Malinois Breed
Belgian Shepherd Dog (Malinois)
Description
Sheepdogs of this type date back in Belgium to the Middle Ages. Four varieties of the breed exist sharing the same physical attributes and alluded only by coat and colour – Groenendael: black and long coat; Tervueren: long coated and seen in red, fawn or grey, often with a black mask and overlay; Malinois: with a dense, short coat and with the same colourings as the Tervueren; Laekenois: a harsh wiry coat, red/fawn with some black shadings.
It was not until 1891, the first breed club was formed and Professor Adolphe Reul of the Belgian veterinary school examined 117 examples of the breed and classified the varieties which were named according to the area of Belgium where they originated. The Laekenois gained its name from the Château of Laeken – a royal residence of Queen Marie Henriette who favoured the variety.
Their physical attributes equip them to be excellent herding dogs: they are agile, fast and lightly built yet robust, but the breed has shown its versatility as a service dog, widely used by the police and armed forces. They have an appetite for work, being watchful, wary and highly intelligent.
UK kennel club accepts only some colours of the Malinois; Mahogany/Red, Fawn or Grey with black overlay and mask. However, below are all that can occur.
Within a Malinois litter you can have Laekenois or Tervurens born as well. Usually if that happens the dog is registered as the variety they are, and not the variety of the parents. Belgian Shepherds used to be the same breed and in some countries are still bred together – like Malinois with Tervuren or Tervurens with Groenendael.