The Total Guide On How High A Belgian Malinois Can Jump

The Belgian Malinois looks like a powerful dog. The body is muscular without being heavy, balanced by a narrow frame and large legs.

They clearly have boundless energy, and their fawn coat and alert attitude show the working past of the Belgian Malinois.

If you’ve ever seen the Belgian Malinois run, you’ll have noticed the way it combines speed with bounding movements.

Which might lead you to wonder exactly how high this breed of dog can jump. It’s clear from how they cover flat surfaces that this is a dog with quite a large leap.

A Belgian Malinois can jump above 6 feet, and possibly as high as 8 feet. Their legs are heavily muscled without being overly large, which allows them to gain power which isn’t lost to weight.

Able to clear these incredible heights, the Belgian Malinois is well suited for a life work.

How High Can A Belgian Malinois Jump? (The Answer Is Incredible)

The Belgian Malinois is a fantastic jumper, with an ability to soar over fences and gates. A Belgian Malinois can jump up to 6 feet, and some have been reported to go even higher.

They can also use this jumping ability to scale walls and trees, which enables them to be used in many service positions.

As well as the impressive jump, the Belgian Malinois has good speed. This is particularly useful in combat roles.

Speed and height combine in a dog that can successfully move away from dangerous objects, including gunshots and threatening people.

In fact, the Malinois is a prolific service dog and has worked alongside the military and the police. The Belgian Malinois has even been employed by the Secret Service to guard the White House.

The reason the Belgian Malinois is such a good jumper is related to its body shape, which came about from selective breeding for working traits.

The Malinois is a type of Belgian Shepherd dog, which gives a significant clue to its working history. 

The Belgian Shepherd was originally used as a herding dog in Belgium, similar to other European shepherd dogs.

There was little consideration given to the breed for many years, which left it close to dying out, and with a wide variety of features.

An effort was made to create a breed standard, which eventually led to four varieties: the Groenendael, Laekenois, Tervuren, and the Malinois. 

The Malinois in particular is noted for its athletic ability and endless resources of energy. This made the breed very popular, and eventually adopted into service work.

Visually, the Belgian Malinois is similar to the German Shepherd but longer and leaner. This slender shape contributes to the superior jumping ability of the Malinois.

Without having excess weight to carry, the Malinois can more effectively use its muscles.

Powerful but light, with pronounced leg muscles, the Belgian Malinois is one of the most incredible dog jumping breeds.

Which Dog Can Jump Highest?

The Belgian Malinois may be able to clear some incredible heights, but it isn’t technically the best jumper around. This title actually goes to a Greyhound.

‘Feather’ was two years old when she set the Guinness World Record for the highest jump by a dog.

She was able to clear 75.5 inches, or 6.3 feet. Although, keep an eye out for record breakers, because there have been rumors of a Malinois being able to clear 8 feet (outside of record setting conditions).

Other dogs with an impressive jump include shepherd varieties. The Australian Shepherd and the German Shepherd are both able to reach fantastic heights.

As are other working dog breeds, such as the Australian Kelpie and the Border Collie. 

Some breeds with a leap that might surprise you are the Jack Russell Terrier, Rat Terrier, and Papillon. These dogs have a small stature, but can jump several times their own height.

These are also dogs with a huge amount of energy.

How Do You Stop A Belgian Malinois From Jumping?

The Belgian Malinois may be best known for its work with various military services, but it can also make a great pet for experienced owners.

Surprisingly gentle and with a friendly and loyal personality, an active family can gain a lot from owning a Belgian Malinois.

However, if you want to own a Belgian Malinois, then you have to be prepared for the jumping. This isn’t just a tactic used by the military, it’s also a way for the dog to burn off energy.

It’s also something that they’ll do just to have a good time.

If you want to have a Belgian Malinois in your home, you have to be prepared for them to jump on the furniture.

Although this can be annoying, it isn’t anywhere near as worrying as when your Malinois is able to clear the fence in the backyard.

Any owner of a Belgian Malinois has to have a large fence – in excess of 6 feet. As well as being able to jump high, the Malinois can also climb.

With things in the yard acting as a jumping off point, the Malinois can clear heights you wouldn’t believe.

The best way to ensure your Belgian Malinois won’t jump is to make sure they get lots of exercise. This means long walks, more than once a day.

If you want to own a Malinois, you have to be prepared to keep it active.

Try and avoid leaving it in the backyard alone as much as possible, and give them toys to play with if outside.

If your Malinois is a persistent jumper, then try rewarding them for not jumping. Practice by having them run around in the yard. When they move towards the fence, firmly tell them “no”.

When the dog moves away, give them a reward. Over time, the Malinois should learn not to jump.

The Belgian Malinois is an impressively active dog, with an incredible jump. Able to clear 6 feet thanks to a slender body and strong legs, this breed combines speed and force to create a well-loved working dog.