Belgian Malinois
The police and military dog of choice now, chosen for drive rather than size. Lighter than a German shepherd and considerably harder to tire out.
Photo by diveofficer, CC BY 2.0
Overview
The Malinois is the short coated Belgian shepherd and it has become the default police and military dog worldwide, displacing the German Shepherd in many units because it is lighter, faster and holds up better to heat and to workload.
That success is also the problem. A dog bred for police work is now widely sold as a pet, and the gap between what the dog needs and what a pet home provides is the largest of any breed on this shelf.
Temperament
Intense, driven and permanently switched on. A Malinois is affectionate and deeply bonded with its handler, and it needs a handler rather than an owner.
The drive expresses itself as biting. Malinois puppies bite hard as a matter of course, they herd by nipping, and adolescent dogs redirect onto sleeves, arms and legs when frustrated. That is normal for the breed and it is why so many end up rehomed by families who wanted a smart dog.
Care and grooming
A short dense double coat, a weekly brush, more during the moult. The easiest part of the breed by a wide margin.
Hip and elbow dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy and epilepsy occur. They are generally hardy and long lived for a dog of the size, at fourteen to sixteen years.
Living and exercise
Two to four hours a day of structured work, not just exercise. Running a Malinois until it is tired produces a fitter Malinois rather than a calmer one.
They need a job: protection sport, detection work, herding, agility at a serious level. This is a dog for an experienced handler with the time, and it is genuinely the wrong dog for almost everyone else.
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