German Shepherd vs Belgian Malinois vs Dutch Shepherd Dog – Which one is a better dog breed for you?

"Find similarities and differences between German Shepherd vs Belgian Malinois vs Dutch Shepherd Dog" Compare German Shepherd and Belgian Malinois. Which is better: German Shepherd or Belgian Malinois or Dutch Shepherd Dog?

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

Name	German Shepherd	Belgian Malinois	Dutch Shepherd Dog
Origins	Germany	Belgium	Netherlands
All Dog Breeds By Country Of Origin
Group	Pastoral Dogs (Herding Dogs)	Pastoral Dogs (Herding Dogs)	Pastoral Dogs (Herding Dogs)
Popularity Rank	2	44	525
Reviews	0	0	0
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Other Names	Alsatian, Berger Allemand, Alsatian wolf dog (UK), Deutscher Schäferhund, Schäferhund	Malinois	Dutch Shepherd Dog, Hollandse Herder
Breed Type	Purebred	Purebred	Purebred
AKC Group	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1908 as a Herding breed.	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1959 as a Herding breed.	Recognized by the American Kennel Club as a Miscellaneous breed.
FCI Group	Recognized by FCI in the Sheepdogs and Cattledogs (except Swiss Cattledogs) group, in the Sheepdogs section.	Not recognized by FCI.	Not recognized by FCI.
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 German Shepherd Dog Club Of America	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 America's Pet Registry Dog Registry of America Inc. Federation Cynologique Internationale American Canine Association, Inc. Continental Kennel Club National Kennel Club United Kennel Club Foundation Stock Service
Price	$800-$2000	$1200-$1400	$1000-$1200

General Appearance - German Shepherd vs Belgian Malinois vs Dutch Shepherd Dog

Size	Large	Large	Large
Weight	Male: 66-88 pounds (30-40 kg), Female: 49-71 pounds (22-32 kg)	Male: 65-75 pounds (29-34 kg), Female: 60-70 pounds (27-32 kg)	Male: 61-70 pounds (27-31 kg) Female: 52-61 pounds (23-27 kg)
Avg. Weight	Male: 77 pounds (35 kg), Female: 60 pounds (27 kg)	Male: 70 pounds (31.5 kg), Female: 65 pounds (29.5 kg)	Male: 65.5 pounds (29 kg) Female: 56.5 pounds (25 kg)
Height	Male: 24-26 inches (60-65 cm), Female: 22-24 inches (55-60 cm)	Male: 24-26 inches (61-66 cm), Female: 22-24 inches (56-61 cm)	Male: 22-25 inches (56-63 cm), Female: 21-24 inches (53-61 cm)
Avg. Height	Male: 25 inches (62.5 cm), Female: 23 inches (57.5 cm)	Male: 25 inches (63.5 cm), Female: 23 inches (58.5 cm)	Male: 23.5 inches (60 cm), Female: 22.5 inches (57 cm)

Hair & Care - German Shepherd vs Belgian Malinois vs Dutch Shepherd Dog

Coat	Fuzzy	Weather-resistant Straight	Wiry
Colors	Silver Tan Red Black	Brindle Cream Fawn Black	Blue Brindle Golden Grey Silver Yellow Salt & Pepper
Grooming	Average: The German Shepherd requires average grooming effort.	Average: The Belgian Malinois requires average grooming effort.	Easy to groom: The Dutch Shepherd Dog doesn't require a lot of grooming.
Shedding Level	German Shepherds are heavy shedders.	Belgian Malinoiss shed moderately.	Dutch Shepherd Dogs shed moderately.

Characteristics - German Shepherd vs Belgian Malinois vs Dutch Shepherd Dog

Temperament	Alert Courageous Intelligent Obedient Confident Curious Loyal Watchful	Active Alert Confident Friendly Hard working Protective Stubborn Watchful	Affectionate Alert Loyal Obedient Reliable Trainable
Intelligent Rank	Outstanding: German Shepherd is one of the brightest dog breeds.	Very smart: Belgian Malinois is an excellent dog breed.	Smart: Dutch Shepherd Dog's has great intelligence.
Trainability	German Shepherds are easy to train.	Belgian Malinoiss are very easy to train.	Dutch Shepherd Dogs are quite easy to train.
Playfulness	German Shepherds, like any other dog breed, like playing.	The Belgian Malinois is a highly playful breed.	The Dutch Shepherd Dog is a playful breed.
Sensitivity Level	German Shepherds don't like an irregular daily routine, noisy household and frequent guest visits.	They are a little bit more sensitive than other dog breeds.	Dutch Shepherd Dogs have an average emotional level and are not the most sensitive dog breed.
Affection Level	German Shepherds are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate dogs toward their handlers.	Belgian Malinoiss may seem unfriendly sometimes due to their independence.	Dutch Shepherd Dogs are highly affectionate dogs.
Social Needs	German Shepherds need for social interaction is average.	Belgian Malinoiss are a social breed.	Dutch Shepherd Dogs are a social breed.
Barking	Low to Average: The German Shepherd rarely barks.	Average to high: The Belgian Malinois is a vocal breed.	Low to Average: The Dutch Shepherd Dog rarely barks.
Watchdog Ability	German Shepherds are one of the best watchdogs.	Belgian Malinoiss are one of the best watchdogs.	Dutch Shepherd Dogs are one of the best watchdogs.
Territorial	German Shepherds are extremely protective guard dogs.	Belgian Malinoiss strongly protect their territory.	Dutch Shepherd Dogs are extremely protective guard dogs.
Biting Potential	High The German Shepherd has a high chance of biting somebody.	Low The Belgian Malinois has a low chance of biting somebody.	Low The Dutch Shepherd Dog has a low chance of biting somebody.
Mouthiness	German Shepherds have a strong tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.	Belgian Malinoiss have an average tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.	Dutch Shepherd Dogs have lower than average tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.
Impulse to Wander or Roam	German Shepherds are not the biggest explorers.	Wanderlust potential of the Belgian Malinois is strong enough to escape from home.	Dutch Shepherd Dogs tend to escape less than other breeds.
Prey Drive	German Shepherds have a higher impulse to chase and catch something than other dog breeds.	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.	Dutch Shepherd Dogs 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	German Shepherds are not the best choice for an apartment lifestyle, but they don't mind being inside if you walk them several times every day.	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.	Dutch Shepherd Dogs are not the best choice for an apartment lifestyle, but they don't mind being inside if you walk them several times every day.
Adaptability	German Shepherds adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments.	Belgian Malinoiss adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments.	Dutch Shepherd Dogs adapt to lifestyle changes and different living environments quite okay usually.
Tolerates Being Left Alone	Just like every puppy, they are prone to panic, cry, bark, whine when they left alone by their owner.	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.	Dutch Shepherd Dogs 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.
Fighting 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.	Not really In history, this breed was not really used for combat dog.

Good With - German Shepherd vs Belgian Malinois vs Dutch Shepherd Dog

Stranger Friendly	German Shepherds are stranger friendly dogs.	Belgian Malinoiss are not the most stranger friendly dogs.	Dutch Shepherd Dogs are not the most stranger friendly dogs.
Child Friendly	German Shepherds are very kid-friendly dogs.	Belgian Malinoiss are kid-friendly dogs.	Dutch Shepherd Dogs are average friendly dogs towards children.
Cat Friendly	German Shepherds are average friendly towards cats.	Belgian Malinoiss are average friendly towards cats.	Dutch Shepherd Dogs are not the most cat-friendly dogs.
Dog Friendly	German Shepherds are not the most dog-friendly dogs.	Belgian Malinoiss are average friendly towards other dogs.	Dutch Shepherd Dogs are average friendly towards other dogs.
Office Friendly	No German Shepherd is not the best dog breed for office environment.	No Belgian Malinois is not the best dog breed for office environment.	No Dutch Shepherd Dog is not the best dog breed for office environment.
Senior Citizens Friendly	German Shepherds are one of the best breeds for elderly people.	Belgian Malinoiss are usually recommended for elderly people.	Dutch Shepherd Dogs are commonly okay with elderly people.
Pet Friendly	German Shepherds are generally with other pets.	Belgian Malinoiss are generally with other pets.	Dutch Shepherd Dogs usually don’t get on well with other pets.
Good For First Time Owners	No German Shepherds are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.	No Belgian Malinoiss are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.	Yes Dutch Shepherd Dogs are good for novice owners, due to their easy-going personality.
Service Dog	Yes This breed makes good as a service dog.	Yes This breed makes good as a service dog.	Not really This breed generally not used as a service dog.
Therapy Dog	Yes This breed makes a perfect therapy dog.	Not really This breed generally not used as a therapy dog.	Not really This breed generally not used as a 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.	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.	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.	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.	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 German Shepherd breed usually doesn't like being on a boat.	Not really Belgian Malinois breed usually doesn't like being on a boat.	Not really Dutch Shepherd Dog 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.	Not really 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 - German Shepherd vs Belgian Malinois vs Dutch Shepherd Dog

Health Issues	German Shepherds are commonly healthy dogs.	Egészségesek Belgian Malinois fajták, de vannak bizonyos egészségügyi problémáik, amelyeket rendszeresen ellenőrizned kell az állatorvossal.	Egészségesek Dutch Shepherd Dog fajták, de vannak bizonyos egészségügyi problémáik, amelyeket rendszeresen ellenőrizned kell az állatorvossal.
Health Problems	Allergies Blindness Bloat Cancer Cataracts Cherry Eye Chronic Diarrhea Cruciate Ligament Rupture Cushing's Syndrome Degenerative Myelopathy Demodectic Mange Diabetes Digestive Problems Elbow Dysplasia Epilepsy Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency Heart Disease Hemophilia A Hemophilia B Hip Dysplasia Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy Lens Luxation Lupus Megaesophagus Myasthenia Gravis Nail Bed Disease Osteochondrosis Pannus Panosteitis Paralysis Perianal Fistula Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) Retinal Dysplasia Seborrhea Vitiligo Von Willebrand's Disease Wobbler's Syndrome	Elbow Dysplasia Epilepsy Eye Problems Hip Dysplasia	No set
Life Expectancy	10-13 years	12-14 years	12-15 years
Calculate dog years to human years by breed here
Hypoallergenic	No	No	No
Energy Level	German Shepherds are high energy dogs.	Belgian Malinoiss are high energy dogs.	Dutch Shepherd Dogs have a higher energy level than other dog breeds.
Exercise Need	German Shepherds need quite a lot of exercise.	Belgian Malinoiss need a lot of exercises.	Dutch Shepherd Dogs have an average exercise need.
Sleeping Need	German Shepherds don't need too much sleep.	Belgian Malinoiss don't need too much sleep.	Dutch Shepherd Dogs are quite energetic dogs and they don't spend to much time with sleeping.
Avg. daily food consumption	3 to 4 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.	2 to 3 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.	3 to 4.5 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.
Weight Gain Potential	Low to Average.	Low to Average.	Low to Average.
Weather & Climate	Tolerates warm and cold weather.	Tolerates warm and cold weather.	Tolerates warm and cold weather.
Stinkiness	Medium The German Shepherd has an average chance of bad smell.	Medium The Belgian Malinois has an average chance of bad smell.	Medium The Dutch Shepherd Dog has an average chance of bad smell.
Drooling tendency	The German Shepherd is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency.	The Belgian Malinois is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency.	The Dutch Shepherd Dog is a perfect example for low drooling tendency.

Reproducibility - German Shepherd vs Belgian Malinois vs Dutch Shepherd Dog

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	6-10 puppies	6-10 puppies
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