The Belgian Malinois and German Shepherd are two popular working dog breeds. They have been used for various purposes throughout the year. If you are considering buying one of these breeds, you may be confused. Luckily, we are here to help you.
There is no fixed winner between the Belgian Malinois and German Shepherd. It all depends on your needs. For instance, police have been using Belgian Malinois more because of their better habits. Meanwhile, German Shepherds are preferred by families because of their friendlier nature.
Of course, there are many things you can compare to make an informed decision about your next pet. Luckily, you don’t have to worry about researching the features. Here is a comprehensive comparison guide to help you.
Comparison Of the Breeds – Belgian Malinois Vs. German Shepherd?
The top thing you must understand is that German Shepherds originated from Germany while Malinois descends from Belgium. Both breeds are working dogs with high intelligence and excellent athletic abilities. Police and military forces also use the two types.
A key thing to note is that female Malinois weigh about 40 to 60 pounds while males weigh 60 to 80 pounds. Meanwhile, German Shepherds are heavier and can weigh up to 90 pounds. They also have a thicker coat than Belgian Malinois dogs.
“Another fact you must remember is that German Shepherds are friendlier towards their owner’s family. So if you want a family pet, this breed will do better than Belgian Malinois dogs.”
The greatest similarity between these two breeds is that they are athletic and require owners to take them out for long periods of exercise. If you don’t meet their athletic needs, your pet will resort to destructive behavior. For instance, it may act more aggressively toward you.
Besides these things, you must also consider other things such as size, temperament, aggressiveness, and much more.
Size Comparison
Belgian Malinois dogs have the same size of 22 to 26 inches as German Shepherds. However, they appear sleeker than the latter and also blonder.
This is one of the reasons why you may get confused when identifying these two dogs.
A vital thing you must remember is that females are 22 to 24 inches while males vary from 24 to 26 inches. Despite that, Belgian Malinois appears smaller than German Shepherds. This is because they have more delicate bones and a sleek appearance.
The size also makes German Shepherds look more formidable than Malinois dogs. Another feature contributing to this is that the former has a thicker coat.
Besides that, Shepherds are also longer than the other breed and have deeper bodies with smooth curves. Malinois has more of an angled body.
Temperament Comparison
The top temperament features of the Belgian Malinois are that it is a smart, curious, and energetic breed. These dogs also have lively personalities and attentive eyes. Typically, a Malinois is vigilant at all times, while German Shepherds may relax a bit.
Being a working dog, Belgian Malinois dogs also have an intense wish to perform tasks. Meanwhile, German Shepherds are intelligent, active, and protective. However, they also have a more beloved personality than Belgian Malinois
. This is why they can serve as good family dogs too.
Besides that, German Shepherds are highly active and require more exercise than Belgian Malinois daily.
However, this breed is also less independent and may require more attention from its owners. Of course, both dogs have one common thing. They are diligent, love to work, and have an alert attitude.
Which Breed Is Stronger?
German Shepherds are a stronger breed than Belgian Malinois for various reasons. The first thing you must remember is that German Shepherds are heavier. This means they have a higher muscle mass-to-size ratio giving them more strength.
Besides that, German Shepherds also have a higher bite force than Belgian Malinois dogs. This adds to the strength of the former, making it more formidable than other breeds. Of course, the individual power of each dog can vary due to various factors.
So you may come across a stronger Belgian Malinois than a German Shepherd sometimes. Overall, the latter dogs have more popularity because of their high guarding abilities. For instance, German Shepherds rank second on AKC in the US.
“You should also remember that a German Shepherd can break a bone with one bite. This is one of the reasons why many people use this breed as personal guard dogs.”
Belgian Malinois members also have a tough bite and can cause severe damage.
Which Breed Is Faster?
Both breeds can run at a speed of 48km/h on average. However, you must note that Belgian Malinois dogs are faster than Shepherds. They have a sleeker body and a low muscle mass-to-size ratio. Simply put, Belgian Malinois can run faster because they are not as heavy.
Aside from that, German Shepherds are considered less agile than Belgian Malinois dogs. This is why you can expect the latter to be slightly faster and better at catching things or people. It is one of the reasons why Belgian Malinois are used in K9 military units.
Another thing you must note is that a Belgian Malinois tends to be more athletic than German Shepherds. Because of this, their energy runs out later than other dog breeds.
Which Breed Is More Aggressive?
The top feature of both breeds is that they act as guarding and protection dogs for personal and commercial reasons. Many homeowners purchase German Shepherds to protect them. However, you may have noticed Belgian Malinois dogs within the police force.
Of course, many owners report that Belgian Malinois dogs are more aggressive than German Shepherds. A primary factor that contributes to this is that the Belgian Malinois is more independent.
Meanwhile, Shepherds are known to act lovey-dovey, especially around their owners.
Apart from that, Belgian Malinois dogs are also more alert than German Shepherds. So they tend to react faster and be more aggressive. The sleek frame of this breed also allows it to move at a better pace and charge with a higher force.
The primary thing to note is that German Shepherds may be less aggressive towards strangers.
This depends on the socialization training of this breed. If you adopted this pet as a family dog, you may make it less reserved towards strangers with a proper trainer. On the contrary, Belgian Malinois tends to stay reserved.
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Which Breed Has the Stronger Bite?
The primary thing you should understand is that you must compare the bite forces of the breeds to decide which is stronger. This figure can vary from one dog to another.
However, Belgian Malinois dogs have a 195 PSI bite force while German Shepherds have a strength of 238 PSI. There isn’t a huge difference between these two breeds.
Keeping these average figures in mind, you can expect a German Shepherd to be stronger than a Belgian Malinois. You should also remember that the former is heavier. This is why German Shepherds can cause more damage when saving you from an attack.
However, you should remember that a Malinois may be better at protecting you. This is because they tend to be vigilant throughout the day.
Meanwhile, Shepherds can let their guard down and relax. So it may detect an intruder on-premises later than a Belgian Malinois.
Lastly, you must note that one bite of a German Shepherd is adequate to break a bone. These dogs can also cause severe physical injuries to a predator or human after attacking. This is why you must be careful not to invade your dog’s space and be sure to meet its exercise needs.
Who Would Win in A Fight – A Belgian Malinois or German Shepherd?
A battle between a Belgian Malinois and German Shepherd would keep you on your toes. This is because both breeds are formidable with a similar aggressive nature. Their sizes are also more or less the same.
Of course, German Shepherds tend to be longer because of their curved bodies.
“You must first understand that there is no fixed winner in a fight between these two breeds. This is because each dog has different abilities and features.”
Sometimes, a German Shepherd may overcome a Belgian Malinois opponent.
However, sometimes a Belgian Malinois may win by outsmarting the German Shepherd. Typically, the latter is faster than the former and may chase it. Besides that, Belgian Malinois dogs have higher energy and can tire out the German Shepherd dog to gain an edge over it.
So you should not expect one breed to always win the fight. Instead, the winner depends on the abilities of the two dogs. Typically, the animal with higher training and less socialization tends to win. This is because it will be more aggressive when fighting.
Which Breed Is Used in The Military and Police Forces?
German Shepherds are one of the top breeds used in the military and police forces. During World War II, these dogs were also used as messengers, rescue animals, and guard dogs. Many TV series and movie makers also use German Shepherds as police dogs.
However, you must remember that Belgian Malinois dogs are also used in the military and police forces. Many of you may be unaware of this because this breed is less prevalent. For instance, it ranks 47th on the AKC while German Shepherds have the second position in the US.
Of course, you should note that every year more Belgian Malinois dogs are replacing German Shepherds. For instance, you may find a higher number of Belgian Malinois dogs in K9 military units. Police forces are also making more use of this breed in recent years.
The primary reason why the importance of German Shepherds is decreasing is that Belgian Malinois dogs are serving better.
They are more vigilant, faster, and become tired later than German Shepherds. These features enable them to serve as better search and rescue dogs.\
German Shepherd Vs. Belgian Malinois – Are They Trainable?
German Shepherds are highly trainable dogs that respond well to positive reinforcement training.
With consistent practice and patience, you can easily teach your furry friend basic commands such as sit, stay, come, and heel.
It’s important to keep in mind that this breed was originally bred as working dogs so they may be more challenging than other breeds when it comes to mastering tricks or agility courses.
They are also very intuitive animals so they can learn quickly if given the right guidance.
On the other hand, Belgian Malinois are also renowned for their intelligence and willingness to learn.
Highly trainable, these dogs have an impressive capacity to remember commands and execute them with precision.
Breeders often recommend the Belgian Malinois for those wishing to train their canine companion in advanced obedience work or agility competitions.
“The key to successful training with a Belgian Malinois is patience and consistency. These dogs have impressive energy levels, making it essential that they get proper exercise throughout the day.”
Without regular physical activity, they can develop behavioral issues due to boredom or lack of stimulation.
However, if trained correctly, these intelligent working dogs make loyal companions who are eager to please their human family members.
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Final thoughts
As outlined, the Belgian Malinois and German Shepherd both serve as excellent guard dogs and are used for protection. However, German Shepherds act as better family pets because of their more open nature.
Belgian Malinois dogs are faster and more vigilant. Meanwhile, German Shepherds have a higher bite force and can cause severe injuries. This is why there are no fixed winners when it comes to a clear answer on who would win between these two breeds.
