Grooming a Belgian Malinois Puppy in India is less about appearance than about catching problems early. Ten minutes with your hands in the coat finds the tick or the hot spot while it is still nothing.
Balancing high energy against intelligent
Breeds described as both high energy and intelligent need the two managed together rather than separately. With a medium dog that usually means a predictable routine first and training second - the routine is what makes the training stick.
The monsoon
Damp is the whole problem: fungal skin trouble, ear infections and bedding that never quite dries. A drying routine that is actually followed prevents most of it.
The hot months
Coat thinning, hydration and protection from hot ground. A medium dog will keep going past the point it should, so the limit has to come from you.
Bathing: less than you think
Over-bathing strips the coat's oils and causes more skin trouble than it prevents. What matters more is drying thoroughly afterwards.
Ears and paws
Check between the pads after every outing, and check the ears. A yeasty smell from an ear is the earliest sign of infection and the cheapest moment to treat it.
What “high energy” means day to day
The Belgian Malinois Puppy is described as high energy, intelligent, protective. Of those, high energy is the one that shapes an ordinary day most. It is easy to read as a selling point and harder to live with than the word suggests, because it does not switch off when you are busy.
The routine
Twice a week for a medium dog, hands through the coat rather than a brush skimmed over the top. You are feeling for mats near the skin, scabs, ticks and damp patches.
