The Malinois

Credit: Wikipedia

    The Mal is a well known face to anyone in military, police, or security K9 units.
   NARC and SAR have many of them, and I've spoken with handlers whose voice took on a new tone when they started to talk about their Mals.

Credit: PetCareRX

  Related to the current direction the breeders have focused on, some feel that the Mal can be too much of a work-a-holic to make a good, laid back family companion... but many Malinois have stretched themselves out on kitchen and living room floors all over the country. With their short hair they are easiest to groom of all the Belgians, and certainly maintain the stately bearing of the breed's legacy.

 

Credit: studioblog

As I mentioned, many feel that the Mal is too much for a home situation; including breeders who have told people looking for family guardians to look elsewhere. Just like every breed: Always thoughtfully investigate the background & family of any dog!

Part 4: Tervuren History: Four Versions

 There were four distinct coat types recorded by the Club du Chein de Berger Belge. 

 The illustration at right shows a decent rendition of their differences.

 These were...

Image found on the Belgian Sheepdog Club of America site.

  the Greonendale

("Grohn-en-dale")

black, long hair

the Tervuren

("Terv-ur-en" or "Terv-u-ren") 

mahogany, long hair

the Malinois

("Mahl-in-waugh") 

mahogany, short hair

the Lakenois

("Layk-en-waugh")

wiry, or curly, coated, commonly brown or light

 I have listed them in order of their perceived popularity/commonality in the States... I understand it is rare indeed to see a Lakenois in America, although I hear the Groenendale fanciers are seeing declining numbers of the blacks. But they are numerously and fondly remembered by many, and so I still leave them at the top of the list at this time.

Credit: BSCA website

  It was the Greonendale that first made it to these shores, and they were entered into the AKC as the
Belgian Sheepdog.

 To quote the website of the Belgian Sheepdog Club of America...

"Belgians were registered and shown as one breed in the United States until issues arose over color and inter-variety breeding. In 1959, the AKC gave each variety a separate status. The long-haired black dogs kept the AKC breed name of Belgian Sheepdog."