Breeding suitability guide — Belgian Malinois
For breeders: which tests, which thresholds, which mating rules apply
1. Core standard for parents
Tests marked “Club standard” are required by Deutscher Klub für Belgische Schäferhunde e.V. (DKBS) for breeding approval — they must be on file for every breeding animal. The others are part of the recommended health standard and should be on file as well.
| Test / condition | Scoring scheme | Passing result | Inheritance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DNA-Identitätsnachweis Club standard | Blutprobe (DNA-Profil) | Proof of parentage provided | — | Deutscher Klub für Belgische Schäferhunde e.V. (DKBS) |
| Wesensbeurteilung Club standard | Verhaltenstest | Passed (demonstrated by a performance test, a separate behaviour test or as part of a show) | — | Deutscher Klub für Belgische Schäferhunde e.V. (DKBS) |
| Elbow Dysplasia (ED) Club standard | X-ray | ED 0 or borderline | Polygenic | Deutscher Klub für Belgische Schäferhunde e.V. (DKBS) |
| Hip dysplasia (HD) Club standard | X-ray | HD A–B | Polygenic | Deutscher Klub für Belgische Schäferhunde e.V. (DKBS) |
| Lumbosacral Transitional Vertebra (LTV) | X-ray | LTV 0 | Complex | Curated by HonestDog |
2. Mating rules
When one parent has a borderline result, the other parent must meet specific criteria.
Elbow Dysplasia (ED)
See the mating rule in your club's regulation.
Deutscher Klub für Belgische Schäferhunde e.V. (DKBS)Juvenile Cardiomyopathy and Mortality (Belgian Malinois) (CJM)
See the mating rule in your club's regulation.
Ataxia, CNS atrophy with cerebellar ataxia (Belgian Malinois) (CaCa)
See the mating rule in your club's regulation.
Cerebellar Ataxia (CA1)
See the mating rule in your club's regulation.
Spongy Degeneration with Cerebellar Ataxia 1 (SDCA1) (SDCA1)
See the mating rule in your club's regulation.
Spongy Degeneration with Cerebellar Ataxia 2 (SDCA2) (SDCA2)
See the mating rule in your club's regulation.
3. Recommended additional tests
Sensible additions for line planning.
| Test / condition | Scoring scheme | Passing result | Inheritance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) (PRA) | — | — | Autosomal recessive | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Retinal Dysplasia (RD) | Eye examination | — | Complex | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Juvenile Cardiomyopathy and Mortality (Belgian Malinois) (CJM) | DNA test | clear or carrier | Autosomal recessive | — |
| Ataxia, CNS atrophy with cerebellar ataxia (Belgian Malinois) (CaCa) | DNA test | clear or carrier | Autosomal recessive | — |
| Cerebellar Ataxia (CA1) | DNA test | clear or carrier | Autosomal recessive | — |
| Spongy Degeneration with Cerebellar Ataxia 1 (SDCA1) (SDCA1) | DNA test | clear or carrier | Autosomal recessive | — |
| Spongy Degeneration with Cerebellar Ataxia 2 (SDCA2) (SDCA2) | DNA test | clear or carrier | Autosomal recessive | — |
4. HonestDog verification
- Upload a legible certificate (PDF or photo) per test in the breeder dashboard
- Certificate must show date, examining vet, and FCI/VDH logo
- Certificates older than 36 months are flagged as stale
- We extract the results from each upload using AI and check them for consistency with the dog's profile — the profile tile then shows 'verified'