German Malinois Breed Details
Below are the characteristics and traits you can expect the german malinois to have:
The german malinois is a hybrid dog which is the offspring of a purebred German shepherd and a purebred Belgian malinois. As a hybrid dog the german malinois will inherit characteristics from both parent dog breeds. Not all german malinois will inherit the same traits from each parent breed. Some german malinois will display more characteristics from the german shepherd, others may display more from the belgian malinois, and the rest will display a mix of traits from each parent. Because of this, there is a high possibility that each german malinois can have different physical and behavioral traits from other german malinois' (even if from the same litter).
Even though there can be differences between german malinois dogs, you can expect the breed to share characteristics which are common in both the parent breeds.
Below are the characteristics and traits you can expect the german malinois to have:
The german malinois is considered a large breed dog. They will commonly display the physical characteristics of the belgian malinois with the behavioral characteristics of the german shepherd.
The breed is a loyal to their family and eager to learn. They do well in the house and love being outside. German malinois' make excellent watch and guard dogs. As such, they are extremely protective of their home and family. They are very alert and will notify their family of anything suspicious or of any strangers nearby.
The german malinois is very affectionate to their family and enjoy being the center of attention. They have a high amount of energy and will need daily walks and playtime to keep hyperactivity down.
Different generations of German Shepherd and Belgian Malinois crosses, especially the first few generations, vary quite a bit from one individual to the next. If you have particular traits in mind for your pet, you may want to discuss with a breeder about generational differences. F1 puppies are simply crosses between purebred German Shepherds and purebred Belgian Malinois. An F1B is when a breeder mates one of the F1's with either a purebred Shepherd or Malinois (depending upon which traits that want to increase). F2s are created by crossing two F1 German Malinois hybrids. F3's are the product of two F2 dogs and this continues in a similar manner.
The length of the coat is a facet of this breed that many owners have a preference of. There are both long haired and shorter haired German Shepherds, therefore, some pups may have a longer coat than others. If you prefer a long haired Belgian German Shepherd mix, search for a puppy that had a long haired German Shepherd as one of the parents.
Overall, this crossbreed is a great addition to any household. These dogs are intelligent, sociable and easily trainable; they will be okay if left alone, and make very good watchdogs.
Like having a German Shepherd or Belgian Malinois for a pet, your Belgian Malinois will, too, be high energy. He/she is best suited for a home with at least a fair-sized yard. Though these dogs will adapt fairly well to apartment life, they will need at least an hour of outdoor activity each day. Regardless of living environment, these dogs will be good indoors, as they're not very destructive and socialize fairly well with other pets.
Allergy sufferers, though, may want to look elsewhere. This crossbreed is not hypoallergenic; a German Malinois will shed moderately--and during shedding season, it will shed profusely.
Below are health issues and concerns most common in German Malinoiss