Belgian Malinois vs Doberman Pinscher
Compare the Belgian Malinois to the Doberman Pinscher. Use the tool below to compare temperament, size, personality, maintenance requirements, and everything else between Belgian Malinois and Doberman Pinschers.
Quick Summary
- Owner Experience - The Doberman Pinscher is a good choice for new owners, whereas the Belgian Malinois is not recommended for new/inexperienced owners.
- Children - Both the Doberman Pinscher and Belgian Malinois are child friendly, but the Doberman Pinscher is a better choice for young children.
- Grooming - Both breeds have low maintenance coats, but the Doberman Pinscher is easier to groom.
- Barking - The Belgian Malinois has an average tendency to bark. The Doberman Pinscher will bark less frequently than most dogs.
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| Breed Name | Belgian Malinois | Doberman Pinscher |
| General Details | ||
| Breed Type | Purebred | Purebred |
| Is Hypoallergenic | No | No |
| Lifespan | 10-12 yrs. | 10-12 yrs. |
| Height | 22-28 in. | 24-28 in. |
| Weight | 55-75 lb | 65-99 lb |
| Intelligence | High | High |
| History | ||
| Origin Country | Belgium | Germany |
| Origin Year | 1891 AD | 1890 AD |
| Temperament | ||
| Overall Friendliness | ||
| Family Friendly | ||
| Kid Friendly | ||
| Pet Friendly | ||
| Stranger Friendly | ||
| Personality | ||
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| Living Environment | ||
| Apartment | No | Yes |
| Indoor | Yes | Yes |
| Small Yard | Yes | Yes |
| Medium Yard | Yes | No |
| Large Yard | Yes | No |
| Temperature Tolerance ¹ | 30°F to 80°F | 50°F to 75°F |
| Barks/Howls | ||
| Exercise Needs | ||
| Energy Level | High-Very High | High |
| Exercise Required | High-Very High | Medium-High |
| Top Running Speed | 35 mph | 30 mph |
| Strength | High | High |
| Grooming Needs | ||
| Coat Maintenance | Low-Medium | Low |
| Shedding | Medium | Low |
| Dander | Medium | Low |
| Drool Amount | Low | Low |
¹This is estimated min/max temperature range for a healthy adult dog. Dogs that live indoors, puppies, seniors, unwell dogs, and/or dogs with improperly groomed coats may overheat sooner and get cold more quickly.
| Breed Name | Belgian Malinois | Doberman Pinscher |
| Breed Mentality | ||
| Dominant/Alpha | Yes | Yes |
| Family/Pack | No | No |
| Independent | No | No |
| Breed Focus | ||
| Distracted Easily | No | No |
| Average | No | Yes |
| Focused & Patient | Yes | No |
| Breed Instincts | ||
| Aggression | Average | High |
| Burrow/Digging | Below Average | Below Average |
| Chasing | Average | Average |
| Follow Commands | High | Average |
| Fighting | Average | Average |
| Guarding | High | High |
| Herding | High | Below Average |
| Hunting | Below Average | Below Average |
| Protection | High | High |
| Remove Vermin | Average | Below Average |
| Sledding | Average | Below Average |
| Watch | High | High |
| Breed Name | Belgian Malinois | Doberman Pinscher |
| Lifespan | ||
| Lifespan | 10-12 yrs. | 10-12 yrs. |
| Common Health Issues | ||
| Cardiomyopathy | No | Yes |
| Elbow Dysplasia | Yes | No |
| Epilepsy | Yes | No |
| Eye Problems | Yes | No |
| Hip Dysplasia | Yes | Yes |
| Progressive Retinal Atrophy | No | Yes |
| Von Willebrand's Disease | No | Yes |
| Wobbler's Syndrome | No | Yes |
| Breed Name | Belgian Malinois | Doberman Pinscher |
| Coat | ||
| Fur | Yes | Yes |
| Coat Type | ||
| Wire Coat | Yes | No |
| Smooth Coat | No | Yes |
| Coat Texture | ||
| Straight | Yes | Yes |
| Coat Length(s) | ||
| Short | Yes | Yes |
| Coat Color(s) | ||
| Black | Yes | No |
| Brindle | Yes | No |
| Cream | Yes | No |
| Cream & Sable | Yes | No |
| Fawn | Yes | No |
| Fawn & Sable | Yes | No |
| Gray | Yes | No |
| Gray & Sable | Yes | No |
| Liver | Yes | No |
| Mahogany | Yes | No |
| Red | Yes | No |
| Red & Sable | Yes | No |
| Black & Rust | No | Yes |
| Blue & Rust | No | Yes |
| Isabella & Rust | No | Yes |
| Red & Rust | No | Yes |
| White | No | Yes |