If you are thinking of adopting a Belgian Malinois Border Collie mix and wondering whether it is the right choice for your family, you have come to the right place for an answer. Even though it is difficult to say how a puppy will behave as an adult there are some strong personality traits in both of these breeds.
A Belgian Malinois Border Collie mix will, in all probability, be a very energetic dog that needs to spend a lot of time outside of the house. The two breeds that make this pooch are renowned for being restless and require continuous mental stimulation. This is not a dog for everyone, since it needs an experienced owner with a gentle but firm hand.
In this article, we will go through the main characteristics of the Belgian Malinois and the Border Collie. By doing so, we will provide all the information you need to try and predict how your pooch will turn out as an adult. This is quite an unusual mixed breed but it could be the perfect one for you.
Belgian Malinois
This breed originated in the Belgian city of Malines in the late 1800s and was used mainly to herd sheep. The Malinois are known to be very smart and hardworking pooches and nowadays are often used as police dogs. They always need to have work to do to feel happy and fulfilled. These dogs are not suitable for living in an apartment with no outdoor area or garden.
The Belgian Malinois is a medium-sized dog that can weigh up to 80 pounds and have a height of 26 inches. These pooches are renowned for having a strong prey drive and will just chase anything they see moving. They are the epitome of energy and just can’t go a day without getting a lot of physical activity.
Breed Characteristics
The Belgian Malinois are very smart dogs that are easy to train and just love learning new tricks. They are usually friendly and enjoy being around people and other dogs. They can be reserved and wary with strangers especially if they come around the house.
Belgian Malinois are not pooches that can be left alone for a long amount of time. They usually suffer from separation anxiety and just go frantic when they can’t follow their owner. If you have a job that keeps you away from the house for any amount of time, a Malinois is not the right choice for you. You risk coming back home and finding your furniture not exactly in the same way you left it (to put it mildly).
Grooming
Belgian Malinois have a short coat that is easy to keep clean. They just need to be brushed once a week with a specific brush with hard bristles. They have a double coat made of a warm undercoat and a lighter topcoat. These two coats protect the Malinois perfectly from the cold but can make them suffer the heat quite a lot during the summer. Even though they shed twice a year (in spring and autumn), they are not suitable for living in places where it gets very hot.
The color of a Malinois is fawn or dark brown with black on the face and ears. There can be a bit of white on the paws and the chest. They usually have thicker hair around the neck.
Health
Belgian Malinois are usually healthy dogs that live up to 12 years or more. Nonetheless, there are some health issues to which these pooches can be predisposed. The main ones are:
- Dysplasia
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy
- Allergies
Hip Dysplasia is the most common health condition for a Belgian Malinois. It affects the thighbone and the hip joint when they don’t fit perfectly into each other. This disorder can become very serious and affect the mobility of the rear legs to the extent that the dog cannot walk anymore. Since it is a hereditary condition it can be prevented by carefully selecting the dogs for breeding. All breeders should have a certification stating that the parents of the puppies are tested negative for Dysplasia.
Border Collie
Border Collies are highly energetic dogs that need continuous mental and physical stimulation to be happy. They were bred in an area between the Scottish and English border to herd sheep and are still used for this purpose. These pooches just never get tired and thrive in completing any given task.
Border Collies are medium-sized dogs that can weigh up to 45 pounds and have a height of 22 inches. They are very easy to train and understand what their owner wants immediately. It’s no coincidence that these pooches perform so well in any obedience or agility competition.
Breed Characteristics
Border Collies are dogs that need to be busy working and doing things. They were bred during the end of the 19th century to herd livestock and they are among the best dogs at doing that even today. The downside to having all of this energy and stamina is that they cannot be left without anything to do.
These pooches are not suitable for living in small apartments without an outdoor area or a garden. In addition, Border Collies can’t be left alone in the house for any amount of time. If you have to leave your pooch home while you are at work, a Border Collie would not be the right dog for you. They can get bored very easily and they often suffer from separation anxiety. If left alone they can become destructive and chew bits and pieces of your furniture.
Grooming
Keeping a Border Collie looking good isn’t too difficult. They have a two-layer coat with an undercoat and a topcoat that keeps them warm even during very cold winter days. Some Border Collies have a medium-length and rougher coat with extra hairs on the chest and legs. Other Border Collies have a longer and softer coat that is short all over their body.
These dogs need to be brushed with a carder at least once a week. During the shedding period (spring and autumn) you will need to brush them at least twice a week. This way they won’t develop any knots or mats and will remain nice and clean for a longer period. They shouldn’t be bathed too frequently and certainly not more than once a month.
Health
Border Collies can live up to 15 years and are generally healthy dogs. There are, though, certain conditions that this dog breed can develop. The most common ones are:
- Dysplasia
- Epilepsy
- Deafness
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
- Collie Eye Anomaly
Is A Belgian Malinois Border Collie Mix Good?
The Belgian Malinois Border Collie mix can be a really good one if you are looking for a smart and energetic dog. Both breeds are considered extremely intelligent and easy to train. That said, this mixed-breed is not suitable for everyone. If you get this pooch, be ready to spend most of your day outdoors. Taking him for walks won’t be enough to lower his energy levels and he will need to be able to run around for at least an hour twice a day. Leaving him home while you go to work is also not a good idea, as both the Malinois and the Border Collie suffer from separation anxiety.
Now that you know the pros and cons of this mixed-breed you should be able to decide if it is the right choice for you. If you have the time and energy to make this pooch happy, then you should absolutely make him part of your life. You will never get bored with a Border Collie Belgian Malinois mix and there will be so many things you can do together.
