Belgian Malinois versus Lancashire Heeler. Final Verdict on Which one is a Better Pet.

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Belgian Malinois Versus Lancashire Heeler: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Belgian Malinois and the Lancashire Heeler? Well, you have come to the right place. Because in this article, we will provide you with a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Belgian Malinois and the Lancashire Heeler better suits you.

We will provide you a detailed discussion and comparison of dog attributes such as intelligence, price, general health, friendliness, etc, for both the Belgian Malinois and the Lancashire Heeler.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Belgian Malinois and the Lancashire Heeler is better suited for new dog owners, for owners with kids, for owners that live in apartments, for owners with dog allergies, etc.

Importantly, we did some analysis and calculation and we obtained a number that we call the Better-Pet Score™ for both the Belgian Malinois and for the Lancashire Heeler. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you with more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Belgian Malinois and the Lancashire Heeler.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Belgian Malinois or the Lancashire Heeler.

Belgian Malinois versus Lancashire Heeler: Overview

A very important difference between the Belgian Malinois and the Lancashire Heeler is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Belgian Malinois is a large-sized dog while the Lancashire Heeler is a tiny-sized dog.

Furthermore, both the Belgian Malinois and the Lancashire Heeler are Herding Dogs. This means both the Belgian Malinois and the Lancashire Heeler were bred for moving livestock, including sheep, cattle, and even reindeer. Herding dogs work closely with their human shepherds, and their natural intelligence and responsiveness make them highly trainable. They have high levels of energy, which needs to be channeled properly to prevent destructive behavior. Herding breeds are protective of their people and property and make excellent watchdogs. Their intelligence, agility, and activity level make them well suited to dog sports.

Belgian Malinois versus Lancashire Heeler: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Belgian Malinois to the Lancashire Heeler based on different important factors such as Price, Health, Kid-friendliness, etc.

When a dog breed scores higher for a factor than the other dog breed, the box of the breed that scores higher is shaded green and the box of the breed that scores lower is shaded red. When there is no difference between the breeds for a particular factor then the box is shaded gray for both pets. Also, when the factor is not important in picking a pet, or when the factor cannot be compared between two pets, the box for the factor is shaded gray for both pets

Most of the factors in the table for each dog breed are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5. “1” means “worst”, and “5” means “best”.

However, some factors such as “Price”, “Average Lifespan”, etc. cannot be on a scale of 1 to 5, so they are not on a scale of 1 to 5 in the comparison table.

Later in this article, we will further explain each factor as it applies to the Belgian Malinois and the Lancashire Heeler

Factor Belgian Malinois Lancashire Heeler
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 1/5 2/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Life Span 12 to 14 years 9 to 14 years
Dog Friendly 2/5 3/5
Does NOT Shed 4/5 3/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 4/5 2/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 4/5 4/5
Height 22 to 26 inches tall at the shoulder 10 to 12 inches tall at the shoulder
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 2/5
Tolerates Being Alone 3/5 3/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 3/5 2/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 4/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 3/5 2/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 3/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 4/5 3/5
Kid-Friendly 4/5 3/5
General Health 4/5 4/5
Low Prey Drive 2/5 4/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 2/5 2/5
Weight 40 to 80 pounds 13 to 15 pounds
Easygoing 1/5 3/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 4/5
Easy To Groom 5/5 4/5
Easy To Train 5/5 3/5
Intelligence 5/5 4/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 2/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 1/5 3/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 4/5
Average Lifespan 13.0 years 11.5 years
Average Price $1380 No Data
Price Range $850 – $1800 No Data
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
    		•
  • Collie Eye Anomaly
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Primary Lens Luxation
    		•

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Belgian Malinois in the table (that is, `Ease of Grooming` score + `General Health` score + `Calmness` score + …etc) and we compared it to the corresponding total score for the Lancashire Heeler. We call these total scores the Better-Pet Scores, as we mentioned earlier. We called this score the Better-Pet score because the better dog breed will have a higher score. This is because the pet will the higher score will have minimal needs and be easier to have as a pet.

    The Better-Pet score for the Belgian Malinois is 83 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Lancashire Heeler is 78 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Belgian Malinois is a better pet than the Lancashire Heeler. So, you should get the Belgian Malinois!

    Although we have done our best to analyze these two dog breeds in a very unbiased way, however, we will like to let you know that there are some dog attributes that cannot be assigned a number for comparison. We cannot put a number on how cute a dog breed is, for example. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

    Also, the dog breed that best suits you will depend on your peculiar lifestyle, your taste, and your priorities, which we do not know. So, for you to decide on which breed is right for you, read through the rest of the article to further understand both the Belgian Malinois and the Lancashire Heeler so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Similarities Between the Belgian Malinois and the Lancashire Heeler

    The Belgian Malinois and the Lancashire Heeler are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Belgian Malinois and the Lancashire Heeler are most similar:

    • Both the Belgian Malinois and the Lancashire Heeler do not adapt well to apartment living.
    • Both the Belgian Malinois and the Lancashire Heeler do not have the tendency to drool.
    • Both the Belgian Malinois and the Lancashire Heeler do not get along well with other dogs.
    • Both the Belgian Malinois and the Lancashire Heeler do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.
    • Both the Belgian Malinois and the Lancashire Heeler are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl.
    • Both the Belgian Malinois and the Lancashire Heeler can tolerate cold weather.
    • Both the Belgian Malinois and the Lancashire Heeler can tolerate hot weather.
    • Both the Belgian Malinois and the Lancashire Heeler get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
    • Both the Belgian Malinois and the Lancashire Heeler are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
    • Both the Belgian Malinois and the Lancashire Heeler do things with high intensity. They can be very forceful.
    • Both the Belgian Malinois and the Lancashire Heeler are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
    • Both the Belgian Malinois and the Lancashire Heeler are very easy to groom.
    • Both the Belgian Malinois and the Lancashire Heeler are highly intelligent.
    • Both the Belgian Malinois and the Lancashire Heeler have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
    • Both the Belgian Malinois and the Lancashire Heeler are very playful.

    Size Comparison of Belgian Malinois versus Lancashire Heeler

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Belgian Malinois and the Lancashire Heeler.

    Belgian Malinoiss weigh 40 to 80 pounds when fully grown. Belgian Malinoiss are 22 to 26 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Lancashire Heelers weigh 13 to 15 pounds when fully grown. Lancashire Heelers are 10 to 12 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Lifespan of Belgian Malinois versus Lancashire Heeler

    The lifespan of Belgian Malinoiss is between 12 to 14 years. The average lifespan of Belgian Malinoiss is 13.0 years.

    The lifespan of Lancashire Heelers is between 9 to 14 years. The average lifespan of Lancashire Heelers is 11.5 years.

    Belgian Malinoiss live longer than Lancashire Heelers.

    Health Problems of Belgian Malinois versus Health Problems of Lancashire Heeler

    Every dog breed has its own set of health problems that it has a tendency to develop. There is nothing like a perfect dog breed.

    Both the Belgian Malinois and the Lancashire Heeler are prone to certain genetic health conditions. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is the organization that keeps track of health problems in dogs. Based on the extensive records that the OFA keeps, the OFA knows what health problems each dog breed is naturally prone to develop. Hence, the OFA recommends which health screening that breeders should perform on a dog breed to make sure that the breeders won`t breed `defective` dog parents that can pass down defective genes to their puppy offspring.

    The more health problems a dog breed is prone to develop, the more health tests the OFA will recommend for that dog breed.

    Based on our review of OFA records, we found that the Lancashire Heeler is prone to the same number of genetic health problems as the Belgian Malinois.

    3 health tests are recommended for Belgian Malinois while 3 tests are recommended for the Lancashire Heeler.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Belgian Malinoiss and in Lancashire Heelers.

    Belgian Malinois Health Problems

    Belgian Malinoiss are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Belgian Malinois puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Belgian Malinois puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Belgian Malinois breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Belgian Malinoiss for:

  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia

    • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Belgian Malinoiss here.

    Lancashire Heeler Health Problems

    Lancashire Heelers are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Lancashire Heeler puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Lancashire Heeler puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Lancashire Heeler breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Lancashire Heelers for:

  • Collie Eye Anomaly
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Primary Lens Luxation

    • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Lancashire Heelers here.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Belgian Malinois versus Lancashire Heeler

    Belgian Malinoiss can be left alone only for a short time.

    Lancashire Heelers can be left alone only for a short time.

    Do Belgian Malinoiss shed more than Lancashire Heelers?

    Belgian Malinoiss do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

    Lancashire Heelers shed moderately.

    Which one drools more, the Belgian Malinois or the Lancashire Heeler

    Belgian Malinoiss do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Lancashire Heelers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Belgian Malinois or the Lancashire Heeler?

    Belgian Malinoiss are very easy to groom.

    Lancashire Heelers are very easy to groom.

    Does the Belgian Malinois Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Lancashire Heeler?

    Belgian Malinoiss have a high prey drive. They have the tendency to chase after smaller animals and pets. They do not get along well with other pets.

    Lancashire Heelers have a very low prey drive. This means they get won`t chase after smaller pets. They tend to get along well with other pets.

    Do Belgian Malinoiss Bark and Howl? What about Lancashire Heelers?

    Belgian Malinoiss are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.

    Lancashire Heelers are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.

    Can Belgian Malinoiss Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Lancashire Heelers Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Belgian Malinoiss can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Lancashire Heelers can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Belgian Malinois vs. Lancashire Heeler

    Belgian Malinoiss have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.

    Lancashire Heelers have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

    Can Belgian Malinoiss Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Lancashire Heelers Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Belgian Malinoiss can tolerate hot weather.

    Lancashire Heelers can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Belgian Malinois or the Lancashire Heeler?

    Belgian Malinoiss do not get along well with other dogs.

    Lancashire Heelers get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Are Belgian Malinoiss good family dogs? What about Lancashire Heelers?

    Belgian Malinoiss are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Lancashire Heelers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Belgian Malinoiss and Lancashire Heelers?

    Belgian Malinoiss get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Lancashire Heelers get along fairly well with kids. They are quite kid-friendly.

    Is the Belgian Malinois Easier to Train than the Lancashire Heeler?

    Belgian Malinoiss are very easy to train.

    Lancashire Heelers are fairly easy to train.

    Is the Belgian Malinois Better for Apartment Owners than the Lancashire Heeler?

    Belgian Malinoiss do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Lancashire Heelers do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Belgian Malinois or the Lancashire Heeler?

    Belgian Malinoiss are OK for new dog owners.

    Lancashire Heelers are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Conclusion: Belgian Malinois versus Lancashire Heeler. Which One is a Better Pet?

    In summary, there is nothing like a better dog breed or a worse dog breed. The important question to ask is which dog breed better matches your interests and lifestyle. We hope our discussion above will help you in deciding which dog breed between the Belgian Malinois and the Lancashire Heeler better suits you and your family.