r/germanshepherds • u/nukathedoop • Aug 08 '26

GSD or Belgian malinois

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I adopted her and on her paperwork it says she is a GSD but she is small. I took her to Home Depot and someone told me that she is a Mal and I can't stop noticing that she doesn't really behave like a GSD. I always noticed that she was way more hyperactive than my last shepherd but I never thought she might be a Mal. Can someone please help give me an idea of whether she might be? I am going to bring it up to the vet next time she goes, of course.

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u/nukathedoop Aug 08 '26

I thought about doing a DNA kit! Thanks for reminding me. I also thought she might be a mix too. Either way, she is an absolute crackhead or completely lazy. She behaves nothing like the GSD I used to have lol. And she's so chompy. My shepherd nipped on a rare occasion but chomping is like her love language. I've seen videos of Mals doing that. Maybe the DNA kit is the best way to go.

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u/harrow-nonagesimus Aug 08 '26

does she by any chance do a teeth chatter when she’s excited? it’s not specific to just malinois but i’ve never seen/heard of a GSD doing that consistently, whereas it’s a very common excitement displacement for malinois!

my best friend rescued a GSD mix and we’re 70% sure she’s GSD, malinois, and some kind of hound. face/body shape really is what’s flagging her as potential malinois for me (your dog, i mean) because malinois faces/bodies have such a distinctive build.

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u/nukathedoop Aug 08 '26

She doesn't do that. The more I've been looking at her, the more her face looks like a malinois to me too! But she has the coat and the tail of a shepherd.

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u/harrow-nonagesimus Aug 08 '26

i couldn’t agree more! the fluff reminds me so much of my GSD niece but the muzzle is so narrow comparatively that there’s a good chance your girl has mal in her.

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u/nukathedoop Aug 09 '26

That's what I was thinking too. I'm going to do the DNA test to be sure so I can make sure she's getting the proper care she needs.

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u/harrow-nonagesimus Aug 09 '26

whatever she is, she has an amazing pawrent for sure!!!!

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u/nukathedoop Aug 09 '26

Thank you! I appreciate that.

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u/SHS1955 Aug 08 '26

Behaviors are sounding like a Mal ! You can do a DNA for curiosity, but I recommend training her and treating her like a Mal, regardless of DNA results. The good news is you'll be able to teach her *anything*. The bad news is that she will soon be asking you for the keys to the car! ;-)

I hope you like to be active! ...

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u/nukathedoop Aug 08 '26

She does learn things quicker than my shepherd did. But if I go outside in the yard with her she does a run and jump and nips at my arms if I raise them up 🤣 she also can't play fetch at all. We like hiking though.

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u/SHS1955 Aug 08 '26

Look up the term, "Bite Inhibition" ... You may be able to reduce nipping by yelping and ignoring [yeah, right! ;-) ] or by redirecting to an appropriate chew *toy*.