CHIEN DE BERGER BELGE

The Belgian Malinois was bred in and named after the city of Mechelen (pronounced “Malines” in France) in the northwestern region of Belgium in the late 19th century.

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“Developed by Belgian farmers, the Malinois descended from local shepherd dogs,” says Linda Friedow, judges’ education chair of the American Belgian Malinois Club. “Belgium is a small country, so the farms were small — one to 20 acres with only a few cows for the farmers’ use,” Friedow says. “The dog did everything from guard the farm, herd, pull carts, and keep track of small flocks of sheep, goats, geese, and ducks.”

Without fences on the compact tract, the Malinois understood the boundary and didn’t need to cover much ground. With non-boundary-style herding, this dog relied on their instinctual ability to move the animals. The Malinois lived inside the home but remained hyper-vigilant.

The Belgian Malinois was bred in and named after the city of Mechelen (pronounced “Malines” in France) in the northwestern region of Belgium in the late 19th century.

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“Developed by Belgian farmers, the Malinois descended from local shepherd dogs,” says Linda Friedow, judges’ education chair of the American Belgian Malinois Club. “Belgium is a small country, so the farms were small — one to 20 acres with only a few cows for the farmers’ use,” Friedow says. “The dog did everything from guard the farm, herd, pull carts, and keep track of small flocks of sheep, goats, geese, and ducks.”

Without fences on the compact tract, the Malinois understood the boundary and didn’t need to cover much ground. With non-boundary-style herding, this dog relied on their instinctual ability to move the animals. The Malinois lived inside the home but remained hyper-vigilant.

The breed’s versatility has led them to careers in law enforcement, protection, search and rescue, and scent detection. They’ve found jobs as messenger carriers, ambulance dogs, and even pulled machine guns during WWI, but their connection to their owners keeps them permanently employed.

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“With an intense desire to work, these dogs form a close partnership with their owners,” Friedow says. “It’s why Malinois in the police or military stay with their trainer for life, even when the dog retires.”

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Agile and muscular, the 45 to 65-pound Malinois is fearless. “The dog is light on its feet and more like a gymnast than a bodybuilder. A military officer can strap a Malinois to his body, jump out of a helicopter, and hit the ground running,” Friedow says.

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In the 21st century, the breed’s compact size and lightning speed have proved invaluable to national security, police departments, and the military, including SEALs and other Special Operations Command units. “Cairo,” a 70-pound Belgian Malinois and a member of SEAL Team Six played a critical role with his handler, Will Chesney. In 2011, this team captured terrorist Osama Bin Laden in his compound in Pakistan.

In his book about Cairo, “No Ordinary Dog,” Chesney writes, “The relationship between a handler and a canine SEAL is profound and intimate. It goes beyond friendship and the usual ties that bind man to dog.”