From today's working breeds there are some with a rich and long history. Almost 100 years ago the breed of Malinois originated from practical needs in daily life, namely the herding of sheep and protecting this sheep against predators. During the end of the 19th century there were several sheep herding dogbreeds active in Belgium. The dogs had lots of temperament but ...... were also a bit reserved towards people. The last characteristic made them extremely suitable to function also as dogs for guarding and defense. In 1891 people tried to stimulate the breeding with these dogs with pedigree. About 8 years later four varieties of the Belgian Shepherd dog were born : the Groenendaeler, the Tervueren Shepherd, the Laekenois and ...... the Malinois. From the start Belgium, Holland and France are in historically view, the countries where the evolution of an outstanding breed has developed. Since then the Malinois has developed as an outstanding working dog, not only for sporting but also as a practical police- and patroldog. The character of the working Malinois is to be classified as full of temperament but also stable and social in interaction with people, a characteristic which cannot be said of many other nowadays breeds. The ultimate condition on the statement before is that this type of dog and specific characterstics has to be well-understood and interpreted by the handler/owner. |
In this article I will mention legendary Malinois and their bloodlines from the sixties,
seventies and eighties in Holland. Let me tell you in advance that I won't go back to the
beginning of this century and also not to the actual decade although there has been a
recent ‘rich' development. The reason why some recent kennels and names t won't be mentioned
is because of this perspective. That will be something for later on to get in detail in
the future issues of the magazine ‘Hondensport & Sporthonden'.
Surrounding countries (especially Belgium and France) also have their historical bloodlines
but we will report about this also later in the magazine ‘Hondensport & Sporthonden'.
Registered and Mixed Malinois
André Noël, owner of the well-known French kennel ‘de la Noaillerie' and very experienced
handler has ever responded on the question why the Malinois is so outstandig as working dog :
"The reason of the supremacy of the Malinois is that this breed has always been a working
breed. The Malinois is made by and for handlers, that says enough to me".
Compared to France, the history of the Dutch Malinois is very different.
Since the beginning only registered Malinois were bred in France. Holland is the only
country where mixed Malinois were also bred. Especially within the KNPV (Royal Dutch Police
Dog Association) and the professional sector the mixed Malinois was more used than the
registered one.
One of the reasons for this was the awkward financial position of the doghandler directly
after the Second Worldwar. Money had to be spent for daily needs. A good example of the
circumstances in these days is a kennel named "de laatste Stuiver" which means "the last
Penny". Everything had to be as cheap as possible and people did not want to make extra
expenses for registering pedigrees even if both parent dogs were in the possession of a
pedigree.
Another reason is the culture around the KNPV traingsprogram. The handlers did not acknowledge
any surplus value by using registered Malinois. Nowadays the mixed Malinois has proven his
value in the KNPV trainingsprogram but especially the last years more and more registered
Malinois appear on the KNPV-trainingfields. Also on the KNPV-nationals, the yearly
highlights of the KNPV, registered Malinois appear one of the best. Given the fact that
from each province in Holland only one can be qualified for the Nationals, this proves that
registered Malinois fully compete with the mixed.
In 1998 there were even 4 registered Malinois among the competitors. One must consider also
that were several very good Malinois who were just one point away from selection for the
KNPV-Nationals in ‘s-Hertogenbosch.
In 1998 mister Nico Poen and his Malinois Tjek became even Dutch Champion PH-I.
Main conclusion : the registered Malinois is in no way inferior to the mixed one. Insiders
with lots of experience even forecast an increasing use of registered Malinois in the
KNPV-program.
IPO
The registered Malinois have the upperhand over the mixed Malinois in the IPO- trainingsprogram.
Mixed are very exceptional, the reason for this are the official rules by FCI which allow
only Malinois with pedigree on championships. Competing with a mixed Malinois in matches is
restricted to participating at local matches. So from now on when we talk bout the Malinois
we mean the registered Malinois with pedigree.
The Malinois has dominated the yearly ‘All Breeds Championship' in Holland. More than once
only Malinois occupied the stand. Mister Frans Janssen and his Malinois Arco (bloodline Eik
des Deux Pottois) were three times winner of this important title in Holland. Together with
handlers like Fred Tichelaar (malinois Robby, bloodline Joerie and G'Vitou), Hans en Sonja
van Rossum (malinois Halusetha's Igor, bloodline Eik des Deux Pottois and Joerie) and Erik
Kopp (malinois Tico v/h Stokeind, bloodline Eik des Deux Pottois), they dominated in the
all breed IPO-III competition.
Since 1995 there are the World championships for Belgian Shepherds, in 1998 Sonja van Rossum and Halusetha's Igor became Worldchampion and the whole Dutch team achieved the same.
All these dogs have distinctive bloodlines.
Pioneers in registered Malinois
A small number of Malinois in Holland have played an important role in establishing today's
supremacy as the best working dog in several programmes.
Famous names are Nopi, Narcilo, Kastor van de Rita's Home, Marco and Marko van de Veldmolen
(from the same litter), Carlo van Kristalhof, Joerie and Eik des Deux Pottois.
SCHEME 1 "super-inheritance Malinois in the Netherlands"
name © photos | date of birth | father | grandfather | great-grandfather |
Cabil | 30-11-1953 | Sirol | ||
Nopi | 04-02-1964 | Cabil | ||
Narcilo | 12-05-1964 | Gladdy v/d Purpere Heide | Cabil | |
Kastor v/d Rita's Home | 16-03-1969 | Narcilo | Cabil | |
Carlo van Kristalhof | 06-10-1973 | Narcilo | Cabil | |
Marco v/d Veldmolen | 15-01-1972 | Nopi | Cabil | |
Marko v/d Veldmolen | 15-01-1972 | Nopi | Cabil | |
Joerie | 27-08-1983 | Dekx | ||
Bicou | 28-07-1977 | Traf |
name | some grandparents | some great-grandparents |
Halusetha's Igor | Eik des Deux Pottois | G'Vitou des Deux Pottois |
Joerie | Dekx | |
Joenda (daughter of Bicou) | ||
Remy-Lea van het Baantje (daughter of Carlo van Kristalhof) |
name | bloodlines |
Tjek (winner PH-I 1998 | G'Vitou des Deux Pottois (2x), Clip |
Arco (winner IPO-III all breeds ‘94/'95/'98) | Eik des Deux Pottois, Dekx, Carlo van Kristalhof, Kastor van de Rita's Home, Marko v/d Veldmolen, Narcilo, Nopi, Cabil |
Banjer (winner Dutch Malinois Nationals ‘98) | Eik des Deux Pottois, Joerie, Marco v/d Veldmolen |
Robby (PH-I, winner IPO-III all breeds ‘96) | Joerie, Dekx, G'Vitou, Clip |
Theo Dijkman
-vice-president NVBH (Official Dutch Organisation for Belgian Shepherds)-
-publisher of the dogsports magazine ‘Hondensport & Sporthonden'-
photos of legendary malinois can be seen in the magazine 'Hondensport & Sporthonden' or © photos
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