Do Belgian Malinois like swimming?

Many Malinois take to water naturally, but it depends on the individual dog. Coco was cautious at first but became obsessed after gradual exposure to shallow water.

At what age can a Malinois puppy swim?

We introduced Coco to shallow water at 4 months. Full swimming came around 6 months. Start slow, use shallow water, and never force them in.

How often should a Malinois swim?

Swimming is excellent low-impact exercise. During summer months, we averaged 3-4 photos per week. In cooler months, once a week when conditions allow.

Swimming With Your Belgian Malinois: What 88 Sessions Taught Us

Why Swimming Works for This Breed

Belgian Malinois are built to work. They’ve got the cardiovascular capacity of a small horse and the attention span of a rocket. Most standard walks don’t scratch the surface of their energy needs.

Swimming changes that. Twenty minutes in the water burns more energy than an hour-long walk. It’s full body, low-impact on joints, and it provides the kind of focused physical output that Malinois actually need.

We’ve captured 88 swimming photos with Coco across rivers, lakes, and pools. This is what we’ve learned.

Starting Out

Coco wasn’t a natural water dog. At 4 months old, she stood at the edge of a creek and barked at it. Forcing her in would have been the wrong call.

What worked:

Shallow wading first. We started with ankle-deep creek beds where she could walk and feel the bottom.
Following the handler. Walking into shallow water ourselves gave her the confidence to follow.
High-value rewards. Treats at the water’s edge, then in the shallows, then slightly deeper.
No pressure. If she wanted to stop at the edge, that was fine. Some sessions were just standing near water.

By month 6, she was swimming voluntarily. By month 8, she was jumping off riverbanks.

River vs. Lake vs. Pool

Not all water is equal.

Rivers offer current resistance, which is great for building strength. But currents can be dangerous. Always check the flow rate and have an easy exit point downstream. We’ve done 43 river photos with Coco, and we scout every new section before letting her in.

Lakes are the best training ground for distance swimming. Calm water, predictable conditions, easy visibility. This is where Coco learned to swim 50+ meters to retrieve a thrown toy.

Pools are controlled but boring. Most dogs lose interest after the novelty wears off. Useful for initial confidence building or hot days, not much else.

What It Does for Energy

This is the part that matters most if you own a high-drive dog.

A 30-minute lake session leaves Coco settled for 4-6 hours afterward. A 30-minute walk buys maybe an hour of calm. For high-energy breeds, swimming is the highest-return exercise per minute you can invest.

After swimming, Coco consistently drops from high energy to low. Running and fetch don’t produce that as reliably.

Safety Stuff

After 88 photos, these aren’t negotiable:

Life jacket for new environments. Even strong swimmers can get caught by unexpected currents or underwater obstacles.
Fresh water available. Dogs drink lake and river water instinctively. Bring clean water and offer it often.
Ear drying. Malinois ears trap moisture. Dry them after every session or you’ll be dealing with infections.
Exit strategy. Every water location needs an easy way for the dog to get out. Steep banks with no shallow exit are dangerous.
Temperature check. Water below 50F (10C) is too cold for extended swimming, even for tough breeds.

Building Distance

Coco didn’t go from ankle-deep wading to crossing lakes overnight. It looked like this:

Months 4-6: Wading, standing in shallow water, following us in
Months 6-8: Short swims (5-10 meters) with handler nearby
Months 8-12: Independent swimming, retrieving toys from water
Year 2+: Distance swimming, current navigation, dock jumping

Patience matters more than technique here. The dog will tell you when she’s ready for the next step.

What We’d Do Differently

If we started over:

Start water exposure at 10-12 weeks instead of 16 weeks. Earlier positive exposure builds stronger confidence.
Use a long line from the beginning. It gives you control without restricting their exploration.
Keep initial sessions under 10 minutes. Excitement leads to exhaustion faster than you’d think with puppies.

Final Thoughts

Swimming is the single best exercise we’ve found for a Belgian Malinois. It handles their energy demands, builds muscle without joint stress, and gives them the mental engagement they crave. Eighty-eight photos in, it’s still Coco’s favorite thing to do.

Start slow. Be patient. Bring a good towel.