Belgian Malinois
VS
Icelandic Sheepdog
Belgian Malinois vs Icelandic Sheepdog
Compare Belgian Malinois and Icelandic Sheepdog 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
Belgian Malinois
Icelandic Sheepdog
Breed type
Purebred
Purebred
Height
57 – 62 cm
41 – 46 cm
Weight
20 – 30 kg
10 – 14 kg
Life expectancy
10 – 14 years
13 – 17 years
Child friendly
3/5
3/5
Energy level
3/5
4/5
Intelligence
5/5
3/5
Trainability
5/5
4/5
Health
4/5
4/5
Grooming needs
3/5
3/5
Shedding
3/5
3/5
Barking level
4/5
4/5
Aggressiveness
3/5
2/5
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Characteristics
Belgian Malinois
Super smart
Easy to train
Large
Icelandic Sheepdog
High energy
Easy to train
Small
Summary
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.
About Icelandic Sheepdog
The Icelandic Sheepdog is Iceland’s only native spitz‑type herder, medium‑small, sturdy, and agile with a curled tail and thick double coat in varied colors. Cheerful, social, and vocal, it thrives on daily exercise, close family involvement, gentle training, and regular grooming.
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