The Belgian Malinois is a type of herding dog that was originally bred in Belgium. Their intelligence and versatility make them one of the most popular dogs in Europe and across the world. The Belgian Malinois has a strong drive to work, which allows them to be trained for various tasks such as military service, police dog training, search-and-rescue missions, hunting, herding livestock, and detection of explosives.

So, what does a Belgian Malinois look like? Read on to know the interesting physical features of these world-class working dogs!

Belgian Malinois Appearance

The Belgian Malinois is a medium-sized, muscular dog with a square head, dark brown eyes, erect ears, a short muzzle, and pronounced cheekbones. They have an elegant gait that resembles that of the wolf. With their long, strong, and muscular legs, they are excellent animals for tracking. Weighing up to 66 pounds, the Belgian Malinois can also be a loyal family member that not only can watch over your home but also work side by side with your children in their activities.

Here’s a detailed look at what an Adult Belgian Malinois can look like:

Body Structure

The Belgian Malinois has a square build, which makes them well-balanced and appears strong and rugged. They are dogs with a round, curved neck, deep chest, level topline, and long legs. They walk with a smooth, easy, never tiring gait.

Height

A female Belgian Malinois stands approximately at 22-24 inches while a male stands at 24-26 inches.

Weight

A female Belgian Malinois typically weighs between 45-55 pounds while a male weighs around 55-66 pounds.

Coat Types

The Belgian Malinois has a short, straight coat that is hard enough to be resistant to weather conditions and doesn’t fold over or stand out. Some of the furs stay longer on the back of their thighs, elbows, and jaw. Anywhere else, it is relatively shorter.

The coat type of a Belgian Malinois can vary from smooth to rough. If your dog has a smooth coat, you should groom them at least twice a week. If they have a rough coat, you should groom them at least once a week.

Find out everything about the breed’s shedding pattern in Do Belgian Malinois Shed?

One of the interesting facts is that in some countries, the Belgian Malinois, the Laekenois, the Tervuren, and the Sheepdog are all considered the same breed. The main factor that differentiates these four breeds is the coat type. The Malinois is a shorthaired dog, the Laekenois is wirehaired, the Tervurens is longhaired with blackish fawn or red coloring and the Sheepdog is longhaired with black coloring.

Coat Colors

The Belgian Malinois has a wide variety of colors including black, brown, gray, fawn, sable, mahogany, red, and red sable.

Conclusion

The Belgian Malinois is a sturdy dog breed that is easily characterized by their muscular body, elegant gait, pricked ears, and broadhead. Their strong and well-built body is the symbol of their powerful demeanor. Thanks to their solid body structure combined with their high intelligence, these dogs are often used in military and law and enforcement agencies.

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To explore more about the breed, check out other articles that we have covered on the Belgian Malinois. 

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