From skydiving to parachuting to swimming to climbing to running flat-out after a target, the Malinois can literally do it all. Certified in April 2016, police K9 "Sicaria" is Cincinnati Police Department's first female K9 officer. The Daily Mail reported that superstar actress Eva Mendez enlisted the help of not just the legal system but a trained Belgian Malinois named Hugo after being stalked by a mentally disturbed man several years ago. The Malinois lives and breathes work. Belgian Malinois vs German Shepherd Because of the extensive diversity among dog breeds, dog lovers can go for their particular requirements that they would expect from the pet. Surprised? I had not suspected that it was that much of a distiction in numbers of GSDs vs Malinois in the police force, especially in Germany. Police dogs should also have perfect recall when being called back from an attack or chase. Malinois is often used in roles that require sniffing out contraband, accelerants (flammable substances), or explosives. Advice From The Dog Trainer. Furthermore, these dogs have extreme bravery and are devoted to their handlers, which makes them able to take on any situation that they may face in police work. Law enforcement is slow to change anything. Access special offers, exclusive content, and receive tips on caring for & training your pup. And like the GSD, the Malinois had to find new work when using dogs to herd and guard livestock became less common. Does the Belgian Malinois Make a Good Companion Canine? They are high energy,impulsive and an over the top “prey” drive. The Belgian Malinois has the perfect traits to work as a police dog. Even though I knew about the decline in use of GSDs in police work, I nevertheless found the statistics in that article quite jaw dropping. Police dogs may be trained in scent work, bite work, or both. This is largely because Belgian Malinois have fewer innate health problems, and therefore it is easier to get a healthy one. That being said, these breeds have different personalities and daily needs inside the home that owners need to know. Belgian Malinois have all of the characteristics that make a good police dog, and they are among the most agile dog breeds. We also participate in other affiliate programs and are compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies (at no cost to you). They both serve as police or military dogs in many countries. Here is what you need to know about why the police use, Belgian Malinois have all of the characteristics that make a good police dog, and t. For instance, in the Los Angeles Police Department and the US Military. Both the Malinois and German Shepherd are hard-working dogs that are used in a variety of important roles, including police work. Perhaps the primary reason that Belgian Malinois are replacing German Shepherds is simply their work drive. German Shepherds have long and straight hair that lies close to the body. However, what makes a dog breed a fantastic pick for military, police, and working K-9 protection roles is not necessarily the same as what makes for a great companion canine – a pet dog. In the case of a Malinois working or training to work in a K-9 role, this would mean they are driven to please one person – their handler. Have you noticed that police dogs seem to be a little bit smaller and sleeker looking than they used to be? In this article, the important differences between German Shepherd and Belgian Malinois are discussed. In this second amazing video from We Are the Mighty, you can watch Lachi, a K-9 Belgian Malinois who works as a border guard along the Moldovan border, balancing on two tightropes to retrieve a tennis ball. As a pet writer and blogger, Shannon is passionate about crafting knowledge-based, science-supported articles that foster healthy bonds of love and respect between people and animals. Belgian Malinois are becoming increasingly more popular for police work, replacing the German Shepherd in many police departments. Mixing the breeds allows some of the best aspects of each to come out, although these traits are also less predictable. Conan, a male Belgian Malinois who accompanied the Army’s Delta Force elite unit to take down ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, was injured in the line of duty and later honored by President Trump for bravery, as Stripes reports. We are compensated for referring traffic and business to Amazon and other companies linked to on this site. Find similarities and differences between German Shepherd vs Belgian Malinois. This dog breed has been developed specifically to spend long hours doing very intense, athletically demanding work. It takes a great number of years and usually a generational change of people working in it to make major changes. German Shepherd – Facts, Characteristics, and Behavior German Shepherds are the most popular breed worldwide and one of the best military and police dogs due to their high level of intelligence and physical capabilities. This makes the Malinois a great choice for a dog that needs to master difficult job duties with multiple variables. Copyright © 2021 Anything German Shepherd, Dogs for Law Enforcement’s Police Canines in History, How Long Can a German Shepherd Go Without Eating: When to Worry If Your GSD Stops Eating, German Shepherd Afraid of Thunder: How to Ease GSD Weather Fears. Malinois are shades of red, Dutch are Brindle. Belgian malinois and German shepherd are two such types of dogs with great variability between each other; hence, they make two very different kinds of dogs. As their names imply, the Belgian Malinois was developed in Belgium and the German Shepherd in Germany. A German Shepherd will be between 75 and 95 pounds, while a Malinois is about 40-80 pounds. German Shepherds have a distinct shape with a slanted back and angled hips. They must be brave enough to leap into an attack even if they know they are physically outmatched. The Belgian Malinois is a bit more energetic than the Shepherd, and therefore will need more exercise. Every police dog will be asked to put themselves in situations where they know that they are in danger. All Belgian shepherds, regardless of their variant, are generally healthy dogs that live between 12 and 16 years. But one thing that many Belgian Malinois owners don’t realize when they first bring their adorable fluffy puppy home is that their dog is going to grow up fast. The Belgian Malinois is a “precision instrument.” They are the full K-9 package, combining brains and athleticism, loyalty and bravery, which is why they are so popular as police dogs today, according to Police & Military K9 Sales & Training. The Belgian Malinois can weigh anywhere from 40 to 80 pounds and stand anywhere from 22 to 26 inches tall. The answer is yes...very slowly. However, there are many differences. This is largely due to the fact that they have been bred for show purposes rather than for work for a long time. Now as a owner/breeder/trainer of Belgian Malinois, its all about the breeder u buy the Belgian Mal. Here is what you need to know about why the police use Belgian Malinois for all kinds of police work throughout the United States. The Belgian Malinois and German Shepherd are often compared to one another thanks to their similar European background, body shape, and spectacular working abilities in the military and on the police force. The German shepherd lives about 13 years, which is a long life for a large dog and has a litter of between 6 and 10 puppies. We also participate in other affiliate programs and are compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies (at no cost to you). The increased energy and athleticism of the Belgian Malinois mean they are more likely to follow a smell wherever it goes, whereas a German Shepherd may be deterred by obstacles. There are some very good reasons why police are the usage of Belgian Malinois instead of German Shepherds or some other breeds. The Dutch shepherd/ Herder is also woth mentioning, although a different breed, it very often gets mistaken for the malinois. While German Shepherds are bigger, Belgian Malinois are so intense that they manage to pack nearly as much of a punch as a Shepherd. Compare Belgian Malinois and Doberman Pinscher and {name3}. Wait till you see them in action in this video. The muzzle is black, as are the alert, naturally erect ears. It takes a very high level of athleticism to handle the kinds of special operations that military and police K-9s are required to participate in. The Doberman also enjoyed the same popularity in police and military work. As the Navy SEAL Museum explains, the dogs used in K-9 roles are often specifically bred for their work. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. As Chien Policier European Belgian Malinois breeder points out, there are some potential known health risks to the timing of your dog’s spay or neuter procedure.. And there are some known health risks if you decide to leave your male or female Belgian malinois intact. Once upon a time The German Shepherd was the favorite dog of police and military forces around the world. Here's a bit of information about each breed largely taken from www.dogbreedinfo.com. As well, since the German Shepherd is the second most popular purebred companion canine in the United States, it is easy to see how any other dog that looks similar might be mistaken for the iconic GSD. These are the traits that made Malinois such a great herding dog and now helps the breed distinguish themselves in police dog roles. © 2021 TrendingBreeds. Belgian Malinois are becoming increasingly popular for police work, replacing the German Shepherd in lots of police departments. Working Dog Magazine calls this trait “calculated aggression.”. They think that their Shepherds have a steadier and calmer temperament than the Malinois, able to do a good day’s work as police dogs and also mingle with children at school events. Many people are starting to become more familiar with the Malinois dog breed after the famous Navy SEALS operation and Cairo the Malinois’ role in that. With proper training, their innate intelligence gives them excellent self-control. Today, the Belgian Malinois is one of the top canine picks for police dog work, military K-9 service, and private sector protection and security work. Belgian Malinois vs German Shepherd. Why Are Belgian Malinois Used As Police Dogs, Watch Trained Belgian Malinois K-9s Hard At Work, Meet Two of the Most Famous Belgian Malinois K-9 Dogs. They are so athletic that they are even able to do things like walk across a tightrope and climb a tree! The Malinois. There are many, many more Belgian Malinois dogs working in K-9 operations around the world right now who are just as brave, loyal, and selfless. The increased energy and athleticism of the Belgian Malinois mean they are more likely to follow a smell wherever it goes, whereas a German Shepherd may be deterred by obstacles. View our privacy policy here. As Dogs for Law Enforcement’s Police Canines in History page explains, the Malinois noise is also very useful to track down suspects – most famously Osama Bin Laden. One trait that is rather unique in the Belgian Malinois breed is that males and females can differ in adult weight by up to 20 pounds. German shepherds are valued as police dogs for their trainability, loyalty, and courage. Belgian Shepherd malinois. They keep going all day long and seem almost tireless. Like all dogs, the Belgian Malinois has a very keen sense of smell. Belgian Malinois vs German Shepherd: What’s the Verdict? These dogs serve as police K … Your email address will not be published. You should also probably know that GSD are heavy shedders that shed … Some people still worry that the Belgian Malinois is too high strung and won’t do as well in groups of pedestrians, but handlers working with Belgian Malinois find them to be just as steady as German Shepherds with civilians. The Belgian Malinois breed has a long history as a livestock herding and guarding dog. 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