The Shepinois is a cross between a Belgian Malinois and a German Shepherd. The breed is a bright, kind, level-headed, and energetic protector of its human family. During the First World War, the German Shepherd Belgian mix was one of the breeds that acted as Red Cross assistance and couriers between different units.
Table of Contents
Belgian Malinois German Shepherd Mix Pros and Cons
Malinois, Chien De Berger Belge, Mechelaar, Mechelse Herder, Mechelse Scheper, Pastor Belga Malnois
Alsatian, Deutscher Schaeferhund
Belgian Malinois German Shepherd Mix Personality
The wedge-shaped skull of the Belgian Malinois German Shepherd mix leads to a sharp snout. They have medium-sized and almond-shaped eyes, which are dark brown or auburn. Ears range in size from medium to large, are pointed, and are proportionate to the skull. The neck of a German Malinois should be broad and muscular, long and clean-cut, and proportional to the head. The topline withers are usually higher at the shoulders and begin to slope gently towards the back.
The slope’s degree is determined by which parent the Belgian Malinois German Shepherd mix is descended from. Dogs descended from a German Shepherd progenitor will not have a straight back and bow their legs to compensate. Malinois puppies will have longer legs and a straighter back.
A Shepinois’ tail will be long and straight, but it may come out at the hocks or drag on the ground. Their entire body, including the forequarters and hindquarters, is muscular and massive. Dewclaws, a 6th toe essential for running and climbing, are likely to be present in this breed.
Friendliness Overview
Affection level
High
Family-friendly
High
Kid-friendly
Medium to High
Pet-friendly
Low to Medium
Stranger-friendly
Medium
Adaptability Overview
Good for new owner
Medium
Good for apartment living
Low
Sensitivity level
High
Tolerates being alone
Medium
Cold tolerance
Medium to High
Heat tolerance
Medium to High
Belgian Malinois German Shepherd Mix Temperament
The Malinois and Shepherd are both intelligent working dogs. They are confident dogs who are at ease in unfamiliar surroundings. They are not bred to be indiscriminately friendly while being poised, attentive, and ready for action. They are also raised to be ferocious defenders, which can be expressed in negative ways. They tend to be aggressive due to their herding abilities. Shepnois are known to be devoted to their family and are intolerant towards other pets. They must be carefully trained to be friendly with kids.
Belgian Malinois German Shepherd Mix Training
Belgian Malinois German Shepherd Mix needs proper socialization and obedience training from their puppyhood. This will help them stay non-aggressive and friendly. As they make good guard dogs and watchdogs, the training sessions would be exciting and fun. They are fast learners and can grasp concepts immediately. Positive reinforcement will make the training easy. However, as they can be hard-headed, it is best to opt for a professional trainer until he is fully trained or an adult and can do without a professional trainer.
You will have to be the alpha while your dog is with you.
Trainability Overview
Easy to train
High
Intelligence
High
Prey drive
Medium to High
Tendency to mouthiness
Medium
Tendency to bark and howl
Medium
Wanderlust tendencies
Medium
Belgian Malinois German Shepherd Mix Exercise Needs
These hybrid dogs have a lot of energy and require a lot of activity to stay happy and healthy. Neglecting their mental and physical requirements will result in a dissatisfied and perhaps destructive dog.
To keep your dog cognitively busy, consider teaching them tricks and obedience orders regularly and then testing them on their abilities frequently once they’ve mastered them.
Every day, you should expect to spend about 2 hours active with your Malinois Shepherd mix. You can do this in numerous small intervals throughout the day or spend hours playing with them, and two thirty-minute walks during the cooler hours.
These dogs enjoy playing frisbee, fetch, earth dog training, and obedience training as part of their daily exercise regimens.
Exercise Needs Overview
Energy Level
High
Exercise Needs
High
Playfulness
High
Intensity
High
Belgian Malinois German Shepherd Mix Grooming
The hair on a Malinois Shepherd mix is likely to be medium length, high-density straight, and coarse. This dog also sheds, indicating that he is not hypoallergenic.
Shepnois come in various colors such as fawn, tan, brown, black, blue and, white. Brush their coats two to three times a week in normal circumstances and daily once they begin seasonal shedding.
To avoid removing the hair’s natural oils needlessly, they should only be bathed when extremely unclean.
Unless your dog’s toenails are kept ground down through everyday activities and activities, you’ll need to cut them as well.
To ensure that your hybrid’s ears are free of vermin and debris, examine and clean them regularly. In addition, you must clean their teeth at least three times every week, preferably daily if possible.
To maintain this mix in prime condition, make sure to stay up with dental exams, eye exams, and routine physical checks with your veterinarian.
Grooming Overview
Amount of shedding
Medium to High
Easy to groom
Medium
Drooling tendencies
Low
Belgian Malinois German Shepherd Mix Health
Mixed breeds are generally healthy. However, as the parent breeds are prone to specific health issues, the mixed breed is susceptible to similar health issues. It is the same for the Belgian Malinois German Shepherd Mix.
Health Overview
Basic health
Medium
Weight gain possibilities
Low to Medium
Size
Medium to Large
Bloat
Bloat, also known as gastric dilatation-volvulus complex (GDV), is a medical issue that can be fatal in the Belgian Malinois German Shepherd Mix. When a dog’s stomach fills with air, pressure builds, and blood supply from the heart to the rear legs and abdomen is cut off.
This causes blood to pool at the back end of the dog’s body, causing your dog to go into shock. In addition, when the pancreas is starved of oxygen, it begins to create harmful hormones, one of which has the potential to halt your dog’s heart if not treated promptly.
Degenerative Myelopathy
Degenerative myelopathy is a disease that is more prevalent in elderly dogs, but it can also affect young dogs. The transmission fibers in the spinal cord deteriorate in this degenerative illness of the spinal cord. This occurs in two ways: demyelination, which removes the insulation between nerve fibers, and axonal loss, which is the loss of the nerve fibers themselves.
This disrupts the brain-limb transmission, resulting in a loss of coordination, trailing or knuckled-over feet, and subsequently weak or paralyzed limbs.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) is a category of disorder that affects the photoreceptors of the retina. The retina is a layer of cells located in the back of the eyeball that turns light into electrical signals, which are subsequently transferred to the brain to be processed and interpreted.
This condition causes the photoreceptor cells to degrade over time, leading to blindness in the affected dog.
Endocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency
Endocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency, or EPI, is a congenital (present from birth) or inherited (genetic) illness. As a result, the pancreas fails to produce enough enzymes to digest fats, proteins, and carbohydrates.
Pancreatitis can also be caused by inflammation, infection, or injury to the pancreas. Your mix may get this disease from a German Shepherd.
A gradual loss of pancreatic cells is the most common cause. However, chronic pancreatitis can also be a factor. As a result, difficulties digesting some foods leads to inadequate nutritional absorption, causing your dog to lose weight while having a regular (or even increased) appetite.
Steatorrhea
Steatorrhea is a disorder in which dogs have high amounts of plaque and fatty feces. This disorder has no known cure, although it can be treated with the correct drugs and a healthy diet.
A few minor concerns:
Hip and elbow dysplasia
Bone and joint issues
Allergies
Regular necessary tests:
Dental examination
Ear examination
Eye examination
Complete blood count
Internal imaging (X-Rays, MRIs, CT-scan)
Blood and urine analysis
Belgian Malinois German Shepherd Mix Diet and Nutrition
Depending on age, sex, and activity level, your Malinois Shepherd will eat anywhere from 3 to 5 cups of food every day.
To ensure that your Malinois and Shepherd mix receives the finest nutrition possible, ask your veterinarian to assist you in fine-tuning the correct food for them.
Belgian Malinois German Shepherd Mix Living Condition
Your Belgian Malinois German Shepherd Mix is a medium to large size dog with high exercise needs, energy. He is very active and agile and is a fantastic guard dog for your family. He is not suitable for apartment living and needs a backyard to lose some sweat. Infants must not be brought near him before proper child introduction training. As he is loyal and devoted to the family, he must be given a suitable environment, generosity, love, and affection.
Adding a Belgian Malinois German Shepherd Mix to Your Family
Things to remember before adding a Belgian Malinois German Shepherd Mix
Crossing two pure breeds, such as a German Shepherd and a Belgian Malinois, can result in terrible offspring. Furthermore, crossbreeding has the potential to pass on the parents’ health issues to the puppies. To avoid ending up with a weak hybrid pet, check their parent’s lineage and health records from a responsible breeder before crossing a German Shepherd and a Belgian Malinois.
Belgian Malinois German Shepherd Mix Puppy Cost
Puppies of the German Malinois breed can range in price from $500 to $2000, depending on the breeder.
