Malinois as a pet?
Belgian malinois can make excellent pets but are not for the novice dog owner. When someone considers adopting any dog they must research the breed(s) that they are interested in to ensure that they are not only getting the right dog for their home, but they are also the right home for the dog. Below is a general consensus of that the average malinois is like. Not all malinois will fit into this but most should fit most points listed below.
The good:
Belgian malinois are very intelligent – one of the most intelligent breeds in existence (only surpassed by border collies on a regular basis). This means that they can be trained to go way beyond general “sit and sty” training. Malinois typically excel in schutzhund and police / military work. With the right training you can quickly have the best behaved dog on the block.
Malinois are extremely versatile. While they are categorized as a “herding dog” they can do much more than just herding. Malinois also excel in schutzhund, police work, military work, protection, obedience, tracking, agility, and many other arenas of dog sport. They are also very strong for their size as well as the ability to move quickly and lightly and have the stamina to work for a very long time.
Malinois are traditionally have strong health and immune systems. They are generally less sensitive to diet and environment changes than other breeds which means fewer instances of diarrhea and a more regular schedule with walks. This doesn’t mean they are all without health issues (epilepsy is one concern for the breed).
Malinois are not a popular breed. This means that the breed itself has not been “ruined” by a large amount of unethical breeders / puppy mills so many of them are in good genetic health. Yes, there are unethical breeders out there but the problem is not as severe as other common breeds like the German shepherd, pit bulls, and rottweilers. Casa Del Mango has a good in-depth comparison between backyard breeders and puppy mills (generally the lowest breeders), commercial and hobby breeders, up to the reputable breeder.
The bad:
Malinois can very aloof and suspicious. They do not like people forcing themselves to be their friend (like many other breeds), this will only make the malinois not trust the newcomer. Friendships need to be earned with the malinois and it is best to act indifferent towards a newly met malinois and let them come to you on their own terms.
Their body language is not the same as most other breeds. With most breeds “smiling” is a sign of defensive or aggressive nature while in malinois this is a happy / familiar sign (but you’ll need to learn the difference between smiling and actually showing teeth). With most breeds if their ears are back it’s a sign of nervousness, with the malinois it is traditionally a sign of love and familiarity. To someone with little experience with malinois many signs can be read the wrong way and can cause issues between the handler / family and the dog.
Hair. While malinois have a short coat and they do not require a lot of maintenance, they can have a tendency to shed a bit (especially when they are blowing their coat). You won’t need to keep the cleaning supplies out 24-7 but keep them in arms reach.
Malinois are very strong and fast. If you own one training is a must. They can give greyhounds a run for their money (literally) and also have the power to take whoever is waking them with them. They can also act in little to no time. Think of a marine ambush. They think it is better to get in one good surprise bite to an infultrator than it is to bark up a storm and get several, less important, bites in. The malinois is the master of the ambush. While this is good for protection work, it is not good when introducing new friends to the malinois (again, let it all be on the malinois terms).
The ugly:
Belgian malinois are one of the most intelligent breeds (yes, this is a bad point, too). This means that they can traditionally think a few steps ahead and can “blame” other dogs when they are naughty. For example – the human goes out to take out the garbage. The malinois will go and get something good off of the counter, a loaf of bred, meat, whatever, and start to eat it. When they hear the human coming back they will quickly get back to where they were before and look innocent. Of course, other dogs will now go and investigate this new treat on the floor and who gets blamed?
A healthy malinois will have a lot of energy and will need a lot of long walks and/ or exercise. If you do not have the time to take them for long walks or long periods of play several times a week, this is not the breed for you. This also means that if they are unattended (while you’re at work) they may find something to do – play with a toy, chase bugs, chew furniture). Crate training is highly recommended for malinois.