Page 18 - ShowSight Presents - The Beligian Malinois

I appreciate a beautiful neck, medium long and slightly arched. Proper neck arch is more evident when the dog is allowed to look forward naturally rather than up at its owner/handler. We do desire a well laid back shoulder, with the scapula and upper arm being of equal length. As a breeder, I realize it is hard to consistently produce dogs with correct angulation in a square silhouette, but it is the ideal and what we want. I like the dog to feel muscled, but never bulky. Cor- rect feet thrill me nearly as much as a correct head! They should be cat-footed, not turned in or out, tight and well padded. Good feet are what a herding dog works on.
The rear should balance the front—mod- erate, well muscled, but not over angulated or stilted. The hocks should be set rather low for efficient working ability and moderately bent. I want a level back that is straight with a short loin, flowing into the croup which slopes toward the tail. The last vertebra of the tail should reach the hock. A cropped or stump tail is a disqualification. This can be checked efficiently when running your hands over the back, then down the tail to the hock. When standing at rest, the tail is dropped (never held by the handler). The tail is lifted when the dog is in motion and ide- ally is a fluid line continuing from the back. I’m not fond of a tail carried gaily above nei- ther the back, nor one that is tucked between the legs. It is not uncommon to see young males carry their tail too proudly; that I can forgive in an otherwise correct dog. A tail
carried too high, or curled over the back can ruin the elegant look we strive for.
Correct movement in the Malinois is free and easy, seemingly effortless. They should single track at a fast pace, with full extension of the front and rear. They should not be raced around the ring, nor move with any excessive action (no paddling, hackneying, weaving, crabbing —nothing that interferes with the dog’s ability to work in an efficient manner). The topline should remain firm and level. Since the Malinois is usually owner handled, it is not uncom- mon to see a novice dog that is too intent on watching his/her owner—looking upward at them and causing them to throw their front. You must judge what you see, but often times a judge may point this out and ask them to move the dog again.
Correct coat texture is also very important in a herding dog—they should have a harsh straight outer coat with a thick dense under- coat. It is a natural dog and they should not be trimmed or groomed to give the appearance of an open coat. Many exhibitors now blow dry their dogs; they should allow the coat to fall back naturally lying flat—it should repel moisture if the dog was working in adverse weather conditions. The coat should con- form to the body, without standing out or hanging down. There is naturally a range of coat length and density of undercoat. The hairs are shortest on the head and legs, longest on the neck collar, breeches and tail. A lack of undercoat may be seen seasonally
or in bitches’ hormonal cycle, but should never be completely absent. There should not be any appearance of feathering (as in the Tervuren or Sheepdog) on the legs or ears, or a curl to the coat (as in the Laekenois).
While color is truly a finishing point in a herding dog, the rich fawn to russet mahogany color of our breed is a point of pride in many Malinois owners. The underparts of the body, tail and breeches are a lighter fawn, but a washed out fawn color on the body is a fault. White is allowed on the tips of the toes and a small spot on the prosternum is permitted, but it should not extend to the neck. Color should never take precedence over struc- ture or temperament.
In review, please remember that the Bel- gian Malinois is a square and elegant breed, their head clean, chiseled and in balance with an expression that speaks of intelli- gence and readiness. They should exhibit balanced, efficient movement. They have a straight double coat of warm rich hues and a black mask. They are watchful, confident, alert and devoted to their owners. A judge should consider the entire dog determining which faults deviate from the standard and how they would affect the dog’s ability to herd. We all wish our chosen breed to be judged positively and with respect, a little humor doesn’t hurt either. Enjoy!
!"#$ %&&'('")%*$ ')+"#,%('")-$ .'/'($ (01$ 2,1#'3%)$ 41*5'%)$6%*')"'/$7*89:/$;19/'(1$%($,%*')"'/3*89< 3",$ "#$ 3")(%3($ %$ ,1,91#$ "+$ (01$ 2467:/$ =8&51/$>&83%('")$3",,'((11<$
SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, JUNE 2014 • 205