Another Day at the Zoo: The SUPER High Energy Malinois Dog
Kristen SydelkoI often think working at PetSolutions is kind of like working at a zoo. Between the animals we sell and the pets brought in by co-workers for photo shoots or visits, I am exposed to many different types and breeds of animals that make great pets, even if I never considered some of them before. Because of this experience, I want share the different pets I get to see at our “zoo.”
Belgian Shepherd Dog (Malinois): Super Cute & Super Full of Energy
We had a furry visitor for the day when a co-worker brought in her Malinois, Aero. In talking with my co-worker, the Malinois is not a very common breed, so I thought it would be fun to get to know Aero a bit and write a post about her! It was also interesting to find out why the Malinois is not very common: this breed of dog is extremely high energy, highly intelligent, and very demanding of time. Since my co-worker is also a dog trainer, she has done very well with socializing and training Aero. That was very apparent in Aero’s ability to perform some tricks for us. It was also very apparent when I would briefly forget a dog was in the office because Aero was so well behaved! It was sad to hear, however, that not every Malinois is as lucky as Aero. If Malinois are not adopted by the right type of owners and are not properly trained and kept busy, they could have very sad fates.
I could tell that Aero was very loving, but she was also willing to be the alpha if you let her. My co-worker has a confident personality and sets consistent rules for Aero. Even if I was okay with Aero jumping up to be petted, that action is not one that is allowed. Without being heavy-handed, Aero was quickly corrected in a firm manner, and she did not jump up on anyone else the entire day. However, Aero was more than happy to receive belly rubs, ear scratches, and overall petting. We just had to make sure Aero was in her “sit” position before giving her the attention. Keeping her in “sit” position was a way to set the rule that proper behavior received rewards.
Aero kept busy the majority of the day with playing tug, showing off her toys, performing a few tricks, and trying to get treats out of a Kong Genius. She was completely happy being with people, playing, and working on getting her liver treats. She even did some "work" as a Customer Service Rep! All in all, she was exactly what a well-raised and trained Malinois should be. It made me want to get a pup like her, until I spoke with my co-worker more and also did some research. I learned very quickly that I was not the right type of owner for such a demanding breed.
Check out some need-to-know facts about the Malinois before you add one to your family:
- Malinois are very bright, high energy, obedient dogs, but they are also determined and observant with strong protective and territorial instincts. A lot of socialization is extremely important!
- A Malinois owner needs to know what it means to be an alpha. Having a lot of experience with handling difficult to control dogs is extremely important. The way an owner handles the Malinois produces a wide variety in temperament and aggressiveness.
- Owners must provide leadership, exercise, companionship and training on a daily basis. Otherwise, Malinois can become destructive or hard to control.
- Working and competition obedience are great activities for Malinois. In fact, this breed’s main occupation is as a police dog or guard dog. Herding can also be good work, but the Malinois may be too aggressive when herding animals.
- Malinois can have an excessively high prey drive, hence some not working well as herding dogs. Malinois actually have the nick-name of Maligators, since they can snap and bite if not properly trained or stimulated.
- Malinois need to actively be part of the family. Keeping a Malinois locked up in a kennel is not a good idea.
- Organic foods, such as Innova dog food, should be the only type of dog food a Malinois should eat. Being a working or sport dog, the Malinois requires specific food to stay healthy. Organic foods fulfill these specific needs.
>Some other fun facts about the Malinois include:
- Malinois are one of four varieties of Belgian sheepdogs, as their original purpose was to herd
- Malinois are named after the Belgian city of Malines
- Malinois is the French word for Mechlinian. In Dutch, this translate to either Mechelse herdershond (shepherd dog from Mechelen) or Mechelaar (one from Mechelen)
- Malinois live for about 12 – 14 years of age, with relatively few health concerns
- Malinois can range from 55 – 65 lbs
- Malinois excel at police work such as narcotics or bomb detection, protection and schutzhund, search and rescue, obedience, agility training & competition, tracking, herding, sled pulling, and assistance dogs to the blind or disabled
There are many impressive qualities about this great breed. However, it is important to make sure you fit all the important qualifications an owner needs to have in order to successfully add a Malinois to your household. If you can handle the demands, the Malinois will reward you greatly!
Reader Comments (3)
[...] Originally posted here: Another Day at the Zoo: The SUPER High Energy Malinois Dog … [...]
Aero made another visit to our office with her big Akita brother, Mash. They were visiting when their house had no power during one of the ice storms in our area. Brother and sister were really good together, including snuggling down on the floor to nap!
Watch for an Another Day at the Zoo post on Akitas in the future, and catch a glimpse of Mash!
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