
The Belgian Malinois has become one of the most popular dog breeds in family homes. Its elegance, intelligence, speed and impressive size provide a sense of security to its owners. In addition, they have a deeply rooted family spirit, so they need to feel like one more where they live.
Having a shepherd of this breed is an increasingly widespread fashion in Spain, but doubts of the type also arise how to know if my belgian malinois is pure or mestizo. At oneHOWTO we tell you the most effective ways to deduct it. Keep reading!
Is it important for a Belgian Malinois to be purebred?
Know if a dog is purebred or not It is usually a common concern when deciding whether to keep it as a pet. Some people attach importance to it because they are interested in the legal breeding of this breed or because they require their skills for specific jobs, while others have slightly more superficial reasons, such as the simple desire to have a purebred dog.
From a HOWTO, we believe that a Belgian Malinois mongrel, or mongrel dogs in general, are capable of giving you the same affection and happiness as a purebred one. If you are curious because you want to know the characteristics of your dog, as well as understand its temperament, behavior and what it needs for its well-being, here we tell you the most remarkable qualities of Belgian Malinois Shepherds.
Remember that informing yourself about a breed before adopting it as a pet is very importantIt will help you decide if you have what it takes to give her a healthy life and cover all her needs. This is especially true of Belgian Malinois Shepherds, as they need care that differs considerably from other breeds.
If you are not sure what breed your dog is, at OneHOWTO we will tell you how to find out in our article How to know the breed of my dog.
Belgian Malinois breed standard – physical characteristics
When a Belgian Malinois arrives at a home, its presence is always noticed for various reasons. In addition to its special character, its size is considerable: reaches a height that ranges between 56 and 66 centimeters (males are slightly taller than females).
Regarding weight, the figures are also important: a female can weigh 27 kilos, while a male can weigh 34. It is a breed with an enviable physique, so they are usually of great help in police forces to carry out investigations and prosecutions.
The Belgian Malinois is classified into 4 types based on its coat, according to the American Jennel Club[1]:
- Groenendael: black and long-haired.
- Laeknois: soft brown with a coat of medium length.
- Tervuerense: dark brown with very long and bushy hair.
- Belgian Sheepdog: the lightest color of all, also brown and with a short coat.
Belgian Malinois Shepherds are very often confused with German Shepherds. If you have doubts, you can consult our article What is a German shepherd like so that you can compare the characteristics of both breeds.

Belgian Malinois Character – Standard
If there is a dog capable of supporting a hectic life, it is the Belgian Malinois. It is one of the breeds that requires more physical activity on a daily basis. Their constitution allows them to follow rigorous speed training. In addition, they have a strength that goes beyond their physical capabilities: their mind is unshakable.
For all this, the Belgian Malinois is an ideal canine to be trained and compete in skills competitions, as it is very obedient as long as there are no distracting elements such as annoying noises or squeals. You need to be in constant motion, so a person or family with a sedentary life is incompatible with the character of the Belgian Malinois.
To all the above, it is worth adding its sense of family: his ideal habitat is to be surrounded by his loved ones. Of course, it is quite impulsive and, in specific cases, it can have aggressive attitudes that must be corrected. His social spirit makes him the best companion for people with physical problems or disabilities, as well as for security tasks, investigations and search for missing persons.
Finally, it is important to mention your constant demand for affection. It is not a dog used to being alone: it needs to be cared for in order to feel happy and, at the same time, return all the love and fidelity that it carries in its soul.
Everything mentioned makes the Belgian Shepherd a dog with incredible potential in dog training. If you want to train your shepherd, do not hesitate to visit our article How to train a Belgian shepherd.
How to tell if a Belgian Malinois puppy is pure
Being certain that a Belgian Malinois puppy or of any other breed is pure is not easy, especially if we are not specialists in the breed. Many factors come into play, some of which are not accessible or easy to discover without the help of a veterinarian or specialist in the field.
Nevertheless, many Malinois have black faces with chocolate eyes. There are some spots that appear on German Shepherds and not Malinois, such as black fur patterns on the back. Malinois tend to have loose and solid coats. Also, in adulthood, Malinois have more elongated faces than German Shepherds.
On the other hand, it is enough to take into account all the physical characteristics and behaviors of the dog previously explained to be convinced. Being a puppy, it will be difficult to deduce it in the first weeks of life, but with the passage of time and as it grows it will be easier to see it.
Even so, it must be appreciated from the beginning that it is a canine with a considerable size in both height and weight. As we have explained previously, behaviors typical of this breed must also be detected, such as their enormous energy, their speed, what it takes to exhaust themselves and their intelligence when learning what you teach them.
If you try to train him and he quickly obeys, it is one more sign that he is a Belgian Malinois. But the basic thing is to enjoy his company and make him as happy as possible, because if something is guaranteed, it is that he will change your life positively and he will be part of your family unconditionally. And if you want to know with complete certainty, you can do a DNA test to know the purity of the breed with complete security.

If you want to read more articles similar to How to know if my Belgian Malinois is pure, we recommend that you enter our category of Pets.
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