Belgian Malinois vs Rottweiler vs Border Collie – Which one is a better dog breed for you?

"Find similarities and differences between Belgian Malinois vs Rottweiler vs Border Collie" Compare Belgian Malinois and Rottweiler. Which is better: Belgian Malinois or Rottweiler or Border Collie?

General Appearance Hair & Care Characteristics Good With Health Factors Reproducibility Show differences only

Name	Belgian Malinois	Rottweiler	Border Collie
Origins	Belgium	Germany	England Scotland Wales
All Dog Breeds By Country Of Origin
Group	Pastoral Dogs (Herding Dogs)	Working Dogs	Pastoral Dogs (Herding Dogs)
Popularity Rank	44	8	38
Reviews	1	6	10
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Other Names	Malinois	Rottie, Rott	Scotch Sheep Dog, Sheepdog
Breed Type	Purebred	Purebred	Purebred
AKC Group	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1959 as a Herding breed.	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1931 as a Working breed.	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1995 as a Herding breed.
FCI Group	Not recognized by FCI.	Recognized by FCI in the Pinscher and Schnauzer - Molossoid and Swiss Mountain and Cattledogs group, in the Molossian type section.	Recognized by FCI in the Sheepdogs and Cattledogs (except Swiss Cattledogs) group, in the Sheepdogs section.
Breed Recognition	American Canine Registry American Kennel Club America's Pet Registry Canadian Kennel Club Dog Registry of America Inc. Federation Cynologique Internationale Kennel Club of Great Britain North American Purebred Registry, Inc. American Canine Association, Inc. Australian National Kennel Council Continental Kennel Club National Kennel Club New Zealand Kennel Club United Kennel Club	American Canine Registry American Kennel Club America's Pet Registry Canadian Kennel Club Dog Registry of America Inc. Federation Cynologique Internationale Kennel Club of Great Britain North American Purebred Registry, Inc. American Canine Association, Inc. Australian National Kennel Council Continental Kennel Club National Kennel Club New Zealand Kennel Club United Kennel Club Colonial Rottweiler Club Deutscher Rottweiler Klub International Rottweiler Club	American Canine Registry American Kennel Club America's Pet Registry Dog Registry of America Inc. Federation Cynologique Internationale Kennel Club of Great Britain North American Purebred Registry, Inc. American Canine Association, Inc. Australian National Kennel Council Continental Kennel Club National Kennel Club New Zealand Kennel Club United Kennel Club The American Int. Border Collie Registry The American Border Collie Association
Price	$1200-$1400	$1200-$2000	$600-$800

General Appearance - Belgian Malinois vs Rottweiler vs Border Collie

Size	Large	Large Giant	Large
Weight	Male: 65-75 pounds (29-34 kg), Female: 60-70 pounds (27-32 kg)	Male: 95-130 pounds (43-59 kg), Female: 85-115 pounds (38-52 kg)	Male: 30-45 pounds (14-20 kg), Female: 27-42 pounds (12-19 kg)
Avg. Weight	Male: 70 pounds (31.5 kg), Female: 65 pounds (29.5 kg)	Male: 112.5 pounds (51 kg), Female: 100 pounds (45 kg)	Male: 37.5 pounds (17 kg), Female: 34.5 pounds (15.5 kg)
Height	Male: 24-26 inches (61-66 cm), Female: 22-24 inches (56-61 cm)	Male: 24-27 inches (61-69 cm), Female: 22-25 inches (56-63 cm)	Male: 19-22 inches (48-56 cm), Female: 18-21 inches (46-53 cm)
Avg. Height	Male: 25 inches (63.5 cm), Female: 23 inches (58.5 cm)	Male: 25.5 inches (65 cm), Female: 23.5 inches (59.5 cm)	Male: 20.5 inches (52 cm), Female: 19.5 inches (49.5 cm)

Hair & Care - Belgian Malinois vs Rottweiler vs Border Collie

Coat	Weather-resistant Straight	Dense	Dense Feathered Straight Short Moderately Long
Colors	Brindle Cream Fawn Black	Mahogany Tan Rust Black	Black & White Tricolor Tan Blue merle Blue merle-tricolor Slate merle Red merle Black Brindle Gold Lilac Red Sable Sable Merle Saddleback Sable White & Blue White & Blue Merle White & Red White & Red Merle White Ticked Seal Slate White & Gold White & Sable White & Seal
Grooming	Average: The Belgian Malinois requires average grooming effort.	Effortless: The Rottweiler requires minimal grooming.	Average: The Border Collie requires average grooming effort.
Shedding Level	Belgian Malinoiss shed moderately.	Rottweilers shed moderately.	Border Collies shed moderately.

Characteristics - Belgian Malinois vs Rottweiler vs Border Collie

Temperament	Active Alert Confident Friendly Hard working Protective Stubborn Watchful	Alert Fearless Independent Loyal Courageous Good-natured Intelligent Protective	Intelligent Alert Tenacious Protective Energetic Responsive Loyal
Intelligent Rank	Very smart: Belgian Malinois is an excellent dog breed.	Outstanding: Rottweiler is one of the brightest dog breeds.	Outstanding: Border Collie is one of the brightest dog breeds.
Trainability	Belgian Malinoiss are very easy to train.	Rottweilers are easy to train.	Border Collies are easy to train.
Playfulness	The Belgian Malinois is a highly playful breed.	Rottweilers, like any other dog breed, like playing.	The Border Collie is a highly playful breed.
Sensitivity Level	They are a little bit more sensitive than other dog breeds.	They are a little bit more sensitive than other dog breeds.	Border Collies don't like an irregular daily routine, noisy household and frequent guest visits.
Affection Level	Belgian Malinoiss may seem unfriendly sometimes due to their independence.	Rottweilers are average dogs regarding their affection level.	Border Collies are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate dogs toward their handlers.
Social Needs	Belgian Malinoiss are a social breed.	Rottweilers need a lot of social interaction.	Border Collies need a lot of social interaction.
Barking	Average to high: The Belgian Malinois is a vocal breed.	Low: The Rottweiler barks none to minimal.	Low to Average: The Border Collie rarely barks.
Watchdog Ability	Belgian Malinoiss are one of the best watchdogs.	Rottweilers are one of the best watchdogs.	Border Collies are one of the best watchdogs.
Territorial	Belgian Malinoiss strongly protect their territory.	Rottweilers are extremely protective guard dogs.	Border Collies are extremely protective guard dogs.
Biting Potential	Low The Belgian Malinois has a low chance of biting somebody.	High The Rottweiler has a high chance of biting somebody.	Low The Border Collie has a low chance of biting somebody.
Mouthiness	Belgian Malinoiss have an average tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.	Rottweilers have an average tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.	Border Collies have a strong tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.
Impulse to Wander or Roam	Wanderlust potential of the Belgian Malinois is strong enough to escape from home.	Rottweilers tend to escape less than other breeds.	Border Collies have average wanderlust potential.
Prey Drive	Belgian Malinoiss have an average prey drive, which means that they don't have a high impulse to chase and catch something like a cat or any other small aminals, but it might happen.	Rottweilers have a higher impulse to chase and catch something than other dog breeds.	Border Collies have an average prey drive, which means that they don't have a high impulse to chase and catch something like a cat or any other small aminals, but it might happen.
Apartment Friendly	Belgian Malinoiss are not the best choice for an apartment lifestyle, but they don't mind being inside if you walk them several times every day.	Rottweilers are not the best choice for an apartment lifestyle, but they don't mind being inside if you walk them several times every day.	Border Collies are not recommended for an apartment lifestyle.
Adaptability	Belgian Malinoiss adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments.	Rottweilers adapt to lifestyle changes and different living environments quite okay usually.	Border Collies adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments.
Tolerates Being Left Alone	Belgian Malinoiss do best when a family member is at home during the day or if their workplace is dog-friendly so they can take the dog at work.	Rottweilers tend to have separation anxiety when their owners left them alone at home because they bond very closely with them.	Border Collies tend to have separation anxiety when their owners left them alone at home because they bond very closely with them.
Fighting Dog	Not really In history, this breed was not really used for combat dog.	Yes In history, this breed was unfortunately used for combat dog.	Not really In history, this breed was not really used for combat dog.

Good With - Belgian Malinois vs Rottweiler vs Border Collie

Stranger Friendly	Belgian Malinoiss are not the most stranger friendly dogs.	Rottweilers are not stranger friendly dogs.	Border Collies are average friendly towards strangers.
Child Friendly	Belgian Malinoiss are kid-friendly dogs.	Rottweilers are not the most kid-friendly dogs.	Border Collies are very kid-friendly dogs.
Cat Friendly	Belgian Malinoiss are average friendly towards cats.	Rottweilers are average friendly towards cats.	Border Collies are average friendly towards cats.
Dog Friendly	Belgian Malinoiss are average friendly towards other dogs.	Rottweilers are not dog-friendly.	Border Collies are average friendly towards other dogs.
Office Friendly	No Belgian Malinois is not the best dog breed for office environment.	No Rottweiler is not the best dog breed for office environment.	No Border Collie is not the best dog breed for office environment.
Senior Citizens Friendly	Belgian Malinoiss are usually recommended for elderly people.	Rottweilers are not the best breed for elderly people.	Border Collies are one of the best breeds for elderly people.
Pet Friendly	Belgian Malinoiss are generally with other pets.	Rottweilers are generally with other pets.	Border Collies are generally with other pets.
Good For First Time Owners	No Belgian Malinoiss are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.	No Rottweilers are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.	No Border Collies are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.
Service Dog	Yes This breed makes good as a service dog.	Yes This breed makes good as a service dog.	Yes This breed makes good as a service dog.
Therapy Dog	Not really This breed generally not used as a therapy dog.	Yes This breed makes a perfect therapy dog.	Yes This breed makes a perfect therapy dog.
Detection Dog or Sniffer Dog	Yes A detection dog or sniffer dog is a dog that is trained to use its senses (mostly its smell) to detect substances such as explosives, illegal drugs, wildlife scat, currency, blood, and contraband electronics such as illicit mobile phones.	Not really A detection dog or sniffer dog is a dog that is trained to use its senses (mostly its smell) to detect substances such as explosives, illegal drugs, wildlife scat, currency, blood, and contraband electronics such as illicit mobile phones.	Yes A detection dog or sniffer dog is a dog that is trained to use its senses (mostly its smell) to detect substances such as explosives, illegal drugs, wildlife scat, currency, blood, and contraband electronics such as illicit mobile phones.
Search and Rescue Dog (SAR)	Yes The use of dogs in search and rescue (SAR) is a valuable component in wilderness tracking, natural disasters, mass casualty events, and in locating missing people.	Not really The use of dogs in search and rescue (SAR) is a valuable component in wilderness tracking, natural disasters, mass casualty events, and in locating missing people.	Yes The use of dogs in search and rescue (SAR) is a valuable component in wilderness tracking, natural disasters, mass casualty events, and in locating missing people.
Boat Dog	Not really Belgian Malinois breed usually doesn't like being on a boat.	Not really Rottweiler breed usually doesn't like being on a boat.	Not really Border Collie breed usually doesn't like being on a boat.
Cart Pulling or Drafting Dog	Not really A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling.	Yes A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling.	Not really A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling.

Health Factors - Belgian Malinois vs Rottweiler vs Border Collie

Health Issues	The Belgian Malinois is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly.	The Rottweiler is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly.	The Border Collie is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly.
Health Problems	Elbow Dysplasia Epilepsy Eye Problems Hip Dysplasia	Allergies Aortic Stenosis Bloat Elbow Dysplasia Hip Dysplasia Hypothyroidism Osteosarcoma Panosteitis Subvalvular Aortic Stenosis	Allergies Collie Eye Anomaly Epilepsy Hip Dysplasia Osteochondrosis Dissecans Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)
Life Expectancy	12-14 years	8-11 years	12-15 years
Calculate dog years to human years by breed here
Hypoallergenic	No	No	No
Energy Level	Belgian Malinoiss are high energy dogs.	Rottweilers have a higher energy level than other dog breeds.	Border Collies are high energy dogs.
Exercise Need	Belgian Malinoiss need a lot of exercises.	Rottweilers have an average exercise need.	Border Collies need a lot of exercises.
Sleeping Need	Belgian Malinoiss don't need too much sleep.	Rottweilers are quite energetic dogs and they don't spend to much time with sleeping.	Border Collies don't need too much sleep.
Avg. daily food consumption	2 to 3 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.	Recommended daily amount: 4 to 10 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.	1.5 to 2 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two or three meals.
Weight Gain Potential	Low to Average.	High: The Rottweiler breed has a strong tendency to overweight.	Average.
Weather & Climate	Tolerates warm and cold weather.	Prefers average to warm weather conditions	Prefers average to cold weather conditions The Border Collie can adapt to well to cold weather conditions, some dogs even can be a good mountain dog.
Stinkiness	Medium The Belgian Malinois has an average chance of bad smell.	Medium The Rottweiler has an average chance of bad smell.	Medium The Border Collie has an average chance of bad smell.
Drooling tendency	The Belgian Malinois is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency.	The Rottweiler drools quite a lot, so if you dislike being covered by slobber spots on your clothes, you may want to choose another dog breed.	The Border Collie is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency.

Reproducibility - Belgian Malinois vs Rottweiler vs Border Collie

Gestation Length	60-64 days	60-64 days	60-64 days
How often can the have a litter?	Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy.	Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy.	Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy.
Litter Size	6-10 puppies	8-12 puppies	4-8 puppies
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