Irish Setter vs Belgian Malinois
Compare Irish Setter 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
Irish Setter
Belgian Malinois
Breed type
Purebred
Purebred
Height
55 – 67 cm
57 – 62 cm
Weight
24 – 32 kg
20 – 30 kg
Life expectancy
10 – 15 years
10 – 14 years
Child friendly
5/5
3/5
Energy level
4/5
3/5
Intelligence
4/5
5/5
Trainability
4/5
5/5
Health
5/5
4/5
Grooming needs
1/5
3/5
Shedding
3/5
3/5
Barking level
2/5
4/5
Aggressiveness
1/5
3/5
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Characteristics
Irish Setter
Great with kids
High energy
Super smart
Low grooming
Quiet
Easy to train
Large
Belgian Malinois
Super smart
Easy to train
Large
Summary
About Irish Setter
Graceful Irish gundog with a mahogany red, feathered coat needing regular grooming. Medium‑large, athletic and high‑energy, it thrives on daily vigorous exercise and mental work. Affectionate, people‑oriented and playful, it’s good with families but needs consistent, positive training.
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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