He could be a mal mix, and I wouldn't even say it's impossible for him to be a purebred. It is hard to tell with working lines, they can vary so much. There are breeders out there that do breed for heads like that, because most people do believe it gives them a much better bite. Not incredibly uncommon to have a mal with such a short coat, but more common to have a thicker short double coat.

Here are some working mals that are quite similar.



To me he has more GSD qualities. His shoulders are placed high, like a GSD. His pasterns and feet give me the impression of a GSD. His front legs are structurally placed in a better spot, and I find GSDs to achieve this more than Belgians do. His knees look like they turn out which is more of a Belgian thing (and a very bad thing too). He also has long legs which is definatly not a GSD thing, it's more Belgian.

Impossible to tell -- I would rely on his temperament and behaviours at this point lol. If he's a malinois he'll probably always be in motion, trotting this way and that. He'll probably have a strong tendency to carry things in his mouth at most times. He'd probably have stronger prey drive than most dogs. He might use his front feet alot, especially in play. He won't whine often but he could have a very loud and sharp bark (that will hurt your ears). He could be very reactive, and would always be watching and knowing everything that is going on around him -- very alert.
GSDs, especially in kennel situations, I find to be very very noisy. Lots of whining, lots of sniveling. They feel very sorry for themselves LOL. I've never found this in a Belgian -- they are generally very quiet dogs that bark on occasion, and it almost ruptures your eardrums every time.

If you give me his information I will post on Belg-L and contact the AMBC rescue coordinator. If they won't take him (usually they are good about it, I know they've taken in GSDs on occasion), I have a friend in California who is the BSCA rescue coordinator, and he has a big heart -- he may be able to help out.