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

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

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

Name	German Shepherd	Belgian Malinois	Weimaraner
Origins	Germany	Belgium	Germany
All Dog Breeds By Country Of Origin
Group	Pastoral Dogs (Herding Dogs)	Pastoral Dogs (Herding Dogs)	Gun Dog
Popularity Rank	2	44	34
Reviews	4	1	1
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Other Names	Alsatian, Berger Allemand, Alsatian wolf dog (UK), Deutscher Schäferhund, Schäferhund	Malinois	Weimaraner Vorstehhund, Weim, Grey Ghost
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 in 1943 as a Sporting breed.
FCI Group	Recognized by FCI in the Sheepdogs and Cattledogs (except Swiss Cattledogs) group, in the Sheepdogs section.	Not recognized by FCI.	Recognized by FCI in the Pointing Dogs group, in the Continental Pointing Dogs 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 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 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
Price	$800-$2000	$1200-$1400	$1500-$2000

General Appearance - German Shepherd vs Belgian Malinois vs Weimaraner

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: 55-70 pounds (25-32 kg), Female: 50-65 pounds (23-29 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: 62.5 pounds (28.5 kg), Female: 57.5 pounds (26 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: 24-24 inches (61-69 cm), Female: 22-25 inches (56-63 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: 24 inches (65 cm), Female: 23.5 inches (59.5 cm)

Hair & Care - German Shepherd vs Belgian Malinois vs Weimaraner

Coat	Fuzzy	Weather-resistant Straight	Fine
Colors	Silver Tan Red Black	Brindle Cream Fawn Black	Blue Silver Gray
Grooming	Average: The German Shepherd requires average grooming effort.	Average: The Belgian Malinois requires average grooming effort.	Effortless: The Weimaraner requires minimal grooming.
Shedding Level	German Shepherds are heavy shedders.	Belgian Malinoiss shed moderately.	Weimaraners shed moderately.

Characteristics - German Shepherd vs Belgian Malinois vs Weimaraner

Temperament	Alert Courageous Intelligent Obedient Confident Curious Loyal Watchful	Active Alert Confident Friendly Hard working Protective Stubborn Watchful	Alert Energetic Intelligent Steady Social Aloof Fast Powerful Stubborn
Intelligent Rank	Outstanding: German Shepherd is one of the brightest dog breeds.	Very smart: Belgian Malinois is an excellent dog breed.	Very smart: Weimaraner is an excellent dog breed.
Trainability	German Shepherds are easy to train.	Belgian Malinoiss are very easy to train.	Weimaraners are easy to train.
Playfulness	German Shepherds, like any other dog breed, like playing.	The Belgian Malinois is a highly playful breed.	The Weimaraner is a highly 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.	Weimaraners don't like an irregular daily routine, noisy household and frequent guest visits.
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.	Weimaraners are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate dogs toward their handlers.
Social Needs	German Shepherds need for social interaction is average.	Belgian Malinoiss are a social breed.	Weimaraners need a lot of social interaction.
Barking	Low to Average: The German Shepherd rarely barks.	Average to high: The Belgian Malinois is a vocal breed.	Average to high: The Weimaraner is a vocal breed.
Watchdog Ability	German Shepherds are one of the best watchdogs.	Belgian Malinoiss are one of the best watchdogs.	Weimaraners are average watchdogs.
Territorial	German Shepherds are extremely protective guard dogs.	Belgian Malinoiss strongly protect their territory.	Weimaraners are average defenders.
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 Weimaraner 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.	Weimaraners have a strong 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.	Weimaraners have high wanderlust potential, which means that this breed has a strong desire for exploring the world.
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.	Weimaraners have a high impulse to chase and catch something.
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.	Weimaraners are not apartment-friendly dogs.
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.	Weimaraners adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments.
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.	Weimaraners tend to have separation anxiety when their owners left them alone at home because they bond very closely with them.
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 Weimaraner

Stranger Friendly	German Shepherds are stranger friendly dogs.	Belgian Malinoiss are not the most stranger friendly dogs.	Weimaraners are stranger friendly dogs.
Child Friendly	German Shepherds are very kid-friendly dogs.	Belgian Malinoiss are kid-friendly dogs.	Weimaraners are not the most kid-friendly dogs.
Cat Friendly	German Shepherds are average friendly towards cats.	Belgian Malinoiss are average friendly towards cats.	Weimaraners are cat-friendly dogs.
Dog Friendly	German Shepherds are not the most dog-friendly dogs.	Belgian Malinoiss are average friendly towards other dogs.	Weimaraners are dog-friendly 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 Weimaraner 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.	Weimaraners are not the best breed for elderly people.
Pet Friendly	German Shepherds are generally with other pets.	Belgian Malinoiss are generally with other pets.	Weimaraners are usually friendly towards 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.	No Weimaraners 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.	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.	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.
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 Weimaraner 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 Weimaraner

Health Issues	German Shepherds are commonly healthy dogs.	The Belgian Malinois is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly.	Weimaraners tend to have a lot and frequent health issues.
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	Bloat Distichiasis Drug Sensitivity Ectropion Entropion Hip Dysplasia Hypothyroidism Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) Von Willebrand's Disease
Life Expectancy	10-13 years	12-14 years	10-12 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.	Weimaraners are high energy dogs.
Exercise Need	German Shepherds need quite a lot of exercise.	Belgian Malinoiss need a lot of exercises.	Weimaraners need a lot of exercises.
Sleeping Need	German Shepherds don't need too much sleep.	Belgian Malinoiss don't need too much sleep.	Weimaraners don't need too much sleep.
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.	2.5 to 3 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 Weimaraner 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 Weimaraner drools quite a lot, so if you dislike being covered by slobber spots on your clothes, you may want to choose another dog breed.

Reproducibility - German Shepherd vs Belgian Malinois vs Weimaraner

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	6-8 puppies
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