Are you thinking of getting a dog and can’t choose between a Pitbull and a Belgian Malinois? Maybe you should consider a Pitbull Malinois mix if that’s the case.
This designer hybrid dog breed is getting more and more popular every day. If you’re looking for more information, you’ve come to the right place.
Read on to find out more about the origins of the Pitbull Malinois mix, as well as its appearance, temperament, and size. You’ll also find great tips on caring for a Pitbull Mal in this article, besides an overview of this breed’s potential health issues.
Overview
The Pitbull Malinois mix is a hybrid breed between Pitbulls and Belgian Malinois. This is a new breed and is still relatively rare, up to the point that it’s still not recognized by the American Kennel Club.
Dogs of this breed are often referred to as Pitbull Mals.
Brief History of Pitbull Malinois Mix
The origins of the Pitbull Mallianois mix go back to the early 20th century. At this time, breeders started mixing Pitbulls and Belgian Malinois dogs.
Since the Pitbull Mal breed is barely a century old, it’s still quite rare, and there isn’t much information available on it.
When trying to figure out the result of mixing Pitbulls and Belgian Mals, the best course of action is to look into the history of the two parent breeds.
Pitbull
Pitbulls were bred across the pond for unsavory purposes, to say the least. They were bred in the UK for the cruel practice of bear and bull-baiting in the 19th century. In turn, breeders focused on aggression and strength when breeding these dogs.
This has led to Pitbulls’ reputation as dangerous dogs that will bite your head off at the slightest provocation.
However, this is simply not the case. As with any other dog breed, a Pitbull’s temperament depends on how it’s trained and socialized early in its life. When handled correctly, Pitbulls can be as loyal and sweet as it gets.
On multiple occasions, I had cats spend a couple of days around my pitbull, and good ol’ Roscoe never showed even a tiny bit of aggression.
In fact, Pitbulls have been used as service dogs on many occasions because of how loyal they are.
Belgian Malinois
The origins of the Belgian Malinois are quite different from those of Pitbulls. These dogs were bred to assist farmers in their day-to-day work.
Their primary role was as shepherd dogs. They were responsible for protecting their owner’s livestock from potential threats.
Belgian Malinois are well known for their high intelligence, work ethic, and unwavering loyalty. Their herding behavior is their most significant trait; they do exceptionally well around other dogs.
These dogs have also been used as police dogs quite often.
Characteristics of Pitbull Malinois Mix
Now that we’ve had a brief overview of the parents, let’s dive into the characteristics of the pups they produce.
How Big Are Pitbull Mals?
Both Pitbulls and Belgian Malinois dogs are quite large. In turn, Pitbull Mals are pretty big dogs.
Their size can vary depending on which of their parents they inherit more characteristics from. Pitbull Mals that take to their Malinois parent more can grow to a height of 25 inches and weigh a whopping 80 pounds.
The smallest Pitbull Mals are 19 inches tall and weigh around 40 pounds. But, you should note that these figures are on the extreme ends of the spectrum. The height and weight of most Pitbull Mals you’ll encounter will fall in the middle of this range.
You’ll also notice that male Pitbull Mals are taller and heavier than females.
What Do Pitbull Mals Look Like?
Pitbulls and Belgian Malinois are quite different in their appearance. So, how a Pitbull Mal looks can vary depending on which of its parents it resembles the most.
One thing that Pitbulls and Belgian Malinois have in common is having a short coat of fur. This shows in their offspring.
A Pitbull Mal’s fur is short and can come in various colors, including mahogany, white, fawn, black, or tan. You should note that Pitbull Mals’ coats often combine these colors instead of featuring only one of them.
Pitbull mals also have dark ears that are quite large and can be pointing upwards or drooping. That depends on the state of mind a Pitbull Mal is in.
As for their eyes, Pitbull Mals have a distinct black hue surrounding them. This is inherited from their Malinois parent.
Regarding body type, Pitbull mals have a lean, elegant build. However, you’ll also notice that they have their Pitbull parent’s toned, muscular characteristics.
Personality and Temperament of a Pitbull Mal
The first thing that stands out in Pitbull Mals’ personality is that they’re always bursting with energy. But, of course, how that energy comes out depends on how a Pitbull Mall was trained and socialized as a pup.
These dogs may look menacing, but they can be highly playful, affectionate, and loyal to their owners if handled correctly. On the other hand, Pitbull Mals can be very aggressive, especially with strangers, if they’re not trained properly in their formative years.
Pitbull Mals are super intelligent and, in turn, are very receptive to proper training and conditioning. However, they can be stubborn and difficult to deal with when they’re not in the mood.
These dogs need a lot of exercises, which isn’t surprising since they come from two breeds known for their hardworking traits.
They also need constant companionship. Pitbull Mals aren’t the kind of dogs you can leave alone at home for hours on end as you go about your day. They’re highly prone to separation anxiety, and you’ll probably come home to several ripped-up pillows and couches.
Pitbull Mals tend to do quite a lot of barking, which is understandable since they were shepherds at some point. They know that they need to sound the alarm when something seems off to them.
However, you can train this behavior out of them with consistent discipline and conditioning.
How Much Do Pitbull Mals Cost to Buy?
Pitbull Mal puppies don’t come cheap. If you’re considering buying one from a breeder, this will cost you between $500 and $1000, with some of them costing as much as $2000.
If you’re wondering why, the answer is pretty easy. Belgian mals are already expensive as it is because they’re rare in the US. At the same time, there’s a high demand for them.
Pitbulls aren’t cheap, either. They’re expensive because they’re widely sought-after. So, breeding these two, you can expect their offspring to cost quite a lot.
If you can’t afford to buy one, you can find Pitbull Mals in shelters, but that doesn’t happen often.
Caring For Pitbull Malinois Mix
If you’re contemplating making a Pitbull Mal the newest member of your family, you need to know how to properly take care of it.
Here are some guidelines to follow when caring for a Pitbull Mal.
What Is the Ideal Environment For a Pitbull Mal?
As we’ve previously mentioned, Pitbull Mals are large dogs that are highly energetic. Therefore, having them live in a small apartment is simply not practical. These dogs aren’t content with laying around indoors all day; they need large spaces to run around and explore.
This is why a large house with a spacious backyard is the best environment for a Pitbull Mal.
In terms of their interaction with other pets you may have, you should get a Pitbull Mal while it’s young and introduce it to your other pets at a young age.
If you have young kids, you may wonder if it’s safe to have such a large dog around them. Ideally, Pitbull Mals should be in households with older kids. However, they’re not dangerous to younger ones as long as they’re properly socialized.
Nonetheless, you shouldn’t leave a Pitbull Mal with toddlers without supervision. Even if you’ve trained your Pitbull Mal flawlessly, you still have to remember that it’s a hefty dog. This may lead to mishaps occurring, such as knocking your kids over, even if it’s just playing around with them.
How to Train a Pitbull Mal
Despite their intimidating appearance, Pitbull Mals are incredibly malleable and easy to train. That’s mainly thanks to their high level of intelligence.
However, it’s very important that you start training them and reinforcing the desired behavior in them when they’re still young. As with any dog breed, it becomes much more difficult to alter their behavior when they get older.
Training a Pitbull Mal involves providing it with a daily dose of physical and mental exercise. You’ll also want to expose it to various situations and environments.
Allowing your Pitbull Mal pup to interact with several other dogs and strangers will go a long way in making it properly socialized and avoiding any future aggression.
Of course, you must also housetrain your Pitbull Mal and teach it to be obedient. This will be made a lot easier if your dog is adequately stimulated, both physically and mentally. A stimulated dog is a happy dog, and a happy dog is more likely to do as it’s told.
Naturally, some Pitbull Mals will be more receptive to training than others. If your Pitbull Mal isn’t responding well to your training methods, your best approach would be to hire a certified dog trainer to work with it while it’s still young.
What to Feed a Pitbull Mal
With their highly energetic nature, Pitbull Mals will likely be running around all day. That, plus the fact that they have a large, muscular body, makes it essential that they have a well-rounded diet to stay healthy.
This involves feeding a Pitbull Mal high-quality probiotic dog food. Additionally, maintaining an adequate quantity of vitamins in its diet.
You should also make sure that you’re using healthy treats when rewarding your Pitbull Mal for being a good boy. This will help avoid having your Pitbull Mal become obese. With large dogs, obesity is a serious issue.
How Often Does a Pitbull Mal Shed?
Since they have short fur coats, Pitbull Mals don’t shed very often. So the only time you’ll notice a Pitbull Mal shedding quite a lot of fur is during winter or fall.
This is when you should brush your Pitbull Mal’s coat daily instead of once a week during the summer months. Doing that, you should be fine for the rest of the year.
What Is the Lifespan of a Pitbull Malinois Mix?
Pitbull Mals can live anywhere between 10 and 16 years. Of course, this is provided that they’re cared for and don’t suffer from any health conditions.
Potential Health Issues in Pitbull Mals
Unfortunately, Pitbull Mals are susceptible to several health issues. Including cataracts, hip and elbow dysplasias, and congenital heart disease.
Some of these health problems are genetic. Pitbull Mals’ predisposition for them stems from the fact that these diseases are common in both Pitbulls and Belgian Malinois dogs. Other health issues, such as bloating, can result from a Pitbull Mal eating too much or too fast.
Conclusion
The Pitbull Malinois mix is a breed that results from crossing a Pitbull and a Belgian Malinois.
This hybrid breed is new and is yet to get recognition from the American Kennel Club.
Pitbull Mals are large dogs whose fur can come in various colors thanks to the differences in their parent breeds. Yet, they typically have a short coat of fur that’s noticeably darker around their eyes.
These dogs are intelligent and energetic. Unfortunately, they need large spaces to run around and spend all that energy.
Pitbull Mals are highly receptive to training, only if it’s done when they’re still young. When trained correctly, these dogs can be as affectionate, loyal, and playful as they come.
If you’re thinking of bringing a Pitbull Mal into your family, make sure you know its needs and how to care for it properly. You should also consider the potential health issues these dogs can develop.
