Belgian Malinois Husky Mix (Belusky): A Complete Profile

The Belgian Malinois Husky mix, also known as the Belusky, is a highly demanding crossbreed that is not for inexperienced owners.

Beluskies need at least two hours of exercise per day and are very highly driven. Beluskies can adopt the stubbornness of the husky or the eagerness to please from the Belgian Malinois but require intense training regardless.

If you’re considering getting a Belusky, you need to read this article first, as it is a huge commitment.

Quick Profile

Before we get into the specifics of the Belusky, here’s a quick rundown of the key points of this crossbreed:

  • Other Names: Belusky
  • Average Lifespan: Assumed to be around 12-16 years, but due to a lack of breeding, it is difficult to say for certain.
  • Average Height: Anywhere from 20 to 26 inches, depending on gender and genetics.
  • Average Weight: Anywhere from 30 to 80 lbs, depending on gender and genetics.
  • Coat appearance: Double coated and short to medium in length, usually either brown/fawn and black like the Belgian Malinois or black and white like the Siberian Husky. This can vary greatly, though.
  • Eye Colour: Brown or blue.
  • Activity Level: Very active – at least 2 hours of moderate to intense exercise per day alongside obedience training.
  • Grooming Frequency: Very often, as they are double coated. Daily grooming is advised, up to multiple times per day when they are blowing coat.
  • Typical Temperament: Very highly driven and loyal. Can be quite stubborn or very eager to please and require a lot of training.
  • Daily Food Consumption: Very high food consumption due to exercise requirements. Anywhere from 2 to 4 cups of kibble per day on average.
  • New Owner Friendly: Not at all, only suited for advanced owners with experience.
  • Suitable to live with children? Can be suitable, but depends on the individual. Older children are better with Beluskies, but it varies depending on how protective or territorial the Belusky is.
  • Suitable to live with other dogs? Can be achieved but requires early socialization.
  • Suitable to live with cats? Possible – both parent breeds have a high prey drive, so early socialization is required to make this work.

Appearance

With crossbreeds, it’s always difficult to tell exactly what they will look like, especially for the Belusky, which is still quite rare to see.

Beluskies usually take one of two types of appearance; they will either inherit the colors of the classic white and black Siberian Husky with features of the Belgian Malinois, or they will have the coat of a Belgian Malinois with features of the husky, like blue eyes.

The Belusky in the image above clearly adopts more of a Belgian Malinois appearance with the blue eyes of a husky.

There are, of course, variations, but usually, one of the two parent breed appearances will be much more apparent.

Let’s explore the appearances of these two breeds so you can get a better idea of what to expect.

Belgian Malinois Appearance

The Belgian Malinois has a regal appearance with a strong and athletic build.

Their head is of moderate size to their bodies, and they have erect ears with a moderately pointed snout.

A close-up shot of a Belgian Malinois laid down

Their coat is short and dense and is typically in shades of fawn with black markings.

Husky Appearance

The Siberian Husky is a medium to large-sized dog. They are slightly longer than they are tall.

They have graceful lean bodies. They are very strong and athletic because they were used to pull sleds across the Arctic ice. 

They have an elongated head and a medium-length snout. They have medium-sized, erect ears.

They sport a long bushy tail that they can curl around their body to keep them warm.

A Siberian husky on some grass looking to the left

Huskies come in a wide range of colors, which can be adopted by the Belusky. These include red, black and white, agouti, and many more.

Average Size

Beluskies are quite comparable to the parent breeds in size given how closely matched they are.

A Belusky will usually reach 20 to 26 inches in height and 35 to 80 lbs in weight, depending on gender and which genetics they inherit from the parent breeds.

Coat Appearance

Beluskies can have a range of coat colors and appearances, but you’ll typically find that the coat will either be very similar to the Belgian Malinois with brown/fawn and a black face mask or similar to the Siberian Husky with black and white or other color combination like red and white or full white.

The coat can range from long, like the Siberian Husky, to short and smooth, like the Belgian Malinois.

Beluskies will be double coated, which means they will shed frequently and even more twice per year when they blow coat.

Physical Features

Beluskies will have triangular, erect ears like the parent breeds with a moderately sized muzzle and athletic physiques.

The tail can be fluffy like the husky or not fluffy like the Belgian Malinois, and the coat may also be longer or short and dense.

Grooming Guide

Beluiskies frequently shed as they are double-coated:

  • Double-Coated – The coat will have two distinct layers – a short, dense undercoat with a longer guard coat. You should be able to see the two layers during grooming, and you will notice shedding is much more frequent.

It’s worth noting that they won’t (usually) shed as much as a regular husky, as their coat should be significantly shorter.

Brushing Your Belgian Malinois Husky Mix

Beluskies will require daily brushing and multiple times per day if they are blowing coat.

Blowing coat occurs in double-coated dogs and is when they shed their undercoat to prepare for the warmer months.

During this time, they will shed a very large amount of fur, and grooming is absolutely essential.

If you want a full guide for grooming double-coated dogs, then you can check out our article here.

Bathing

Again, the bathing schedule for a Belusky depends on what type of coat they have.

For Beluskies with longer fur, bathing should be done once every 2 to 3 months, as it can interfere with the natural oils within the coat. Shorted-haired Beluskies can be bathed more frequently, around every 4 to 6 weeks.

Nail Trimming

Nail trimming shouldn’t be much of an issue for Beluskies as their active lifestyles will keep their nails short.

Check the nails every week or so during grooming, and if they start to get long, then you will need to trim them down.

We recommend using an electric nail grinder rather than a clipper for this to avoid drawing blood.

Are Beluskies Hypoallergenic?

Beluskies are not hypoallergenic, but they do shed less than huskies which is better for people who suffer from allergies.

You can check out other husky mixes that don’t shed as much as a standard husky here.

Temperament

You can never say for certain what the exact temperament of a crossbreed will be, especially one that is quite uncommon, like the Belusky.

One thing is for sure, though, the Belusky will be a highly driven dog that is very demanding.

Both huskies and Belgian Malinois are known for being some of the most demanding dogs to own.

They both need a lot of exercise, but there are some key differences in their temperaments:

  • Huskies are stubborn and independent. They are not interested in pleasing their owners, which can make training difficult.
  • Belgian Malinois are the opposite and need a job to perform to stay happy. They are eager to please, which makes them highly trainable. This is why they are used in special forces around the globe. They can also be highly territorial and have strong guarding instincts.

When you combine these two aspects, you get a highly driven dog that might be easy to train or might be very stubborn.

There is also a difference in their guarding instincts as well. Huskies are not natural guard dogs, whereas Belgian Malinois make some of the best guard dogs in the world.

Are Beluskies Good Family Dogs?

Beluskies are not great family dogs for a couple of reasons:

  • Exercise requirements – A minimum of 2 hours of exercise per day is a lot to commit to when you have a family.
  • Not great with cats – Beluskies have a high prey drive, making it hard to keep them with cats or other small dogs unless they are raised alongside them from a young age.
  • Need a lot of attention and training – Beluskies are essentially a working breed and need a lot of attention and training to be fulfilled. This is not ideal for a family setting.

Health

Beluskies are very healthy.

Although data for the average lifespan is not quite there yet due to how new and rare this crossbreed is, we can assume that it will be quite high.

This is because huskies and Belgian Malinois have a good lifespan. On average, huskies live for 12 to 15 years, and Belgian Malinois live for 14 to 16 years.

So, we’d expect the Belusky to have a similar lifespan. There are also a few health issues that affect both of the parent breeds, so it’s likely that these would be more common in the Belusky as well:

Exercise Needs

What happens when you combine the endurance of the husky – capable of pulling sleds for over 100 miles when fully trained – and the Belgian Malinois, a breed that practically never ‘shuts off’?

Well, let’s just say the Belusky will need a LOT of exercise – we’re talking at least 2 hours per day of moderate to intense exercise, and this doesn’t include obedience training that needs to be done as well.

Owning a Belusky requires a super-active lifestyle.

Activities like hiking or running should ideally be a part of your weekly routine to give them the chance to exercise intensely.

Are Beluskies Easy To Train?

Beluskies do tend to be easier to train than Huskies as they usually inherit some of the trainability of the Belgian Malinois.

Don’t be surprised if your Belusky is stubborn or independent, however, as huskies are notorious for these traits.

The simple truth is you won’t know how easy a Belusky is to train until you try, and obedience training is crucial as Beluskies can be highly territorial and have strong guarding instincts.

Are Beluskies Intelligent?

Beluskies are incredibly intelligent, thanks to the parent breeds.

Huskies are very intelligent (albeit in their own way), and Belgian Malinois are one of the most intelligent breeds on the planet.

The Belusky might not be as easy to train as the Belgian Malinois, but the intelligence will undoubtedly still be there.

How Much Do Beluskies Cost?

Beluskies are not regularly bred, so it’s hard to say exactly how much they will cost.

Huskies cost anywhere from $800 to $1500 on average, while Belgian Malinois can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $2,000, with some costing much more that are trained for personal protection.

Judging by these values, we can assume that a Belusky would cost between $1,000 to $2,000 (roughly).

In Summary

The Belusky is only for the most experienced of owners.

They are incredibly highly driven and can adopt the stubbornness of the husky or the eagerness to please of the Belgian Malinois.

Regular obedience training will be an absolute necessity, as well as having a very active lifestyle, as this crossbreed will almost never rest.

In terms of size, the Belusky is slightly larger than the average husky. Beluskies are very healthy and will usually live a long time, so you’ll need to be committed for the long run.

Want to learn about more husky crossbreeds? Check out some of our other articles below:

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About The Author

Caitlin is the owner and lead writer for The Malamute Mom. She has over 10 years of experience with Alaskan Malamutes and Huskies. She is currently working on getting her PhD in materials science but continues to write for The Malamute Mom in her spare time.

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