There are so many dog breeds we know and love, and so much more not many people know about! That’s what makes dogs so amazing because there is so much to discover about them. And if you’re choosing a breed to get as your forever pet, you may have stumbled upon the Belgian Malinois, a majestic dog with a unique personality.
However, are Belgian Malinois good family dogs and fit for the household? That’s a great question and there are so many things to look into before getting one yourself. So read on as I show you all about the Belgian Malinois now.
About the Belgian Malinois
Not a lot of people know all about the Belgian Malinois. These are beautiful and extremely intelligent dogs, not your typical family pet! However, even if they do have focused work ethics and need to stay active, that doesn’t mean they aren’t great family dogs. Let’s look into what the Belgian Malinois is like:
Their Origins
The Belgian Malinois was actually grouped with the Shepherds before, known as working dogs ever since they were created. Just like German Shepherds, they are accomplished herders who have an unbelievable work ethic and are loyal to their masters.
However, they were very different from their Shepherd cousins, so from the Continental Shepherd Dogs, they were renamed as the Belgian Malinois, then registered as a separate breed in the 1950s.
What Do They Look Like?
The Belgian Malinois looks a bit similar to the German Shepherd, having a height between 22 to 26 inches and a weight between 40 to 80 pounds, depending on their gender.
They are very attractive dogs that look strong at first glance and really have the strength and energy, which is what makes them a part of many police and army jobs. They have a strong chest and a thick neck, with upright ears and black-flecked coat.
Their Temperament and Behavior
I can’t stress this enough, the Belgian Malinois is a WORKING dog, so their temperament and behavior are geared towards working and being useful. However, they still make great family dogs as they have a powerful bond with their owners and are loving towards children. They act as a guard and protector.
Grooming and Care
What makes this breed great to care for is that they also have a short coat that’s easy to maintain. You simply need to brush it weekly and trim their nails regularly. Besides that, just make sure that they are fed the right food at proper amounts and they’ll maintain great health!
Furthermore, you need to bring them out or give them something to do all the time. Do not neglect or get them bored or they’ll end up chasing or nipping, which is why training is essential. Also, don’t forget your love and attention. They focus on work but are also built on caring owners.
If you want to learn more about the Belgian Malinois, this is a great video to get you started:
Are Belgian Malinois Good Family Dogs?
So with all that being said, are Belgian Malinois good family dogs? Well, that depends!
For me, I wholeheartedly agree that they make amazing family dogs who will love and protect you for life. However, this depends on how you raise them in the long run.
If you don’t give them enough proper training and/or attention, then they most likely won’t listen to your commands and have reckless habits. Because of this, they won’t make the best dogs the household will enjoy and stay safe with. Furthermore, because they can get quite jealous and territorial, they require a balanced amount of love as other people in the household, and without that, it can get messy!
Enhancing your Belgian Malinois’ socialization skills and exposing them to different people and animals at an early age can help with that. Leadership and training, as well as proper parenthood, can prevent destructive behavior as well.
It all boils down to proper time and commitment to the dog to prevent them from being dominating and possessive. These are things to take account for when choosing a dog breed. If you feel like you don’t have enough time to train and give attention to the Belgian Malinois, then I recommend that you consider another dog who will be more suitable in the house.
Wrapping It Up
The Belgian Malinois are amazing dogs with such strong bodies and lovable personalities. With such strength and intelligence, they are great with children and with proper training, will grow to love your whole family forever. That makes them amazing dogs to live with, as long as you can train and show proper leadership and training!
I hope that this article answered your question, “are Belgian Malinois good family dogs?” So start learning more about this dog breed and consider getting your own now!