Belgian Malinois vs White Shepherd
Compare the Belgian Malinois to the White Shepherd. Use the tool below to compare temperament, size, personality, maintenance requirements, and everything else between Belgian Malinois and White Shepherds.
Quick Summary
- Owner Experience - The White Shepherd is an okay choice for new or inexperienced owners, but the Belgian Malinois is not recommended for new owners.
- Children - The White Shepherd is very child friendly. The Belgian Malinois does okay around kids, but is not as tolerant as the White Shepherd.
- Grooming - Both breeds have low maintenance coats, but the White Shepherd is easier to groom.
- Barking - The White Shepherd bark/howls frequently. The Belgian Malinois has an average level of barking.
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| Breed Name | Belgian Malinois | White Shepherd |
| General Details | ||
| Breed Type | Purebred | Purebred |
| Is Hypoallergenic | No | No |
| Lifespan | 10-12 yrs. | 10-12 yrs. |
| Height | 22-28 in. | 22-26 in. |
| Weight | 55-75 lb | 77-85 lb |
| Intelligence | High | High |
| History | ||
| Origin Country | Belgium | Germany |
| Origin Year | 1891 AD | 1882 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 | Yes |
| Large Yard | Yes | Yes |
| Temperature Tolerance ¹ | 30°F to 80°F | 40°F to 85°F |
| Barks/Howls | ||
| Exercise Needs | ||
| Energy Level | High-Very High | High |
| Exercise Required | High-Very High | High |
| Top Running Speed | 35 mph | 30 mph |
| Strength | High | High |
| Grooming Needs | ||
| Coat Maintenance | Low-Medium | Medium-High |
| Shedding | Medium | High |
| Dander | Medium | High |
| Drool Amount | Low | Medium |
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 | White Shepherd |
| Breed Mentality | ||
| Dominant/Alpha | Yes | No |
| Family/Pack | No | Yes |
| Independent | No | No |
| Breed Focus | ||
| Distracted Easily | No | No |
| Average | No | No |
| Focused & Patient | Yes | Yes |
| Breed Instincts | ||
| Aggression | Average | Average |
| Burrow/Digging | Below Average | Below Average |
| Chasing | Average | Below Average |
| Follow Commands | High | High |
| Fighting | Average | Below Average |
| Guarding | High | High |
| Herding | High | High |
| Hunting | Below Average | High |
| Protection | High | High |
| Remove Vermin | Average | Below Average |
| Sledding | Average | Below Average |
| Watch | High | High |
| Breed Name | Belgian Malinois | White Shepherd |
| Lifespan | ||
| Lifespan | 10-12 yrs. | 10-12 yrs. |
| Common Health Issues | ||
| Allergies | No | Yes |
| Bloat | No | Yes |
| Elbow Dysplasia | Yes | No |
| Epilepsy | Yes | No |
| Eye Problems | Yes | No |
| Hip Dysplasia | Yes | No |
| Joint Dysplasia | No | Yes |
| Breed Name | Belgian Malinois | White Shepherd |
| Coat | ||
| Fur | Yes | Yes |
| Coat Type | ||
| Wire Coat | Yes | No |
| Double Coat | No | Yes |
| Coat Texture | ||
| Straight | Yes | Yes |
| Coat Length(s) | ||
| Short | Yes | Yes |
| Medium | No | 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 |
| White | No | Yes |