Belgian Shepherd: Malinois, Groenendael, Tervuren and Laekenois
Square build, upright ears and a black mask: the Malinois is the short-coated face of a breed with four coats. Upload a photo to see which breeds your dog resembles.
Also known as: Belgian Malinois, Malinois, Groenendael, Tervuren, Tervueren, Laekenois, Belgian Sheepdog
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About the Belgian Shepherd (Malinois)
The Belgian Shepherd was standardised in Belgium in the 1890s from local herding dogs. The FCI keeps one breed with four varieties that differ only in coat and colour: the short-coated Malinois, the long black Groenendael, the long fawn Tervueren and the rough-coated Laekenois. The AKC registers them as separate breeds. The Malinois, named after the city of Mechelen (Malines), is the best known worldwide, used by police, armed forces and in ring sports. All four are intense, sensitive and fast, with a strong need for work and close contact with their handler.
At a glance
- Type
- Pedigree breed
- Size
- Large
- Adult weight
- 18–34 kg
- Life expectancy
- 14–16 years
- Exercise
- Very high
How to recognise a Belgian Shepherd (Malinois)
- Square, elegant, medium-to-large build, lighter and more upright than a German Shepherd, with a level back and high head carriage.
- Malinois: short, dense coat in fawn charbonné, meaning black-tipped hairs, with a black mask over the muzzle, lips and eyelids.
- Groenendael: long, glossy, solid black coat with a full collar around the neck; a small white mark on the chest or toes is allowed.
- Tervueren: long fawn or grey charbonné coat with a black mask. Laekenois: rough, tousled fawn coat with traces of charbonné, mainly on muzzle and tail.
- Upright, distinctly triangular ears set high, almond-shaped brown eyes and a long, chiselled head with a moderate stop.
Photo tip. Show the whole dog side-on and the head from the front. A square outline, the black mask and the coat type separate the varieties and tell a Malinois from a German Shepherd.
Belgian Shepherd (Malinois) or look-alike?
German Shepherd
Bigger-boned and longer than tall, with a sloping topline and strongly angled hindquarters. Most are black and tan with a saddle; a Malinois is square, fawn with a black mask, and stands on straighter legs.
Dutch Shepherd
The closest double of the Malinois, with the same size and frame, but always brindle: gold or silver with dark stripes across the body. Stripes point Dutch; plain fawn with black tips points Belgian.
Berger Picard
Often taken for a Laekenois. The Picard has much larger ears, a longer body and no black mask, with a harsh, rustic coat in fawn or grey shades.
Belgian Shepherd (Malinois) mixes
Malinois are often crossed with German and Dutch Shepherds in working kennels, and they appear in many shelter mixes. The black mask, upright triangular ears and fawn coat tend to survive, along with the lean frame. Groenendael crosses usually keep the black coat and frill. Because a fawn coat with a dark mask also shows up in other shepherd mixes, the identifier ranks the closest breeds rather than giving one verdict; a DNA test gives percentages.
Health and care
- Hips and elbows deserve attention in this athletic breed: ask for official dysplasia scores on the sire and dam, and wait for growth plates to close before hard jumping.
- Hereditary ataxia is known in the Malinois and can be DNA-tested. Progressive retinal atrophy and epilepsy are also reported, so ask about eye tests and family history.
- Very high drive: daily running is not enough without training, scent work or a sport. An under-stimulated Malinois becomes restless and destructive.
- Malinois and Laekenois need a weekly brush; long-coated Groenendael and Tervueren need thorough brushing, mainly behind the ears and on the trousers.
- Calorie needs vary a lot with work. Feed to body condition and keep active dogs lean to protect their joints.