Help in deciding on a Malinois...

well  there is hair and there is shedding.  some of them hang on to it, some of them let it go.  I have the shedding machine version.  My first only shed in two "Seasons"  but it was prolific.  SO for about 2 weeks it was bad, other than that it was ok.
 
Yes there are low energy mals out there (not many).  And, belgians in a shelter are not always showing their true personalities.  Remember reserved is actually a part of the standard.  So there may be more drive there than is apparent in that setting.
 
They need mental exercise as much as physical exercise.
The belgian community via the Belg L discussion list and Sitstay discussion boards is very helpful for transitions.  I spent 26 years in dobes prior to realizing I was really looking fo belgians all along.  They are very different from the sporting dogs and seem more in tune with their people from the standpoint of trying to be doing what you want before you even ask for it.  They are very reactive (respond quickly and intensely) to things.
 
You may need to add some exercise in the form of games and training to your walks to meet the needs.  Getting into dog sport would likely help if the dog happens to be presenting a different picture from reality.

My trainer has a Beligian Malinois - she failed all the puppy tests but she took and chance and she's an amazing dog.  She is very active  - mostly SAR stuff and competitive OB.  Most Mals are very intense and drivey so I don't think that 30-45 minutes a day would be enough BUT like mrv says there is always exceptions (personally, I do not that 30-35 minutes is enough for any dog unless its a senior, a really mellow adult/breed or a smaller dog) - HOWEVER, if you do a lot of mental exercise with her, she might be fine!  They are crazy intelligent and are happiest when they are working!
 
My trainer's Malinois does shed a lot - but I think a lot depends on what they are fed and if you keep up with their brushing!
 
I hope it works out![] She sounds great!

The best way I can describe a Malinois is "German Shepherd Dog on Crack"  To be honest, the Mal you see is likely not showing her true colors.  As stated above, it is in the Mal standard for the breed to be reserved/aloof (like the GSD).
 
I have met very very few Mal's that weren't exceptionally drivey, and those were the ones that flunked out of K9 work.  The actual dogs were still FULL of drive, but it wasn't enough for patrol/narc work.
 
I would say if you have a chance, see if you're allowed a day with her, or take her for a "test drive" and see how she'd fit in.  Mal's, no matter how drivey, need more than 40 minutes of exercise a day, IMO.

Thanks for all of your responses above... After reading them and my initial post, I have to apologize because I don't think that I was clear on something... actually, I definitely wasn't clear on something.....  The dog that I am looking at is with a malinois rescue... that's the only type they deal with.  They obtained her from a shelter.  Currently she is with a foster family and has been for about two weeks. 
 
Before I fill out the application and start the process, I want to make sure that she is really a good match for this house... from what I'm reading, maybe not?  How long do you think a mal would need to be with a foster family before they show their "true colors"?  The rescue did say that she is incredibly sweet and gentle.  They didn't really mention aloof.  I am wondering if this is one of those "rare" mals?

We got our Mal from Mal Rescue and those people are great!  I'd talk to the person fostering the dog and ask what you've asked here.  The person we dealt with was very open and honest about the dog we ended up with. 

Yes, I am going to try and contact the people who are fostering her.  However I've noticed that sometimes people can be, how can I say this... too positive about a dog and leave out the negatives.  I can deal with a lot of things, I just don't want any surprises.  Asides from the issue that I've raised here (exercise), does anyone have any suggestions on what I should ask a foster family when interested in a malinois (or really just dog in general)? 

In our dealings with Mal rescue, there were no surprises (other than someone getting rid of this lovely dog).  Now, I do realize that people are individuals in a rescue group, so your experience may differ.  When I've delt with rescue or a breeder, I lay out my life (how much time I have for the dog, my yard, my daily/weekly schedule, dog and human interactions in my life, etc) and what I expect/want out of the dog.  I tell them my experience with past/current dogs.  I try to be as honest as possible as I figure they want to put the dog in a forever home.  So far this has worked great for me. 

Shedding.  Yes, not as bad as a GSD, maybe slightly less than a lab.  If I could train my DH to brush her out on a regular basis, I wouldn't have to vaccuum as much.  I can put a MX on a basenji, but I can't train a DH to do a simple task.  Somedays I feel like a real failure.  [&:]

OK  I know everybody says this about their breed, but Belgians are different and in many ways difficult.  They are highly intelligence, tremendously sensitive and hyper reactive.  That means they are easy to deal with in the right home and a nightmare in the wrong one.  And the reason so many are in rescue/

To give you an idea, take a JRT excited jumping behavior (you know, all four feet, straight up, again and again, and again, and again......)   well add about 12 to 18 inches in height and 30 pounds, you have a malinois.    Yes there are a few laid back easy going malinois, just like there are in any breed.  But in most cases add the intelligence, the reactivity, the drive and the energy, you have a very exciting challenge.  I love the speed of light reactions, the instant changes in motion, behavior, activity.  I do however end up with bent glasses, many bruises from body slams and other assorted annoyances.

So if you want to ask,  check out descriptions of how the dog has reacted to new things never seen or experienced.  A correct temperment may be suspicious but not overly fearful or resentful.  The dog should recover from a startle within a reasonable time.  They should be biddible, if you give an indication for a change in activity, direction, etc, the dog should accept and go along.  What phobic reactions (noise, storms, surfaces?)  If the dog has some, are they things you can live with?  What does the dog need to cope with in your environment (home, neighborhood, family tec):  ask about similiar situations in the foster home.

I would feel far more comfortable if I knew you were going through ABMC rescue.  OOPs  I see that you are.  []

nope we dont do that, (hide the bad stuff);  we are looking for forever homes for dogs.  The screening you go through will help establish if you and the dog could be a go.

You've gotten good advice here, but be sure to factor in this individual dog's temperament.  Good example...this morning, I met two lovely little Aussie pups.  They were funloving, friendly little sweeties.  They were from show lines.  They were *not* the same as my little speckled nightmare (I don't think so, but even Aussie people who have the show types might not be able to live with a little weasel like mine).  And then, there's Sioux, who is 1/2 Aussie, but laid back enough to be a great therapy dog.  You never know until you ask.  As to how much time it takes for a dog's personality to come out, it could be quick, or it could take a few months.  The main thing to remember about any of the reactive, drivey herding dogs is that they require a *job*.  The job could be agility (you can still do it just for fun), flying disc, flyball, obedience, or even freestyle.  I don't walk my dogs much.  But, I do find opportunities for them to play games, run with each other, and with other dogs at play groups or the beach, etc.  And, they have plenty of "work" to do.  But, herders aren't for lazy owners...