Belgian Malinois Coyote Mix: Learn About This Rare Hybrid Wolf-Dog

A Belgian Malinois Coyote mix is going to be a very rare animal, indeed.

The whole topic of Coyotes, wolves or other wild canids interbreeding with modern domestic dogs can get quite complicated quite quickly.

This is true whether it happens naturally or there is human intention to interbreed the species.

In this article, learn more about a truly unusual animal, the Belgian Malinois Coyote mix breed.

See a Belgian Malinois and a Coyote Interacting

In this YouTube video, you get the chance to see a very unusual occurrence – a Belgian Malinois reacting to the presence of a Coyote in the neighborhood.

The most significant part of the video is how the Belgian Malinois is clearly eager to engage with the coyote. The Coyote, on the other hand, is equally keen to avoid interacting with the dog in any way.

However, this is important to see not because of how the dog and the Coyote interact (or don’t), but because it represents the very different ways in which domestic dogs and Coyotes react in the presence of people.

Dogs will engage with people, while coyotes prefer to avoid people.

Belgian Malinois Coyote Mix: Dog Breeds History

The best way to begin to understand what a Belgian Malinois Coyote mix dog might be like is to study more about each animal’s unique evolution and history.

Belgian Malinois history

The Belgian Malinois is named for its country of origin, Belgium. According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), the Belgian Malinois is closely related to three other herding working dog breeds.

The “Mal,” as fans of the breed call these dogs, is not that well known in the general dog lover community.

They became slightly more recognizable after it became known that a Belgian Malinois named Cairo accompanied Seal Team Six on their mission to find Osama Bin Laden.

Cairo’s handler even wrote a book about his brave canine partner’s heroism.

Today, Belgian Malinois are the most sought-after dog breed in the world for K-9, military, police, and protection work. However, they make difficult pets for the average dog owner.

Coyote history

The Coyote is a much-misunderstood wild canid that shares a genetic relationship with wolves and domestic dogs.

To make matters even more confusing, as Cool Green Science explains, many Coyotes are hybrids of interbreeding with different species of wolves.

This has given rise to a number of even more confusing nicknames such as Coydog and Coywolf, neither of which may turn out to be genetically sound designations.

The Coydog is generally acknowledged to be the offspring of a male wolf and a female domestic dog breeding.

The Coywolf used to be thought of as interbreeding between eastern wolves and western coyotes. The reason this is problematic is that eastern wolves were once considered hybrids between coyotes and gray wolves.

But now biologists say the eastern wolf is an entirely separate species and not a hybrid.

All this to say, there is still so much to learn just about coyotes and various species of wolves, but all genetically related canids can potentially interbreed if the opportunity arises.

However, this doesn’t mean that it is a good idea to try to breed a Belgian Malinois with a Coyote or to own such an animal.

Belgian Malinois Coyote Mix Personality & Temperament

There is a fundamental difference between how domestic dogs and coyotes regard humans. The former gravitates to people while the later is keen to avoid us.

This can create a very difficult personality and temperament in a dog-coyote hybrid animal.

Belgian Malinois personality and temperament

The Belgian Malinois is a dog breed that has always been bred to work alongside humans. These dogs are not your typical “pet” canines.

Many first-time Malinois owners discover this only too late as their adorable puppies grow up and start acting out. Often it is because they are bored and restless.

These dogs make unbeatable guarding and protection dogs, amazing K-9 athletes, and stellar military, police, and service dogs. But they do not do well in your typical pet situation.

They need to be busy all day every day to stay out of trouble.

Belgian Malinois Coyote Mix: Size, Height, and Weight

The coyote, or Canis latrans, belongs to the same genetic family as do foxes, wolves, and dogs.

As the Urban Coyote Research Project explains, coyotes actually look quite similar to German Shepherds.

And German Shepherds are often confused with the Belgian Malinois.

So you can expect a Belgian Malinois Coyote mix hybrid to look a lot like a very recognizable domestic dog. This can make it hard to tell if you are looking at a true hybrid animal.

The only way to tell for sure is to have genetic testing done.

Belgian Malinois size, height, and weight

The Belgian Malinois can vary a great deal in size, height, and weight-based on gender. Most female adult Malinois dogs are 40 to 60 pounds and stand 22 to 24 inches tall.

Adult males generally weigh 60 to 80 pounds and stand 24 to 26 inches tall.

Coyote size, height, and weight

Coyotes are smaller in general than Belgian Malinois. Most coyotes weigh between 25 and 42 pounds. Welcome Wildlife states that a coyote’s average height ranges between 15 and 20 inches tall.

Belgian Malinois Coyote Mix: Training and Exercise Needs

The Belgian Malinois Coyote mix will need extensive socialization and training to be able to cope with any type of life in a captive setting.

These hybrid animals may never be able to accept the presence of unknown humans or other animal species.

Belgian Malinois training and exercise needs

Belgian Malinois are bred specifically to work in complex, challenging, and often highly dangerous job roles.

They need early and ongoing intensive training and socialization as well as several hours of daily exercise to acclimate to any type of companion canine “job.”

Coyote training and exercise needs

Coyotes may be nicknamed “urban dogs,” but they are anything but dog-like. In fact, coyotes are actually nocturnal and do most of their hunting and moving at night.

Coyotes live in packs that revolve around a dominant mated pair. Urban coyotes tend to be very intolerant of dogs and vice versa. They are vocal and social but only with other coyotes within their own pack.

Belgian Malinois Coyote training and exercise needs

Overall, daily life with a Belgian Malinois Coyote mix is likely to be quite challenging for both the animal and their handler.

This animal will bond very closely with their handler and will need constant supervision and training to stay out of trouble.

Belgian Malinois Coyote Mix: Longevity & Health Issues

A lot more is known about Belgian Malinois genetic health issues than what is known about genetic health issues in coyote populations.

The main reason is that humans seem a lot more interested in exterminating coyotes than in studying them.

Belgian Malinois longevity and health issues

According to the Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) database, the Belgian Malinois breed has the following known possible genetic health issues you need to be aware of:

• Elbow dysplasia
• Hip dysplasia
• Eye concerns

The Belgian Malinois has a typical life expectancy of 14 to 16 years.

Coyote longevity and health issues

The Coyote is susceptible to many of the same types of health issues as is the modern domestic dog. However, vaccines for potentially fatal diseases such as rabies and distemper do not exist for coyotes.

But most Coyotes are killed early in life either by the hardships of life in the wild or by humans. Many Coyotes are shot, hit by vehicles, and poisoned.

Coyote has a typical life span of 13 to 15 years according to the Urban Coyote Research Project.

Belgian Malinois Coyote Mix: Guarding and Protection Instincts

While the Belgian Malinois is a superb guard and protection dog, the coyote has nearly the opposite instincts where people are involved.

So the likelihood that any coyote-dog hybrid will make a reliable guard dog is extremely low.

Belgian Malinois Coyote Mix: Good with Kids & Other Pets

A Belgian Malinois Coyote mix is not an appropriate pet choice for any home that also includes kids and other pets.

Belgian Malinois Coyote Mix: Is This the Right Dog For You?

Even coming across a true Belgian Malinois Coyote mix animal is going to be incredibly rare.

Where natural interbreeding has occurred, it may be difficult to determine the nature of the mating without genetic testing.

And it is not considered ethical to attempt human-made dog-coyote interbreeding.

If you are interested in adopting a Belgian Malinois coyote mix, the best way is to connect with wolf-dog and coyote-dog hybrid rescues and charities to find out when an animal may be up for adoption.

See also: How Much Does It Cost To Buy A Belgian Malinois & How Much Does It Cost To Keep?