Belgian Malinois
Pastor Belga Malinois
- Sizelarge
- Weight24.9–29.5 kg
- Lives10–12 years
- Popularity in Mexico★★★
Character
Belgian Malinois temperament
A large dog from the herding group, in twelve traits from 1 to 5:
- Energymarathoner
- Affection with familymiddle of the road
- With kidsmiddle of the road
- With other dogsmiddle of the road
- With strangersmiddle of the road
- Playfulnessmiddle of the road
- Guarding instinctborn guardian
- Adaptabilitymiddle of the road
- Trainabilitylearns on the fly
- Barkingmiddle of the road
- Mental stimulation it needsneeds a job
- Prey driveno data yet
Distinguishing features
Belgian Malinois characteristics
- Ears
- erect
- Height
- 56–66 cm
- Weight
- 24.9–29.5 kg
- Muzzle
- medium
- Coat
- double coat
- Coat length
- short
- Colors
- fawn, mahogany
- Life expectancy
- 10–12 years
- Sheddingmiddle of the road
- Coat carea brush a month
Life expectancy
How long does a Belgian Malinois live?
10–12 years
The breed sets the range; how long each dog lives depends on its weight, its exercise, its teeth and its check-ups with the vet.
The long profile
Long profile, in Spanish for now
The long version of this breed — character, care and origins, in Lord Chucho's voice — exists in Spanish and hasn't been translated yet. The hard data on this page (traits, features, lifespan) is the same in both languages.
Buying guides
What to buy for a Belgian Malinois
What to buy, by what it needs:
What we'd give Choco
For a dog like this one
Affiliate links: it costs you the same. How they work (in Spanish)
AI image: the real product may vary KONG Classic
The classic that survives teenage-Labrador jaws. Stuff it with frozen treats and you just bought an hour of peace.
AI image: the real product may vary Chuckit! Ultra Ball
A ball that bounces evenly, floats and doesn't fall apart on day three. If your dog lives for the ball, this is THE ball.
AI image: the real product may vary Level-2 treat-dispensing puzzle
For the dog that's bored of everything: let it earn the kibble by thinking. Start at level 2; level 1 they solve in their sleep.
AI image: the real product may vary FURminator for double coats
On double-coated breeds it pulls out loose hair by the kilo. Your couch will thank you more than the dog will.
What people ask
Frequently asked questions about the Belgian Malinois
How big does a Belgian Malinois get?
An adult Belgian Malinois stands 56–66 cm at the withers and weighs 24.9–29.5 kg.
Does the Belgian Malinois need a lot of exercise?
The Belgian Malinois scores 4 out of 5 on “Energy”: marathoner. On that scale, 1 is “couch potato” and 5 is “marathoner”.
Is the Belgian Malinois good with kids?
The Belgian Malinois scores 3 out of 5 on “With kids”: right in the middle of the scale. On that scale, 1 is “better without kids” and 5 is “excellent”. Even with a 5, no dog should be left alone with small children: supervising them is the adult's job.
Does the Belgian Malinois get along with other dogs?
The Belgian Malinois scores 3 out of 5 on “With other dogs”: right in the middle of the scale. On that scale, 1 is “lone wolf” and 5 is “life of the dog park”.
Is the Belgian Malinois easy to train?
The Belgian Malinois scores 5 out of 5 on “Trainability”: learns on the fly. On that scale, 1 is “negotiates every command” and 5 is “learns on the fly”.
Does the Belgian Malinois bark a lot?
The Belgian Malinois scores 3 out of 5 on “Barking”: right in the middle of the scale. On that scale, 1 is “nearly silent” and 5 is “reports everything”.
Is the Belgian Malinois a good guard dog?
The Belgian Malinois scores 4 out of 5 on “Guarding instinct”: born guardian. On that scale, 1 is “not a guardian” and 5 is “born guardian”.
Does the Belgian Malinois shed a lot?
The Belgian Malinois scores 3 out of 5 on “Shedding”: right in the middle of the scale. On that scale, 1 is “barely sheds” and 5 is “hair everywhere”.
Can a Belgian Malinois live in an apartment?
The Belgian Malinois scores 3 out of 5 on “Adaptability”: right in the middle of the scale. On that scale, 1 is “needs its space and routine” and 5 is “settles anywhere”. An apartment is fine, being shut in is not: every dog needs to get out every day.
Health
We only publish each breed's health topics after reviewing them carefully. We guide you, but we're not your vet: if something about your dog worries you, the internet doesn't replace a visit to the vet.