| THE BELGAIN MALINOIS (MAL-N-WAH) |
| Appearance Like all Belgian Shepherds, the Malinois is a medium-sized and square-proportioned dog in the sheepdog family. The Malinois has a short mahogany coat with black overlay. It has black erect ears and a black muzzle. It has a square build in comparison to the German Shepherd. Coat and color Due to its history as a working dog (i.e., being bred for function over form), the Malinois can vary greatly in appearance. The acceptable colors of pure-bred Malinois are a base color fawn to mahogany with a black mask and black ears with some degree of black tipping on the hairs, giving an overlay appearance. The color tends to be lighter with less black agouti or overlay on the dog's underside, breeching, and inner leg. There used to be dogs with grey and black shorthairs but they no longer meet the breed standards. The other varieties of Belgian Shepherd are distinguished by their coats and colors: the Tervuren is the same color as the Malinois but grey is also possible with long hair, the Laekenois is the same color, only it may lack the black mask and ears, and has wirehair, the Groenendael (registered as Belgian Sheepdog by the American Kennel Club) has long hair and is solid black. There are (occasionally and historically) solid black, black-and-tan (as with Dobermans and German Shepherd Dogs), or other colored short-haired Belgian Shepherds, but these are not technically Malinois. If a dog represented as a Malinois is brindle (clear stripes of different colored hair) it is probably a Dutch Shepherd Dog or a mixed breed, although the possibility exists that it is a throwback to a common continental shepherd ancestor. Size Malinois dogs are about 24–26 in (61–66 cm), while bitches are about 22–24 in (56–61 cm) at the withers. Bitches are said to average 25–30 kg (55–65 lb), while sires are heavier at 29–34 kg (65–75 lb). They are squarely built. Working dog A Malinois being trained for protection work. In Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and other European countries, as well as in the United States, Canada and Australia, the Malinois is bred primarily as a working dog for personal protection, detection, police work, search and rescue, and sport work (Belgian Ring, Schutzhund, French Ring, Mondio Ring). The United States Secret Service and Royal Australian Air Force use the breed exclusively. The dog is also used extensively by Unit Oketz of the Israel Defense Forces. Oketz favors the slighter build of the Malinois to the German Shepherd and Rottweiler, which were employed formerly. [edit] Temperament Well-raised and trained Malinois are usually active, friendly, protective and hard-working. Many have excessively high prey drive. Some may be excessively exuberant or playful, especially when young. They can be destructive or develop neurotic behaviors if not provided enough stimulation and exercise. These are large, strong dogs that require consistent obedience training, and Malinois enjoy being challenged with new tasks. They are known as being very easy to obedience train, due to their high drive for rewards. Activities Malinois can compete in dog agility trials, obedience, showmanship, flyball, tracking, and herding events, and are one of the most popular breeds used in protection sports such as schutzhund, French Ring, and Mondio Ring. In America, herding instincts can be measured at noncompetitive herding tests. Belgian Shepherds exhibiting basic herding instincts can then be trained to compete in herding trials. Health The average lifespan of the Belgian Malinois is 10–12 years, and there are a number of health problems and disorders that are associated with the breed, though the breed's health is generally considered better than that of the German Shepherd Dog. Notable health problems prevalent to the Malinois includes cataracts, epilepsy, thyroid problems, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), hip dysplasia, and pannus, although these problems have been minimized through selective breeding. |
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| THE DUTCH SHEPHERD Description The Dutch Shepherd comes in three varieties: long-haired (long, straight, flat and harsh), short-haired (fine and dense) and wire-haired (medium length and wiry). Show dogs should not display much white on their chest and feet. Although the coat types vary, the color possibilities remain the same for each: various shades of brindle, including gray, yellow, silver, red or gold brindle, and blue. The short-haired variety is very widespread in Holland, while the wire-haired is less common and the long-haired is very rare. The body is muscular and symmetrical. The muzzle is long and the teeth are strong and regular. The eyes are dark and slightly slanting and the relatively small ears are stiffly erect. The tail is slightly curved. The chest and belly are deep and not too drawn up. The feet are relatively small and do not have dewclaws. The toes are well arched. The nails and pads are black. Protective hair grows between the toes. Temperament The Dutch Shepherds are among the most competent of all shepherd dogs at such tasks as agility, obedience competitions, guard work, herding, field trailing and companionship. Attached to its territory, and an enthusiastic worker. These affectionate, happy to be around dogs are obedient, sober and very loyal to its handler and family. Friendly, loving, playful and highly energetic. A very happy dog. Cunningly smart. Provided children are seen as pack leaders, they can also be good friends with them. Unwanted visitors will be stopped in their tracks, while known family friends will be greeted enthusiastically. Dutch Shepherds enjoy the company of their own kind and get along fine with other animals. Intelligent, easy to obedience train and eager to learn - they learn new commands quite easily. This breed makes an excellent watch and guard dog. Active, lively and alert. The short-haired variety is the most common sort for defense/police dog trials. It needs little care and can withstand fatigue and bad weather. The objective in training this dog is to achieve a pack leader status. It is a natural instinct for a dog to have an order in their pack. When we owners live with dogs, we become their pack. The entire pack cooperates under a single leader. Lines are clearly defined and rules are set. Because a dog communicates his displeasure with growling and eventually biting, all other humans MUST be higher up in the order than the dog. The owner should be the ones making the decisions, not the dogs. That is the only way your relationship with your dog can be a complete success. Height, Weight Height: 22-25 inches (55-63cm.) Weight: 65-67 pounds (29.5-30.5 kg.) Health Problems None Living Conditions The Dutch Shepherd will do okay in an apartment if it is sufficiently exercised. Their all-weather coat enables them to do well in cold climates. Exercise Dutch Shepherds need to be kept both physically and mentally exercised. They need to be walked or jogged daily where the dog is made to heel beside or behind the human holding the lead, as instinct tells a dog the leader leads the way, and that leader needs to be the human. Because they want to work, run them through a regular drill at least twice per week. They make great jogging companions. Let it run beside a bicycle, or take it into the woods or open countryside where it can run to its heart is content. Life Expectancy About 12-14 years. Grooming Both long and short-haired varieties require regular grooming with a comb and brush to remove the dead and loose hairs. The wire-haired coat should be plucked professionally twice a year. The hair can be clipped in a few places as a finishing touch. The excess hair on the ears should be removed. The wire-haired variety should never be brushed, although combing is fine in moderation. A coarse comb should always be used. Bathe the all-weather coat only when necessary, as it will remove the natural oils in the skin. Origin The Dutch Shepherd is remarkably similar to their Belgian cousins - the Belgian Shepherds, but with perhaps more German Shepherd Dog blood in its ancestry. In fact the Dutch Shepherds and the Belgian Shepherds are judged by the same standard requirements except for color. Curiously, while the related Belgian shepherds have become well known in the United States and northern Europe, this excellent service dog has not attracted a following outside the Netherlands. Even there numbers are limited, with only around 400 dogs registered each year. Almost unknown outside Holland, the Dutch Shepherd is valued there for its ability as a herder and for its quick reflexes. Originally an all-purpose farm guard, herder, cart-puller, guard, police and security dog. This breed, in its various coat textures, evolved in the early 1800's in the southern part of the Netherlands, especially the province of Brabant, and in neighboring Belgium, which was then part of the Netherlands. Division by coat texture occurred when dog shows began 100 years ago. Puppies with short tails and white markings are frequently born but are not favorable to show people. Group Herding Recognition CKC, FCI, NKC, APRI, ACR, DRA |