German Shepherd vs Belgian Malinois

Side-by-side comparison of temperament, health, size, and care needs.

German Shepherd

Belgian Malinois

Traits Overview

German Shepherd

Belgian Malinois

Energy Level

German Shepherd

4/5

Belgian Malinois

5/5

Trainability

German Shepherd

5/5

Belgian Malinois

5/5

Good with Kids

German Shepherd

4/5

Belgian Malinois

3/5

Good with Pets

German Shepherd

3/5

Belgian Malinois

3/5

Grooming Needs

German Shepherd

3/5

Belgian Malinois

2/5

Belgian Malinois scores highest in energy level (5/5 vs 4/5).
All breeds share similar trainability (5/5).
German Shepherd scores highest in kid-friendliness (4/5 vs 3/5).
All breeds share similar pet-friendliness (3/5).
German Shepherd scores highest in grooming needs (3/5 vs 2/5).
Belgian Malinois tends to live longer (14-16 years) compared to German Shepherd (7-10 years).
Both breeds are prone to Hip dysplasia, Elbow dysplasia, Bloat.

Attribute	German Shepherd Versatile working dog known for courage, loyalty, and intelligence. Excels in police, military, and service work.	Belgian Malinois Confident, hardworking herding dog. The breed of choice for police and military K-9 units worldwide.
Size	large	large
Weight	50-90 lbs	40-80 lbs
Height	22-26 in	22-26 in
Life Span	7-10 years	14-16 years
Origin	Germany	Belgium
Group	Herding	Herding
Energy Level
Trainability
Good with Kids
Good with Pets
Grooming Needs
Temperament	ConfidentCourageousSmartLoyal	ConfidentSmartHardworkingIntense
Common Health Issues	Hip dysplasia Elbow dysplasia Degenerative myelopathy Bloat	Hip dysplasia Elbow dysplasia Progressive retinal atrophy Bloat
Exercise	90+ min daily exercise	90+ min daily intense exercise
Grooming	Brush several times weekly	Weekly brushing
Diet	High-protein diet for active dogs	High-performance working-dog food