Page 22 - ShowSight Presents - The Beligian Malinois
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At first glance, the Bel- gian Malinois may seem an unremarkable, rustic dog in an unglamorous short coat. But take a closer look. You won’t have to go further than their inquisitive, sparkling eyes to see there is a whole lot more under that plain brown fur!
A friend described the Malinois this way: “The Malinois is the Ferrari of the dog world: built for sport, powerful and instantly responsive to expert handling. But you can go right through the guardrail and over a cliff if you are a poor driver.”
Intrigued? I hope so! Please allow me to introduce that exotic sports edition amongst dog breeds, the Belgian Malinois.
The Belgian Malinois is known in its country of origin as a variety of the Belgian Shepherd Dog, along with its cousins, the Tervuren, Groenendael and Laekenois. It is
distinguished by its business-like attire—a short, wash and wear type of coat.
In Belgium, April 1892, the newly formed Club du Chien de Berger Belge approved a written standard for the native herding dog of Belgium, as written by Pro- fessor Adolphe Reul. This standard defined it as a breed with three varieties: long hair, rough hair and short hair. It wasn’t until 1909 that the designation “Malinois” was used in an official show catalog to describe the shorthaired variety.
In May 1892, the first sheep trials in continental Europe were held in the markets of Cureghem-Brussels, Belgium. However, because of market conditions, the sheep population was rapidly declin- ing in Belgium. Sheep-herding skills were becoming less valuable. Fortunately, the Belgian Shepherd Dog had already attract- ed many admirers, and new tests were designed to feature their talents. The first
“dressage” trial showcasing the working talents of the Belgian Shepherd Dog took place in Malines, Belgium in July 1903. The Belgian Shepherd Dog, especially the Malinois, has enjoyed a reputation for its marvelous intellect and trainability ever since.
Like many herding breeds, the Belgian Malinois is known for is athleticism, intel- ligence and trainability. They’re brilliant, exuberant dogs that thrive on living and working with its owner.
In his book A Hundred Years of His- tory of the Belgian Shepherd Dog, noted breed historian Jean-Marie Vanbutsele said “The Belgian Shepherd Dog pos- sesses a particularity of the breed concern- ing its behaviour: it is characterized by a greater sensitivity than any other breeds; it is a hyper-affectionate. This feature is expressed in its relation with its master.” He goes on to quote another breed author-
LIVING WITH THE Belgian Malinois
By Ann MacKay
