Belgian Malinois Price: Is the High Price Worth It?

So you want to know more about the Belgian Malinois price to determine its affordability and of course to get a good deal. Well, you are in the right place, however, you should never let the price of the dog dictate the buying decision. 

A breed like the Belgian Malinois can be very expensive (upwards of $3000 on the high-end). That’s why it’s important to learn all you can about a breed before you buy a dog.

Failure to do so can result in serious regrets for owners (and the dog).

For example, you may discover something about the Belgian Malinois temperament that completely turns you off this breed.

In this article, we walk you through all the key things you need to know about the Belgian Malinois that affects its costs. We also cover what owners should expect behaviorwise.

If you’re still undecided after reading up on this breed, you can always compare him to other dog breeds to find suitable alternatives.

Belgian Malinois Temperament and Personality

One of the first things you should know about the Belgian Malinois is that you have to socialize the heck out of him while he’s still young.

This is especially true if you want to bring one of these dogs into a home with children.

A properly socialized Malinois will enjoy being around children and will make for a great family dog.

However, a Malinois without proper socialization may become easily agitated with children who are not up to speed on how to properly handle a dog.

And it’s not just kids. An improperly socialized Malinois will also start fights with other dogs to claim dominance and will chase smaller animals, thinking they’re prey.

So, as you can see, training is especially important with this breed. And if you can’t do it yourself, you’ll need to hire a professional trainer for help.

Aside from this, the Malinois is a fantastic guard dog. He is intelligent and obedient, so he tends to learn quickly during training sessions.

The Belgian Malinois, Up Close

As the Belgian Malinois’ name might suggest, this breed originated, and remains quite popular, in Belgium.

In fact, the breed gets its name from the Belgian town of Malines. Belgians use this breed as guard dogs and police dogs, as well as competitors in dog sports.

Belgian Malinois Size

The Belgian Malinois is what you would consider a mid-size dog. This is important to note for several reasons.

First, when you know the size of a dog, you can anticipate how much you may be spending on his monthly diet.

Next, larger dogs tend to live fewer years than smaller dogs do.

Take, for example, Saint Bernards. You must really love this breed if you know you’re only going to get 8 to 10 years with them after paying all that money.

The Malinois is, on average, 22 to 28 inches tall when full-grown, and between 55 and 66 lbs. for males, and 64 to 75 lbs. for females.

Belgian Malinois Price – How Much Do Belgian Malinois Puppies Cost?

So, what truly is the Belgian Malinois puppy price?

(Are you sure you want to know?)

Let’s put it this way – it’s not unheard of for these dogs to cost $10,000!

Typically, the Belgian Malinois’ price range runs between $3,500 and $9,000. Though, on average, their price tends to be closer to $1,000 or so.

There are many reasons why this price can change so much, and why this breed is so expensive.

One such reason for this breed, in particular, is its rarity. It’s more difficult to find a Malinois in the U.S. than in the breed’s native Belgium.

Of course, a purebred Belgian Malinois price will always be higher than the price of a dog from not-so-pure bloodlines.

However, both the demand for the breed and the breeder’s location can also play a factor.

Demand

In the U.S. the AKC ranks the popularity of the Belgian Malinois at spot 43 out of 191 recognized breeds.

However, just because this breed falls in the middle of the road when it comes to popularity does not make it any easier to find here in the States.

And, as such, if you do find a breeder who specializes in the Belgian Malinois breed, there may be a line of buyers waiting for the next puppy.

So, you may have to wait a few litters until you can finally bring home a Malinois of your own.

Belgian Malinois Rescue and Adoption

One way to save thousands of dollars on a Belgian Malinois is to adopt or rescue one.

A good organization to check out is the American Belgian Malinois Club. Because this breed is rare in the States, this organization can help you actually find an organization or even a breeder to work with.

Rare breeds may be more difficult to find in your local shelter. However, you can always put your name on a list so when one comes in, you’ll have the first crack.

You can also let the shelter know if you’re open to a mixed breed.

Especially with a breed where puppies can cost as much as $10,000, people who pay for a purebred are not as likely to let go of him!

This is one of the reasons why mixed breeds are always more popular in shelters than purebreds are.

Belgian Malinois Cost of Ownership

The cost of ownership for a dog goes much further than what you pay the breeder or shelter before you bring him home.

You have to consider all the extra stuff too, like leashes, food dishes, and toys, as well as food to fill the dish and regular medical care.

Cost of Food

With the Belgian Malinois, you don’t have to worry about going broke on food.

One $30-ish bag for 40-ish lbs. of food each month should be plenty to keep his belly full.

However, you still shouldn’t try to cut corners by feeding him the cheap stuff.

Ultimately, he could suffer health problems because he isn’t getting the kind of nutrition he requires.

Health Care Expenses

And speaking of potential health conditions, it’s good to know ahead of time the kinds of issues that can plague a breed so you can prepare.

For instance, if you know ahead of time that a particular breed is sensitive to certain cancers, you can plan for potential surgery and long-term treatment.

As far as the Malinois goes, here are some of the more common health issues to look out for:

• Hip Dysplasia
• Progressive Retinal Atrophy
• Elbow Dysplasia
• Cataracts
• Epilepsy

As you can see, the maladies the Malinois tends to suffer from are long-term.

You, therefore, need to plan for any potential long-term care, including potential surgery and monthly prescriptions, should your dog develop any of these conditions.

Of course, most dogs are healthy and live long healthy lives. But it never hurts to prepare for the worst while expecting the best.

Training Programs

Because training is so important for this breed, you may want to consider hiring a

professional trainer. This is especially true if you’re a first-time dog owner.

There are a variety of training programs out there to choose from so that you can plan your budget accordingly.

And, of course, you can always attempt to train your own dog yourself. But if you feel things aren’t going well, then it’s crucial to have a professional step in.

Otherwise, to paraphrase the famous saying, you’ll be able to “dress your dog up,” but you won’t be able to take him anywhere.

And you certainly don’t want the neighborhood kids to feel afraid of your “mean” dog, or your neighbors to bring their dogs inside whenever you walk yours.

Grooming Costs

Grooming is something else you may want to seek assistance with for this breed. Here’s why.

You may think while looking at the Belgian Malinois that he looks very much like a wolf.

Siberian Huskies also look like wolves. Do you know what Huskies and the Malinois also have in common?

They shed like crazy.

Not only does the Malinois shed regularly but, just like Huskies, they also have two blow-out periods every year.

During these times, or even on the regular, you may want to hire a professional groomer to help you keep the mess to a minimum.

Plus, there are the regular things you need to keep up with, like trimming his nails, brushing his teeth, and inspecting and cleaning his ears.

You may want to simply have the groomer take care of the rest of these things too if you’re already bringing your dog in for proper brushing.

Final Thoughts on the Belgian Malinois Price

After reading this, you may know more about the Belgian Malinois breed. However, do you feel any differently now about the price of a Belgian Malinois?

There are many things to consider when weighing your decision to commit to this breed.

For one thing, he’s a lot of work. He needs constant training and constant grooming to make him a beautiful, properly socialized dog.

He’s a rather healthy breed, but the conditions he could come down with are mostly long-term. Do you have the funds necessary to give him proper long-term care?

And, most of all, you need to consider the average Belgian Malinois price which, let’s face it, ain’t cheap.

Are you and your budget ready to take on this beautiful and intelligent guard dog?

Calvin L.

Calvin is the co-founder and one of the main contributors to dogtemperament.com. He has been an avid dog lover all his life. He enjoys researching and sharing great ideas on how you can avoid common pitfalls of dog ownership and build the most loving and enjoyable relationship with your dog.