Can Belgian Malinois Make a Good Hunting Dog?
Although the Belgian Malinois is known popularly as a service dog, it can also become a good hunting dog. Despite its cheerful and friendly nature, this dog has a good prey drive.
The key is to start teaching them early. This dog breed is super active and doesn’t like to stay still. It needs regular exercise and evening walks.
If you have a Malinois puppy, start training early to learn fast. Use positive techniques so that it doesn’t get scared but gets more excited instead during the training session.
Reward your pet when it follows an instruction or completes a task. Try to make the training session enjoyable, so it doesn’t hide or feel scared. Besides, Belgian Malinois has natural intelligence, making teaching easier if one follows the proper technique.
Belgian Malinois has all the attributes to make a good hunting dog. It is agile, has a strong sense, sharp smell, etc. It’s just their nature to be kind and caring, and they love to be around their pet parents.
This breed is super friendly, less aggressive, and doesn’t like to fight. And these aspects make them less popular as hunting dogs and are preferred as service dogs.
Hunting is not their forte despite having a good prey drive. However, with little training from the early stage, this breed can make an exceptional hunting dog.
Belgian Malinois: Features, Characteristics, and Personality Traits
People often get Belgian Malinois confused with German Shepherds. These breeds have similar resemblances and share more or fewer personality traits. Both fall under the working dog category.
Belgian Malinois have a firmer physique, lighter and less hairy than German Shepherds. This dog breed is super loyal, obedient, intelligent, friendly, etc.
A female Malinois weighs 40 to 60 pounds, and its size varies between 22 to 24 inches. In contrast, the male counterparts can grow up to 26 inches and weighs 60 to 80 pounds.
One of the personality traits that are most noticed is temperament. It develops a close bond with humans because of its pleasant and friendly nature. This breed makes a good protector or guard to its human friend. But pet parents should also teach from a young age.
Belgian Malinois is known for its athletic body as it has a firm chest and thick neck. It’s an attractive and elegant dog breed. This dog requires regular physical exercise as it can’t take the boredom and needs constant attention from its human partner.
If you plan to get a Malinois puppy, ensure that you give adequate attention. It’s a high-energy breed that needs constant physical exercise. Unlike other dog breeds, it sleeps less and loves the company of its pet parent.
How long do Belgian Malinois live?
Belgian Malinois Work With Navy SEALS
Today, Mals are incredibly important members of the U.S. military. Most of the dogs that work with the elite Navy SEALS are Mals, including Cairo, the brave canine that helped SEAL Team 6 take down Osama bin Laden in 2011.