Dachshund vs Belgian Shepherd Dog (Malinois) - Breed Comparison

The Dachshund originated in Germany. He was used as a hunting dog with his origins starting way back in the 15th century already. The small dog was developed to hunt for animals that buried themselves deep underground such as badgers. The shape of the dog and his courage and bravery allowed him to take on the badger.

There has been a lot of debate as to whether the Dachshund is a hound or terrier, and it was decided that the Dachshund is a hound that became a terrier, and which displays some of the best qualities of both.

It was in 1881 that the Dachshund Club of England was formed and the German Deutscher Teckelklub was formed in 1888. The small dog gained popularity in America and the Dachshund Club of America was founded in 1895.

The Belgian Malinois is one of 4 Belgian Shepherd varieties. The dogs were developed- and hail from Belguim. The Malinois has a short, fawn colored coat. The American Kennel Club recognizes that the Malinois is a separate breed from the other 3 varieties. It was in 1892 that Professor Reul wrote the first Belgian Shepherd Dog standard, recognizing 3 varieties – dogs with short coats, dogs with long coats and dogs with rough coats.

Today's Malinois goes back to a breeding pair owned by Adrien Janssens. It was in 1885 that he bought a fawn, rough-haired dog, breeding the dog with a short-haired dog named Lise de Laeken. After other breedings, the two dogs were recognized as ancestors of the modern Belgian Shepherd Dogs.

The city of Malines formed a club for the promotion of these fawn short hairs and the name Malinois became synonymous with them. In March 1992, the American Belgian Malinois Club received AKC parent club status.

Known as Badger Dogs, Sausage Dogs or Doxies, the Dachshund is known for his long body, his sharp, pointed face and the short legs with the large front paws.

He stands at about 21-28 cm while the female may be 20-25 cm and weighing 6 to 15kg. He is the smallest of the hound dogs, with the standard size dachshund being developed to scent and chase badgers and other animals.

There are different Dachshund coat varieties – the smooth coat, the long-haired Dachshund and the wire-haired dachshund. They also come in a number of solid colors such as brown, red, tan, chocolate and black.

Temperament:

The dachshund is an energetic,social little dog with a loving personality. He’ll love to lie as close as possible to you on the couch and be with you wherever you are. Training and socialization is important so he doesn’t become too protective so that he wants to go for anyone who comes near.

He can be stubborn but he is also protective of his human family. Dachshunds are known for their tendency to bark but training and socialization can help tremendously to make him obedient and relaxed around humans and pets.

He is small enough to be a great pet in the city or in the country. He loves to spend time indoors- as well as outdoors. He can become a loving companion and gets on well with children and pets in the house. In spite of his small size, he makes a good watchdog.

Similarities to German Shepherd

The Malinois is a medium-size Belgian shepherd dog. People sometimes mistake them for the German Shepherd as they are fairly similar to look at. The Malinois however is a smaller, lighter boned dog with naturally upright ears and a black-masked face. He is shorthaired and fawn-colored with black tips on the hairs, although other colors are brown or red too. He is an intelligent and active dog, always having been used for herding-, police- and rescue work.

Reserved or Friendly

You’ll find the Malinois somewhat unpredictable as some are friendly and confident while other can be shy and withdrawn around strangers. This is a dog who loves to be around his human family, but to bring out the best in him, training and socialization classes will be necessary. Well-socialized Malinois are always good with children and other pets, more so if they’ve been raised with them.

The Dachshund may be small but he is courageous, brave and loyal. He gets on well with children and pets in the home but care needs to be taken because of his long back.These dogs are prone to disk problems so you have to be careful with rough and tumble from children.

Dog experts say that the different kinds of Dachshunds produce different personalities and that the longer-coated one is more amicable than the short-coat variety. Whichever variety you choose, they are guaranteed to entertain and delight you and be a loyal, loving companion.

The Belgian Malinois makes a wonderful guard dog and he works hard to ensure that his human family, whom he adores, are well protected under his watch. They’re such intelligent dogs too that you may feel inclined to pass over some of your chores to him.

He responds well to training, and to get the best from this breed, start with training and socialization as soon as you bring your puppy home.

Socialization is excellent as it introduces your puppy to different people, animals as well as situations.

He is an adaptable dog and can live in an apartment if he is well exercised. He can be your devoted and loyal friend for a good number of years but you will have to do your part in providing him with the best care possible.

The life expectancy of the Dachshund is 12 to 16 years. With good care which includes good nutrition he can reach mature years. However there are always some dog diseases that are worth knowing about so that you can steer your pet away from them.

One of these is obesity, and the Dachshund is prone to developing obesity. Never overfeed him and ensure he gets his regular exercise which can be walks and ball games. Check with your vet if you’re unsure about how to feed him. Essentially, the amount of food you give a dog depends on the size of your dog, his age and his activity levels.

Be sure to provide high-quality food and monitor his intake. Your vet is always there to advise on the correct food and amount that can help him remain healthy.

Back Problems:

Unfortunately, this dog’s shape – the long back – makes the dog more prone to disc herniation. With some Dachshunds having a gene that creates mineral deposits in the discs in the spine, the risk of herniation is higher.

A large percentage of dachshunds have intervertebral disc disease. Encourage your Dachshund not to jump down off a bed or couch, but rather provide some steps for him to get to out of reach places.

Belgian Malinois are generally healthy dogs. However every dog, regardless of breed, can pick up illnesses, and it is always wise to be aware of some of the diseases your Malinois might face.

Hip Dysplasia

An inherited condition where the thigh bone doesn't fit properly into the hip joint. As the dog ages, arthritis can develop.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)

A degenerative eye disorder that can lead to blindness.

Dental problems

Brush his teeth at least 2 or 3 times a week to remove tartar build-up. Too much plague leads to inflamed gums, bad breath, pus inside the mouth and even loss of teeth.

The Dachshund is a medium shedder and if you choose the short haired dog, you’re going to have a low maintenance pet.

The long haired Dachshund will require more regular brushing but the short-haired Dachshund is a low maintenance dog that will require a brush once a week.

While brushing him, you can be checking his ears and nails at the same time. All dogs with floppy ears need to have them checked for ear infections. Also, maintain good oral hygiene with your Dachshund by brushing his teeth 2 or 3 times a week.

Regular Brushing as he’s a Shedder

Because the Malinois is a constant shedder, with a couple of heavy shedding periods during the year, you’ll need to be conscientious with his grooming and brush him at least twice a week to get rid of loose hairs and to give his thick coat a glossy, healthy look to it.

Exercise

Because of their high energy, Malinois aren’t recommended for couch-potato type owners. It will be cruel to buy such a dog and to leave him to waste away with boredom and frustration in your back yard. He’ll want lots of rough and tumble, ball games, runs in the park or in the country and long walks.

Feeding

Belgian Shepherd Malinois puppies are vulnerable when they’re tiny, and it would be wise to speak to your vet about superb nutrition to build up a puppy’s immune system.

An excellent way to ensure the health of your growing Malinois is to give him a home prepared meals along with commercially manufactured food recommended by your vet. You can’t just put a bowl of commercially manufactured dog food in front of him day after day month after month.

Apart from what your vet recommends, give him some brown rice, some cooked vegetables and some raw meat. Raw meat will ensure he can fight of skin infections. The age of the dog, emotional state and environmental influences can all play a role in skin diseases with dogs, but by ensuring some raw meat in his diet, the immune system is strengthened and skin disorders are eliminated. Always ensure a steady supply of fresh water.