Belgian Malinois vs Doberman Pinscher

A Belgian Malinois
Photo: Svenska Mässan from Sweden
A Doberman Pinscher
Photo: Stonda

Side by side

Belgian Malinois
Doberman Pinscher
Adult weight
Males 25–30 kg (55–66 lb); females 20–25 kg (44–55 lb)1
Males 40–45 kg (88–99 lb); females 32–35 kg (71–77 lb)2
Height
Males 60–66 cm; females 56–62 cm1
No sourced figure
Lifespan
Median 12 years3
Median 11.2 years3
Fully grown
11 months, both sexes4
13 months, both sexes4
Group
Sheepdogs & cattledogs1
Pinschers & molossoids2
Coat
Short coat1
Short coat2
Shedding
Moults most as the seasons change
Sheds through the year
Grooming
A brush once a week
Exercise
Plenty
Health
No sourced figure
Underactive thyroid (far more likely); Bone cancer (much more likely)5,6
Class
Working
Watchdog

Which suits you

Size
The Doberman Pinscher is larger: about 38 kg (84 lb) as an adult, against 25 kg (55 lb) for the Belgian Malinois.
Shedding
Their coats shed differently: the Belgian Malinois moults most as the seasons change, the Doberman Pinscher sheds through the year.
Temperament
They differ most on affection (Belgian Malinois: likes its own space; Doberman Pinscher: a lap or leaning dog) and on prey drive (Belgian Malinois: likely to chase small pets; Doberman Pinscher: chases; needs managing).
Alike
Both are rated the same on independence: keen to work with you.
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

Belgian Malinois
Sheepdogs & cattledogs · Medium

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

Doberman Pinscher
Pinschers & molossoids · Medium

In temperament the Doberman is alert, energetic and quick to learn, closely attached to its household and typically reserved with strangers.

The Belgian Malinois page →The Doberman Pinscher page →

Breed traits

Day to day
Belgian Malinois
Doberman Pinscher
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
Belgian Malinois
Doberman Pinscher
Affection
Differs
Likes its own space
A lap or leaning dog
Loyalty
Sticks close to its people
Sticks close to its people
Independence
Keen to work with you
Keen to work with you
Around the home
Belgian Malinois
Doberman Pinscher
Sensitivity
Needs a calm, predictable home
Needs a calm, predictable home
Voice
Barks to alert, then settles
Barks to alert, then settles
Prey drive
Differs
Likely to chase small pets
Chases; needs managing
Breed explains only about 9% of how individual dogs differ in behaviour7. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home8,9.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes
The Doberman Pinscher grows to the heavier adult, about 39 kg against the Belgian Malinois's 25 kg.
Belgian Malinois
Doberman Pinscher
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More comparisons

Compare the Belgian Malinois with
Belgian Malinois vs German ShepherdDoberman Pinscher vs German ShepherdDoberman Pinscher vs RottweilerDoberman Pinscher vs German PinscherBeauceron vs Doberman PinscherDoberman Pinscher vs Great DaneAll breed comparisons →

Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·