Resources
for our Owners

About the Malinois

The Belgian Malinois (mal-in-wah) was first bred around the city of Malines in Belgium and is one of four types of Belgian Shepherd, also known affectionately as the Mali or a Mali. While in some countries the Belgian Shepherd is grouped as one breed, the characteristics of each breed type can vary in relation to temperament and workability.

Mali’s have been the go-to dog for Belgium sheepherders and cattlemen and are also favoured by the police, military and security industry. They have been bred for fearlessness, commitment and an emphasis on performance. As confident, curious, agile, versatile and highly intelligent dogs, Mali’s need to be mentally and physically stimulated.

If you own a Mali you have the privilege of and responsibility for a very smart dog that has the potential of being a very effective and obedient working dog as well as a loving companion. Your Mali comes with naturally protective and territorial instincts and needs you to provide regular and fulfilling physical and mental along with extensive and ongoing socialisation opportunities so that your Mali does not develop problematic anti-social habits from boredom or insufficient socialisation.

Mali's love to be with their pack, you! and are very social in this regard. You need to be careful not to mistake this social side to easily transition outside of the work or family environment. This is not the case, a young Mali needs to be guided and socialised so that they understand community and acceptable/unacceptable behaviours outside of work/home.

Mali's are loyal and eager to please. Work and activities that involve agility, retrieving, jumping, tracking, herding, catching and any game that combines mental and physical challenges are great stimulation for a Mali. They excel at competitive Mondio, Schutzhund (IPG) and Ring Sports. Training regimes that involving tracking, obedience, jumping, and protection activities. Malis’ also enjoy, dock diving (a sport where a dog leaps off a dock to retrieve objects thrown into the water).

With sufficient exercise and stimulation, the Mali can become a well-mannered and calm house dog. Without sufficient exercise and training, it can be extremely destructive and headstrong, especially when it is young and even more problematic if owners don’t address the cause and behaviours become embedded.

Given the breed’s athleticism, Mali enclosures may require a very high fence.

Worming, Vet Check, Vaccinations, Fleas and Ticks

Worming

Your malinway puppy has been wormed with Drontal Puppy Suspension at 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks of age. You will need to continue worming your puppy at 10 and 12 weeks of age. After 12 weeks of age repeat every month until 6 months of age. After 6 months of age repeat every 3 months.

Vet Check and Vaccination

Your malinway puppy is vet checked at 6 weeks of age and C3 vaccination is completed. You will need to arrange a second booster at 10 weeks and a final booster at 14 weeks.

C7 vaccination is not recommended for the first vaccination but can replace the second and final boosters if you prefer the broader coverage of this vaccine you shoud commence this vaccine at the second booster instead of C3.

Annual heartworm vaccinations can also be provided at the time of the final booster.

Annual boosters are then usually provided thereafter for whatever vaccinations you select.

Fleas and Ticks

All dogs on our property are treated with Bravecto Flea and Tick treatment (either chew or pippete). Whilst we have never had fleas on our property, ticks are problematic on the East Coast.

Because your puppy is growing month by month, it is recommended that you treat your puppy with a monthly dose of Bravecto by weight. Your puppy will have its first dose of Bravecto at 8 weeks of age before it leaves our property so you will need to organise the next dose not later than 12 weeks of age. You still need to be vigilant and check your puppy for ticks.

Feeding your puppy

We feed our dogs premium food such as Taste of the Wild Kibble (online and Costco) and use high reward premium treats such as cooked chicken meat, Prime 100, Prime Quality. This has worked well for us.

For our new owners convenience our puppies are on Eukanuba Large Puppy Kibble. If you wish to change your puppy's diet to another preferred brand we recommend that you wait until your puppy is 6 months of age when its digestive system has matured and it has settled into your home. It is very important to gradually chage food over a 7-day-period.

Most puppy feeding guides will be based on the estimated adult weight of your puppy and not their current weight. Different size puppies have different nutritional needs and like people puppies are all different and you may need to adjust quantities. Watch the dog, not the dish.

The first 5 months of your puppy's life is an important developmental stage, with muscles, bones and digestive system all developing. This means that puppies can only handle smaller quantities of food at a time to avoid getting diarrhoea from having too many nutrients to digest.

We would advise from 8 weeks of age up until 12 months of age to feed the daily portion of your puppy's food as 4 meals 2-4 months and 3 meals 5 -12 months. This will help ease the stress on the digestive system. From 12-18 months continue with 2 meals a day of large puppy kibble.

Keep treats as small as possible to make sure that your puppies diet remains balanced. Small portions of carrot, apple, or green beans are healthy, low-calorie snacks that most puppies will try. Our Malis are high food drive and will train with kibble.

Fresh water should be available at all times. To avoid a buildup of bacteria and biofilm, wash your puppy’s water bowl daily.