What is a Belgian Malinois dog’s temperament?
The Belgian Malinois dog breed is very fond of his family and is quite dedicated to them. He makes a good guard dog, as he is protective of his human companions.
Belgian Malinois dogs tend to be reserved and indifferent towards strangers. However, they should not be hostile towards them unless threatened.
Are Belgian Malinois good family pets?
Yes, the Belgian Malinois fits well in families. He gets along well with children, but care should be taken. Young children tend to be rambunctious and may roughly handle the dog.
When it comes to other family pets, the Belgian Malinois may not get along with them unless they grow up together. Socialising him at an early age will prevent this from happening. Supervision is always needed when he is interacting with a child or another pet.
Is a Belgian Malinois an aggressive breed?
Are Belgian Malinois aggressive? No. Aggressiveness and timidity are not a part of the temperament of Belgian Malinois dogs.
They may be protective of their family members, but they should not be vicious nor shy of other people. These dogs may act aloof towards strangers until they identify that they are not a threat.
Early socialisation and training are crucial for the Belgian Malinois dog breed to mature into a people- and animal-loving dog. Without undergoing this process, he may end up being fearful or aggressive to humans and other pets.
Do Belgian Malinois dogs like to cuddle?
Yes. The Belgian Malinois breed may appear tough and serious, but he has a soft side to him. Much like most dog breeds, he craves love from his family and enjoys receiving cuddles.
However, mind that some Belgian Malinois dogs are not fond of cuddles. Training with the use of positive reinforcement will solve this situation.
Are female Belgian Malinois better?
Female Belgian Malinois dogs are observed to be more attached to their owners. On the other hand, male Belgian Malinois dogs have a more outgoing and adventurous personality.
These are only generalisations, so these traits may not be true to all male and female Belgian Malinois dogs. When picking a canine companion, it is best to pay attention to each dog's unique personality instead.
Are Belgian Malinois easy to train?
Yes. Highly intelligent and hard-working, Belgian Malinois dogs are quick learners and easy to train. For these traits to be properly honed, an owner with extensive knowledge and experience of the breed is needed.
Novice owners will find Belgian Malinois dogs challenging to train, as they can be intense and full of energy.
Training a Belgian Malinois
The Belgian Malinois breed is an intelligent and highly capable dog. He can quickly learn new commands and tricks through firm and consistent training. Use positive reinforcement in Belgian Malinois training to further motivate your dog to do his best.
Since Belgian Malinois dogs are sensitive to harsh criticism, keep your emotions in check and mind the tone of voice during training. Any harsh treatment will be met with resistance, and he may resent you for it too.
The Belgian Malinois breed excels in many dog sports and canine jobs. These include herding, showing, tracking, agility, obedience, fly ball, Schutzhund, other protection sports, search and rescue, and police work.
How to potty-train a Belgian Malinois puppy
It is advised that you confine your Belgian Malinois puppy to an enclosed space such as in a room or a crate. You can also put him on a lead. Once he understands that he should go outside to eliminate, you may slowly allow him to wander around your home.
Follow the steps below when you begin house-training your Belgian Malinois puppy:
Step 1: Be sure to set a regular feeding schedule. Remember to remove his unfinished food between meals.
Step 2: Bring your Belgian Malinois puppy outside early in the morning. Do this again once every 30 minutes to an hour. Take him outside after eating and when he wakes up from a nap. He should be brought outside to eliminate at night before he goes to sleep.
Step 3: Make sure that he eliminates on the same spot every time he goes outside. If done frequently, his scent will prompt him to go to the area without your urging.
Step 4: Stay with him outside, at least until he’s house-trained.
Step 5: Every time your Belgian Malinois puppy eliminates outside, give him a treat or praise him. This will encourage him to continue this behaviour until it becomes a habit.
Belgian Malinois Breed Fun Facts
- The Belgian Malinois breed is highly capable of being a police dog. His sharp senses can successfully detect odours of accelerants, narcotics, and explosives.
Due to this, the Belgian Malinois is commonly chosen to work for personal protection and police and military. In fact, the US Secret Service uses these dogs to guard the White House.
- Cairo, a Belgian Malinois, was the chosen dog to accompany SEAL Team Six. With his help, they were able to hunt down and eliminate Osama Bin Laden.
- Belgian Malinois dogs served as assistants and messengers to the Red Cross during World War I. Some people believe that these dogs also pulled ambulance carts and carts bearing firearms.
- Eva Mendes, an American actress, kept a trusty Belgian Malinois named Hugo by her side. This was to keep her safe from a stalker who was given a restraining order back in 2011.