These dogs generally arent well-suited to living in an apartment, as they need lots of space to run and play. Remove all seeds, stems, and leaves. Its recommended not to touch your puppys ears too much. Although calcium is super important for bone development, its not crucial for cartilage. (2023), How Much Does a Belgian Malinois Cost? Wait for the adhesive to dry to a putty texture so it wont drip but will still adhere. Dr. Bartley Harrison is a veterinarian with more than 15 years of professional veterinary experience treating dogs, cats, rabbits, ferrets, birds, and small mammals, with a specific focus on Emergency Medicine. Drooping ears or only one floppy ear would surely disqualify your Mal from the American Kennel Club shows. The breed was originally used as hunting and herding dogs, hence why their ears are an important feature. The male Afghan hound stands some 27 inches tall, the female about 25 inches. The history of the Belgian Malinois goes back to the 1880s when these dogs (with German shepherds, French shepherds and Dutch shepherds) were called continental shepherd dogs. He prefers cool climates, but readily adapts well to others. The Belgian Malinois is not the right breed for everyone. Belgian Malinois generally aren't aggressive when they're well trained and socialized from a young age. The Belgian Malinois dog breed is known for its adorable ears that stand up straight; however, some Belgian Malinois owners often wonder why their new puppys ears are floppy. Your use of this site is subject to the terms of our Legal Statement. Scratching at the skin is oftentimes an issue because if your dog cuts the skin more infections can occur. When a Mal gets an ear infection oftentimes one or both ears become floppy; this is frequently accompanied by a bad odor, scratching, and redness. Its always important to reach out to your vet first. 7 Belgian Malinois . Belgian Malinois are not your typical dog breed. Before bringing home a Belgian Malinois puppy, make sure your breeder had the pups parents tested for these conditions. Its important to assess the following to determine whether this breed is right for you: Are you able to provide this high-energy breed with the physical and mental outlets they need? Symptoms specific to mites include head and ear scratching, dark/crumbly reddish-brown discharge, dried blood, inflammation, and infections. The Belgian Malinois is a medium to large herding dog breed with a short coat and a square, well-balanced build that's native to Belgium. The Malinois was one of four varieties of Belgian Shepherd Dog in use in the late 1800s. They may also try to use their herding skills to round up toddlers and small children. You can get ear forms from a breeder, groomer, or specialty supply store. Long-term complications of ear infections. For Heartworms your dog should be tested. Shedding often increases as the weather changes in the spring and fall, necessitating more regular brushing. Founded in 1884, the not-for-profit AKC is the recognized and trusted expert in breed, health, and training information for all dogs. They are made of special foam. Ear position can tell us a lot about how our dogs are feeling. Be aware that the Belgian Malinois herding instinct might create a tendency to chase cars, bikes, and other moving objects. What Can I Do To Stimulate My Malinois Dog Ears To Stand Up? Never disregard, avoid or delay in obtaining medical advice from your veterinarian or other qualified veterinary health care provider regardless of what you have read on this site or elsewhere. Smart and easily trained, the ever-popular German shepherd is quite active and likes to have something to do. Unless your Mal is genetically predisposed to have floppy ears or had some trauma in his early days, his ears should stand up at the age of 4-8 months. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'pawsandlearn_com-netboard-1','ezslot_22',168,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-pawsandlearn_com-netboard-1-0');You may be able to tell when your Belgian Malinois needs its ears cleaned. He has strong protective and territorial instincts. The Belgian Malinois is a strong and eager work dog that is built for any task. It needs lots of mental stimulation and physical activity every day. . Much of what you can do to keep your dog happy and healthy is common sense, just like it is for people. The American Kennel Club first recognized the Malinois in 1959. This is due to cases of malnutrition, illness, fungal infections, parasites, and many other causes. Presence of the worms and other parasites. Some common communication signals that Belgian Malinois may use are: Your Belgian Malinois may indicate their emotions and feelings by placing their ears in multiple positions to show what they are feeling. Belgian Malinois have a short, waterproof coat, making them easy to care for. If you use these links to buy something we earn a small commission. Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. These traits can make them phenomenal petsif theyre in the right household with an active, experienced pet parent. The chewing action helps strengthen the muscles needed for their ears to stay up. They are ultra-thin, lightweight, made of surgical mesh, the material suitable for sensitive tissue of dogs ears. It was specifically recommended to add glucosamine, a natural cartilage-building amino sugar to a Belgian Malinoiss diet to build the cartilage strong enough to hold the ears straight. Some breeders tend to breed dogs with larger, heavier ears. Have you ever noticed that Belgian Malinois puppies have adorable, little folded-over ears, but that the ears change as the dog gets older? This breed also is an excellent candidate fordog sportsor any activity that involves focus and endurance to challenge it mentally and physically. We like this glucosamine from Doggie Dailies. However, this can vary widely depending on location and the lineage of the puppy. A breed-specific trainer will be able to help train your dog for jobs that can stimulate their minda critical aspect for this breed. Their ears are much more triangular in shape than the German Shepherd and their body shape is square as opposed to curved. It is essential for a Belgian Malinois to receive vigorous daily exercise and mental stimulation. The Belgian Sheepdog Club of America (the Malinois, Groenendael, and Tervuren were all the same breed at that time) was formed and the breed began to show in the American Kennel Club in the early 1950s. A Belgian Malinois is lean and muscled, with a more slender face, whereas a shepherd is a bit burly with thicker fur. He stands squarely on all fours. Avoid rubbing, folding, or bending his ears. Notice how the Beligian Malinois ears stick straight up from the crown of his head, but the German shepherd's are more angled to the side? An early period trauma can also be the cause. For an otherwise healthy Belgian Malinois, clean their ears once a month with an ear cleaner or ear flush. If you have Belgian Malinois, I am sure a food choice is an important issue. So the more your puppy chews the more it develops Temporalis muscle that is directly related to ears and their upright position. There are several steps to take that will ensure your Mals ears stay clean and healthy! Another thing that can help in building cartilage is Vitamin C. Although dogs are able to produce their own vitamin C ( unlike humans) its recommended to feed them with whole food that contains this valuable vitamin. If you notice a strange color, a mild odor, or see that your dog is scratching its ears or shaking its head, it may be time to clean its ears. It has a thick coat about 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm) long, which ranges in colour from . They are set well apart and are tilted directly forward. Well cover all that and more in the following. If you're interested in similar breeds, check out: Theres a whole world of potential dog breeds out therewith a little research, you can find the right one to bring home! Learn how to create a happy, healthy home for your pet. Feed a high-quality, nutritionally balanced canine diet; most owners feed two meals per day. link to Why Is My Belgian Malinois Panting So Much? This will influence the cartilage and ears upright position. Find more dog breeds and dog care information at Hillspet.com. They were originally bred to be herders, but their trainability and drive led them into several other careers, including protection, search and rescue, and bomb and drug detection. Temporalis muscle we have already mentioned in this article is highly involved in chewing. Lifespan. About Us | Contact | Privacy Policy| Terms and Conditions | Cookie Policy|Disclaimer. Trauma that your puppy had at his early age or even a minor injury of the ears may cause dropping ears in the adult period. To deny a Mal activity and the pleasure of your company is to deprive him of his very reasons for being. If your dog insists on messing with it, you may need to use a protective cone to keep your dog from scratching it and knocking the form off. HEIGHT: 22 to 24 inches (female), 24 to 26 inches (male), WEIGHT: 40 to 60 pounds (female), 60 to 80 pounds (male), COAT COLOR: Fawn, mahogany, red, red sable, or fawn sable with a black mask. The Belgian Malinois is a sturdy well-muscled dog of almost square proportions. The breed's coat is short and hard with a thick undercoat. Bathing when dirty, brushing once or twice a week, and clipping the nails will keep your Malinois in great condition. Belgian Malinois that have been trained to be police dogs (with specialized skills such as bomb, drug, and gas detection) will cost upwards of $100,000. Zipcode: 70634. Put a cotton ball in the ear canal in order to prevent any adhesive from getting in your dogs ear. The Belgian Malinois excels not only in herding, but also in protection and law enforcement; drug, bomb, and gas detection; search and rescue; tracking; obedience; sledding; agility; and therapy assistance to disabled, ill or elderly people. This is not a desirable breed characteristic, but if your puppy has unknown or questionable breeding, it may not come as a surprise that the ears do not grow erect as they should. The smart, confident, and versatile Belgian Malinois is a world-class worker who forges an unbreakable bond with his human partner. Schipperkes (pronounced SKIP-per-key) are small dogs weighing 12 to 16 pounds (five to seven kilograms). If you bring a puppy with a perfect genetics background to your home, the rest its on you. Example of Malinois puppy with floppy ears. As the dog gets older, the ears will begin to straighten up. Feeding schedules in dogs are determined on a dog-by-dog basis. These dogs are generally very intelligent, loyal, and diligent. But, in general, Belgian Malinois tend to have a slightly higher energy level than German Shepherds. 22-26 in. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. You will also need one unsharpened pencil and a plastic knife. Belgian Malinois dont always get along with other dogs, but having positive exposure to other dogs from a young age can help. Simply put, progressive retinal atrophy causes retina deterioration, leading to blindness. They want nothing more than to be with their family, which makes them unsuitable as a kennel dog. As we have already mentioned, one of the reasons may be genetics. 2022 TrendingBreeds. German Shepherds have slightly longer fur with a black and tan or black and silver coat and a black saddle of fur over their back. They are brown in color, preferably dark, and not protruding, with black rims. He gives the impression of elegant robustness. In the case of genetics, you cannot do much. The cartilage in the ear increases significantly after development in areas such as sight and hearing. The dog is good for working and competitive obedience, but not for toddlers who run and scream. A good rule of thumb is that the ears wont stand up before the teething process is finished. Belgian Malinois typically weigh 40-80 pounds, while German Shepherds can weigh 50-90 pounds. Typically ear infections do not go away on their own. This process may take a while. Those big ears! Furthermore, these supplements will help your puppy to develop healthy joints, which is an important consideration for large breed dogs like the Belgian Malinois. A Mals ears will stand up on their own if given time and the proper care. In general, little more thanbasic groomingis necessary. A Belgian Malinois breeder I talked with says that it takes longer for the female puppys ears to pop up than the males. Overshot and undershot . You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. It may cause serious imbalances in other minerals and problems with bone growth. Chewing helps your Mals to relieve the pain that comes from teething. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'arcanapets_com-leader-4','ezslot_13',141,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-arcanapets_com-leader-4-0');Many Mal owners use Breath Right Strips. It is even very common for a puppys ears to perk up but then drop back down again before finally coming to their final height. This makes them great running, hiking, and biking companions. Make sure there are no folds or wrinkles in the ear and that it appears smooth on the outside. 40-83 lb. Making sure that your pup has plenty of proper chew toys. (Fishy Odor, Bad Breath, and More!). Enroll in a puppy obedience class as soon as your dog meets the age requirement, and expose your dog to different people, other animals, and situations. These can cause joint pain and arthritis. Ideally, Belgian Malinois should get more than 40 minutes of exercise per daywith you by their side. History of the Belgian Malinois The roots of this breed lie in the "Noord-Brabant" region in Belgium. The Belgian Malinois breed standard describes him as having an effortless gait. TheBelgian Malinoisis a medium to large herding dog breed with a short coat and a square, well-balanced build that's native to Belgium. Cookie Consent Tool. Here are some things that you can do to set your puppy up for success. It should be very short on the head, ears and lower legs. These dogs differed only in the texture, color and length of hair. Sufficient glucosamine and another supplement known as chondroitin will help your puppy to develop good, strong cartilage. We only recommend high-quality products that are used and recommended by real owners. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'arcanapets_com-leader-2','ezslot_10',138,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-arcanapets_com-leader-2-0'); Thats why you need to see your potential puppys parents before you decide to buy it. You want your Belgian Malinois puppy to have the best possible start to life, and that includes growing strong, noble, erect ears. Since German Shepherds and Belgian Malinois are comparable in a number of ways, breeding these two breeds leads to an intelligent and hardworking dog. Find more dog breeds and dog care information at Hillspet.com. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'arcanapets_com-banner-1','ezslot_4',116,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-arcanapets_com-banner-1-0'); If you notice that your Mals ears dont stand up by the age of 6-7 months, you should consider taping them. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'arcanapets_com-leader-1','ezslot_7',118,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-arcanapets_com-leader-1-0'); If you are looking for a more natural way to include Glucosamine in your Mals diet then whole food might be a good choice : If you feed your Malinois with raw food, the whole food option wont be a problem but if your Malinois is eating only dry food for dogs, try to switch at least 10% of dry food to whole food. You can also offer steamed or blended fruits and vegetables to your puppy. A Mals coat is composed of 2 layers, one dense undercoat which is like an insulator, and their outer coat which acts as a cover against weather, dirt, or other aspects that would make your dog uncomfortable if it were to touch their skin. Belgian Malinois ears are erect and triangular and sit high atop their heads. The jaw and head muscles are very important for holding the ears upright, so strong jaw and head muscles can also lead to erect ears. They found that their Belgian Malinoiss ears stood up very fast after weeks on this specific diet. Ears should stand up as soon as the teething process is finished. This method was described by Susan Barwig in the German Shepherd Book. Moderately active indoors, he will do best with at least an average-sized yard. Good With: Kids, other dogs, cats Parasites steal the nutrients from the food leaving your puppy without essential elements for proper development and growth. These jobs are often seen as fun activities for them, and its important for you to be involved in the training process, as it will increase your pets bond with you. Belgian Malinois are born with floppy ears that fold over adorably into little triangles at the top of their heads. Try this for about 3 weeks. In general, they do well on any high-quality dog food with a veterinarians supervision. We also participate in other affiliate programs and are compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies (at no cost to you). Some dogs can go longer between nail trims if they naturally wear down their nails through activity, such as walking on pavement. Some dogs will have erect ears at the end of a week of treatment. His elegance and expression denote great strength of character, making him a proud representative of the herding breeds. Be careful not to add too much calcium to your dogs diet as this can cause digestion problems and an upset stomach. This causes the eye to become cloudy, eventually leading to blindness. A Belgian Malinois that has been fully trained for protection can cost as much as $45,000-$65,000. - Pure Belgian Malinois When Malinois are young, ears that are not fully erect is not uncommon. Unfortunately, there is no treatment for PRA, but a good Belgian Malinois breeder will screen the parents before breeding so the condition doesnt get passed on to their offspring. His thick neck carries his clean-cut head with pride, and he always appears alert. Strong head muscles, especially Temporalis muscle will ensure your pets ear stand up. Thus, it often doesn't do well around rambunctious children and might become nippy. Check local animal shelters and breed-specific rescue groups for a Belgian Malinois in need of a home. If your puppy is 7 months old and he still has floppy ears you may consult the wet and try some of the methods many owners suggest such as the Pink roller method, Ear forms, or some other. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'pawsandlearn_com-mobile-leaderboard-2','ezslot_19',163,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-pawsandlearn_com-mobile-leaderboard-2-0');As a Malsears gain more cartilage and begin to stand straight they will become very expressive. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'arcanapets_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_8',125,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-arcanapets_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0'); Constant gnawing contributes to jaws, head, and neck muscles proper development. Some more serious issues include hearing loss, balance issues, deafness in the infected ear, or in extreme cases, Horners syndrome, which is a condition that causes a loss of stimulation in the nerves surrounding the eyes. Versatile by nature, Belgian Malinois are popular working dogs throughout the military and police communities. Belgian Malinois. You might read in some articles that this is happening due to a teething process and redistribution of calcium but the truth is that calcium is not needed for proper cartilage build-up. 2. But if your Mal is 7 months old and his ears havent stood up yet, then you might consider a few options to help him.