Dog breed

Belgian Shepherd (Malinois)

The Belgian Shepherd is a medium-large herding dog from Belgium that comes in four varieties: the short-haired Malinois, the black long-haired Groenendael, the fawn or gray Tervuren and the rough-coated Laekenois. The Malinois is by far the most sought after: a police, military and protection-sport dog with enormous energy and drive to work.

FCI Group I · Sheepdogs · standard no. 15

Weight: 20–30 kg
Height: 56–66 cm
Lifespan: 12–14 years
Origin: Belgium

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Photo: Kij, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Temperament

The Malinois and its long-haired cousins are alert, quick dogs that are very sensitive to their surroundings. They react to the slightest movement, wind up easily and love tasks that let them chase, grip or track. They bond strongly with their family, though they can be reserved with strangers, and a well-raised dog is neither fearful nor aggressive. Their greatest strength is also their biggest challenge: their readiness to work. A dog with nothing to do starts looking for stimulation on its own, spinning in circles, chasing lights, nipping at the legs of running children or patrolling the fence. Groenendaels and Tervurens can be a bit calmer at home than Malinois from working lines, but every variety needs a handler who can set clear rules and teach the dog to rest. Socialization with people, dogs and city noise should start in the first weeks.

Energy: calmvery energetic
Affection: independentvelcro pet
With children: not idealgreat
With other pets: difficultgreat
Trainability: stubborneager to learn
For first-time owners: for experienced ownersyes
With strangers: waryoutgoing
Playfulness: dignifiedeternal puppy
Shedding: minimalheavy
Grooming: easydemanding
Being left alone: strugglescopes well
Apartment living: needs a house and yardgreat in a flat
Barking: quietvocal
With other dogs: difficultgreat
Protectiveness: lowhigh
Drooling: hardly anya lot
Cold tolerance: feels the coldexcellent
Heat tolerance: strugglescopes well

Scores of 1–5 compare the breed with other breeds of the same species, based on the sources at the bottom of the page. Every animal is different. How we score traits

Who is the Belgian Shepherd for?

The Malinois is a dog for someone who wants to train hard with it: a dog-sport competitor, a search-and-rescue handler, someone experienced with working breeds. A Groenendael or Tervuren may be a little easier at home but still takes a lot of time. If you are looking for your first dog, work 10-hour days away from home, or want a calm companion for short walks, a Belgian Shepherd will quickly become a source of frustration for both of you.

Pros

exceptionally smart and quick to learn
excellent for sports and working roles
strong bond with its handler
robust and athletic

Challenges

huge need for exercise and work
winds up and gets frustrated easily
difficult for beginners
copes poorly with long hours alone

Size and looks

Size and looks: Belgian Shepherd
Height at the withers	males 60–66 cm, females 56–62 cm
Weight	males 25–30 kg, females 20–25 kg
Lifespan	12–14 years
Coat	short
Colors	fawn with black overlay and mask (Malinois), fawn or gray with black overlay (Tervuren), black (Groenendael), fawn with traces of overlay (Laekenois)
Country of origin	Belgium
Classification	Group I: Sheepdogs and Cattledogs (except Swiss Cattledogs)
Also known as	Belgian Malinois, Malinois, Belgian Shepherd Dog, Groenendael, Tervuren, Laekenois

Care and exercise

120–180minof exercise a day

2/5grooming needs

3/5shedding

A Belgian Shepherd needs more than two hours of activity a day, and walks alone are not enough. Daily training works best: obedience, tracking, agility, competitive obedience, IGP or mondioring under an experienced instructor. Teaching the dog to switch off matters just as much, with a mat, a crate, chews and set rest times, because an overstimulated Malinois cannot calm itself down. Training should be built on play and rewards; this breed learns lightning-fast, bad habits included. The Malinois's short coat needs brushing once a week, more often during shedding. Groenendaels and Tervurens have longer hair with a dense undercoat that should be combed out behind the ears and on the trousers several times a week. The Laekenois needs occasional hand-stripping. Match food to actual workload: sporting dogs need noticeably more energy than house dogs.

How much should the Belgian Shepherd eat?The calculator starts from this breed’s typical weight: calories and grams a day.

Health and breed-related conditions

Belgian Shepherds are usually healthy and fit well into old age. In a British study of more than 600 Malinois, median lifespan was 12 years, and 13.8 years for Tervurens. The breed club lists epilepsy, hip and elbow dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy, cataracts, hypothyroidism and cancer among the problems seen in the lines. Many of these conditions are polygenic, so they are hard to eliminate entirely, but breeding based on health testing lowers the risk. Before buying a puppy, ask for both parents' hip and elbow X-ray results, a current eye exam, and information on any cases of epilepsy in the family.

hip and elbow dysplasiaDevelopmental joint defects; both parents should have X-ray scores.
epilepsyListed by the breed club among the problems that occur in Belgian Shepherd lines.
progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) and cataractsEye diseases that lead to worsening vision; detected in an eye exam.
hypothyroidismA hormonal disorder causing weight gain, lethargy and coat changes, among other signs.
cancerThe breed club names cancer as one of the health problems seen in Belgian Shepherds.

Health tests to ask the breeder about

hip and elbow X-rays (HD/ED)
eye exam (ECVO)
thyroid testing

This is general breed information, not a diagnosis. If something worries you, talk to your veterinarian.

Breed history

In the late 19th century, Belgian shepherds used dogs of very different types and coats. In 1891 the Belgian Shepherd Dog Club was founded in Brussels, and Professor Adolphe Reul of the Cureghem veterinary school gathered 117 dogs and picked the best for further breeding. The first standard was written as early as 1892. For years there were disputes over which coat types and colors to accept, until the FCI settled on one breed with four varieties. The names come from places: the Malinois from Mechelen (Malines in French), the Tervuren from Tervuren, the Groenendael from the Groenendaal castle and the Laekenois from Laeken. The Malinois became famous worldwide as a police and military dog.

Fun facts

In 1891, Professor Adolphe Reul organized a review of 117 herding dogs, which marked the start of selective breeding for the breed.
The FCI standard requires every Belgian Shepherd to have at least six points of black pigment on the head: both ears, both upper eyelids and both lips.
According to the standard, the ideal male stands 62 cm at the shoulder and has a head about 25 cm long.
The American Kennel Club treats the four varieties as separate breeds, while the FCI recognizes a single breed.

Frequently asked questions

Can a Belgian Malinois live in an apartment?

It can, as long as it gets more than two hours of exercise and training every day and learns to rest at home. Without that, barking in the stairwell, destructiveness and hyperactivity soon follow. A yard is no substitute for work with a handler, so what matters is the owner's time, not square footage.

What is the difference between a Malinois and a German Shepherd?

The Malinois is lighter and more compact: under the FCI standards it weighs 25–30 kg, while a German Shepherd weighs 30–40 kg. It usually reacts faster and is more excitable. A German Shepherd's energy is easier to manage at home, although both are working dogs.

How long do Belgian Shepherds live?

Usually 12–14 years. In a large British study, the median was 12 years for Malinois and almost 14 years for Tervurens. The American Kennel Club gives as much as 14–16 years for the Malinois, but that is the upper end rather than the average.

Do Belgian Malinois shed?

Yes, all varieties shed, most heavily in spring and fall. The Malinois loses short hair year-round, while the long-haired Groenendael and Tervuren drop a lot of undercoat that needs regular brushing out.

How much does a Belgian Shepherd weigh?

Adult dogs of this breed usually weigh: males 25–30 kg, females 20–25 kg. Height at the withers: 56–66 cm. That range is for healthy adults in good condition.