As their name would suggest, this capable breed of Belgian Shepherd originated some time in the early 19th century in and around the city of Malines, Belgium. Originally bred from long hair breeds of Belgian Shepherd for livestock protection, they remain one of Belgium’s favorite dogs for the job even today. Some Belgian malinois were imported to the U.S. just before the first world war, but they remained scarce outside their homeland until their popularity, both among livestock workers and those seeking a friendly family pet, began to steadily increase again in the 1960’s. Despite their beginnings, they were originally classified under the American Kennel Club’s Miscellaneous Class when they were first registered in 1911, but as numbers of the breed grew, they were eventually reclassified under the AKC’s Working Group in 1965. This was changed again in 1973, when the Herding Group was formed within the AKC. The parent club for the Belgian Malinois was finally established in 1973, and was officially recognized by the AKC in 1993.