The Belgian Malinois

When I wrote about the sentry dogs at the Boise prison, I said one of the primary breeds used was the Belgian Malinois. I'd heard of the breed, but knew nothing about them, so decided to look them up.

I learned that this was a dog originally bred for herding, but is now known best as a police dog. It's popularity as such surpasses even the German Shepherd.

The temperament is described as intense. A high-energy dog, it needs plenty of mental stimulation and physical exercise. The book described this dog as aloof with strangers and sometimes aggressive toward other dogs and animals. It's protective of both its home and family.

From a distance, I think it could be mistaken for a German Shepherd, with the same body build, coloring, and head carriage. However, the photographs in my book make it appear rather unattractive - with eyes too small and close set.

These dogs would definitely be intimidating to an intruder, as they stand approximately 24" tall.

If you, or someone you know, has one of these dogs, I'd love to hear more about it from your point of view - and I'll bet everyone else would too.

If you enjoy reading about the dog breeds, you might like a copy of the book I use: "The Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds" by Colie. To make it easy, I found the link from Buy.com - where you always save over the Amazon price!

Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds More than 150 breeds are profiled, arranged in the general groups as specified by the AKC: Sporting, Hound, Working, Terrier, Toy, Non-Sporting, and Herding. Information on each breed's history, vulnerability to specific health problems, and more is included, as is a color photo of each dog.

America's Most Popular Dog Breeds

Although each of my dogs clearly shows it's breed origins, my favorite is still the "mutt" - known for being healthy, hardy, and usually quite intelligent.

And although the Border Collie (like my Suzie girl) is rated the most intelligent of all dog breeds, it didn't make America's top ten. Maybe we humans are afraid of a dog who might be smarter than we are?

Here are America's favorite dog breeds, according to the American Kennel Club (I don't suppose they recognize "mutt" as a breed, do you?)

#10: Shih Tzu

#9: Poodle

# 8: Bulldog

#7: Dachshund

#6: Boxer

#5: Beagle

#4: Golden Retriever

#3: German Shepherd

#2: Yorkshire Terrier

And ... tah dah!!

#1: The Labrador Retriever

This one has been rated the most popular breed in the United States for the 18th consecutive year, according to American Kennel Club registration statistics.

So, which is your favorite breed - and why?