Basenji vs Belgian Malinois
Compare Basenji and Belgian Malinois side by side and get a clear picture of what sets the breeds apart. Explore differences in size, weight, temperament, activity level, and other key traits to more easily decide which breed best fits your lifestyle and circumstances.
Characteristic
Basenji
Belgian Malinois
Breed type
Purebred
Purebred
Height
40 – 43 cm
57 – 62 cm
Weight
9 – 11 kg
20 – 30 kg
Life expectancy
12 – 16 years
10 – 14 years
Child friendly
2/5
3/5
Energy level
4/5
3/5
Intelligence
3/5
5/5
Trainability
3/5
5/5
Health
4/5
4/5
Grooming needs
2/5
3/5
Shedding
2/5
3/5
Barking level
1/5
4/5
Aggressiveness
3/5
3/5
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Characteristics
Basenji
High energy
Low grooming
Quiet
Small
Belgian Malinois
Super smart
Easy to train
Large
Summary
About Basenji
Basenji: small, athletic African hound, 40–43 cm and 9–12 kg, with short coat, curled tail and wrinkled forehead. Often “barkless,” it yodels instead. Clean, independent, intelligent and strong-willed, it needs patient positive training, secure fencing, and regular mental and physical exercise.
About Belgian Malinois
Belgian Malinois: medium‑large, lean, and highly athletic herding dog with a short fawn coat and black mask. Extremely intelligent, intense, loyal, and people‑focused. Needs firm structure, daily mental work, and heavy exercise; thrives with experienced, very active owners.
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