Looking to get a dog that i could get into doing some ring sport. can anybody give me some pros and cons on the dutch shepherd and belgian malinois. i've been researching but i would realy like someones personal opinion. thanx

 Quote: Andy Sepulveda

Looking to get a dog that i could get into doing some ring sport. can anybody give me some pros and cons on the dutch shepherd and belgian malinois. i've been researching but i would realy like someones personal opinion. thanx

Hi Andy,

I have been a GSD person, but have been researching the DS and Mal for several years now. My next pup is going to be a DS. (Take this as a disclaimer, since I do not have direct experience with either breed.)

You will find that there is as much difference between individuals within each breed as there is between the breeds themselves.

The critical thing here is to really do your research on the breeders and their lines, and the tendencies of their lines.

It is also really critical that you asses your skill level honestly and know which venue you want to work. For example, the Mals bred for French Ring are smaller and lighter boned than those bred for some of the other venues, since that sport values and rewards different behaviors than some of the others. Type of grip rewarded varies by venue, and consequently, breeders breed accordingly.

Also, and this is related to your skill level, how serious of a dog do you want? There are lines out there that produce dogs who are so serious that only the most experienced of handlers should even consider getting one...and this goes for both breeds.

You may already have run into some of the cutsie statements such as, a DS is like a Mal, but with an off switch, etc. Some breeders ascribe to this, others poo-pooh it big-time. Again, variation between individuals within the same breed can be drastic, let alone variations between breeds.

Probably not the answer you were looking for, but it's the truth.

leih

I think Leih gave a pretty good overview, I see as much variation between the individuals in the breeds as similarities. I've met large/heavy boned DS, and light boned Malinois. But I've also met large/heavy boned Malinois and light boned DS. I've met serious DS and sporty Malinois, and sport DS and serious Malinois. I think in general you will see more similarities between the KNPV bred Malinois and the DS (most are KNPV bred) then the DS an other lines of Malinois. But that's in part because you can get "Malinois" and "DS" in the same litters in the KNPV programs. So it makes sense littermates have similar characteristics, even if their coat color makes them look like different breeds.

One benefit to the Malinois is FCI recognized pedigrees. Now some people will actually call this a negative in terms of breeding LOL But in terms of competition you will have more options with a Malinois with an FCI pedigree (in the US this means AKC) then most DS, since most of them don't have FCI pedigrees. For Ring in the US it doesn't really matter, NARA will issue you a scorebook without AKC registration but your options to compete internationally are limited, or none, without it.