Malinois

From Pet Encyclopedia

[edit] Introduction

The Belgian Shepherd Dog (Malinois) is 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). It is one of 4 (four) Belgian shepherd breeds, the other 3 being the Groenendael, the Laekenois and the Tervuren.

[edit] Origin and History

The early history of Belgian sheep-herding dogs, is similar to that of other shepherds, including those used for guarding and more general purposes. These breeds were mainly bred to excel in ability, and as such, very few accurate records were kept. However, in 1891, a professor named Adolphe Reul took on the study of the Belgian breeds, and he discovered that there were several dogs of the same manner, but with differing coat color and type. He grouped them together as Belgian shepherds. The one with a short coat became known as the Belgian Malinois, because it was believed to have been developed in and around the region known as Malines. Reul was one of a group of dedicated breeders credited with the formation of the Malinois. It is said that he owned many of this breed of dog, including "Mastock," a well-known specimen in breeding circles. History suggests that one of the first registered Belgian Malinois was named "Charlot." This individual is thought to have been born in 1891, and it is said that Charlot was a model used by A. Clarys, a Belgian artist.

While the Malinois has not enjoyed a great amount of popularity in the United States since World War II, this breed is still one of the most popular shepherd breeds in Belgium. In America, the number of registered Malinois tumbled after the war, and it was quite uncommon to see a Malinois entered into competition. The Belgian shepherd breeds were officially separated in 1959, and the registrations of Belgian Malinois began to increase, but it was still less popular than other Belgian breeds. Recently, this breed has gained popularity for its reputation as a excellent police dog.

[edit] Appearance

Like all Belgian Shepherds, the Malinois is a medium-sized and square-proportioned dog of the sheepdog family. The Malinois normally 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 Shepherd Dogs), 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

Malinois dogs are about 24–26 in (61–66 cm), while bitches are about 22–24 in (56–61 cm) at the withers. Bitches are said to average 25–30 kg (55–65 lb), whilst dogs are heavier at 29–34 kg (65–75 lb).

[edit] Temperament

Well-raised and trained Malinois are usually active,friendly, protective and hard-working. Many have excessively high prey drive. Some may be excessively exuberant or playful, especially when young. 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.

[edit] Health

The average lifespan of the Belgian Malinois is 10–12 years, 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, epilepsy, thyroid problems, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), hip dysplasia, and pannus, although these problems have been minimized through selective breeding.

[edit] External Links

http://www.nvbh.eu/ (Dutch Association of Belgian Shepherd Dogs)

http://www.malinoisrescue.org/ (American Belgian Malinois Club)

[edit] References