How to Train a Belgian Malinois

The Opening

Picture a dog that never goes to the bathroom alone. Not because he's afraid. Because he doesn't understand why anyone would go anywhere without the other.

That is the Malinois.

He follows you from room to room. He lies in the hallway, not in his bed, because he needs to see both doorways. When he sleeps, his ears are awake. When he looks relaxed, his body is not relaxed. He scans. Always.

I have seen this in thousands of dogs over 25 years. But in a Malinois, this is not behavior. This is who he is.

He does not rest. He waits.

There is a huge gap between how a Malinois looks and how he feels. He can lie on the couch, looking completely relaxed. But inside, the engine is running. He is not resting — he is on standby. Waiting for something to happen. Waiting for a command. Waiting for an event. If the event does not come, he will create it himself.

This is the first thing you need to know before getting a Malinois. She does not come for rest. She comes to wait.

Where He Comes From

The Malinois was not born in a military kennel. He was not designed for elite units. He was born on a small farm near the city of Mechelen, in Belgium at the end of the 19th century.

He was a farmer's dog. What does that mean? The farmer could not afford to keep a dog for one job. He needed a dog that could do everything. Herd. Guard. Pull a cart. Follow tracks. Work.

Belgian farming was not like English farming. England had fenced fields. Belgium did not. Without fences, the herder cannot stand to the side and let the dog work with its eyes. He needed a dog that could make decisions on its own. A dog that does not wait for a command — it looks for work.

The original Belgian shepherd was not just one breed. It was four varieties of the same breed: Groenendael (long black), Tervueren (long fawn), Malinois (short fawn), and Laekenois (rough-haired, rare). The Malinois is simply the short-haired variety. But because it suited military and police work so well, it became so popular that many view it as a separate breed.

In 1891, Professor Adolphe Reul from the Cureghem Veterinary School realized this dog was about to disappear. Machines were entering the farms. Local breeds were being absorbed. He founded a club and began to document them.

The first registered Malinois was named "Vos des Polders." 1901. The Brussels police began using them the same year. Between the World Wars, the Malinois served as messenger and search dogs on the front lines. American soldiers saw them in battle and fell in love.

After World War II, the population was nearly wiped out. Belgians allowed inter-variety breeding again to save the breed. From this destruction, one of the most important working breeds in the world was born.

How Work Shaped Character

The Malinois was bred solely for performance. Not for appearance. Not for pedigree. For what it did under pressure.

Ask yourself: what happens to a dog bred this way for a hundred years?

It becomes extreme.

There is no off switch. Not because he does not know how to relax. Because the people who shaped his genes were not interested in relaxation. They were interested in the ability to work when things are hard. When things are scary. When there is no strength left. A Malinois does not say "tired." It says "let's go."

He lives in prey drive. That is his default state. Movement is the language his body was born to speak. A squirrel runs — the Malinois runs after it. Not because he is hungry. Because that is the program. And it runs faster than any other program inside him.

Michael Balabanov, one of the greatest Malinois trainers in the world, once said in a conversation: "You do not need to create drive in a Malinois. You need to control it."

He does not look for help. A study published in Scientific Reports tested 1,002 dogs from 13 breeds on an unsolvable task. Most dogs looked at the human for help. The Malinois and German Shepherd spent zero percent of their time looking at the human. They tried to solve the problem themselves.

Until it is solved, or until it is not.

His predatory sequence is incomplete. Raymond Coppinger explained this best. Every dog has a predatory sequence built over millions of years: orient — eye — stalk — chase — grab-bite — kill-bite — dissect — consume.

What Coppinger discovered is that each breed was created by stopping this sequence at a specific stage.

The pointer stops at "eye" — it points and does not chase. The retriever stops at "grab" — it carries without killing. The Belgian shepherd stops at "chase" — it runs but the kill is suppressed.

This means: the Malinois chases everything. But he does not know what to do when he catches. Not because he is violent. Because he was made to chase, not to kill. That is why he can herd sheep without hurting them. That is why he chases children without meaning harm. He simply does not know how to stop the chase.

Vigilance is his profession. On a farm without fences, the dog had to watch everything happening around him. Even when he sleeps, his ears are working. Even when he eats, his eyes are scanning. This is not neurosis. It is a memory of who he was a hundred years ago. The job of guarding the territory is carved into his genetic memory.

The Engine Inside

Let us talk about the engine.

Imagine a dog with three main drives working together, each at a different level:

Prey drive — 9 out of 10. He sees movement and becomes a machine. Does not ask why. Does not wait for permission. See something moving — chase it. This is not a desire. It is a need.

Pack drive — 7 to 8 out of 10. He wants to work with you. This is what makes him trainable. Without it, he would care more about the squirrel than about you. The social drive is what brings him back to you even when the world is interesting all around.

Fight drive — 8 out of 10. A 2017 study tested 222 police dogs. The Malinois scored significantly higher than the German Shepherd in obedience, defense, pursuit, and guarding a detainee. He does not just chase — he also does not give up when things get hard.

Food drive — moderate to high. He likes to eat. But do not rely on food as the primary motivator. When there is a choice between a ball and a sausage — the ball wins.

Now imagine what happens when you have a dog with these drives and no job.

The engine runs. But where is it going? No one is at the wheel.

This is the biggest gap in a Malinois. He does not need less drive. He needs a wheel.

The Genetics Behind the Behavior

Let us talk for a moment about what happens in the genes. Because this is not just "personality" — there is biology here.

A 2024 study found a direct link between a gene called TAC1 and the level of trainability and excitability in Malinois. This gene affects how certain proteins bind to DNA and influence the nervous system. In simple words: some Malinois are born with a genetic tendency to be more reactive, more alert, harder to train. But also with a genetic tendency to be trainable in an exceptional way.

The same dog, the same genes. The result depends on what you do with it.

Another study, from 2013, discovered something else. 42% of Malinois in the United States carry a variant of the dopamine gene DAT-VNTR. In other breeds — zero percent. This variant is linked to sudden loss of focus, glazed staring, and sometimes episodic aggression.

The researchers discovered something even more troubling: handlers of dogs with this variant used more negative training methods. And the result? Poorer obedience. Poorer performance.

Not because the dog could not learn. Because the method was wrong for that dog.

If you take one thing from this research: with a Malinois, method matters. Positive reinforcement and fair corrections work. Harsh methods destroy the bond.

How to Train a Malinois

You do not train a Malinois like a Labrador. You cannot bribe him with food and hope for the best. He is also not like an Australian Shepherd waiting for instructions. He is a partner, not an employee.

Here is what actually works, from 25 years of experience:

Clear language. A Malinois reads body language the way you read a newspaper. He knows exactly what you are feeling, even when you think you are hiding it. Inconsistency destroys him. He does not lose confidence — he loses respect for the system. If you allow something today and forbid it tomorrow, he will not understand. He will stop seeing you as a leader.

Drive over food. Most dogs will do anything for a piece of sausage. A Malinois will do anything for the game. The ball. The tug. The fight over the object. Food is a bonus, not the primary motivator. Learn to play with your Malinois, not just feed him. Learn to use play to control drive. Tug-of-war can be your most powerful tool — it fulfills prey drive, strengthens the bond, and teaches self-control. But only if you win the game. Not if the dog wins.

Work that fulfills the drive. This is not a cliché. A Malinois without work is dangerous. Not to violence — to self-destruction. He invents his own work, and the work he invents is usually not the work you wanted. Barking at the fence. Chasing bicycles. Digging in the yard. Chewing furniture. Not because he is bored in the ordinary sense. Because he has energy with no outlet.

I hear owners say "but I took him for a two-hour walk." A two-hour walk is not work. It is a walk. A Malinois needs mental work — brain games, obedience training, dog sports, nose work. He needs to come home tired in his mind, not just in his legs.

Positive reinforcement + fair corrections. The 2013 study by Lit teaches us an important lesson. Handlers of dogs with the DAT-VNTR genetic variant used more negative methods. And the result: poorer obedience, poorer performance. Not because the dog could not learn — because harsh methods destroyed the bond.

But notice: I do not say only positive reinforcement. I say fair corrections. For a Malinois, no correction is like no boundaries. She craves structure. She needs to know what is allowed and what is not. A fair correction means: clear, consistent, proportionate. Not force. Not intimidation. Not inconsistency.

Do not fear his drive. I see owners who are afraid that their dog is so intense. They try to calm him down. Turn down the volume. Quiet the engine. It does not work. The drive is not bad. The drive is the gift. The question is where you point it.

Belgian Malinois vs German Shepherd

One comparison illuminates both breeds. This is one of the best ways to explain what a Malinois is.

The easiest way to explain a Malinois is to invert a German Shepherd. But the truth is the opposite: a German Shepherd is a slowed-down Malinois.

Structure. The German Shepherd was built for power and forward drive. Its back is sloped, its stride is long. The Malinois was built for agility. Square. Light. Springy. It is no accident that security forces around the world switched from German Shepherds to Malinois — because it arrives first. It climbs walls. It jumps over obstacles. It runs faster and turns faster.

Health. A 2020 imaging study showed that Malinois have significantly healthier spines than German Shepherds. Hip dysplasia is less common. The lighter body and balanced structure protect them. The German Shepherd, especially show lines, suffers from severe back problems that the Malinois simply does not have.

Lifespan. Malinois live 12 to 14 years on average. German Shepherds 9 to 13. The difference is small but real.

Temperament. Eyal, the expert I work with, once said a sentence I remember every time I see these two breeds: "The Malinois was built to work until collapse. The German Shepherd was built to work and come home."

With a German Shepherd you get a work partner plus a house dog. It has an off switch, even if not built-in. With a Malinois you get a work machine — and a difficult rest. She does not know how to stop. She does not know how to say "enough." You have to teach her.

Working style. The German Shepherd scans the area and follows your movement. The Malinois does not wait for you — it runs ahead and checks the path itself. It is more independent. Less dependent. But when it is with you — it is with you 100%.

There is also a more important difference. The Malinois does not forget. One mistake — and she remembers forever. Not because she is vengeful. Because everything related to work is carved deep in her memory. What you teach on day one stays on day 1,000. The good and the bad.

Teach her something wrong — it will stay forever. Teach her right — and you will have a partner for life.

FAQ

Is a Malinois suitable for a family with children?

Yes, if you know what you are doing. A Malinois sees children as moving creatures. This activates her prey drive. Not because she wants to hurt — because the program says "movement = follow." She will follow the child, lick, touch, track. Some children love this. Some are scared. You must teach the dog when to stop following. Supervise the interactions. Never leave them alone unsupervised.

How much exercise does he need?

Much more than you think. A two-hour walk is not enough. He needs mental work. Brain games. Obedience training. Dog sports. A Malinois that runs for two hours without thinking is still a Malinois that did not think. Mental fatigue is what calms him, not running.

Why does he bite when he plays?

Because this is how he plays. A Malinois uses his mouth the way people use their hands. He was born with a grip. If you do not teach him inhibition — the bite stays instinctive. This is not aggression. It is lack of education. Practice bite inhibition, "gentle," and play that starts and ends by your rules — this is what turns a bite into a controlled bite.

Can a Malinois live in an apartment?

Theoretically yes. In reality — difficult. Not because he needs a yard. Because he needs a quiet space where he can relax without monitoring every noise. In an apartment, every neighbor passing in the hallway is an event. Every door closing is an alert. Every elevator opening is an opportunity to check. A Malinois in the city without enough mental training will suffer. And he will make you suffer.

What is the difference between working lines and show lines?

Show lines are calmer. They have an off switch, sometimes. They were selected for appearance, not performance. Working lines — KNPV, BRN — are the real Malinois. They never relax. They work until they drop. The difference is enormous, and before you adopt a Malinois — check which line it comes from. Show lines can be excellent family dogs. Working lines require an experienced handler.

What is KNPV?

The Royal Dutch Police Dog Association. The most serious working dog certification system in the world. A Malinois that passed KNPV is a dog tested under the harshest conditions. Not for nothing do the most elite units choose these dogs.

In Closing

I see Malinois every day. Some come to me after breaking fences. After biting someone. After their owners did not know what to do.

The problem was never the dog.

The problem was the mismatch. Someone watched a video online. Someone wanted a dog "that people would fear." Someone thought a Malinois is a faster German Shepherd.

But a Malinois is not a fast German Shepherd. It is a completely different animal.

He does not need a home. He needs work. He does not need love. He needs direction. He does not need you to fear his drive. He needs you to understand it.

And whoever understands him — gets the most loyal, most intense, most dedicated partner there is. A dog that will give you everything he has, every day, every moment. A dog that never says "no" to work. A dog that will go with you to the end, even when you are not sure where that end is.

Because in the end, the Malinois does not want to fight. She wants to work with you. That is the smallest and biggest difference in the world.

She was not meant to be a house dog. But if you give her work, boundaries, and direction — she will be the best dog you have ever had.

Sources:

Coppinger, R., & Coppinger, L. (2001). Dogs: A New Understanding of Canine Origin, Behavior, and Evolution. University of Chicago Press. — Predatory sequence framework and behavioral neoteny.

Fallahi, R., et al. (2024). Genetic variants in the TAC1 transcriptional regulatory region affect on trainability and excitability levels in Belgian Malinois dogs. Veterinary Medicine and Science, 10(1):e1346. PMID: 38227710.

Lipka, M., et al. (2017). The performance of German Shepherd and Belgian Shepherd Malinois dogs in obedience, obstacle course, defense and tracking tests. Annals of Animal Science.

Lit, L., et al. (2013). Characterization of a dopamine transporter polymorphism and behavior in Belgian Malinois. BMC Genetics, 14:45. PMID: 23718893.

Dragicevich, S., et al. (2020). CT measures of funnel-shaped lumbar vertebral canal and articular process dysplasia differ between GSD and Malinois. Frontiers in Veterinary Science. PMID: 32528984.