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Belgian Malinois

Malinois, Belgian Shepherd Dog (Malinois)

The Belgian Malinois is the short-haired variety of the Belgian Shepherd Dog, a herding breed from Belgium. The FCI standard describes a harmoniously proportioned dog combining elegance and power, and allows only one colour: fawn with black overlay and a black mask. The FCI and AKC standards describe rather small, erect, triangular ears, a short, hard coat with a dense undercoat and an alert, intelligent, inquisitive and confident temperament.

The Royal Kennel Club recommends more than 2 hours of exercise a day and grooming more than once a week, and gives its lifespan as over 10 years. The AKC writes that it is not a good choice for first-time dog owners, fares best with older, responsible children and should not be left alone for long; PetMD notes a high prey drive, that it may try to herd children, and that it needs constant daily training and early socialisation.

Available in the 12-week PetPrep Challenge (paid breed).

Updated:

Belgian Malinois — photo (AI)
AI-generated photo

At a glance

Size
medium to large — The Royal Kennel Club S314
Adult weight
males 25–30 kg, females 20–25 kg — Fédération Cynologique Internationale S313
Daily exercise
more than 2 hours a day — The Royal Kennel Club S314
Brushing
more than once a week — The Royal Kennel Club S314
Shedding
sheds — The Royal Kennel Club S314
Lifespan
more than 10 years — The Royal Kennel Club S314

Key facts from the sources at the bottom of the page. Where sources differ, each value is listed.

Who it suits

Good for:

Keep in mind:

  • needs lots of exercise every dayS314S316
  • powerful dog — needs an experienced ownerS316S317
  • large dog — not for homes with small childrenS316
  • may “herd” children at playS317
  • needs mental challengesS316
  • loves company — best with someone home most of the dayS316
  • shedsS314
  • strong prey drive — may chase small petsS317

The same tags as in the app. Each tag is backed by the sources listed at the bottom of the page.

What it needs

From breed standards, kennel clubs, veterinary charities and studies. Where sources differ, each one is shown.

Exercise

  • Daily exercise: more than 2 hours a day — The Royal Kennel Club S314

Coat and grooming

  • Brushing: more than once a week — The Royal Kennel Club S314
  • Shedding: sheds — The Royal Kennel Club S314

Meals

General guidance for dogs (not breed-specific):

  • 8–12 weeks: 4 meals a day — ASPCA S18
  • 3–6 months: 3 meals a day — ASPCA S18
  • 6–12 months: 2 meals a day — ASPCA S18
  • Adult: at least 2 meals a day — VCA Animal Hospitals S19
  • Senior: 2–3 meals a day, smaller portions — Dogs Trust S14

Lifespan

  • Lifespan: more than 10 years — The Royal Kennel Club S314

Life stages

  • Reaches adult size at: about 12–15 months (guidance for its size class) — PetMD S10

General guidance for dogs (not breed-specific):

  • Puppy: until about 6–9 months — AAHA S11
  • Young adult: until 3–4 years — AAHA S11
  • Senior: the last 25 % of the expected lifespan — AAHA S11

Size and weight

  • Size: medium to large — The Royal Kennel Club S314
  • Height at the withers: males 60–66 cm, females 56–62 cm — Fédération Cynologique Internationale S313
  • Height at the withers: males 61–66 cm, females 56–61 cm — American Kennel Club S315
  • Adult weight: males 25–30 kg, females 20–25 kg — Fédération Cynologique Internationale S313

Training

  • No. 22 in Stanley Coren's ranking of working and obedience intelligence. — Wikipedia S35
  • FCI standard no. 15, group 1 (sheepdogs and cattle dogs); origin: Belgium. — Fédération Cynologique Internationale S312

Questions and answers

Answered only from the sourced facts on this page; every answer names its sources.

How much exercise does a Belgian Malinois need?

According to our sources, the Belgian Malinois needs this much exercise: more than 2 hours a day — The Royal Kennel Club S314.

How long does a Belgian Malinois live?

According to our sources, the lifespan of the Belgian Malinois is: more than 10 years — The Royal Kennel Club S314.

How big does a Belgian Malinois get and how much does it weigh?

Size and adult weight of the Belgian Malinois, according to our sources: Size: medium to large — The Royal Kennel Club S314; Adult weight: males 25–30 kg, females 20–25 kg — Fédération Cynologique Internationale S313.

How much grooming does a Belgian Malinois need?

Coat and grooming of the Belgian Malinois, according to our sources: Brushing: more than once a week — The Royal Kennel Club S314; Shedding: sheds — The Royal Kennel Club S314.

Who is the Belgian Malinois a good fit for?

Our sources describe the Belgian Malinois as a good fit for: an active family — The Royal Kennel Club, American Kennel Club S314S316; a large house and garden — The Royal Kennel Club S314. Keep in mind: needs lots of exercise every day — The Royal Kennel Club, American Kennel Club S314S316; powerful dog — needs an experienced owner — American Kennel Club, PetMD S316S317; large dog — not for homes with small children — American Kennel Club S316; may “herd” children at play — PetMD S317; needs mental challenges — American Kennel Club S316; loves company — best with someone home most of the day — American Kennel Club S316; sheds — The Royal Kennel Club S314; strong prey drive — may chase small pets — PetMD S317.

Game rules, not veterinary advice

How PetPrep simulates it

In PetPrep one real week is one month of the pet's life. These are the rules the game uses for this breed. PetPrep chose them from the sources on this page; they are not care instructions for a real animal.

Life stageStartsMeals a dayDaily step goal
Puppyarrives at 2 months4; from month 3: 3; from month 6: 21,000 steps per month of age (2,000 on arrival), up to 12,000 from month 12
Young dogmonth 929,000 → 12,000 steps
Adultmonth 36 (3 years)212,000 steps
Seniormonth 90 (7.5 years)29,000 steps
  • Step goal = minutes of daily exercise × 100 steps: an adult gets 2 hours, so 12,000 steps a day.
  • Learns commands 1.5× as fast as the mixed breed of the free plan.
  • Becomes a senior in month 90 (7.5 years) — the last quarter of the breed's expected lifespan.
  • Walks count real steps from Apple Health or Health Connect (with permission, read-only) and the phone's motion sensor — no GPS.
  • Combing twice a week.
  • Care: brushing the teeth every day — a task for the child.
  • Care: checking and cleaning the ears every 4 weeks — a task for the child.

Each game number is a PetPrep decision recorded with its sources. — PetMD, AAHA, Dogs Trust, ASPCA, VCA Animal Hospitals, The Royal Kennel Club, Purdue University Canine Welfare Science, Wikipedia, British Journal of Sports Medicine S10S11S14S18S19S21S24S35S45S314S317

Health

For information only, not vet-reviewed. Ask your vet about your own animal.

  • Hip and elbow dysplasia, where the joints do not develop correctly, occur in the breed and can lead to joint disease. — PetMD S317
  • Cataracts, which cloud the lens of the eye and can lead to vision loss, can occur in the breed. — PetMD S317
  • Progressive retinal atrophy, an inherited eye disease that can slowly lead to blindness, can occur in the breed. — PetMD S317

Before you buy: what to check with the breeder

Questions to settle before you take a puppy home. The points are advice from vets, welfare charities and kennel clubs; each cites its source.

For every breed

  • See the puppy with its mother, where it was born. — PDSA, RSPCA K1K2
  • The puppy should not leave its mother before 8 weeks of age. — PDSA K1
  • Ask for the pedigree. Under FCI rules a pedigree may be issued for correct parentage only. — FCI K7
  • Ask to see the health-test results of both parents. Which tests matter depends on the breed. — PDSA, British Veterinary Association, FOUR PAWS UK K1K9K10
  • National kennel clubs can set breeding rules that go beyond the FCI's — ask the breed club which tests the parents need. — FCI K7
  • Ask for a written sale contract that records the puppy's background and health. — British Veterinary Association, FOUR PAWS UK K9K10

Laws on the minimum age, microchipping and vaccination differ by country — check the rules where you live.

Health tests of the parents for this breed

We have not yet found a reliable source that lists health tests for the parents of this breed. Ask the breed club and the breeder which tests the parents have done.

Similar breeds

Other dogs in the register with similar needs — each with sourced facts.

Sources

Every fact on this page cites one of these sources.

  1. S10PetMD — S. C. Mitchell, DVM, DABVP, 2025-05-20 — When Do Dogs Stop Growing?https://www.petmd.com/dog/general-health/when-do-dogs-stop-growing
  2. S11AAHA — 2019 AAHA Canine Life Stage Guidelines — Canine life stage definitionshttps://www.aaha.org/resources/life-stage-canine-2019/canine-life-stage-definitions/
  3. S14Dogs Trust (UK) — Caring for an older doghttps://www.dogstrust.org.uk/dog-advice/life-with-your-dog/at-home/looking-after-an-older-dog
  4. S18ASPCA — General Dog Carehttps://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/general-dog-care
  5. S19VCA Animal Hospitals (2025-02-21) — Feeding Times and Frequency for Your Doghttps://vcahospitals.com/pets-first/know-your-pet/feeding-times-and-frequency-for-your-dog
  6. S21The Royal Kennel Club (UK) — Puppy feeding tipshttps://www.royalkennelclub.com/health-and-dog-care/health-dog-care/health/health-and-care/a-z-of-health-and-care-issues/puppy-feeding-tips
  7. S24Purdue University Canine Welfare Science (content: Pet Leadership Council 2019, bedogsmart.com) — Dog Fitness and Exercise (PDF)https://caninewelfare.centers.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Dog-Fitness-and-Exercise.pdf
  8. S35Wikipedia — The Intelligence of Dogshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Intelligence_of_Dogs
  9. S45British Journal of Sports Medicine (2018) — Tudor-Locke C. et al. How fast is fast enough? Walking cadence (steps/min) as a practical estimate of intensity in adults. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2017-097628https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6029645
  10. S312Fédération Cynologique Internationale — Chien de Berger Belge (15) — FCI breeds nomenclature pagehttps://www.fci.be/en/nomenclature/BELGIAN-SHEPHERD-DOG-15.html
  11. S313Fédération Cynologique Internationale — FCI-Standard No. 15 — Belgian Shepherd Dog (English PDF)https://www.fci.be/nomenclature/standards/015g01-en.pdf
  12. S314The Royal Kennel Club — Belgian Shepherd Dog (Malinois) — breed page (older address)https://thekennelclub.org.uk/services/public/breed/display.aspx?id=5112
  13. S315American Kennel Club — Official Standard of the Belgian Malinois (PDF)https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/BelgianMalinois.pdf
  14. S316American Kennel Club — Is the Belgian Malinois the Right Dog Breed for You?https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeds/belgian-malinois-right-for-you/
  15. S317PetMD — B. Grenus, DVM (reviewed by M. Price, DVM), 2025-01-15 — Belgian Malinois Dog Breed Health and Carehttps://www.petmd.com/dog/breeds/belgian-malinois
  16. K1PDSA — Getting a puppyhttps://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/puppies-dogs/getting-a-puppy
  17. K2RSPCA — Buying a puppyhttps://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/puppy
  18. K7FCI (copy hosted by Norsk Kennel Klub) — International Breeding Rules of the FCIhttps://nkk2023.stage22.coretrek.no/getfile.php/131987377-1520848467/Dokumenter/Registrering/FCIs%20avlsregler%202013.pdf
  19. K9British Veterinary Association — What should you consider when buying a puppy?https://www.bva.co.uk/news-and-blog/blog-article/what-should-you-consider-when-buying-a-puppy/
  20. K10FOUR PAWS UK — Questions to ask when buying a puppyhttps://www.four-paws.org.uk/our-stories/publications-guides/questions-to-ask-when-buying-a-puppy

PetPrep is a simulation for families. This page is not veterinary advice — for a real animal, ask a vet or the breed club.

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