German Malinois

45-60 lbs
22-24"
Unknown
Belgian Malinois
German Shepherd
Malinois X

The German Malinois is a designer dog, an intentional crossbreed between two large and imposing shepherd dogs developed in the late 1800s, one from Germany, the German Shepherd, and the other, the Belgian Malinois from Belgium, very close to the birthplace of the German Shepherd as well. These dogs can be highly intelligent and trainable but may inherit an extremely high prey drive from the Belgian Malinois, making chasing smaller animals, other dogs, and sometimes even children, irresistible. These are large and active dogs that need a great deal of room to run and will not generally thrive in an apartment situation.

purpose Purpose
Guard or shepherd dog
history Date of Origin
Unknown
ancestry Ancestry
Belgian Malinois and German Shepherd

German Malinois Health

Average Size
Male German Malinois size stats
Height: 24-26 inches Weight: 60-85 lbs
Female German Malinois size stats
Height: 22-24 inches Weight: 45-60 lbs
Major Concerns
  • Hip And Elbow Dysplasia
  • Bloat
  • Heart Diseases and Disorders
Minor Concerns
  • Hemophilia
  • Idiopathic Epilepsy
  • Eye Diseases and Disorders
Occasional Diagnoses
  • Hemivertebra
  • Vertebral Stenosis
  • Lupus Erythematosus
Occasional Tests
  • X-Rays
  • Electrocardiogram
  • Eye Examinations
  • Brain Auditory Evoked Response (BAER)
  • Coagulation Assay

German Malinois Breed History

The German Malinois is a deliberate crossbreed between two similar dogs, both in appearance and in purpose, the German Shepherd and the Belgian Malinois. The German Shepherd breed was originally developed in the late 1800’s as a large shepherding breed dog that was able to return sheep to the fold without startling them by nipping at their heels as well as being employed to help move the livestock from the farm to town, or from one town to another. German Shepherds were originally developed with structural efficiency, temperament, and intelligence in mind, and you will still find these traits in a good portion of modern German Shepherds.
The German Shepherds of today do vary somewhat from German Shepherd dogs of the late 1800s and early 1900s as breeding choices have resulted in a canine that is more streamlined and thinner-boned than the founders of the line. German Shepherds have become the 2nd most popular breed in the United States since they were recognized by the AKC in 1908. Belgian Malinois have been in existence since around the same time, although they were one of four dogs that were all known as one breed, the Belgian Shepherd.
Although there were four varieties of Belgian Shepherd, based mainly on the coloration and length of their coat, all four varieties were often born into the same litter. The Belgian Shepherd was recognized by the AKC in 1911, but then in 1959 dropped the Belgian Shepherd and split the dogs into three breeds, the long coated black was given the name Belgian Sheepdog and is listed as being recognized in 1912, the long-coated fawn then became known as the Belgian Tervuren, and the short-coated fawn became registered as the Belgian Malinois both listed as recognized in 1959 and dropping the rough coated fawn colored variety from the registry altogether.  

German Malinois Breed Appearance

The German Malinois is the crossbreed of two dogs that are very similar in appearance, but there are a few differences. This is a large and well-balanced animal, but it may have either the square, solid back of the Malinois or the straight, sloping back of the German Shepherd, or somewhere in between. They have a clean-cut and noble head, strong, but with elegance, and a powerful, tapered muzzle. Their dark brown eyes are almond shaped and their fairly large, triangular ears are carried erect and open towards the front. The tail can extend out straight from the back of the canine or be raised with a curve and the legs tend to be long and strong, with bones that are oval in shape rather than round. They have a double coat with a thick, dense undercoat which is typically overlayed by a short, straight weather resistant outer layer, but may be born with the four-inch rough coat instead.

Eye Color Possibilities
brown German Malinois eyes
Brown
Nose Color Possibilities
black German Malinois nose
Black
Coat Color Possibilities
black German Malinois coat
Black
cream German Malinois coat
Cream
red German Malinois coat
Red
silver German Malinois coat
Silver
blue German Malinois coat
Blue
fawn German Malinois coat
Fawn
sable German Malinois coat
Sable
gray German Malinois coat
Gray
Coat Length
coat
Short Medium Long
Coat Density
coat density
pin
Sparse Normal Dense
Coat Texture
coat texture
German Malinois straight coat texture
Straight Wiry Wavy Curly Corded

German Malinois Breed Maintenance

Grooming requirements for the German Malinois are fairly simple but may be somewhat time-consuming as well. Excessive bathing will make this canine’s skin flaky, dry, and irritated, so baths should be kept down to just a few a year, but a thorough brushing should occur several times a week during normal shedding and daily when the dog “blows its coat” during the change of seasons. It will generally take some effort to ensure that this canine’s coat remains shiny and healthy no matter what the season, but it is definitely worth the effort to remove the dead hair and to prevent tangles and matting. It is also important to ensure that this crossbreed has its ears checked on a regular basis as they are known to develop wax in their ears if they are not attended to.

Insuring your German Malinois puppy as soon as “pawssible” is essential for preventing high vet care costs. Start comparing insurance plans from leading insurers like Healthy Paws and Embrace and save over $270 a year.

Curious about which health plan is right for your dog? Head over to our breakdown of the best pet insurance plans.

Brushes for German Malinois
Dematter
Dematter
Deshedder
Deshedder
Nail Clipper
Nail Clipper
Brushing Frequency
fur daily fur weekly fur monthly
German Malinois requires weekly brushing
Daily Weekly Monthly

German Malinois Temperament

This crossbreed is an active and intelligent dog with a strong desire to please and a serious and aloof overall bearing. They may occasionally be difficult to train due to stubbornness or overexuberance, but in most cases, this dog has a strong desire to please and an active and intelligent mind, making it a snap to train, excelling at advanced training situations like agility classes, Schutzhund, tracking, and even competitive obedience and freestyle dance.
Although German Shepherds are usually fairly good with children, the Belgian Malinois can be less tolerant and has a nearly irresistible high prey drive that may cause them to chase or nip at younger children, who can be unpredictable and fast moving and the hybrid could inherit either temperament.
The German Malinois is typically aloof and standoffish towards other dogs, although they can become territorial and aggressive on occasion, particularly if the interaction is between two males, and their strong herding instincts and prey drive may cause them to chase smaller animals.

German Malinois Activity Requirements

Both the Belgian Malinois and the German Shepherd are very athletic and driven animals and they require a great deal of exercise to focus that drive into something that isn’t destructive. They require at least two hours of vigorous activity per day to keep them at their happiest and healthiest physically, and mental stimulation throughout the day is an absolute must. Along with brisk dog walks or jogs, this dog may also be able to expend their considerable energy with alternative activities, such as Schutzhund, competitive obedience, herding, and even freestyle dance. Although these dogs may be able to adapt to an apartment setting if they are given enough activity, they are generally better suited to larger homes with room to run.

Activity Level
low activity medium activity high activity
Low Medium High
Rec. Walk Mileage Per Week
14 miles
walk mileage
Minutes of Activity Per Day
120 minutes
activity minutes

German Malinois Food Consumption

Cups Per Day
3 cups
cup per day cost cup per day cost cup per day cost
Daily Cost
$1.50 - $1.90
food bowls daily cost
Monthly Cost
$39.00 - $52.00
food bag monthly cost

German Malinois Owner Experiences

Thor
10 Months
4 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Very energetic dog, extremely friendly to everyone he meets, never had a problem with any other dogs. Recall is excellent. Only problem having is he pulling horrendously on his lead. And believe he I have brought every harness/halti/ lead out there! I’m now just sticking with the stop and start method and bringing out lots of treats, we’ll get there
3 years, 3 months ago
Chance
7 Weeks
2 People
Apartment
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Play
We just got him. He's got a great attitude, smart, active. We think he's going to be a great dog.
6 years, 11 months ago
Raven
1 Year
2 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Teaching her new things and turning training into fun!
5 years, 1 month ago
Luna
5 Months
2 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
None specifically with the Malinois, but over 40 years with numerous other breeds from Chihuahuas to mastiffs.Experienced in AKC showing, obedience, tracking, search and rescue and service dog training.
6 years, 10 months ago
Kobe
1 Year
4 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Fetch
Hike
swimmi
I have had mine for a year, beautiful dog with a willingness to learn. I keep her active, go swimming at the beach, pulls me on skateboard, very smart breed. Easy to train if done properly, and great temperment with kids as well. Real athletic. Couldnt ask for a better dog and everyone tells me that where ever I take her. Lol
6 years, 5 months ago
Chance
9 Months
2 People
Apartment
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
He is very intelligent. He's been easy to train and makes me proud most days
6 years, 4 months ago
Bella Stella
3 Years
2 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
It's been wonderful and I love my Bells Stella so much!!!
5 years, 5 months ago
Luna
8 Months
4 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Luna is solid black. She is beautiful, smart, and so sweet. I say that she is the princess of the house💖
5 years, 9 months ago
Stevie
15 Months
3 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Playing with dogs
Hike
Swim
Fetch
Jogging
My girl was a rescue after she was abandoned because the people who bred her couldn’t handle her. These are dogs that need to know you’re the handler and require extensive dedication and training. Due to this it was harder to train her. She is standoffish with people and used to have bad people aggression towards strangers. She Has high prey drive with squirrels and outside animals, but loves cats and is submissive towards other dogs. Not particularly good with children due to their unpredictable and loud nature. Good protection dogs. Mine Requires plenty of exercise and depending on breeder, some may suffer from seperation anxiety or be an anxious dog in general since that is an issue with both GSDs and Belgians- which can be overcome with training and maybe after speaking to the vet, supplements that can help without interfering with the working part of the breed. My girl would tear the house apart when I left and needed a lot of training and is on Zylkene to help. She gets better everyday. These are extremely loyal dogs that will be your shadow, protector, best friend and can overcome anything if you just understand them.
5 years, 9 months ago
Koda
4 Years
3 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Very alert, friendly to people, but very protective of family, has saved me from a larger dog attacking twice. The other having been put down after attacking and biting another. high prey drive, does not care for most other dogs. A huge lovey dog, sticks like Velcro. Funny, easy to train. Worst quality HATES car rides, will talk like a dolphin and whine the entire time, even if Medicated. Wouldn’t trade for the world.
4 years, 10 months ago
Egypt
3 Months
2 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
We've had him for about 3 weeks. My husband is retired and they have really formed a bond. A perfect fit for our home
4 years, 9 months ago
Blue
11 Months
2 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Successful puppy Kindergarten and beginning obedience class. He learns quickly and is smarter than I am in his training.
4 years, 7 months ago
Thor
5 Months
3 People
Apartment
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Dog Parks
Hike
Walk
Hide & Seek
He’s our first but he is proving to be a great dog. We have a 6 year old who he loves and takes care of. Very smart and attentive, though he loves to talk back and can be a brat sometimes. Looking forward to our move to the country to give him more space and things to do!
4 years, 7 months ago
Chase
2 Years
4 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Explore the woods
Went with the German Malinois oppose to the straight German Shepherd (GSD) due to the over breeding and all the issues associated with it (neurological and hips). A straight Belgain Malinios to too high drive (for me) so getting a mix of the two seemed perfect. I will say my dog Chase takes more of the personality traits of the Malinois than he does the GSD; however just not as extreme. The big difference I've noticed between the two breeds is the increased prey drive of the Malinois, which is way more prevelent in this mixed breed. So if you have small animals or cats, you won't for long if you get this new mixed breed. The Malinois high prey drive shines through over the GSD tolerance, or at least it did with our German Malinois. Overall if your an experienced owner of the GSD you won't have an issue with this new hybrid. I would caution anyone who does not have experience with herding dogs that are high drive. There is a definite learning curve you'd have to overcome and this is not a good breed without extensive training by an experienced owner. If you are an experienced owner, its kinda a mixed bag. On one hand you get the best of both breeds, the health of the Malinois with the heart of the GSD. Just know each dog is different, and some traits might be more prevelent than others; and typically you won't know which one shines through until your dog begins to develop. With kids (mine are young, ages 4 and 6) the dog does extremely well when supervised. When unsupervised, he is a herding breed, so the occasional nip or mouthing is to be expected (Child: "He bit me") when as an experienced owner you know if the dog actually "bit" them it would be way more severe. Our German Malinois is very cuddly with our kids in evening, and is pretty tolerant of the shenanigans of young kids (ear pulling, poking, lying atop of him, etc.) As far as family protection, he is extremely protective of the kids and does not tolerate strangers.
4 years, 4 months ago
Brownie
2 Years
2 People
Apartment
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Go to Beach
Walk
Run
Playdate
Look out the window
Learn a new trick
Nap
Heel
Brushing
Shake
Dog Parks
flirt pole
He has absolutely no prey drive at all (unless you count squeaker toys- then he must find, kill and destroy the squeaker). He is SO sweet with kids, they can grab him and hug him and he will happily wag his tale and rest his head on their shoulder - even toddlers! We are working on training his hyperactivity around other dogs- he has a hard time calming down and will jump and whine at the site of a new dog. He is incredibly eager to please and has learned VERY quickly so far. He first had a TERRIBLE leash pulling habit and it took about three days to fully train him to not pull and now he heels beautifully. He requires a whole lot of mental stimulation, but not so much physical. He gets tired pretty fast, after about 15 minutes, even though he is very healthy. We spread exercise throughout the day for this reason. Can be incredibly affectionate and wants constant belly rubs, but sometimes aloof. He doesn’t care much for treats without meat or hard treats, fetch, tug of war or treats as rewards when we are outside. He has a lot of fears you have to train him to overcome- bathtub, thunder, rain, stairs, elevators, tile floors, dogs that are black labs- but with patience and encouragement, he very quickly conquered most of his fears, I just have to be firm yet encouraging.
4 years, 4 months ago
Sasha
4 Weeks
6 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
catch
sit
عنيد جدا جدا جدا جدا
4 years, 3 months ago
Max
4 Years
4 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Fetch
Hikes
Walks
We adopted him three years ago from our local animal shelter and he has been a perfect gentleman from day one. We weren't looking for a dog of his nature but when he saw our two kids he melted and we couldn't say no. Before we adopted him we were warned that he had been seized from a bad situation and we should be cautious with him. He proved everyone wrong. He did great from the first minute with our other two dogs and he immediately learned all the ropes of being a housepet and family member. The first night he sat out in the family room and was on full alert but the next night he moved into our bedroom staking out a dog bed as his own. We play vigorous games of ball with him two to three times a day and he loves going on walks. He does great at the dog park and doesn't show any prey drive towards squirrels, cats or other pets. He did catch a burglar who had broken into my car and chased the guy across the street where he jumped into pickup truck bed and watched the guy until the police came to arrest him. He is a quite a bit larger than either a GSD or Malinois, however his DNA test came back 75% German Shepherd and 25% Malinois with no other breeds present.
4 years, 1 month ago
Mabel
14 Months
3 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
games
Running
Snoozing
training
Walkies
Braniac
Cuddles
Hard. They are intelligent, stubborn breed. But it's hard to say no to such a beautiful face and her personality is second to none. She can be a bit jealous, possessive and panicky - but it's because we are not able to socialise thanks to lock down. You come to our house and it's a hole other story, it's hugs and kisses all round. Mabel is so clever, training is so easy and we just have fun. I'd be lost without her.
3 years, 10 months ago
Bie Bie
6 Months
2 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Very Thinker. Need to be smarter than her, or u will be tricked
3 years, 5 months ago
Book me a walkiee?
Pweeeze!
Sketch of smiling australian shepherd