The Belgian Malinois Husky is an interesting dog for those who want an active, loyal, and intelligent companion. This popular mix breed is often seen as a working dog because it’s highly energetic, but it can also be the perfect choice for the right family.
Also known as the Belusky, this dog is the perfect guardian if you want a protective dog to take care of your property. At the same time, it’s affectionate and lovable, and you can easily train it for different tasks and tricks. This article will tell you everything you need to know about the Belgian Malinois Husky, so let’s dive in.
History of the Belgian Malinois Husky
The Belgian Malinois Husky dog has been around since the 1800s, mainly bred for its herding and working abilities. However, it has recently gained popularity as a protective and loyal family dog.
This mixed breed dog descends from two pure breeds, the Belgian Malinois and the Siberian Husky. Both dog breeds are named after where they originally come from and are characterized by being strong, smart, and active.
The Belgian Malinois is a protective, highly intelligent, alert, and obedient dog, and it has been recognized as a pure breed of Belgian herding dogs since the 1950s. It has a lot of stamina and really enjoys working. It also shows a lot of alertness and protectiveness.
Although this dog originally had the reputation of an excellent livestock herder, it was then trained to be a rescue and service dog. It’s one of the smartest dogs you can ever encounter.
The Siberian Husky is a strong dog that has been helping humans for thousands of years. This dog was bred in Siberia to pull sleds and goods, and it spent a lot of time with its family. This is why it grew to be extremely affectionate of humans and playing with adults and kids.
This breed arrived in the US in the early 1900s for a sled race and was immediately loved by everyone. The AKC recognized the breed as the Arctic Husky, but the name later changed to Siberian Husky in 1991.
Belgian Malinois Husky Mix Facts
People believe that the Belusky originated in the US, bred to be an athletic, elegant, smart, and alert dog. It was mainly seen working in large ranches, making sure that everything was in order and that its humans were safe.
Appearance
There’s no specific way to guarantee how a Belgian Malinois Husky will turn out to be. It can look more like the muscular and strong Belgian Malinois or more like the elegant Husky.
The Belsuky’s parents are considered to be structurally similar, although Belgian Malinois dogs are slightly larger. So your dog might be around 20 to 26 inches tall and might weigh anything between 35 to 80 pounds, depending on which side is more dominant.
This dog will have an athletic appearance with a good muscular body, and the head can be thick like the Husky or more defined like the fine-boned Belgian Malinois. Both breeds have almond-shaped eyes, so your Belusky will probably have them too. They can be brown or blue, and in very rare cases, you might have a dog with one brown eye and one blue eye.
This mixed breed dog will have erect ears, but they can be round if it looks more like a Husky or pointed if it looks more like a Belgian Malinois. The tail is usually long.
Coat
Your Belgian Malinois Husky will have longer hair on the hindquarters if the Belgian Malinois genes are more dominant. But in general, this dog will have a short to medium-length coat with layers of coarse hair that make a waterproof double coat.
The coat comes in various shades of black, gray, brown, or white, and some dogs will have some white or black patches. This dog is a frequent shedder, so it’s not the right dog for you if you want a hypoallergenic dog. The coat can protect the dog in colder climates, but it can also live comfortably in hotter climates.
Belgian Malinois Husky Mix Behavior and Temperament
Both parents of the Belgian Malinois Husky are considered highly intelligent dogs, but other than that, they have two different personalities. These dogs can get bored easily if they’re not provided with the right setup, as their parents are considered active working dogs.
Personality
The Belusky’s personality can be a mix of the aggressiveness and protectiveness of the Belgian Malinois and the friendliness and gentleness of the Siberian Husky.
Your dog might be a little wary of strangers if it’s more like its Belgian Malinois parent, which can make it a good guard dog. On the other hand, if the Husky side is more dominant, you should expect your dog to be friendly, but more independent and a little bit harder to train.
In all cases, the Belgian Malinois Husky is the right dog for an athletic owner who knows how to deal with this intelligent dog. As a matter of fact, some people think that the dog might be too intelligent for its own good. So, you need to establish rules as soon as you get a puppy so you and your dog don’t suffer in the future.
In the right setup, your Belgian Malinois Husky will establish a strong bond with its family. It will protect its humans and do its best to please them. Yet, this dog might get a little too aggressive without proper training.
With the intelligence of the Belusky, you can train your dog to be anything you want. It can be a good family dog, rescue dog, service dog, or watchdog. It just needs an assertive owner who has the time and energy to understand its potential.
The dog loves being a guard dog, so it might attack strangers if it feels that its humans are being threatened in any way. The dog won’t miss any knock on the door, and it might bark excessively compared to other breeds because both parents tend to bark a lot.
Exercise
The Belgian Malinois Husky has a lot of energy that needs to be channeled to keep your dog happy and healthy. This athletic dog needs at least two hours of exercise every day and will live happily on a ranch or in a house with a big backyard where it can run and play.
Your backyard should have a proper fence because the parents of the Belgian Malinois Husky are good jumpers. Moreover, the Husky is a skilled digger and an escape master, and if its side is more dominant, your Belusky might attempt to run away.
Although it’s a family-oriented dog, your Belusky won’t be comfortable and happy in a small apartment unless you both go out to exercise regularly. It appreciates the presence of a lot of toys and enjoys playing catch and fetch with its humans. If you don’t give this dog something to do, it will get too bored and destructive.
With Family
The Belgian Malinois Husky will be the right dog for an active family. With more family members, this dog will have the right opportunity to exercise and work out. However, teaching this dog manners early on is crucial because it can be too stubborn if you don’t train it properly.
With proper training, your Belusky can learn how to behave in social settings without being too aggressive. However, its herding instincts can push the dog to become overly active. This is why you should be extremely alert when this dog is around younger children, as it might chase them or knock them down while running.
With older children and adults, this dog will be the perfect running buddy and can enjoy playing for hours. In addition, it enjoys spending time outside, so it can be kept in the backyard as long as it’s secured.
With Other Pets
The Belgian Malinois Husky is better suited for a single-pet household where it can be the only companion for its humans. Nevertheless, if the Husky’s personality is more dominant, your dog might be more tolerant of other pets, especially larger dogs.
Belusky dogs can be extremely active to the point of aggression, especially if they’re not trained well. In some cases, neutering will solve the problem if your dog is getting out of control.
Early socialization will help your dog get accustomed to different situations, people, and other animals. Yet, with the strong herding instincts of the Belgian Malinois, your Belusky might never be the right dog for you if you have smaller pets like cats and rodents in the house.
Behavioral Issues
The intelligence and independence of the Belusky can be a real problem if you don’t train your dog properly. This is why you need to give time to proper training once you get a young puppy, as this will help you both live happily together.
Lack of exercise can be a real problem for this highly energetic dog. It might start chewing on different items and engage in destructive behavioral patterns.
Excessive barking can be an issue if your dog lacks mental and physical stimulation. However, in some cases, your Belgian Malinois might not be excessively barking for this particular breed since both parents tend to bark more often. So, this dog won’t work for you if you need a quiet lap dog.
Digging can be a problem if the dog doesn’t get enough exercise. Therefore, you should always make sure that your outdoor area is perfectly dog-proofed to prevent your intelligent and stubborn dog from digging and escaping.
Belgian Malinois Husky Mix Socialization and Training
Early training is a must for your Belgian Malinois Husky because this smart dog can easily get out of control. The dog is very easy to train to do different tasks, but training it to sit still might be a real challenge.
As soon as you get this dog, you should practice positive reinforcement to help it understand its boundaries. You’ll always face a challenge with this active dog because its brain and body are faster than yours. Yet, continuous training will help put things under control.
Being assertive without being harsh is what works best for this smart dog. Because it requires a lot of training and work, this dog might not be the right one for you if you’re a novice owner or you don’t have the time and patience to train it.
In some cases, hiring a professional trainer will be the only way to make things work with your Belusky.
Belgian Malinois Husky Mix Grooming
When you get a Belgian Malinois Husky, you should expect a lot of grooming because this dog sheds heavily. Brushing the dog’s double coat is essential to minimize the amount of loose fur that might still end up on your furniture and rugs. You can also use a deshedding tool, but this tool can irritate the skin, so don’t use it too often.
In addition to brushing the coat, you just need to clean the ears and eyes of your dog. Keeping the nails trimmed and the gum and teeth clean is essential. Because this dog spends a lot of time outside, you’ll need to bathe it more often.
Belgian Malinois Husky Mix Prices and Expenses
Both parents of the Belusky are expensive dogs, so you might have to spend between $1000 and $2000 to get a Belgian Malinois Husky. The price differs according to several factors, including the lineage of the parents, their health, and the reputation of the breeder.
Breeders should also provide proof of vaccines, and they should be included in the price. But you’re likely to find this breed in a rescue shelter, so you can adopt one for a lower price.
This energetic dog needs a calorie-dense diet with plenty of proteins and carbs. Also, it appreciates adding some wet food to its diet because it helps with hydration and provides more proteins. This dog is fond of high-quality treats, so you might end up paying $120 to $150 per month for food.
Having a crate will help this dog because it loves spending time in its private den. Setting up a durable and large crate for this dog can cost up to $600. You should also consider the cost of regular vet visits, checkups, and neutering if needed.
Belgian Malinois Husky Mix Rarity
The Belgian Malinois Husky can be rare to find, but you can still encounter some dogs in shelters. This is why you should consider adopting one instead of buying.
Belgian Malinois Husky Mix Life Expectancy
The Belgian Malinois Husky can live between 12 and 15 years, depending on its health. With proper care and maintenance, this dog will lead a happy and long life.
Belgian Malinois Husky Mix Health
Like other mixed-breed dogs, the Belgian Malinois Husky will inherit some health issues from both parents. This is why you need to have your dog checked by a reputable vet.
Hip and Elbow Dysplasia
Hip and elbow problems can be common in Beluskies, and you need to make sure that your dog has a comfortable bed. Unfortunately, this genetic defect can’t be cured, and your dog will suffer from severe mobility problems as it grows older.
Allergies
Your Belusky might inherit allergy problems from its parents, so it can suffer from food and skin allergies.
Zinc Deficiency
This condition can make your dog more prone to infections and eventually leads to abnormal iodine metabolism.
Wrap Up
If you lead an athletic lifestyle and have time for an energetic and smart dog, then the Belgian Malinois Husky will be the right dog for you. This dog loves spending time outside and can be quite hard to train. However, you might end up with a lenient Husky-like dog, although it still requires a lot of training.