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Belgian Malinois

Belgian Malinois genetic profile from the CanVAS Atlas. 12 dogs in the Atlas, heterozygosity 0.33. Nearest relatives, trait loci frequencies, cohort distribution.

What the atlas says about Belgian Malinois

In the atlas, the Belgian Malinois clusters consistently as Belgian Malinois (100% of the 12 dogs here). Genetic diversity is high (mean heterozygosity 0.3289), reflecting either a mixed-breed cluster or breeds with broad genetic backgrounds. At the trait loci, HMGA2 runs lower than average (8% here vs 56%); MSRB3 runs lower than average (50% here vs 80%).

Mean heterozygosity is 0.329, notably high, indicates broad genetic background. Low breed predictability score (0.20), individual dogs of this breed vary widely in genetics, suggesting active substructure or sub-population diversity. Only 12 dogs of this breed in the atlas, modestly sampled.

Closest genetic neighbors in the atlas: Bouvier Des Flandres, Curly Coated Retriever, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Labrador Retriever, and Peruvian Inca Orchid.

Genetic dimensions · CanVAS atlas

What the genome says about Belgian Malinois

Computed from the 14,478 research dogs in the Atlas. Methods: technical methodology.

Dogs in the Atlas
12Founders
6 from Spatola, 6 from Hayward2016
Genetic diversity
0.33Moderate
Mean heterozygosity across the breed. Too few dogs in this breed (<20) to rank.
Cluster structure
Single tight cluster
Intra-breed RMS distance: 43.80
Nearest genetic relatives
  1. Bouvier Des Flandres6.15
  2. Curly Coated Retriever6.65
  3. Rhodesian Ridgeback6.99
  4. Labrador Retriever7.40
  5. Peruvian Inca Orchid7.60
Top-10 PC corrected Euclidean. Lower = closer.
Trait genetics
Allele frequencies at named morphology loci

Frequency of the alternate allele in this breed at each locus's representative SNP. Methods + caveats in technical methodology.

Body size
IGF150%
HMGA28%
SMAD292%
LCORL67%
STC250%
ADAMTS1750%
Leg length
FGF4·CFA1875%
FGF4·CFA1292%
Coat
RSPO250%
FGF550%
KRT7192%
MC1R33%
Ear set
MSRB350%
Skull shape
BMP350%
SMOC267%
Add your Belgian Malinois to the Atlas

You can add your Belgian Malinois right now at /add/ as a Charted star. Or, if you'd rather wait for DNA uploads, leave your email and we'll let you know the moment those open.

Last updated
Sources: CanVAS (Brundage 2026) · CanVAS dimensions data