Breed comparison
Australian Shepherd vs Belgian Malinois
How the two breeds compare on the American Kennel Club's 1 to 5 trait ratings, and which one suits which home.
Australian Shepherd
3Affection with family3
5Good with young children3
3Good with other dogs3
3Openness to strangers3
4Playfulness3
5Energy level4
5Trainability5
5Mental stimulation needs4
3Adaptability3
3Watchdog / protective4
3Barking3
3Shedding3
2Coat grooming2
1Drooling1
The biggest differences
- Good with young children: the Australian Shepherd scores 5 out of 5, the Belgian Malinois 3.
They score the same on affection with family, good with other dogs, openness to strangers, trainability, adaptability, barking.
Which one should you choose?
Pick the Australian Shepherd if you have young children, you want an energetic exercise partner. Pick the Belgian Malinois if you prefer a calmer dog, you want a more protective watchdog.
Ratings are general breed tendencies from the AKC. Every dog is an individual, so meet the dog, and its parents if you can, before you decide. Not sure? Try the breed selector.
Source: American Kennel Club breed ratings (compiled February 2022). How we check.