What do I look for in a Malinois puppy for sport?

Over the years I've picked out a lot of puppies, some have worked out for me and some haven't. The only thing I can say is that even puppies that show every single characteristic you want may wash out. The one that doesn't look great may blossom. Puppies are a gamble, so it's important to pick a puppy that appeals to you. If you like the puppy you take home you are more likely to give the pup a chance as it goes through the inevitable ups and downs of development.

With this in mind, I look at the following.

I want balanced structure, the pup doesn't have to be a show dog but I want good athletic structure with balance. The best time to see this is around 7-8 weeks. After that they grow in all different directions and it can be hard to evaluate.

I want confidence with new people, places and things. I like a puppy that is social with people and more often than not, there will be one pup that simply seems to like me more than any of the others do. I just picked up a puppy recently and I played with each of them individually and picked the one that appealed to me the most. He's a GSD from all IPO lines but with training, I expect he can do mondio, that is my sport of choice for the last 15 years or so. I don't expect to make the world team, I just want a fun sport to do with my dog.

If they like toys and food, that's great but not all puppies show pronounced food or toy drive right away. You have to trust your breeder and the genetics behind the dogs they are producing.