Preservation of the breed as they were in the early 1900’s.
When looking back at the Malinois from the early 1900s, the difference between then and now is striking. Over the decades, popularity, social media trends, and the modern obsession with extreme protection sports have pushed parts of the breed far away from its roots. Dogs became bigger, bulkier, more reactive, and in many cases, lost the type, temperament, and working balance that defined the Belgian Shepherd as a whole.
The four Belgian Shepherd varieties were never meant to be different breeds. Only the coat changes — not the structure, not the temperament, not the purpose.
But the Malinois has drifted dramatically from its cousins in many ways.
My breeding goal is pretty straightforward. I want to breed the old type, the ones that behave and look like the other varieties of Belgian shepherd. Some may claim that I am “watering down” the breed but let’s be honest, they were never meant to be what social media shows today. They were farm dogs. They didn’t need to be walking in a close heel in city centres, hear explosives and gunfire without flinching or jump through moving vehicles to bite someone and have extreme prey drive.
They were self assured but calm, able to lay in front of the fire snoozing but be ready to defend their family at a moment’s notice. They had enough prey drive to move livestock but not enough to want to bite down on them. But those without interest in herding, what happened to them? They became pets.
The modern online mantra of “Malinois aren’t pets, they’re extreme!” is often equal parts fear and ego. Many people want the breed to remain inaccessible so they can feel elite for owning one. What they don’t realise is that breeding Malinois to be more unstable, more reactive, and more unmanageable is the very thing harming the breed.
Versatility is the heart of the Malinois. Not extremity.
So what am I doing different, What am I doing to help the breed?
I am breeding Malinois that can live as pets — and yes, that’s intentional.
Before anyone panics:
being a “pet” does not mean “untrained” or “unable to work.”
Most working dogs worldwide — scent detection, SAR, assistance, conservation, herding — all live as pets when they’re not on duty.
Sports dogs are also pets.
Unless a dog is genuinely military, police, or security working every day, it is not a “professional working dog” if it competes in protection sports.
And there is nothing wrong with that.
My breeding aims to produce dogs capable of:
- scent detection
- search and rescue
- assistance work
- therapy work
- herding
- sports
- showing
- or being an active, loving companion
…without needing constant micromanagement or extreme outlets.
A Malinois should be able to rest when life happens.
People fall ill, get injured, have busy weeks — dogs need the temperament to cope with that without losing their minds. Lastly, I want to breed dogs that are as close to perfection in regards to the FCI breed standard as possible.
To summarise:
I am aiming to breed Malinois that can be pets, working, sports and show dogs.
Temperaments that are predictable and solid. I want the dogs to be able to live in a home with a family without losing their mind if they miss a day or two of exercise.
- Health:
I will only breed healthy dogs with official health testing certificates. - BVA hips and elbow scores
- Official eye examination
- DNA testing done with Embark or Loblokin for hereditary diseases such as:
- SCDA1
- SCDA2
- CJM
- DM
- CACA
- Behaviour propensity (A22 gene related rage)
My goal isn’t to make money or be internet famous. It is to contribute to the breed in a way that respects its heritage, preserves the temperament and maintains its versatility for the future