Protective, strong, and territorial, hard-working Belgian Malinois make excellent personal protection dogs. This breed is alert, brave, loyal, and very loving. These traits make the Belgian Malinois a great guard dog and a loving family companion.
If you’ve been interested in learning more about the breed or want to invest in a protection dog for your safety, this is the article for you. Learn more about what to expect with this impressive breed. So, how much are Belgian Malinois?
What You Need to Know Before Buying a Belgian Malinois
Belgian Malinois look a lot like German Shepherds, and if you didn’t know what you were looking for, you might mistake one for the other. These dashing dogs come in a variety of colors, including red, fawn, or grey with a black overtone. Full-grown male Belgian Malinois are slightly smaller than German Shepherds, standing between 24-26 inches tall and weighing anywhere from 50-80 pounds. Full-grown female Belgian Malinois will grow to 22-24 inches tall and weigh up to 60 pounds.
It’s important to know that Belgian Malinois are working dogs, originally bred to protect livestock on farms and ranches. They love to be active and thrive when given jobs to do. Play is their favorite word, and they enjoy working off their boundless energy. Belgian Malinois are also incredibly intelligent dogs. They respond well to training and can learn nearly any task, role, or trick you need. It’s their high intelligence and high willingness to please, paired with their extreme sense of loyalty and work ethic, that makes these dogs especially favored among the police and military forces. That said, they’re neither small nor low maintenance, so you need to know what you’re committing to before bringing a Belgian Malinois home.
How Much Is a Trained Belgian Malinois?
If you have the space for a large dog and feel you’re up for keeping a Belgian Malinois well-exercised and entertained, you might wonder, “How much are Belgian Malinois?” The Belgian Malinois price range can vary significantly, depending on where you get your dog and what you’re looking for. There’s a difference between a puppy purchased just to be a pet and a trained dog purchased to be a working dog. A dog that’s already been trained will cost significantly more than a puppy. A well-bred, trained adult Belgian Malinois will cost between $45,000 and $65,000. A highly trained dog with a strong show record will cost between $75,000 and $200,000. It may sound like a lot of money, and it is, but this type of highly trained dog does far more than just fetch.
A fully trained personal protection dog will:
- Alert you to threats
- Respond to given commands immediately
- Be trained to face stressful situations
- Protect you, even putting themselves in harm’s way
- Know how to neutralize intruders until authorities can arrive on the scene
Personal protection dogs are more than pets. While they can be gentle around children and be loving and loyal family dogs, they’re also fiercely loyal and stand by your side and defend you at all costs. It’s their job. So, if you’re interested in a protection dog, the Belgian Malinois price range will depend largely on both lineage and training. The better the trainer, the higher the cost.
You may be tempted to purchase a lower-priced Belgian Malinois from an unknown breeder, but we highly advise against it. You’re purchasing this animal to be your or your family’s line of defense against attackers. You want to be sure the dog you buy is healthy and has adequate, reliable training. Breeders who lack the skills and understanding to train these animals put you and your dog at significant risk. Similarly, people who over-breed their dogs can cause significant health problems later in the dog’s life.
How Much Do Belgian Malinois Puppies Cost?
Belgian Malinois puppies do not come with your run-of-the-mill adoption price tag. If you’re looking to purchase a puppy, your costs will depend on several things, just like an adult dog.
Factors That Influence the Cost of a Belgian Malinois
Regardless of whether you’re interested in a puppy or a fully grown, trained Belgian Malinois, several factors can impact the cost of your dog. Wondering, “How much are Belgian Malinois?” Here’s what to consider.
Breeder’s Location & Reputation
Depending on your chosen breeder’s location, you’ll need to factor travel into the cost of your puppy. Is your breeder located in the same city, several states away, or a country away? Will your breeder fly the dog to you, or will you fly to pick up the dog? The travel required can add hundreds to thousands of dollars to the price tag for your dog. Also, consider the caliber of breeder you’ve chosen. The better a breeder’s reputation, the higher the price they can ask. These dogs are highly sought after, and the best breeders will only have so many dogs per season to sell.
Litter Size & Lineage
Puppies are often spoken for before they’re weaned when sold by highly reputable breeders. If a breeder has a small litter, there will also be greater demand for the puppies they have available.
The better lineage (and proof of it) that a Belgian Malinois has, the higher the price you will pay.
Training Level
How much is a trained Belgian Malinois? That depends on the level of training you opt for. Simple obedience training will come with a small cost, while a highly trained family protection dog will cost more. If your dog is trained for personal protection by the time you get it, or even if it has a minimum of training and socialization, you’ll need to factor in that cost.
How Much Does It Cost to Train a Belgian Malinois?
There are different types of training available for your dog, and cost will vary depending on the focus and depth of training. So, how much is a trained Belgian Malinois going to cost, depending on the training type?
- Basic obedience: Basic obedience training teaches essential commands and provides socialization for your dog in a matter of weeks. This simple training costs between $15 to $125 per session, depending on whether you’re taking a group class or private lessons.
- Advanced obedience: More advanced obedience training courses move beyond sit and stay into complex commands and training requiring impulse control, like off-leash training, distance commands, duration challenges, and complex behavior chains. This training costs more, ranging on average from $500 to $3500, depending on the length of the program and focus of the training.
- Protection training: Protection dog training can vary significantly depending on the expertise of the trainer, the type of training, and the depth of training involved. Private training is ideal to get the attention needed to achieve excellent and reliable results. That costs between $2,000 and $6,000 for multi-week private protection courses or boot camp-style training. For expert-level protection training, you’ll typically purchase the dog and the training together, paying between $50,000 to $200,000 for a fully trained protection dog.
- Ongoing reinforcement: If you need to reinforce obedience training, you may only need a quick refresher course, which is likely to run about $50-$150. If you’re sending your dog away to training camp, you may pay $1,500-$3,000. If you need to re-up your dog’s protection training, talk to the original trainers. They’ll know your dog and may offer additional training as part of the original cost, or for an additional fee.
What Can You Expect to Pay for a Malinois Puppy?
A Belgian Malinois puppy with papers, but no breeding rights or show quality, costs an average of $1,067.50. With papers, superior lineage, and breeding rights or show quality, a Malinois puppy price can average from $3,400 to $9,000.
Without papers or lineage, you’ll pay much less, but do not do it! Many backyard breeders do not ethically breed, and you can acquire puppies with hip dysplasia and other health problems.
Ongoing Costs of Owning a Belgian Malinois Protection Dog
Protection dog costs can get pretty high, but the expense is ultimately up to you. Using the numbers below, the low end of the average annual cost of owning a Belgian Malinois is about $1,150, while the high end could be as much as $5,000.
Type of Dog Food
The average amount people spend on kibble is around $500 a year for one dog. Canned food or raw food can drive that cost up to $2,000 a year.
Veterinarian Fees
Annual veterinarian bills for a healthy pup are between $200 and $1,000, depending on your dog’s age and activity level. This includes regular vet exams, dental hygiene, and any vaccinations. Some vaccines need to be given annually, while others, such as the rabies vaccination, can be given every three years.
City Fees
The cost of a dog license in your city depends on where you live, but it isn’t usually expensive. A license can run between $25 and $125 for the year.
Insurance
Health insurance for a healthy canine is between $275 and $5,000 a year. Many pet owners invest in this coverage because if there is ever an accident or illness, insurance kicks in and the expenses overall are greatly diminished.
Miscellaneous Costs
Other costs, such as dog grooming, toys, treats, and gear, vary greatly and depend on the owner’s budget and the dog’s activity level. Most people spend between $150 and $1,000 a year on these items. However, for dogs that shed a lot or those who need to be comfortable during the summer months, grooming costs could be higher.
Life-Long Commitment
Those who are interested in owning Belgian Malinois protection dogs should consider the cost each year and for the next 15+ years. To take the best care of your dog possible, it’s important to ensure that you can afford this wonderful breed. If you can afford about $1,000 a year in expenses, you can care for one of these wonderful dogs.
Time Investment Required
As you explore, “How much are Belgian Malinois?” consider all the ways you’ll need to invest in your new dog. Beyond financial costs, think about the time commitment you’ll need to make. Any dog requires a certain amount of your time to get the attention, exercise, and stimulation they need to stay happy and healthy. A protection dog takes that time commitment a bit further. To maintain your protection dog’s training, you’ll need to provide daily reinforcement and opportunities for your dog to practice their skills. Belgian Malinois are high-energy working dogs, so they’ll also need a job and ample opportunities to expend their energy.
That doesn’t mean that your protection dog is now a full-time job. A high-quality trainer, like Scott’s K9, will train your dog to focus their energy on approved toys so that they can self-manage some of their energy. However, you do have to invest in taking your dog out to exercise and play to keep them content. Protection dogs will require your attention and affection to maintain the bond you share so they can do their jobs well.
Is a Trained Belgian Malinois Right for You?
Belgian Malinois are highly intelligent dogs with an excellent breeding history. They are happiest when working, which is why they make fantastic protection dogs. They will need regular exercise, jobs to perform, and stimulation for their keen intellect. Belgian Malinois are very obedient animals, but they should never be kept locked up in a home all day with nothing to do. Just like any dog, boredom will drive a Belgian Malinois crazy, and your furniture may suffer as a result.
They are loyal, obedient, playful, and love challenges. They are also gentle around children and will defend your family, considering themselves part of your “pack.” To learn more about our expertly trained family protection dogs, contact us today.
Sources:
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https://www.dogster.com/dog-training/how-much-does-dog-training-cost
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https://alternativecaninetraining.com/difference-between-basic-advanced-dog-obedience-training/
https://www.airtasker.com/us/costs/dog-training/dog-trainer-cost/
https://www.rover.com/blog/cost-of-dog-parenthood/