by coat type and colour. The Malinois has short sable hair, whereas the Belgian Tervuren has long sable hair, the Belgian Sheepdog (Groenendael) has long black hair, and the Belgian Laekenois has rough yellowish brown hair. All were originally used as sheepherders and guardians. The Fédération Cynologique Internationale considered the four strains as varieties of one breed, the Belgian Shepherd (Chien de Berger Belge), which is placed in the Sheepdog and Cattledog Group. The breed was first brought to the United States in 1911, and the American Kennel Club first recognized the Belgian Malinois in 1959 and has placed it in its herding group.
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