Dutch Shepherd Vs Belgian Sheepdog: What’s The Difference?

The Dutch Shepherd and Belgian Sheepdog are both incredible breeds that share many similarities but do have some differences.

Their intelligence and eagerness make them ideal companions for work or sport, but they can make great companions as well.

It’s important to note that while there are overall trends in both breeds, dogs will vary more on an individual level due to the lines that they come from.

This is why it is essential to research potential reputable breeders and get to know their lines as well. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about the breeder’s dogs—do they health test? What are their personalities like? How do they handle [X] situation? Do they have titles? What are their breeding goals and how will these goals better the breed overall?

In this article, we’re going to take a look at Dutch Shepherd Vs Belgian Sheepdog, highlighting the differences and similarities between these two particular breeds.

Dutch Shepherd Vs Belgian Sheepdog: Size

Groenendael (Belgian Sheepdogs) and Dutch Shepherd (Photo: Hannah Warner / groenendaze / Instagram)

Both breeds are medium-sized dogs. The average size for a Belgian Sheepdog is 44-55lbs for a female and 55-65lbs for a male. On average, the Belgian Sheepdog should be 22-24 inches at the withers for a female and 24-26 inches for a male.

The Dutch Shepherd size is much more variable—the standard usually produces dogs around 45-70lbs, but it is not uncommon for Dutch Shepherds to be upwards of 80lbs. On average, Dutch Shepherds are 22-24 inches at the withers.

Dutch Shepherd Vs Belgian Sheepdog: Appearance

Groenendaels (Belgian Sheepdogs) and Dutch Shepherd (Photo: Hannah Warner / groenendaze / Instagram)

There is a large difference in appearance between Dutch Shepherds and Belgian Sheepdogs. The Belgian Sheepdog has a long, thick coat that is predominantly black. Brindle is not in the breed. The Belgian Sheepdog’s head is long, roughly equal in length between the skull and muzzle, and has a moderate slope. Belgian Sheepdogs are often more ‘graceful’ in appearance, whereas Dutch Shepherds tend to have more substance and bone.

For Dutch Shepherds, they have several different coat types: the short hair, the long hair, and the wire hair. While the long hair and Belgian Sheepdog have similar coat types, the Dutch Shepherd will always display a brindle coat. Too much black on a Dutch Shepherd is undesirable, as per the FCI standard. As per the FCI standard, the Dutch Shepherd has a wedge-shaped head when seen from above and in profile. The slope of the head is much more pronounced in the Dutch Shepherd, and they overall tend to have a thicker profile.

Dutch Shepherd Vs Belgian Sheepdog: Temperaments

Groenendael (Belgian Sheepdogs) and Dutch Shepherd (Photo: Hannah Warner / groenendaze / Instagram)

The temperament difference is ultimately going to fall onto the difference in lines. There will be some similarities—both breeds are medium-sized herding dogs and often referred to as “pointy, bitey dogs”—dogs that were (at least at one point) bred for military and police work. While the Dutch Shepherd dominates this field more than the Belgian Sheepdog in modern times, historically, Belgian Sheepdogs were bred for the same qualities. The biggest similarity is that these dogs have strong work ethics, a lot of energy, and really like to use their teeth.

Temperament-wise, Belgian Sheepdogs tend to be “softer” dogs and tend not to have quite as much drive as Dutch Shepherds on average. This can vary on an individual level, but the majority of Belgian Sheepdogs in America are not police dogs (although their tan, short haired variety, the Malinois, is) and are sport dogs or companions instead. The Dutch Shepherd is very commonly seen in police forces and in a working environment, although they do excel in sports and as companions as well.

Dutch Shepherd Vs Belgian Sheepdog: Training

Groenendael (Belgian Sheepdogs) and Dutch Shepherd (Photo: Hannah Warner / groenendaze / Instagram)

Both breeds are highly intelligent and have a lot of drive and eagerness to work for their person. They are very fun to train and enjoyable to work with. While temperament is dependent on line, and this is not true for every individual, Dutch Shepherds seem to be a bit more level-headed while in “working mode”–they are more likely to think before acting (even if that time window is very small!).

Belgian Sheepdogs have a much more frantic energy to them that is similar to other Belgian Shepherd varieties, like the Malinois. On average, however, they are very similar to train with the right motivation.

Dutch Shepherd Vs Belgian Sheepdog: Intelligence

There isn’t an extreme difference in intelligence or willingness to learn in either breed that couldn’t be explained on an individual scale. Both are very intelligent, and both are very willing to learn. It is what makes them ideal working dogs.

Dutch Shepherd Vs Belgian Sheepdog: Exercise

Both of these breeds are high-energy, high-drive breeds. While there is some variety in each breed depending on the lines, all of these individuals will need a lot of mental and physical stimulation. They are not dogs that are “weekend warriors” and content to exist on the couch the majority of the time. They like to have a job, and they like to work with their person.

Dutch Shepherd Vs Belgian Sheepdog: Hypoallergenic

Neither breed is hypoallergenic.

Dutch Shepherd Vs Belgian Sheepdog: Shedding

The wire haired Dutch Shepherd sheds the least out of the two breeds. The Belgian Sheepdog sheds more than the short-haired Dutch Shepherd, and the shedding is largely similar between the Belgian Sheepdog and the long haired Dutch Shepherd. Dogs with longer coats tend to have more maintenance, so while the maintenance for a coat on the short haired Dutch Shepherd is minimal, both the Belgian Sheepdog and long haired Dutch Shepherd require regular grooming.

Dutch Shepherd Vs Belgian Sheepdog: Grooming

Groenendael (Belgian Sheepdogs) and Dutch Shepherd (Photo: Hannah Warner / groenendaze / Instagram)

Very little grooming is needed for the short haired Dutch Shepherd, with the exception being shedding season in the spring and fall. The wire haired Dutch Shepherd does need regular grooming and will need to be hand stripped at least twice a year to remove dead hair. The long haired Dutch Shepherd will have similar grooming needs to the Belgian Sheepdog—regular brushing to prevent mats, and heavy shedding during shedding season.

Dutch Shepherd Vs Belgian Sheepdog: Price

There isn’t a huge variation in puppy price when it comes to Dutch Shepherds and Belgian Sheepdogs. Prices can range from $1,000 to 3,000 USD, with the average being around 1.8K to 2K. However, there are Dutch Shepherd adults that are sold as finished protection dogs that can see prices upwards of $10,000 USD! This is something not commonly seen in Belgian Sheepdogs.

What are some of the differences between the Dutch Shepherd and Belgian Shepherd?

The biggest differences are size and appearance. Both are striking and beautiful in their own way, but they vary vastly in their looks (see: appearance differences).

There are some overall differences in their temperament, as discussed earlier, with the Belgian Sheepdog being a softer dog.

What are some of the similarities between the Dutch Shepherd and Belgian Shepherd?

These breeds share a lot of similarities. The Dutch Shepherd and Belgian Sheepdog are medium-sized breeds that are, at their core, working breeds. Both breeds embody the word ‘versatile’. Both breeds are incredibly intelligent, have a lot of energy, and love to work with their person. They are alert and watchful. They are fun to train, hold lots of natural enthusiasm, are confident, and are extremely athletic. Both need proper socialization early to make sure they turn out as stable adults.

They make amazing companions, great sports dogs, and fantastic working partners to those people that want to put in the work and effort into making sure they get the right amount of physical and mental stimulation–they truly are both amazing breeds!

Of course, it doesn’t hurt that both breeds are very beautiful as well.

Dutch Shepherd vs Belgian Sheepdog: Wrapping Up

Groenendael (Belgian Sheepdogs) and Dutch Shepherd (Photo: Hannah Warner / groenendaze / Instagram)

We’ve reached the end of the Dutch Shepherd vs Belgian Sheepdog comparison article.

As you can see the breeds have a lot of similarities but they do have some differences too. For instance, they slightly different on temperament.

You can learn more about the Belgian Sheepdog pros and cons and Dutch Shepherd pros and cons.