The Belgian Malinois is a smart, energetic dog. As such, he requires a lot of patience from his master, as well as a lot of training time and bonding time. The Belgian Malinois is not a dog to sit quietly on the couch with you. Instead, he wants to be doing something exciting, and he loves to have a job. Having a job makes the Belgian Malinois not only happy and healthy, but it also keeps him from developing poor behaviors from the overabundance of energy and boredom.
The Belgian Malinois is categorized as a working dog and a herding dog by the American Kennel Club (AKC). The AKC insists that the dog should be a working animal as he needs the stimulation in his life. Plus, many of his characteristics and aspects of his temperament are such that he is literally bred to be a working dog.
The Belgian Malinois is a great herder because he was bred from Belgian Shepherd dogs. The dog was bred to be a sheep herding animal, so his herding instincts are quite high. He is very alert, which makes him a great herder because he is constantly aware of his surroundings and where his flock is located.
In addition to being a shepherd dog, the Belgian Malinois also has more practical and modern uses as a working dog. His alertness makes him a terrific protection dog, and he is commonly used for this purpose. He is quick to react in stressful situations and that also is a good characteristic for a reliable protector. His loyalty to his master will also prove a good trait as a protector dog. He can be used for personal or family protection, and he will protect children that he knows well and was raised with.
The Belgian Malinois has a high ability in search and rescue because he has a very good nose. This breed is now used not only as a police dog, but as a dog who works primarily in situations where he is seeking either illegal substances or injured people.
As a police dog, the Belgian Malinois is used in airports, train stations, subway stations, and bus stations to find illegal drugs and bombs. The dogs are a great asset to the National Security Administration by being well-trained to find these items in crowded, noisy environments.
The dog is also used in regular police work like drug busts and ATF and DEA raids. The dogs are brought in to smell for the illicit substances, find them, and alert their masters to their presence. The dogs are also very protective of their police officer masters, making them another line of defense for the police forces.
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