Belgian Malinois Mixes: 11 Beautifully Unique Crossbreeds

The Belgian Malinois has filled many different roles throughout the history of their breed. They were bred to be shepherd dogs; many of them still have this job even today. Their intended purpose has given them a wonderful work ethic that extends far beyond the farm: think security, police work, and emotional assistance. This is why they’ve become popular in the Designer Dog craze, making great parent breeds for a Belgian Malinois mix of many different kinds.

They display high levels of intelligence, always eager to learn new things, and to present their owners with a show of their mastery. Beyond being bright, diligent workers, this breed is also highly affectionate, enjoying time spent with their family. They are a truly versatile breed!

This balance of industriousness, intelligence, and warmth makes the Belgian Malinois an excellent choice for mixing with other breeds. The result is often a dog that is medium to large in size, with the smarts and responsibility that make the Belgian Malinois so great. The rest comes from a different parent, ensuring that each mix is completely unique. We’ve compiled 11 of our favorite Belgian Malinois mixes, so you can see if any of these popular hybrids are suited to your lifestyle.

If you are not certain of your dog’s genetic makeup, you can use an at-home DNA test kit to find out.

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Labrador Malinois

Breeds: Labrador Retriever and Belgian Malinois

The Labrador Malinois is a wonderful combination of two very charming, athletic dogs with a penchant for doing their jobs very well. The resulting dog is an agreeable, friendly one with impressive intelligence and drive for their goals. Your Labrador Malinois will love being at the center of attention; they are easily suited to be good household pets for this reason, getting along very well with children and other small animals.

As with all Lab mixes, the Labrador Malinois will love the outdoors and getting to know other animals in the neighborhood. Teaching them obedience and proper socialization will be very easy due to their high intelligence; this dog hardly has a stubborn bone in their body, so take advantage of it!

Labradors have a natural inclination towards swimming, so you can try to see if your Labrador Malinois will enjoy the activity. Regardless of the outcome, these dogs are very active and will require a lot of help to get their needs met. Strive to give them at least one long walk every day; they love nothing more than being by your side, out in the pleasant sunshine! Being very outgoing dogs, they will also appreciate trips to the dog park for more intense exercise and meeting other furry friends.

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Malinois Greyhound

Breeds: English Greyhound and Belgian Malinois

You are in for a large, lean, and limber dog when you bring a Malinois Greyhound into your life. Both parents are highly intelligent and athletic dogs. It’s the mix’s appearance that will likely vary. The Belgian Malinois is a muscular build that is more powerful, while the Greyhound is a much more elegant, streamlined dog made for running at top speeds.

Expect to see some variation on this in your Malinois Greyhound. What hardly varies, though, is that they make great house pets, with high levels of affection for their families and not much inclination to bark. Since this mix is bound to be smart, you should train it early to encourage the Malinois’ obedience versus the Greyhound’s stubbornness.

The Belgian Malinois is a highly energetic breed, but the Greyhound is less so. This mix will still enjoy good bouts of strenuous exercise, but as they are lower-energy than the Malinois, they do not need it as often. They still require a good amount of exercise every day, at around 60 minutes or so of combined walking and playing. Be sure to give this mix a lot of activities to tire it out; their high intelligence can mean they easily get bored, which can lead to destructive behavior!

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Belusky

Breeds: Siberian Husky and Belgian Malinois

One dog who is definitely strong, active, and always up for adventure is the Belusky. They come from parents who both have high energy needs, so you’re in for a wild ride with this Husky mix! The huge amount of maintenance they need when it comes to exercise makes them a challenging hybrid to take on for less-experienced owners. However, if you are able to handle them, you’ll have a fiercely devoted friend unlike any other.

Their protective nature makes them perfect guard dogs, as they want nothing more than their family’s wellness and safety. However, be sure to give them the right obedience training and socialization when they are as young as possible. This helps to curb unnecessary territorial behavior. Beyond this, they have great loads of love to give to those they trust, making them an excellent choice for a family companion too.

With that said, be sure to devote a lot of time and attention to the Belusky’s exercise! They need 1.5 to 2 hours of activity each and every day. This not only keeps their bodies in shape but also helps to quell any bad behaviors that may arise from boredom. Look into high-intensity exercise like running, hiking, and playing fetch to supplement your Belusky’s daily walks. They should also have a place in a fenced-in yard where they can relax and run around at will.

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Mali-Dutchie

Breeds: Dutch Shepherd and Belgian Malinois

Your Mali-Dutchie will be a relatively large dog with an aptitude for working and doing their jobs well. This is because they come from two very diligent parents who were both bred for herding. They are wonderful companions, especially for emotional support, but there is a high required amount of activity they should be doing each day.

Because of this, they are more content leading fast-paced lives, and would require a family that can keep up with their needs. They are very intelligent dogs with a great deal of devotion to their pack. They are protective without being aggressive, making them a good choice for a guardian or watch dog. Be sure to train and socialize them from an early age to promote good behavior and help them play nice around other people and dogs.

Their high need for activity means they need to spend upwards of 120 minutes each day on their exercise. This is a lot, so be sure you’re up to the challenge! Mali-Dutchies love going out on long, brisk walks. They also enjoy long training exercises, sprints around the park, and games like fetch. This mix comes from parents who were born to work, so they are happiest if they are given a job to do. They love to feel useful, so see to it that you teach them to handle their tasks well. This way, you can keep your Mali-Dutchie living a life that makes them feel fulfilled.

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German Malinois

Breeds: German Shepherd and Belgian Malinois

Another sturdy mix on this list is the German Malinois, sometimes known as the Malinois X. This dog comes from hard-working parents who are often compared to one another. Both parent breeds are excellent protectors of their family; your German Malinois will no doubt be the same. They are known to keep a level head and, despite their intimidating appearance, are actually very loving and affectionate pets.

You’ll find that they have a great need for attention, always wanting to be at the center of the action. As such, try not to leave your German Malinois alone for long periods of time; you wouldn’t want them developing separation anxiety! These dogs have large personalities that can make them a bit stubborn, so you have to be firm when training them and teaching them to play nice with others. Do this as early as possible, and you will have a very smart, well-adjusted pet.

Like all German Shepherd crossbreeds, the German Malinois absolutely needs tons of exercise. Brace yourself, as keeping up with them can be difficult! You want to give them upwards of 120 minutes of exercise each day. Walks are a good idea, but you also need to supplement that with more intense exercise. These dogs are very happy when given tasks and games, so try to give them things to do plus toys to play with. This also helps to curb destructive behavior.

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Belgian Boxer

Breeds: Boxer and Belgian Malinois

If you’re looking for a powerful dog that is good both at work and protecting your home, the Belgian Boxer is pretty much it! These dogs are a bit more independent than regular Belgian Malinois, so they make a good choice for family setups where you may be too busy to attend to your dog at all hours of the day. Similar to other Boxer crossbreeds, these dogs are even-tempered with good tolerance for more rambunctious family members, like children or other animals.

Training and socializing them well from early on is key to their good behavior, so make sure you’re up to the task! These dogs are quite smart, though you may run into some stubbornness issues. They require patient, firm owners who can give them good leadership when teaching them new things.

Your Belgian Boxer is going to need a lot of extra exercise. These are large, strong dogs who need to get out and play to keep their muscles strong. Look into taking them on long walks every day; this is best for larger families who have a chore rotation. They also need toys and games to keep their minds stimulated. Nobody wants a bored dog because nobody wants their belongings destroyed!

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Akita Malinois

Breeds: Akita and Belgian Malinois

Your Akita Malinois comes from large, working parents. This means that they themselves will be bigger than most dogs, with an aptitude for taking on jobs with excellence. You’ll find that this Akita crossbreed is alert and watchful, always keen as to when something is a miss. This makes them a great choice for a guard dog.

They’re often fairly intelligent, with the Belgian Malinois parentage making them good at listening and following through with commands. You should have an easier time training this mix than many other dogs. This is good because the Akita’s tendency to bite certainly needs to be trained out of them. Be sure to socialize them early on so they can be more well-adjusted when meeting new friends.

This mix is highly adaptable, as both of their parents are as well. This makes them a good choice for a variety of living situations, whether out in rural areas or even in apartment settings. Owners only have to take care that they are giving their dogs enough exercise. Since your Akita Malinois loves to play, be sure to keep them satisfied with plenty of toys, games, and romps at the park. They also need long daily walks to keep their muscles strong.

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Dobernois

Breeds: Doberman Pinscher and Belgian Malinois

A Dobernois is often a very alert, intelligent, and loyal dog. Their protective and valiant personality means they are naturals at guarding the home. While they can look a little scary, they are affectionate, playful dogs who have nothing but boundless love for their trusted family and friends. This mix has a lower prey drive than your average Belgian Malinois. This makes them a good choice for families that have smaller animals, such as cats or birds. Helping them get comfortable with their new housemates is crucial in the early stages of their life in order to avoid bad behavior later on.

Your Dobernois is going to be receptive to your commands, making them easy to train. This is great because long training trials are just the thing to help exercise their brains and tire them out. A tired dog is a well-behaved dog, after all! Take them out for regular walks at a pace they (or you) can keep up with; they are active dogs, so try not to get too worn out from your walks together! Just like other Doberman crossbreeds, your Dobernois needs a lot of exercise. If they’ve been socialized properly, they love meeting and running around with other dogs at the park.

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Belgian Malamute

Breeds: Alaskan Malamute and Belgian Malinois

Your Belgian Malamute will be a large dog with lots of warm fur, making them a good choice if you live somewhere that has a colder climate. This dog is a very loyal, affectionate, and watchful companion. They have great obedience and intelligence to match. You can train them to do work that suits both your need for a job done and their need for fulfillment.

Like other dogs on this list, they are talented at guarding their home. They easily know when something isn’t quite right and are very protective of their territory. When they aren’t on duty, you can find them hanging out with other members of your family. When socialized properly, your Belgian Malamute can get along perfectly well with children and smaller animals. Just be sure to do this early on to discourage them from developing a prey drive.

The Belgian Malamute have a pretty high desire for exploration. This can make them prone to wandering, so be sure to secure your yard when they are outdoors. You can help quench this thirst for adventure by taking them out on daily walks– upwards of an hour at a brisk pace is enough to satisfy them. Always do your best to play with your dog. It’s not only good for mental stimulation but also for developing a loving, happy relationship with them.

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Pitbull Malinois

Breeds: American Pitbull Terrier and Belgian Malinois

Pitbulls have a bad reputation that follows them; we feel this is very unfair. Many Pitbull mixes, including the Pitbull Malinois, are wonderful dogs who are as affectionate and goofy as they are courageous. This Belgian Malinois mix, in particular, makes a wonderful family pet. If you socialize them from puppyhood, most take easily to children and friends of your family. The Pitbull side of your mix may cause them to be jealous of other pets in the home, but this can be curbed with enough time spent together from an early age. The Pitbull Malinois easily develops separation anxiety and may be demanding your attention.

This mix has moderately high energy needs. This makes exercising them a bit less work than what you’d put in for a regular Belgian Malinois. They should still get regular exercise; daily walks are ideal, but they do not need to be at too brisk a pace. If you have a fenced-in yard that is roomy enough for them to run around in, then that is sure to make them happy!

Your Pitbull Malinois is a playful hybrid, so nurture their love for playtime with lots of toys and games. This can help quell destructive behaviors that may pop up because of a lack of mental stimulation. Keeping boredom and frustration at bay is a great way to make your dog happy, so try not to skimp on activities you can do together.

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Malinois Italiano

Breeds: Cane Corso Italiano and Belgian Malinois

The final Belgian Malinois mix on this list combines the stoic personality of the Cane Corso with the work ethic of the Belgian Malinois. The result is a mix that is regal, wise, courageous, and loyal. The Malinois Italiano’s intelligence and propensity for obedience means that this mix is a dream to train. Start their training and socialization as young as you can; this is the best way to make the most out of their teachable personality. Your Malinois Italiano is not as playful as other dogs on this list– chalk it up to the more aloof nature of the Cane Corso. However, their serious demeanor works well in households that require a guard dog.

This dog does not do very well in apartment life. Their size and need for exercise dictate that they have a larger home with a fenced-in yard they can roam around in. These dogs are high maintenance in that they have high energy needs. However, the slightly more laid-back personality of the Cane Corso tempers the insatiable need for adventure most Belgian Malinois have.

It can certainly vary from dog to dog, but they do not need to engage in intense exercise too often. Try a schedule of 3 days a week of intense exercise, with long walks every other day. This is a great way to keep your dog’s powerful body healthy and their muscles strong.

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Final Thoughts

Belgian Malinois mixes are often hardworking, active, and loving dogs. They are a bright, good-natured bunch that prove to be truly versatile, making them a good choice for both the workforce and many homes. Their intelligence makes them trainable, but they can be difficult for an inexperienced owner to handle. Be sure to attend to their need for play, exercise, and affection, and you’ll have a wonderful companion for life.