A Belgian Malinois Labrador mix is one of an array of fascinating and beautiful dogs, regardless of your feelings about mixed breeds – whether you think they’re mutts or you think they’re a good moral choice.
On the whole, designer dogs can be healthier than many purebred dogs, even though there is some controversy surrounding the subject.
Other articles you would like: Why Are Labradors Prone To Cancer? and Should I Get A Male Or Female Belgian Malinois?
Table of Contents
About The Labrador Retriever
There are many different kinds of Retrievers, but the Labrador Retriever is the most popular. They enjoy socializing with other humans and dogs and bonding with their entire family.
Their high levels of energy and need for exercise also make them highly energetic.
Good-natured and hard-working, Labs have a reputation for being loyal and honest. In addition to being hunters, assistance dogs, show dogs, search and rescue dogs, and other types of dog work, they are often used as assistance dogs.
Although they love to work and are highly trainable, these dogs also enjoy some fun!
If they’ve been trained to hunt, Labs could have a higher prey instinct than other Labs if they’ve been compared to the prey drive of the Malinois. A Lab’s excess energy needs to be expended through a lot of exercise, just like the Malinois’.
Exercising must be intense. Playing fetch, jogging, and other activities can be included in this. Aside from competing in dog sports, they also perform well in agility competitions. Their mental fitness is also maintained through training sessions.
A Lab is a sweet-natured dog, making it a perfect companion dog or therapy dog. It is possible to train them to assist people with disabilities since they are intelligent and can be trained.
They make excellent watchdogs, too, didn’t we say? The labrador retriever is a very protective breed, especially when it comes to his family and home.
About The Belgian Malinois
If they’ve been trained to hunt, Labs could have a higher prey instinct than other Labs if they’ve been compared to the prey drive of the Malinois. A Lab’s excess energy needs to be expended through a lot of exercises, just like the Malinois’.
Intense exercise is also needed. Jogging, fetch, and other exercises can be included. Several other dog sports, such as agility, they do well in as well. Their mental fitness is also maintained through training sessions.
A lab can be a great companion or therapy dog because of its sweet nature. It is possible to train them to assist disabled people because they are intelligent. Besides being great watchdogs, they also make great companions.
There is a strong sense of loyalty and protection in labs when it comes to their family and their homes.
Appearance
Labradors and Malinois can be distinguished physically from one another. But, they both sit somewhere between medium and large, so a mix of Malinois and Labs would appear more unsurprising than, say, a mix with a smaller breed.
A female lab weighs around 55 and 70 pounds, while a male lab weighs between 65 and 80 pounds. A Belgian Malinois’ male weight ranges from 60 to 80 lbs, and females weigh 40 to 60 lbs.
An average Belgian Malinois Labrador mix female weighs 40 to 70 pounds, while an average male weighs 60 to 80 pounds.
The coats of both breeds are short and smooth, which keeps them warm during winter. Although the Malinois has four times more colors to choose from than the Labrador.
The patterns include dilute colors, brindles, and sables. There is a wide color variety available in black Lab mix and Malinois puppies, including sables.
It is only when the parent dog was a Labrador that diluted and brindled coats were expressed in the pups of the first generation of a Belgian Malinois Labrador mix.
Due to the rarity of that situation, they usually emerge only in crosses that are of 2nd and higher generations.
Temperament
The temperament of a mixed-breed dog cannot be predicted in advance since it can inherit personality traits from either parent.
The Belgian Malinois Labrador mix, for instance, differs greatly from a Boxer and a Malinois Greyhound or a Malinois Labrador Retriever. There are a variety of sizes, shapes, colors, and personalities in every breed.
Generally speaking, a Belgian Malinois Labrador mix will display puppy-like behaviors well into her 5th year of life. They are likely to be very energetic and prefer being active over sitting on the couch!
Herding is the primary function of Malinois dogs. It is common for them to be regarded as ‘one person dogs’, committed exclusively to one individual. Additionally, guarding sheep is something they do well because of their strong guarding instinct.
The inherent wariness of unfamiliar people is part of the guarding instinct. Additionally, they must not hesitate to defend what they protect without flinching. Their intelligence makes them very capable of learning complicated commands very quickly.
The retrieving instinct is extremely strong in Lab Retrievers while retrieving is common in other breeds. Their intelligence and ability to master complex tasks make them very desirable.
They do not have much of a guarding instinct, however. There is often a happy bond between the two of them, even if they met each other only just a few seconds ago.
Puppies born from a pair of Belgian Malinois Labrador mix parents usually learn commands quickly, and improve their training over time. With someone by their side, they are more likely to enjoy working.
In addition, if you do not give them anything to do, they are likely to get very bored, very quickly.
There are numerous undesirable behaviors that can manifest during this time, for instance, pawing, biting, scratching, barking, etc. If the dog has to spend all of its time at home by itself, you may want to consider a different breed or hybrid.
The personality of these individuals is not predictable in all aspects. The Belgian Malinois is generally uninterested in socializing with other people outside of their immediate family.
Their snapping or barking signals clearly that they want to be left alone when they are being bothered by a constant stream of unwanted attention.
Unlike Labradors in general, which accept strangers petting them, these dogs tend to befriend everyone.
Health Problems
There are many health issues that can affect a Belgian Malinois Labrador mix. The hip dysplasia of both breeds of dogs is a common health problem. The socket of the hip becomes malformed in this painful condition.
A number of problems can be caused by it, including gait problems and arthritis. Both breeds may suffer from this genetic problem.
Due to the strong hereditary component of dysplasia of the hips and elbows, the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals suggests that dogs who do not test positive be kept as breeding stock.
A breeding dog should also undergo testing for eye problems, as well as exercise-induced collapse.
The genetics of allergies isn’t fully understood, so you’ll have to depend on your breeder’s understanding of puppies’ ancestry to determine their likelihood of inheriting allergies.
Performing hip and elbow dysplasia tests on parents, as well as checking for eye problems, should be required before breeding a Belgian Malinois Labrador Mix. When the stomach turns inside out and is sealed, it is considered a medical emergency.
The symptoms of this disease can be found here, and affected dogs can only be saved by surgery
When buying a Belgian Malinois Labrador Mix, make sure the breeder uses healthy parents in their breeding so that you avoid a lifetime of heartache and costly veterinary bills.
It will make a difference who they take after when it comes to their health risks. You should be aware of symptoms of ear infections if your dog has floppy ears like a Lab.
In addition, you will need to keep them from getting bloated if they have a deep chest like a Malinois.
A survey conducted among dog owners found that Belgian Malinois and Labrador Retrievers live, on average, 12 to 13 years, and some even live well into their teens. As a comparison, this is a good size for a dog of this size.
Grooming
Belgian Malinois Labrador Mix pups have coats that make them weather-resistant, so they don’t need to worry about grooming. Fall and spring are also times when both shed a lot.
It is definitely a good idea to brush your mixed fur baby at least once a week, but more frequently during seasons of high shedding.
The frequency of his dirty and stinky behavior will determine how often your Malinois Lab requires bathing. The frequency of baths may vary from dog to dog, with some dogs requiring a bath once a week to once a month.
Approximately every three months, or when they become too long, a Malinois Lab mix’s toenails need to be trimmed.
As Labradors and Malinois have weather-resistant coats, routine bathing should not be necessary for the Labrador Malinois Mix.
When you have a Labrador Malinois Mix puppy, keep in mind that the Malinois has a thicker coat and sheds more than the Labrador. Therefore, you will need to brush and groom your puppy more frequently.
Labrador Malinois Mixes also need their ears cleaned once a week so that wax and moisture do not accumulate, and their nails need to be trimmed regularly so that they don’t split and crack.
Training
You should expect your Belgian Malinois Labrador mix to be extremely energetic since you have crossed two highly energetic breeds. Please remember that each of these breeds was designed to work outdoors all day long.
It is possible that some Labrador Belgian Malinois mix dogs are more prone to lazing around than others.
It is important that the Labrador parent of the puppies should come from breeding lines, especially if the Labrador was a show dog.
Generally, these mixes are suitable only for individuals with at least a few hours per day that they can devote to working with their dogs and making sure it has proper training and the right amount of exercise.
To keep your mixed Lab Malinois happy and healthy, they will definitely need training and socialization.
Keep in mind that you should always supervise your mixed breed dog around young children and other animals. The Malinois, as well as some Labs, have strong prey instincts.
The training and socialization of this mix should be done positively. Don’t forget to have fun! Your Lab Malinois and you will have a great time doing this!
You will be able to tire your dog out every day by doing complex training exercises. However, you will still need to exercise your dog regularly. Outdoor activity is likely to be needed by this mix at least twice a day.
Do They Make Good Family Pets?
In the past three decades, retrievers have become the most popular dog breeds in America.
Due to their adaptability to different situations and friendly and patient nature, they are well suited to families with adults, children, and dogs who are unfamiliar with them.
Unlike Labrador Retrievers, a Belgian Malinois is a breed that specializes in working dogs.
They are unmatched in terms of their performance, endurance, and fearlessness when serving in the police and military.
Most pet owners cannot provide the engagement, training, and exercise that a companion dog needs most people. Barking or nipping may also be issued to children if they lose patience with them.
Those who are new to owning a dog, those with many other responsibilities, and families with children may not be appropriate for this mix.
It is recommended that they be owned by very active people, with plenty of time to dedicate to their care, and with experience with similar breeds.
One way to approach this mix is to rescue an old dog with a clear understanding of its temperament, as well as whether you’re a good fit.
A Belgian Malinois Lab mix is an incredibly beautiful and fascinating dog, regardless of how you feel about mixed breeds and whether you consider them mutts or ethical.
It is recommended that prospective owners prepare for adequate socialization and training before getting a Belgian Malinois Labrador mix as a family pet.
His best home would be in a family with older children, and he would benefit from the patience and training of an owner. Be prepared to spend a lot of time with your dog making sure it fits into the family well and adjusts properly.
The more time you spend with it and the more training and socialization you provide your mix, the more likely it will become a great family pet.
In order to reduce the chances of obesity-related health problems, he will need plenty of space and access to the outdoors.
Prior to bringing a pet into your home and making it part of your family, you should research that breed and determine its needs and challenges. This will ensure your dog is happy, stays healthy, and fits into your family well.
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For more Labrador Mixes, check out the video below:
