The Black Belgian Malinois deviated from the traditional coat colour of the Malinois dog breed. He is an all-black canine devoid of the classic black mask most Belgian Malinois dogs have. This may lead many breed fanciers to wonder if his colouration is acceptable to major kennel clubs.
Looking into the breed standards will help us find the answers but also opens up the curious question about the Black Belgian Malinois lineage.
Is Black a Permissible Colour in the Belgian Malinois Breed?
The Black Belgian Malinois has a pure black coat from root to tip. His eye rims, lips, nose, and paw pads are solid black too.
Sadly, his striking all-black colouration is not considered a permissible or acceptable colour in the Belgian Malinois breed by several major kennel clubs.
Let us go through the breed standards of three renowned dog organisations: the UK Kennel Club, the American Kennel Club (AKC), and the Fédération Cynologique Luxembourgeoise (FCL).
UK Kennel Club
The only recognised colour varieties of the Belgian Malinois are fawn, grey, and red with a black mask. White markings on the muzzle are acceptable.
Belgian Malinois dogs should also have a black overlay on their coats in which their light-toned fur ends with black tips. The breed standards also mention that solid areas of black overlay are not permissible.
American Kennel Club
The AKC does not recognise coat colouring other than rich fawn to mahogany with a black overlay and black mask. However, small white markings on the toes and breastbone are acceptable.
Colours that diverge from the ones stated in the breed standard like black are up for disqualification.
Fédération Cynologique Luxembourgeoise (FCL)
The FCL breed standards state that fawn with a black overlay and a black mask is the only acceptable colouration for the Belgian Malinois dog breed.
Similar to the AKC, a small amount of white on the toes and breastbone does not count for disqualification.
Is the Black Belgian Malinois a Purebred Dog?
They believe that the Black Belgian Malinois is the result of a mating between a Malinois and a solid-black-coated dog.
One of the circulating theories is that the long-haired Belgian Shepherd dog Groenendael, an all-black dog breed, was used to develop the Black Belgian Malinois.
Others push back against this speculation, stating that the Black Belgian Malinois is purebred through genetics.
According to them, Malinois dogs may carry the recessive black gene, which takes the form of the ‘a’ allele. However, the solid black colouration can only be successfully expressed if puppies inherit two copies of the recessive gene.
If a Malinois dog only has one copy, the dominant yellow gene called the ‘Ay’ allele overrides the black colour, resulting in the expression of the classic fawn shade of the breed.
Unfortunately, there is not enough evidence to support either of these claims about the Black Belgian Malinois lineage. The only way to accurately determine if a dog is purebred is through DNA testing.
How Big Does the Black Belgian Malinois Get?
Female Black Belgian Malinois dogs grow approximately 22 to 26 inches (55 to 60 centimetres) and range from 40 to 64 pounds (18 to 29 kilos) in weight.
The large size and high energy levels of the Black Belgian Malinois make him greatly unsuitable for small homes and apartments. The most ideal home for this canine is a large house with a vast outdoor space where he can freely explore and run around.
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Does the Black Belgian Malinois Need Frequent Brushing?
As a double-coated dog, the Black Belgian Malinois sheds moderately on most days of the year. His hair needs brushing 2 to 3 times a week to get rid of loose hairs.
The Black Belgian Malinois’ shedding becomes heavier during the shedding season, which typically happens around spring and fall. Brush his fur daily in this case.
The upkeep of his coat is slightly time-consuming. However, never risks shaving it off to escape his need for regular brushing.
The Black Belgian Malinois needs his dense fur for body temperature regulation and protection from the sun. Getting rid of it makes him highly vulnerable to temperature changes and health issues like hypothermia and overheating.
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Is the Black Belgian Malinois a Good Pet?
The Black Belgian Malinois can be a wonderful pet in the hands of the right owner. This dog has an innately intense personality that some pawrents may find difficult to manage and control.
Experienced dog enthusiasts who are well-versed in the breed’s temperament are the most ideal human companions for Black Belgian Malinois dogs.
It cannot be overstated how early and consistent socialisation is critical for reining in the strong protective instincts of the Black Belgian Malinois.
Efforts should be focused on keeping him non-reactive whenever he is around other people and pets. Always be in tune with his behavioural cues and know when to remove him from the socialisation session to avoid dangerous interactions such as dog fights.
The Black Belgian Malinois naturally possesses the ideal traits of a guard dog, such as fierce loyalty and bravery. With proper training, he can be moulded to fit this job as well as other canine work like search and rescue, tracking, and police work.
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Does the Black Belgian Malinois Go Well With Children and Other Pets?
The Black Belgian Malinois can be a good canine companion for children when socialised and trained at a young age. Exposure to handling exercises as early as puppyhood helps prevent him from developing high sensitivity to touch.
That being said, teaching children how to handle their furry pal gently is equally important. Make them understand that playing roughly with the Black Belgian Malinois inflicts pain on him, which he may not tolerate.
Moreover, never let pet-child interactions go unsupervised to keep them safe from accidents.
Black Belgian Malinois dogs are receptive to canine friendship, particularly when they are young. So, introduce them to other house dogs during puppyhood to increase their chances of getting along well.
Beware that dog aggression is not uncommon in the Belgian Malinois dog breed. So, keep an eye on your Black Belgian Malinois as he interacts with other canines. Never let him near any unfamiliar dogs that might rile him up.
A working dog that excels at hunting, tracking, and herding, the Black Belgian Malinois has a strong prey drive. Being around small animals that dart around may activate his chasing instincts. Thus, housing him with smaller pets is not recommended.
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Is the Black Belgian Malinois Trainable?
Hence, Black Belgian Malinois dogs are highly trainable with the right approach. Choose positive reinforcement over imposing harsh punishments. They appreciate being rewarded for working hard, so always have treats and praises ready for them.
Black Belgian Malinois dogs do not put up with shouting, spanking, and other heavy-handed methods. Corrections must be done firmly but without aggression to keep them from forming traumatic and negative experiences in training.
One of the common difficulties when training the Malinois breed is its persistent wilfulness. Overcoming this hurdle might be more challenging for novice pawrents than experienced dog owners.
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How Much Exercise Does the Black Belgian Malinois Need?
The Belgian Malinois dog breed has gained quite a reputation for its tireless energy. Without a proper outlet, Black Belgian Malinois dogs may quickly descend to feeling extremely bored and unfulfilled.
They need a thorough workout ranging from 60 to 90 minutes every day to keep them from developing undesirable behavioural problems such as property destruction.
Strolls around the neighbourhood will not satisfy their need for physical and mental stimulation. So be sure to provide Black Belgian Malinois dogs with a variety of exercise activities daily, such as fetch, puzzle solving, hide-and-seek, Frisbee, and obstacle course.
The cleverness and high intelligence of the Black Belgian Malinois also make him adept at different types of dog sports, including agility, flyball, Schutzhund, herding trials, protection sports, and obedience and rally.
FAQs About the Black Belgian Malinois
1. Can Belgian Malinois Be Black?
There are anecdotal claims that the Belgian Malinois can be black. It is believed that some dogs in the breed are carriers of the rare and recessive black gene.
A Malinois puppy will be born with a black coat if he receives two copies of the said gene from each of his parents. However, more proof is needed to prove this theory.
2. Is the Black Belgian Malinois Rare?
The Black Belgian Malinois is a rare dog. Many major kennel clubs do not recognise his coat colour so most breeders are more focused on producing Malinois puppies with traditional colouration.
As mentioned, it is unclear whether or not the Black Belgian Malinois is a purebred dog. Be careful when transacting with breeders to avoid becoming a victim of fraud.
Shady individuals may run scams involving falsely advertising black-coated mixed breed dogs as authentic Black Belgian Malinois. They often set exorbitant prices for these ‘rare’ canines.
We recommend conducting DNA testing on your Black Belgian Malinois puppy before bringing him home to ensure you are not getting scammed.
3. What Is the Personality of a Black Belgian Malinois?
The Black Belgian Malinois has an intensely protective and loyal personality. He is not the best fit for pawrents who are simply looking for a laid-back and low-maintenance pet.
This canine requires very thorough training and socialisation training throughout his lifetime for him to maintain a watchful yet non-aggressive attitude.
The Black Belgian Malinois’ personality is often too much for inexperienced dog owners to handle. Thus, he has better compatibility with seasoned canine enthusiasts.
4. Is the Black Belgian Malinois Healthy?
The Black Belgian Malinois is generally a healthy dog. However, he is not impervious to inheriting breed-specific ailments from his parents, such as:
- Bloat
- Cataracts
- Elbow and hip dysplasia
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
Health testing of breeding stocks significantly aids in decreasing the chances of offspring inheriting diseases from their parents.
So do not bring home a Black Belgian Malinois puppy unless the breeder provides documents certifying that your pooch as well as his mom and dad are health tested.
Conclusion
This raises the question of whether or not they are purebred canines. Unfortunately, this issue is not widely discussed, which puts their lineage into contention.
Currently, there is not enough information to prove that the Black Belgian Malinois is either a mixed breed or purebred. So, we advise doing your due diligence to double-check the ancestry of your pooch. A DNA test can also help confirm if he is indeed a true Black Belgian Malinois dog.
There are countless intriguing stories behind the rare coat colourations in dogs. Our Other Interesting Articles section will introduce you to more fascinating tales.
