Safegaurding Your Pets Against Air Pollution Vol XII , Issue No 12 , Dec 2019 | Page 23

Stranger Friendly: Belgian Malinois
breed of dogs are reserved towards
strangers until they gauge their
intentions.
Intelligence:
Belgian
Malinois
dogs are highly intelligent and
rapid learners. They are capable of
performing a wide variety of tasks
such as agility, fl yball and obedience;
and are remarkably good at all kinds
of canine sports.
Training: They are relatively easy to
train because of their love for food
rewards. Training and socialisation
must start while they are small pup-
pies. They love challenges and re-
spond exceedingly well to commands.
Nevertheless, they are extra sensitive
to emotions and tone of voice and it is
advised to focus on positive reinforce-
ment techniques instead of harsh
corrections during training.
Potential for Palyfulness: These dogs
are extremely playful. They express
their desire for play by barking
excitedly or nipping you gently.
Barking Level: The Belgian Malinois
has a moderate to high vocalisation
level. They vary their intensity of
barking according to their emotional
state and may vocalise for a variety
of reasons including boredom, fear,
seeking attention, greeting, anxiety,
protection and alarm.
Biting Potential: These dogs have a
low chance of biting and do so only
when provoked, or to protect their
owners.
Drooling Tendency: The Belgian
Malinois is known for its very low
levels of drooling and may be a good
choice for those who get disgusted by
excessive slobbery.
Watchdog Ability: These canines
make for excellent watch dogs as they
possess a keen sense of observation
and will alert their owners straight
away in case they sense something
wrong. They are also immensely
protective and territorial.
Prey Drive: As they are raised to be
pastoral dogs, they have a high prey
drive and will try to chase anything in
motion including vehicles, children
and other animals.
Wanderlust: The Belgian Malinois has
a strong innate desire to wander and
explore the world. These impulses
are strong enough to escape. It is
safer to keep them indoors and walk
them on a leash till they learn the
way home from neighbouring areas.
TEMPERAMENT AND
PERSONALITY
These canines are smart, loyal, hard-
working and confi dent. They are quite
territorial and highly obedient. They
may exhibit typical behaviours like
circling and chasing owing to their
pastoral heritage.
The Belgian Malinois breed is great
for personal protection due to its
high alertness level. They are very
courageous and protective, and won’t
leave their owner’s side under any
circumstances.
GROOMING REQUIREMENTS
Belgian Malinois canines have
relatively low grooming needs.
Brushing hair once or twice a week
will suffi ce but they may require more
frequent combing during spring and
fall, when shedding is at its peak.
Bathe only when required, but at
least once in two months. Invest in
a premium dog shampoo as using
soap can be detrimental to its natural
weather-resistant coat. Clean the eyes
and ears on a regular basis to avoid
infections. Regular dental hygiene is
also a must.
primarily genetic and can be avoided
by adoption through reliable means.
They can also develop skin allergies
and eye infections if basic hygiene is
neglected.
CARE
Belgian Malinois dogs love the
outdoors and are not suited for
apartments. These dogs thrive
with active and sporty people. It is
essential that you have a secure
private yard where they can run and
frolic around. They require a number
of long walks, runs or jogs every day
to expend their excess energy.
The breed calls for high-quality,
nutritionally-balanced dog food
as recommended by an expert
nutritionist or your veterinarian.
Their diet needs to be predominantly
meat-based. Puppies need extra
protein to fuel their growth and
muscle development. You need to
keep count of the treats you are
giving during obedience training as
an excess can result in obesity.
People with asthma and allergies
should not adopt this breed as
they are known to trigger allergic
responses. The Belgian Malinois
can adjust to both hot and cold
weather. They are extremely
sensitive to anaesthesia and this
information must be conveyed to
the vet before allowing your pet for
any kind of surgery.
GENERAL HEALTH Even though the breed is a difficult
choice for a domestic environment,
it is entirely possible to own a
well-balanced, disciplined and
flourishing Belgian Malinois if you
faithfully cater to its peculiar needs
and challenges.
The breed is quite healthy. They are
prone to suffer from hip and elbow
dysplasia, and Progressive Retinal
Atrophy (PRA). These diseases are * Editor
December 2019 • Vol. XII • Issue 12 • Noida
23
| Creature Companion