General Appearance
The Belgian Malinois is a well balanced, square dog, elegant in appearance with an exceedingly proud carriage of the head and neck. The dog is strong, agile, well muscled, alert, and full of life. He stands squarely on all fours and viewed from the side, the topline, forelegs, and hind legs closely approximate a square. The whole conformation gives the impression of depth and solidity without bulkiness. The male is usually somewhat more impressive and grand than his female counterpart, which has a distinctly feminine look.
Owning
The Belgian Malinois is proud, agile, strong, and full of life. The Belgian Malinois's coat is short and straight. The coat is easy to care for, but should be groomed regularly to keep healthy. The Belgian Malinois is a very confident dog. He is naturally possessive of his owner, but he is not an aggressive dog.
Temperament
Correct temperament is essential to the working character of the Belgian Malinois. The breed is confident, exhibiting neither shyness nor aggressiveness in new situations. The dog may be reserved with strangers but is affectionate with his own people. He is naturally protective of his owner's person and property without being overly aggressive. The Belgian Malinois possesses a strong desire to work and is quick and responsive to commands from his owner.
Did You Know
The Belgian Malinois was bred around the city of Malines, Belgium from whence the name is derived. In 1911, the first shorthaired Belgian Shepherds (Belgian Blackie and Belgian Mouche) were registered with the AKC. The Belgian Malinois is one of four types of Belgian sheepherding dogs registered in Belgium and France as the Chien de Berger Belge. The other varieties are the Tervuren (longhaired fawn), Groenendael (longhaired black) and Laekenois (wirehaired).