Australian Cattle Dog vs Belgian Malinois

An Australian Cattle Dog
Photo: Wonderchook
A Belgian Malinois
Photo: Svenska Mässan from Sweden

Side by side

Australian Cattle Dog
Belgian Malinois
Adult weight
16–23 kg (35–50 lb) (breed club figure)1
Males 25–30 kg (55–66 lb); females 20–25 kg (44–55 lb)2
Height
No sourced figure
Males 60–66 cm; females 56–62 cm2
Lifespan
Median 14 years3
Median 12 years3
Fully grown
11 months, both sexes4
Group
Sheepdogs & cattledogs5
Sheepdogs & cattledogs2
Coat
Short coat5
Short coat2
Shedding
Moults most as the seasons change
Grooming
A brush once a week
Exercise
Plenty
Class
Working
Working

Which suits you

Size
The Belgian Malinois is a little larger on average: about 25 kg (55 lb) as an adult, against 19 kg (43 lb) for the Australian Cattle Dog.
Lifespan
In UK vet records the Australian Cattle Dog lives longer: a median of 14 years, against 12 for the Belgian Malinois.
Temperament
They differ most on affection (Australian Cattle Dog: affectionate on its own terms; Belgian Malinois: likes its own space) and on independence (Australian Cattle Dog: cooperative, with its own ideas; Belgian Malinois: keen to work with you).
Alike
Both are rated the same on loyalty: sticks close to its people.
Neither is the better dog in general. Which suits you depends on your home, your days and the care you can give.
Take the breed matcher

What they're like

Australian Cattle Dog
Sheepdogs & cattledogs · Medium

In temperament it is alert, tireless and quick to learn, usually devoted to its own people and reserved with strangers.

Belgian Malinois
Sheepdogs & cattledogs · Medium

In temperament it is intense, quick and highly responsive, devoted to its handler and often reserved with strangers.

The Australian Cattle Dog page →The Belgian Malinois page →

Breed traits

Day to day
Australian Cattle Dog
Belgian Malinois
Activity
Needs lots of exercise
Needs lots of exercise
Intelligence
Needs daily brain work
Needs daily brain work
Handler demand
Needs an experienced owner
Needs an experienced owner
With people
Australian Cattle Dog
Belgian Malinois
Affection
Differs
Affectionate on its own terms
Likes its own space
Loyalty
Sticks close to its people
Sticks close to its people
Independence
Differs
Cooperative, with its own ideas
Keen to work with you
Around the home
Australian Cattle Dog
Belgian Malinois
Sensitivity
Differs
Average
Needs a calm, predictable home
Voice
Barks to alert, then settles
Barks to alert, then settles
Prey drive
Likely to chase small pets
Likely to chase small pets
Breed explains only about 9% of how individual dogs differ in behaviour6. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home7,8.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes
The Belgian Malinois grows to the heavier adult, about 25 kg against the Australian Cattle Dog's 19 kg.
Australian Cattle Dog
Belgian Malinois
01020302m4m6m9m12m18m
01020302m3m4m6m9m12m18m

More comparisons

Compare the Australian Cattle Dog with
Belgian Malinois vs German ShepherdAustralian Cattle Dog vs Australian ShepherdBelgian Malinois vs Doberman PinscherBelgian Malinois vs RottweilerAustralian Shepherd vs Belgian MalinoisAll breed comparisons →

Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·