How long does a Belgian Malinois live?

The listed lifespan for a Belgian Malinois is 14–16 years.

How tall is a Belgian Malinois?

The listed height for a Belgian Malinois is 24–26 in (male), 22–24 in (female).

Is a Belgian Malinois good with children?

The AKC good-with-children score for a Belgian Malinois is 3 out of 5.

When is a Belgian Malinois full grown?

The growth size band for a Belgian Malinois is up to 24 months.

Herding Group

Belgian Malinois

Belgian Malinois is a large dog in the Herding Group. Adult weight is 60–80 lb (male), 40–60 lb (female), height is 24–26 in (male), 22–24 in (female), and the listed lifespan is 14–16 years. AKC describes the temperament as Confident, Smart, Hardworking.

Last reviewed November 1, 2026.

Lifespan14–16 years

Weight60–80 lb (male), 40–60 lb (female)

SizeLarge GroupHerding Group

Height

24–26 in (male), 22–24 in (female)

Energy

4 / 5

Shedding

3 / 5

Grooming

2 / 5

Trainability

5 / 5

Good with kids

3 / 5

The breed record

Across 119 single-size large breeds, a lifespan midpoint of 15 years is about 2.4 years longer than the 12.6-year average. A midpoint adult weight of 60 lb is about the same as the 59.2 lb average for those large breeds.

The listed origin is Belgium. The coat is described as smooth, short. The AKC energy score is 4 out of 5, close to the group average of 4.1 for the Herding Group. Shedding scores 3 out of 5. Grooming scores 2 out of 5, so home brushing covers most weeks. Trainability scores 5 out of 5, which is a biddable score. Good with children scores 3 out of 5. Good with other dogs scores 3 out of 5. AKC ranked this breed number 32 in 2025.

Adult size is usually reached in up to 24 months (size-band statement (Salt et al. 2017): larger breeds require up to 24 months). AKC parent-club recommended health screenings: Hip Evaluation, Elbow Evaluation, and Ophthalmologist Evaluation. These are screening tests, not a list of diseases the breed is guaranteed to develop.

Frequently asked

Questions from the breed record

The verified adult weight for a Belgian Malinois is 60–80 lb (male), 40–60 lb (female).

Sources

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55–75 lb (male), 45–60 lb (female) · 12–14 years
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