The Belgian Malinois and Pitbull are both imposing, intimidating breeds, and a mix of the two would be understandably a tricky dog to train and socialize.
Malinois are known to be dominant, workaholic dogs whose intelligence and trainability make them a favorite for law enforcement and the military.
Pitbulls are considered one of the most aggressive breeds and intolerant of other animals but can be loving and friendly with humans.
Not many people would suit a Malinois-Pitbull mix which will require a firm hand and consistent training.
While this mix can produce a dog with a loving, courageous nature, they might not make good family pets, especially in households with sedentary lifestyles.
To understand the Malinois-Pitbull mix, we’ll have to understand the history and nature of both the parent breeds.
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Table of Contents
What Is The Belgian Malinois?
Originally bred to be a herding dog, the Belgian Malinois proved versatile and capable, leading them to be one of the top working breeds for search and rescue, police work, and the military.
They are workaholic dogs with high energy levels, making them perfect for various tasks.
In addition to herding and law enforcement, the Belgian Malinois can serve as a therapy dog for the elderly, sick, or disabled. Belgian Malinois are territorial and protective dogs.
Therefore, extensive socialization is necessary from an early age. They have a strong territorial and protective instinct and will need consistent, firm training to channel those instincts into positive outcomes.
As herding dogs, they might exhibit typical behaviors such as circling, chasing, and moving around for hours, but they also tend to nip.
Their extraordinary work ethic makes them ideal for search and rescue work, and their formidable athleticism can get them into trouble if they have no outlet for all that energy.
The Belgian Malinois is a medium-sized dog that stands 22 to 26 inches at the shoulder, weighing in at 40 to 80 pounds. Intelligent, intense, and athletic, it takes an experienced owner to cope with their energy.
They need a lot of mental and physical activity and proper training to grow into loving and loyal dogs. Their high energy levels and intensity make them unsuitable for living in a small place like an apartment unless you can provide sufficient daily activities.
The Belgian Malinois prefers cold weather, but it is easy to adapt to another climate. Their life expectancy ranges from 12 to 15 years.
Their coats are short and straight with a dense undercoat. The coat should conform to the body without standing out or hanging down. The coat color is rich fawn with black-tipped hairs and mahogany with black-tipped hairs.
What Is A Pitbull?
Pitbull was first bred in England in the 1800s. They were originally bred from the Old English Bulldogs, who were at that time famous for a cruel sport called “bull baiting” in the British Isles.
The Cruelty to Animals Act 1835, passed by the British Parliament in 1835, prohibits baiting certain animals, including the bull and bear.
However, after the law was passed, fans of this cruel sport switched to ratting, in which dogs fight against rats to see which dog can kill the most rats in the shortest time.
This sport is where the name “pit” begins in Pitbull, as the rats were placed in a pit and the dogs unleashed on them to see who kills the most.
Then, the public turned to dog fighting because it was easier to do it secretly, so the law did not touch it. Both ratting and dog fighting takes speed and agility in dogs, so Bulldogs began to be crossed with Terriers and the first Pitbull Terriers were created.
Pitbull Terriers were bred to be loving and kind towards humans, as their handlers had to be able to go into the pits to handle their dogs without being bitten. Dogs that bit humans were typically put down.
Before the Civil War, immigrants from the British Isles came to America with their Pitbulls. Then, the Pit Bull Terrier began to be called the American Pit Bull Terrier.
Although their breeding history is for fighting, they played an invaluable role in early America. Their versatility made them popular farm animals for herding sheep, catching vermin, guarding livestock, and hunting.
Their main characteristic remained friendliness to humans, especially to children. Despite being shown to be loving and intelligent dogs who get along well with other dogs and children, they still have a strong prey drive.
They have short coats that are shiny and stiff. Coat color varies between black, blue, brindle, brown, red, and white.
They have modest grooming needs and will need an occasional bath to keep their coats in good condition. They are moderate shedders and need frequent brushing to keep the dead fur and dander to a minimum.
The Belgian Malinois Pitbull Mix
It is unclear exactly when and where this mixed breed was first bred. Many backyard breeders claim they result from a recent species, but no official documentation exists to substantiate this claim.
Appearance
As a mixed breed, it is almost impossible to predict how a puppy will look when born mixed. Some puppies inherit more genes from their Belgian Malinois parent than their Pitbull parent.
Puppies with more Belgian Malinois genes typically have long muzzles, narrow heads, and pointed ears. Puppies with more Pitbull genes typically have curved ears and bulkier heads.
The resulting offspring usually produces puppies with a combination of the physical characteristics of both parents. They have deep chests and sturdy legs and usually grow up big, strong and muscular.
Their eyes are usually brown and almond-shaped but can also be amber, blue, dark brown, or hazel.
The Size
They will be medium dogs that can stand up to 24 inches and weigh 40 to 90 lbs depending on which parent breed they take after.
However, as is common in any breed, males are larger than females. They are generally slim with thick bodies and rarely become fat or obese.
They are powerful, strong dogs that will enjoy the combination of the Pitbulls muscular structure and stocky build with the lean, agile athleticism of the Malinois.
Coat and Color
They might have a single coat like the Pitbull parent or a thick double coat like the Belgian Malinois. However, they can also have a combination of both.
The possible coat colors are black, brown, brindle, fawn, sable, mahogany, red, tan, and white. At the same time, the color combinations are usually brindle and white or black and white.
Grooming
Belgian Malinois Pitbull mix is likely to have modest grooming needs. With short coats, you can brush them a few times a week to remove the dead fur and dander.
However, this mix can inherit one of the parents’ coats, either single or double coats. How much they shed depends on the type of coat they inherit.
Whatever coat they inherit, they will shed year round and more intensely during spring and fall, so you might have to brush them more during this time.
Like all dogs, their nails have to be clipped every three to four weeks to be kept short unless they frequently run on rough surfaces and manage to file their nails down naturally.
For good dental health, you’ll need to brush their teeth frequently with doggy toothpaste and toothbrush to keep the plaque and tartar at bay and prevent gum disease.
Their ears should be pointy and standing up, which makes them less prone to ear infections and bacteria buildup. Still, you’ll need to clean their ears with a vet-approved cleaning solution every few days to keep out the mites, bacteria, and wax.
The Malinois-Pitbull mix isn’t prone to tear stains but still, check their eyes frequently and wipe them down to keep them free of any gunk or dirt collecting.
Food and Dietary Needs
The Malinois-Pitbull mix is likely to be a high-energy, intense dog that needs top-notch nutrition to maintain their splendid physique. You’ll need top-quality food meant for large breeds that contain carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, and minerals.
Good protein sources for them are beef, chicken, or turkey. Meanwhile, sweet potatoes or boiled rice are good carbohydrate sources.
The portion of food for your dog should weigh two to three percent of their body weight, the total weight divided into two meals a day.
For example, if you have a Belgian Malinois Pitbull mix that weighs 70 pounds, your total daily serving weight is 2 cups. However, this portion of the meal can be adjusted again depending on your dog’s activity level and age.
You can also add supplements to their diets, such as vegetables, fruits, and fish oil. Their diet should generally be 8% fat and 18% protein. If in doubt, always check with a veterinarian about your dog’s nutritional requirements.
Temperament
In general, this mixed breed tends to inherit the temperament of the Belgian Malinois. But they can also inherit personality traits from both parents. The Pitbull has a loving, outgoing personality and is incredibly loyal to his family.
At the same time, the Belgian Malinois is a herding dog renowned for its trainability, intelligence, and protectiveness.
The Malinois-Pitbull mix is likely to take the traits of both parents and be energetic, intelligent, protective, and loyal.
If they have their exercise needs met, the mix can be cuddly and loving, happy to spend time with their families at home. However, they might not do so well with other animals.
Both parent breeds have high prey drives and are very likely to chase smaller animals or young children. They might be aloof and suspicious around strangers and will need extensive socialization and early training.
They are protective and intelligent, which makes them easy to train. At the same time, their intelligence makes them love to push boundaries and will test your patience.
They need a firm, consistent owner that has experience with dominant breeds. A weak or inexperienced owner might struggle with this headstrong, confident mix.
The Malinois-Pitbull mix is perfect for an active family home that can cope with their need to release energy. They need a lot of mental stimulation and exercise and can become destructive if left alone for a long time.
In addition, they are highly attached to their humans and can be prone to separation anxiety when they are often left alone for a long time.
Exercise Needs
The Belgian Malinois-Pitbull mix will be an active, playful dog that needs extensive exercise. A one or two-hour walk a day and tons of playtime in between might keep this mix happy.
They will not do well in apartments or small spaces and need a fenced area to run around and play.
You’ll need to provide plenty of toys and games as preventing boredom is critical to curbing any destructive behaviors. If left unchecked, their boredom will manifest in behaviors like chewing, digging, excessive barking, and separation anxiety.
A vigorous game of fetch is a good way to let them burn off all that excess energy, and a game of tug-of-war can help teach a Malinois-Pitbull mix impulse control and the “drop it” command.
Trainability
These mixed-breed dogs are highly intelligent and quick learners of new tricks and commands, but they can be challenging to train. Although they are obedient, they have a tendency to be stubborn, especially when they want something.
Therefore, they are more suitable in the hands of more experienced dog owners. They must be handled by someone who is able to train in a firm but loving and non-violent manner.
They will respond well to positive reinforcement, such as praise and treats. Appropriate initial training for this breed is socialization to new or different people, and different places so that they are able to cope with new experiences and situations.
In addition to basic obedience training, another activity that this mixed breed might suit is agility.
Agility training is a great way to give your dog some exercise while also teaching them to follow commands. Not only is it fun for both you and your dog, but it can also be a useful skill to have.
Agility training can also help to teach your dog self-control, as they will need to focus in order to follow your commands. In addition, agility training is a great way to bond with your dog and build their trust in you.
Health Concerns
The Malinois-Pitbull mix has a lifespan of 10 to 14 years. As with other dog breeds, this mixed breed requires proper nutrition, exercise, and other care to maintain overall health and minimize the potential health conditions common to this breed.
They are generally healthy, active dogs, but like all dogs, they are prone to certain genetic conditions, such as hip and elbow dysplasia, heart problems, skin allergies, and obesity.
Hip dysplasia is a condition that can affect dogs of all sizes and breeds, but it is most commonly seen in large breed dogs.
Hip dysplasia occurs when the ball and socket joint in the hip does not fit together properly, causing the joint to rub and grind instead of moving smoothly, which leads to pain, arthritis, and lameness.
Conclusion For “Belgian Malinois Pitbull Mix Guide“
The Belgian Malinois-Pitbull mix is an intimidating mixture of two impressive breeds. They will suit active, experienced owners that take the time to extensively socialize and train them. They can be pushy and dominant dogs that won’t suit everyone!
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