Belgian Malinois vs Portuguese Water Dog
Compare Belgian Malinois and Portuguese Water Dog 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
Portuguese Water Dog
Breed type
Purebred
Purebred
Height
57 – 62 cm
43 – 57 cm
Weight
20 – 30 kg
16 – 25 kg
Life expectancy
10 – 14 years
12 – 15 years
Child friendly
3/5
5/5
Energy level
3/5
5/5
Intelligence
5/5
4/5
Trainability
5/5
4/5
Health
4/5
3/5
Grooming needs
3/5
4/5
Shedding
3/5
1/5
Barking level
4/5
3/5
Aggressiveness
3/5
3/5
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Characteristics
Belgian Malinois
Super smart
Easy to train
Large
Portuguese Water Dog
Great with kids
High energy
Super smart
Easy to train
Medium
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 Portuguese Water Dog
The Portuguese Water Dog is a sturdy, medium‑sized, low‑shedding water lover with a curly or wavy coat. Intelligent, people‑oriented and energetic, it needs regular grooming, daily training, and plenty of exercise and swimming, thriving as an active, closely involved family companion.
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