Breed comparison
Belgian Malinois vs German Shepherd Dog
How the two breeds compare on the American Kennel Club's 1 to 5 trait ratings, and which one suits which home.
3Affection with family5
3Good with young children5
3Good with other dogs3
3Openness to strangers3
3Playfulness4
4Energy level5
5Trainability5
4Mental stimulation needs5
3Adaptability5
4Watchdog / protective5
3Barking3
3Shedding4
2Coat grooming2
1Drooling2
The biggest differences
- Affection with family: the German Shepherd Dog scores 5 out of 5, the Belgian Malinois 3.
- Good with young children: the German Shepherd Dog scores 5 out of 5, the Belgian Malinois 3.
- Adaptability: the German Shepherd Dog scores 5 out of 5, the Belgian Malinois 3.
They score the same on good with other dogs, openness to strangers, trainability, barking, coat grooming.
Which one should you choose?
Pick the Belgian Malinois if you prefer a calmer dog, you want less dog hair. Pick the German Shepherd Dog if you have young children, you want an energetic exercise partner, you live in a smaller home or move often.
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.