Bear

Belgian Malinois are protective around strangers, but they bond quickly with their families. They have a keen sense of what’s going on and aren’t afraid to defend their owners and territory. For a happy pup, make Malinois your “only child,” and give them plenty of secured space to play. Full-grown, they typically weigh 40-80 pounds and stand 22-26 inches tall.

Belgian Malinoiss are generally okay with older children who know how to handle dogs. The Belgian Malinois should be socialized as a puppy if they're going to live with other dogs or pets, but their nature is to be protective and aggressive toward foreign animals. They’re shy around strangers but get along well with children. They're moderate barkers — they'll alert you when something's up but aren't excessive.

Belgian Malinois need a lot of activity and outdoor exercise each day, such as a long run, walk, hike, or play session in the yard. Malinois thrive most when their minds are stimulated. To keep them engaged, trying playing complex games, sports, and any activity that taps into their natural prey drive. Overall, their exercise needs are very high.

Belgian Malinois have a short brown, grey, or fawn coat, sometimes with black-tipped hair. Their face usually has a black mask and ears, along with a lighter underside. Belgian Malinois shed heavily once or twice a year. Grooming-wise, this breed is low-maintenance.

Belgian Malinoiss are best suited for a home with a yard, though they can adapt to apartment life with enough exercise. Malinois are quite large, so they do better in homes with large yards, rather than apartments or small spaces. They are highly trainable and eager to learn.

Much like children, Samoyeds love human companionship and will let you know if they’re not getting enough. They crave attention, exercise, and cold weather, so if you’re inviting one of these pups into your home, be prepared for plenty of activity and TLC. Full-grown, they typically weigh 35-65 pounds and stand 19-24 inches tall.

Samoyeds are generally excellent with children of all ages. Samoyeds are gentle with kids but may try to dominate other dogs. This breed needs to be trained early to get along with other pets, but once they’re acquainted, they should get along just fine. They're very vocal and bark quite a lot.

The Samoyed is an active breed that needs lots of exercise. A few short walks a day won’t be enough. Take long walks, or hop on a bike and have your pup run alongside you. Overall, their exercise needs are high.

The Samoyed’s top coat is straight and wiry, and their undercoat is short and dense. These dogs are usually white, cream, or white with light brown markings. Brush your Samoyed at least once a week to remove dead hair and comb out tangles. Grooming-wise, this breed is moderate. Samoyeds are considered hypoallergenic, which can be a plus for allergy sufferers.

Samoyeds are best suited for a home with a yard, though they can adapt to apartment life with enough exercise. Samoyeds love human companionship, so they’re primarily indoor dogs and shouldn’t be banished to the backyard. They are fairly easy to train.