Belgian Shepherd Dog (Malinois) (Powder Springs, GA)

Belgian Shepherd Dog (Malinois)

I hate to have to re-home our boy but recently moved and we live to close to the highway and our yard is not fenced in. He needs room to run. We have had him since he was 5 weeks old he will be 2 in December. Thor is great with his family and his animals. He is VERY protective of his family. He has never bitten anyone but has a bark that isn t so friendly when he thinks someone is around that shouldn t be. He is great with other dogs and loves kittens. He is very gentle and a snuggle bug. He is fixed up to date on his shots and crate trained and he is use to being on a runner but needs room to run and not be tied up all day. He is an inside and outside dog. Completely house trained. He is a chewer and loves to chew. He can sit when he knows hes getting a treat. He can be stubborn at times and loves to run and be chased. He is one of the best dogs I have ever had but he needs room to run. I am stressing the room to run. If you live in an apartment this is not the dog for you if you do not have a fenced yard this is not the dog for you. If you live on a farm that would be perfect and this is the dog for you if you have a big fenced in back yard this is the dog for you. I am asking for a 100 re-homing fee and he comes with his crate.Some information about Thor and his Breed Please read and understand what kind of breed he is. He is an amazing dog he just needs room to run The Belgian Malinois is a sheepdog that is sometimes mistaken for a German Shepherd. It is however more elegant and lighter-boned. Alert with lots of energy the Belgian Malinois is popular as both a police and military working dog.PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICSThe Belgian Malinois is of moderate weight with a square-proportioned and powerful body. It has an impressively effortless easy and smooth gait that enables it to remain tireless throughout the day. The breed also possesses oval-shaped bones and an intelligent expression. Its undercoat meanwhile is short stiff and straight which is one of the breed s most distinct characteristic.The basic coloring of a Belgian Malinois is a rich fawn to mahogany with black tips on the hairs as well as black ears and mask.PERSONALITY AND TEMPERAMENTThe Belgian Malinois breed has a protective instinct that makes it superb for guarding the home. The active intelligent and sometimes dominating Belgian Malinois is always alert and aware of its surrounding. It may show signs of aggression towards other animals and dogs at times and prefers to stay aware from strangers.CAREAlthough it can survive outdoors under various weather conditions it prefers to remain indoors with access to fields or wide open spaces. Its favorite activities include herding playing and jogging all of which are excellent sources of exercise for the breed. The Belgian Malinois coat must be combed occasionally and more during periods of shedding.HEALTHAlthough the Belgian Malinois which has an average lifespan of 10 to 12 years is not prone to any major health issues it does suffer occasionally from elbow dysplasia pannus progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) hemangiosarcoma and cataract. To identify some of these issues early a veterinarian may recommend regular tests on the dog s eyes hips and elbows.HISTORY AND BACKGROUNDBelgian Malinois dogs are more popular as police dogs than as house or show animals. In fact demand for the breed as a police dog has surpassed the German Shepherd. Historically all the Belgian sheepherding breeds that were known as Chiens de Berger Belge collectively were used as watchdogs as well as herders. With the popularity of dog shows in the 19th century it was not very clear whether Belgium had any nationally distinguishable breed or not.During a study in 1891 Professor Reul discovered some native dogs that differed in color and coat from the Chiens de Berger Belge and named them as Belgian Shepherds. It was in the area of Malines that the short-haired variety was bred and that they came to be identified as the Belgian Malinois named after the locale.Although the Belgian Malinois were very popular in Belgium they found it more difficult in the United States. They were able to earn some popularity only between 1911 and World War II. With the end of the Second World War the number of registrations dropped again. It was only after the separation of this breed in 1959 that their registrations again started to grow. However the Belgian Malinois has yet to be able to acquire the same popularity as the other Belgian breeds.