The Belgian Malinois (pronounced “mal-in-wa”) was developed in the Belgian city of Malines and was thus named for its birthplace. The Belgian Malinois is actually one of four breeds of Belgian sheepdogs that were all bred for herding. The Belgian Malinois started its military career during World War I when they served as messengers and assistants to the Red Cross. One of the reasons Belgian Malinois are favored over German Shepherd Dogs for many military operations is that Malinois are better skydivers. Mals can even be trained to jump on their own, which is safer for the dogs when they land in water.