The Belgian Malinois is a very vocal breed, barking frequently. Frequent barking in Belgian Malinois can indicate boredom, health issues, loneliness, the presence of strangers, or sometimes, it occurs for no apparent reason.
Belgian Malinois’ Barking Habits
Belgian Malinois are known to bark more than many other dog breeds. Their frequent barking is due to their history as working dogs, bred for herding livestock and protecting property.
Barking was crucial for their duties, making frequent barking a trait embedded in their genetic makeup.
How Often Do Belgian Malinois Bark?
Belgian Malinois puppies frequently bark while exploring their environment and learning about the world. Their barking often increases notably when they are 6-9 months old, as they enter adolescence.
Adult Belgian Malinois usually bark less than puppies but are still more vocal than many other breeds.
Belgian Malinois bark the most when alone or confined, responding to noises or threats, or when they’re excited to go outside.
Some Belgian Malinois rarely bark, while others bark at almost anything that draws their attention. There can be great individual variation in terms of barking frequency within the breed itself.
Comparing the Belgian Malinois to Other Breeds
Belgian Malinois bark more often than quieter breeds such as Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, Great Danes, and Bulldogs. Compared to these more easygoing breeds, Belgian Malinois’ barking is often considered excessive.
However, they bark less than notoriously vocal breeds like Beagles, Miniature Schnauzers, and Chihuahuas.
Overall, Belgian Malinois are moderately vocal, ranking in the middle in terms of barking frequency.
The Important Barks: How to Recognize Them and What to Do About Them
If you’re new to this species, you might find the barking of the Belgian Malinois besides being annoying, also confusing. They seem to bark all the time and you can’t tell why. But as you get used to the dog and learn more about its habits and different voices, you’ll come to realize that they don’t always make the same barking. Some are high and shrill, others are nervous. There are playful barks. There are relaxed barks. And there are the bored barks.
So many barks. As it turns out, the Belgian Malinois has a complex language and their barking is more often than not has a good reason behind it. The key is to identify the sound of the bark, investigate its cause so that the next time you’ll respond more promptly and address the cause of the problem without delay. That’s what all good pet owners do.
Boredom That Leads to Barking
The first type of barking that you’ll notice from your Belgian Malinois is the boredom barking. It’s a long drawl of a barking, that is winding but subdued. There’s no agitation here or tension. At least not the kind of excitement as when he’s barking at a butterfly or chasing a squirrel. This is a different bark.
The dog usually makes this bark when it’s bored and restless. It’s overcast outside and it cannot go to the park or even the backyard. It may have lost its favorite toy, misses its best friend, or just doesn’t know what to do since there aren’t many activities or games available. So what can you do? Give it something fun to do. Play fetch, or take it to the park if you can.
Barking at Strangers
That’s the trademark of all dogs regardless of the breed or species. Dogs see a stranger, they bark. Some do it out of being protective of the household, while others are just asking the stranger to become their friend.
The solution here is quite simple. You either see why there’s a stranger in your front yard, or just tell the dog that this is an old friend and not a stranger at all. The dog will go quiet when they see you talking to the stranger.
Playful Barking
And then there’s the playful barking. The dog is happy and in a good mood, so it barks. It probably wants to attract your attention. That’s fine. Or maybe it wants you to share the lovely day and enjoy the moment together.
This barking is usually a happy one with jovial undertones and no stress about it. When you hear your Belgian Malinois bark this way, it’s time to leave whatever you’re doing and join in on the fun.
Not Enough Socialization
This is similar to boredom barking. Both in tone and conditions, it resembles boredom barking. But unlike boredom, this one is caused by lack of socialization.
Dogs are social animals that get along with other dogs or other pets in a hurry. They don’t waste time to make friends. But when you keep your Belgian Malinois alone all day, it gets restless and suffers from social withdrawal. So the best solution is to take it to the park where it can hang out with other dogs and build some friendships.
Health issues
Dogs also bark as a way of expressing some annoyance, pain, or communicate that something doesn’t feel right. A sick dog will bark to get your attention.
You might notice other symptoms, but usually it’s the barking that gets your attention. The dog is telling you that it’s not feeling well and as its guardian human you should do something about it. There’s pain in the bark and it is usually weak and lacks the forcefulness and gusto that other barks have.
“Illogical” Barking
And finally there’s the illogical barking. There’s nothing wrong with the world. The dog’s health is fine. There are no squirrels nor postmen. It has enough food and water. It just got back from the park an hour ago. All is well with the world. But your Belgian Malinois is barking. That’s alright. Just let it get it out of its system.
Training a Belgian Malinois Not to Bark
So what can you do to make the Belgian Malinois bark less? Well, for starters, you need to build a strong bond with the dog. Don’t admonish it for barking, since that’s its nature. Once you have that strong bond, then you can start to train the dog to bark less.
Use a gentle and level voice when talking to the dog. Don’t scold or show that you’re upset. Give the dog treats as a reward. Also make sure to solve the issue causing the barking in the first place.
Do Belgian Malinois Make Other Noises?
It’s not all just bark with this dog. Sometimes it whines and moans. Especially as expressions of pain or when they’re not well. There’s also the welcoming noises they make when they meet you after a long day away from the house. One thing about this breed, they are very articulate.
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Mike is the Founder of Familylifeshare. Mike is well-knowledged in marriage, parenting, dogs, blogging and committed to sharing his knowledge and expertise with his readers. Know more about Mike from here.
