In the list of dog breeds, there is the Belgian Malinois as well. What is so special about this breed? These are popular for their intelligence, dedication towards work, and agility. According to the BBC, the eight-year-old has been declared one of the finalists in The Kennel Club’s Hero Dog 2025 ahead of the winner being crowned at next month’s Crufts dog show.
You will be amused to know that their history is deeply connected with the agricultural heartland of Belgium, with origins dating back to the late 19th century. If this piece of information has piqued your curiosity and you want to learn more about their origins, the blog will provide all the details.
We will discuss the socio-economic landscape of their homeland, the existing types of canines, and the individuals responsible for shaping the breed’s early development.
19th Century: The Year For Belgium’s Transformation
The 19th century was titled as Belgium’s transformative era. The region gained its independence in 1830, and right after that, it became actively engaged in defining its cultural and national identity. The young nation’s spirit of discovering itself expanded to its animal populations, especially their working dogs, which were famous for serving the rural communities for a very long time. During this time, agriculture stepped ahead to become the backbone of the Belgian economy, and dogs played a critical role in the daily lives of farmers, particularly as herders and guardians of the cattle.
Before, the Belgian countryside was popularly recognised for its distinct dog breeds; the area, you could say, was home to different kinds of shepherd dogs. What was their role? They were seen as functional canines, usually picked for their working abilities instead of how they looked in the herd.
As far as their traits are concerned, they vary regionally, influenced by the particular needs of the livestock they had to take care of and the landscape they walked on. These shepherd dogs were extremely intelligent, had a strong physique, and loved working with humans.
The Emergence Of Canine Consciousness
During the latter half of the 19th century, canine consciousness emerged across Europe, particularly with purebred dog breeds. Observing the trend, Kennel clubs were created, and many efforts were taken to classify and standardize these dog breeds into distinct breeds. Why was this initiative taken? The reason lies in a mixture of factors, such as a will to restore the national heritage, encourage responsible practices for breeding, and a number of individuals were in favour of showcasing what the dog is capable of doing through dog shows.
Was Belgium accustomed to this rise of canine consciousness? Certainly not! A group of dedicated enthusiasts was tasked with identifying and categorizing any type of dog breed found in the country. They needed to recognize and acknowledge the value and versatility of their native shepherd dogs to assist them in better classification. This project aimed to align existing diversity and establish recognizable breeds with defined characteristics.
The Belgian Shepherd Dog Enters
In the classification and categorisation of a variety of dog breeds, Professor Adolphe Reul stood out as a pivotal figure in the history of Belgian Malinois. He was a vet and taught at the Cureghem Veterinary School in Brussels. He has received immense appreciation for beginning the systematic study and classification of shepherd dogs in Belgium. In 1891, the professor started his extensive research at the request of Societe Royale Saint-Hubert (SRSH), the official kennel club of Belgium.
His work involved traveling throughout Belgium to examine various shepherd dogs in their working environments. Reul documented their physical attributes, personalities, temperaments, and working approaches. His extensive observations allowed him to identify four distinct varieties of Belgian Shepherds, with the main differentiating factor being the type of coat and color.
The Groenendael
The Groenendael, a solid black shepherd dog with long hair, was named after the Château de Groenendael, the estate of breeder Nicolas Rose, who played a significant role in its development.
The Tervuren
The professor discovered the Tervuren. The shepherd dog has long hair, with a coat in fawn and mahogany shades. Apart from that, there was a black overlay, and this dog originated from the region of Tervuren.
The Laekenois
The Laeknois was not like your normal dog. Why? Because it had a rough coat, typically in fawn colour with a black overlay. Furthermore, this breed got its name from the Royal Castle of Laeken, where these dogs were taken on board as herders or guardians.
The Malinois
Last was the Malinois. This shepherd dog had comparatively short hair with a fawn to mahogany coat color and a black mask. It originated from the region of Malines or Mechelen, which provided the name of the breed.
In the beginning, the research was intended to recognise these four coat variations as subtypes of a single Belgian Shepherd breed, the Chien de Berger Belge. The professor fought for their working abilities, as these dogs are quite helpful in different tasks and structure, consisting of their coat and other secondary factors.
The Shaping Of Malinois
The Malinois emerged from the area around the city of Mechelen in the province of Antwerp. The dog breed quickly got recognition for its amazing working qualities. Antwerp was prominent for its industrious nature and agricultural activity, which nurtured the development of a practical herding dog that proved to be efficient in every aspect.
Did you know the early Malinois were popular due to their intelligence, strong work ethic, agility, stamina, and a few more factors? No right? Then, let us share some interesting knowledge as well:
Intelligence
One of the best parts about Malinois was that they were fast learners. In no time, they would understand and execute challenging commands, which is why they could be easily trained, making them ideal police dogs.
Stamina and Agility
Unlike other dog breeds, Belgian Malinois secure the lead by being very agile and stepping ahead with unmatched stamina. These dogs were packed with energy, allowing them to work tirelessly, regardless of the landscape, herding the cattle and protecting the assigned property.
Strong Work Ethic
Their strong work ethic only attracted people to employ them for serious jobs. This dog breed carries the potential of impressing many due to their deep sense of responsibility and dedication towards the assigned duty.
Protective Instincts
They considered their job to be beyond herding and displayed protective instincts. The early Malinois served as guardians of the flock and the farm, possessing a natural urge to shield their human families from any dangers that charged towards their families. Then, these never became aggressive without a substantial reason, were extremely alert and would always be ready to defend the livestock or their human members from predators or intruders, giving them the rank of watchdogs, which proved their value.
Loyalty and Bond with Handlers
As discussed at the start of this blog, the Malinois love partnering with human beings. Therefore, due to this quality, they have always stolen the show by being very loyal to their handlers. This bond was crucial for effective herding and managing the farm as well. The breed’s desire to work for their owners made them devoted and reliable companions in their jobs.
Short Coat
Their weather-resistant and short coat were what the working environment required. The coat demanded less maintenance than the dog breeds with shorter coats, and it was not even that strong.
All four varieties of Belgian Shepherd shared a common foundation and many mutual traits; however, the Malinois distinguished itself with characteristics in the form of a short coat and its image as a skilled and flexible working dog. In the latter half of the 19th century, breed standards began to solidify, nudging breeders in the Malines region to focus on preserving and improving these desirable working attributes.
Who Were The Key Personalities In The Breed's Early Development?
There were a few key personalities who played a vital role in the development of the Belgian Malinois. Let’s uncover their names and contributions in this breed’s case:
Louis Huyghebaert
Louis Huyghebaert was an enormous and passionate dog enthusiast and breeder from Malines. He is considered one of the primary key figures in the early establishment days of the Malinois. You would be amused to know that he owned “Vos de Polders”, a fawn colored dog, who was considered the foundation for the Malinois lineage, even though their coat type was quite different from the actual standard. Nonetheless, Vos was renowned for his outstanding working abilities, and the same goes for their offspring, who received the same characteristics.
Development of Trials
Huyghebaert was also in favour of the development of field trials to display the obedience, intelligence, and working abilities of the Belgian Shepherds. He emphasised this more, especially because sheep herding was declining in Belgium. The dog enthusiast suggested “dressage” trials that tested how well this breed could jump and perform in other exercises. The first trial was held in 1903 in Malines, and the winner was none other than Malinois, Cora van’t Optewel, due to their aptitude for a variety of work. His aim in working ability over a strict confrontation standard during the early stages was necessary in shaping the breed’s character, which he managed to achieve.
Jan-Baptist Moens
Next in line was Jan-Baptist Moens. Another breeder from the Malines region, who was quite influential. His contributions are evident in the realty gene pool of the breed, and the dogs he owned were known for their terrific working temperament and conformation.
Foundation Dogs and Early Breeders
The names of the individual shepherds who initially bred these dog breeds and showed the world how capable these furry individuals were were not always documented in a good way. However, certain dogs were considered as foundational to the lineage of Malinois. Vos I (Vos de Laek wasn), a rough-haired dog in fawn colour; their owner was Adrien Jannsens. The dog is a key ancestor for all Belgian Shepherd varieties; then they were mated with Lise, a short-haired brindle btich. Hence, as a result, their offspring also carried the same traits, including the short-haired fawn variant, which is now known as the Malinois.
Breed Consolidation and Early Kennels
Several kennels in the early 20th century in Belgium made strong efforts not to let the Malinois type fade away. For instance, kennels like “de I’Enclos” secured the top position for breeding the best working and show dogs. After World War 1 subsided, kennels like Arthur Hanappes’s “de Jolimont” and Felix Verbanck’s “de I’Ecaillion” were continuing Professor Reul’s work and earned an influential name in breeding and promoting the Malinois. Verbanck was the secretary of the parent club, and he also played a beneficial role in leading similar dog lovers and carrying ahead the breed’s development.
In a nutshell, these influential figures and the collective efforts of early breeders were driven by the requirement of dogs, who had the potential of working, did the honours of laying the foundation for the versatile, intelligent, and energetic Belgian Malinois that is seen as part of the forces. They solely focused on the breed’s temperament, working drive, and physical soundness instead of relying on aesthetics, resulting in the establishment of the breed’s lasting image as the perfect working dog anyone would wish for.
The First Breed Standards and Recognition
The first Belgian Shepherd Dog Club was formed in 1892. The breeding platform further formalised the efforts to standardise the breed. Then, in May 1892, the first Belgian Shepherd specialty show was arranged in Cureghem, displaying the diversity of the native shepherd dogs. While long-haired variants were more numerous at that stage, the short-haired ones from the Malines regions also got their fair share of representation, showcasing their emerging distinction as a dog breed.
Debates and Discussions
But this was not the end of the story, as debates and discussions went on for years, relating to the classification and description of the four varieties. Breed standards were written and revised to establish clear guidelines for each type on the basis of coat texture, color, and length.
The Société Royale Saint-Hubert Recognized The Breed
The Société Royale Saint-Hubert officially recognised the four varieties of Belgian shepherds as other types of the same breed. This decision served as a major landmark in acknowledging the shared ancestry and basic characteristics while recognising the visual differences of this breed. The first Belgian Shepherd, Vos de Polders, got registered with the SSRH, marking a significant step in the breed’s formal history. Therefore, a big credit goes to the society for taking this initiative.
What Were Their Initial Working Roles?
Since the beginning, we have been saying that the Belgian Malinois proves to be an ideal working dog. The breed breaks records of intelligence, trainability, and athleticism as well, crowning them for a variety of tasks other than herding. Hence, their initial working roles are as follows:
Sheep Herding
Their farmers extremely valued the Belgian Malinois as they could manage the livestock without their supervision as well.
Guarding
Then, their protective instincts for the cattle and their human families make them the perfect dogs for guarding. This breed stays extremely alert and shields its caretakers from any predators, making it a desired guard dog on farms.
Draft Work
These dogs were usually used for pulling small carts and carrying out draft work. Giving another reason for the farmers to select them over other dog breeds for further assistance.
Early Police and Military Work
Their wit and potential of being super trainable stunned not only farmers but also police and military forces. Therefore, they used the Belgian Malinois for a variety of service roles. The breed was compatible with a bunch of tasks such as tracking, guarding, and messenger duties, so they quickly adjusted to these particular duties.
In short, the early 20th century witnessed the demonstrations of the Malinois' capabilities in different canine competitions and even working trials. This helped solidify their image as a highly versatile and capable working breed. Furthermore, their brilliant performance in Schutzhund, meaning dog traits for protection, highlighted that this dog is scared of nothing, is quite obedient, and is armed with protective instincts. So, it swiftly became a part of the military and police forces, helping them catch criminals.
The Journey to International Recognition
The Belgian Malinois gained recognition not only on a local scale but also internationally. The first of these breeds was imported to the United States; however, there, they did not achieve the same fame as other European breeds, being somewhat overshadowed by them, particularly the German Shepherd Dog. World War I was another reason the breed could not spread and develop further.
Despite these barriers, dedicated dog enthusiasts in various parts of the world continued to express admiration for this breed and promoted the Malinois. Consequently, over time, the breed’s reputation grew worldwide.
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed reading the history of the Belgian Malinois and how the breed originated while being used as a working dog for their excellent training capabilities and protective instincts.
