Labrador Retriever vs Golden Retriever – Which one is a better dog breed for you?
"Find similarities and differences between Labrador Retriever vs Golden Retriever"
Compare Labrador Retriever and Golden Retriever. Which is better: Labrador Retriever or Golden Retriever?
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| Name | Labrador Retriever | Golden Retriever |
|---|---|---|
| Origins |  England  Canada | Scotland |
| Group | Gun Dog | Gun Dog |
| Popularity Rank | 1 | 3 |
| Reviews | 3 | 4 |
| Rate |
| Other Names | Labrador, Lab | Yellow Retriever, Golden Flat Coat |
|---|---|---|
| Breed Type | Purebred | Purebred |
| AKC Group | Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1917 as a Sporting breed. | Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1925 as a Sporting breed. |
| FCI Group | Recognized by FCI in the Retrievers - Flushing Dogs - Water Dogs group, in the Retrievers section. | Recognized by FCI in the Retrievers - Flushing Dogs - Water Dogs group, in the Retrievers section. |
| Breed Recognition |
American Canine Registry American Kennel Club America's Pet Registry Canadian Kennel Club Dog Registry of America Inc. Federation Cynologique Internationale Kennel Club of Great Britain North American Purebred Registry, Inc. American Canine Association, Inc. Australian National Kennel Council Continental Kennel Club National Kennel Club New Zealand Kennel Club United Kennel Club Canadian Canine Registry |
American Canine Registry American Kennel Club America's Pet Registry Canadian Kennel Club Dog Registry of America Inc. Federation Cynologique Internationale Kennel Club of Great Britain North American Purebred Registry, Inc. American Canine Association, Inc. Australian National Kennel Council Continental Kennel Club National Kennel Club New Zealand Kennel Club United Kennel Club |
| Price | $1000-$2000 | $1000-$2000 |
General Appearance - Labrador Retriever vs Golden Retriever
| Size | Large | Large |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | Male: 60-75 pounds (27-34kg), Female: 55-70 pounds (25-32 kg) | Male: 60-80 pounds (27-36 kg), Female: 55-70 pounds (25-32 kg) |
| Avg. Weight | Male: 67.5 pounds (30.5 kg), Female: 62.5 pounds (28.5 kg) | Male: 70 pounds (31.5 kg), Female: 62.5 pounds (28.5 kg) |
| Height | Male: 22-24 inches (56-61cm), Female: 21-23 inches (53-58 cm) | Male: 22-24 inches (56-61cm), Female: 20-22 inches (51-56 cm) |
| Avg. Height | Male: 23 inches (58.5 cm), Female: 22 inches (55.5 cm) | Male: 23 inches (58.5 cm), Female: 21 inches (53.5 cm) |
Hair & Care - Labrador Retriever vs Golden Retriever
| Coat |
Dense Waterproof Hard Short |
Silky Wavy Shiny Straight |
|---|---|---|
| Colors |
Yellow Chocolate Black |
Golden Light |
| Grooming | Effortless: The Labrador Retriever requires minimal grooming. | Average: The Golden Retriever requires average grooming effort. |
| Shedding Level | Labrador Retrievers shed moderately. | Golden Retrievers shed moderately. |
Characteristics - Labrador Retriever vs Golden Retriever
| Temperament |
Affectionate Cheerful Friendly Intelligent Loyal Playful Social Alert Energetic Gentle Loving Going Responsive |
Confident Intelligent Reliable Friendly Kind Trustworthy |
|---|---|---|
| Intelligent Rank | Outstanding: Labrador Retriever is one of the brightest dog breeds. | Outstanding: Golden Retriever is one of the brightest dog breeds. |
| Trainability | Labrador Retrievers are very easy to train. | Golden Retrievers are easy to train. |
| Playfulness | The Labrador Retriever is a highly playful breed. | The Golden Retriever is a highly playful breed. |
| Sensitivity Level | Labrador Retrievers don't like an irregular daily routine, noisy household and frequent guest visits. | Golden Retrievers have an average emotional level and are not the most sensitive dog breed. |
| Affection Level | Labrador Retrievers may seem unfriendly sometimes due to their independence. | Golden Retrievers are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate dogs toward their handlers. |
| Social Needs | Labrador Retrievers need a lot of social interaction. | Golden Retrievers need a lot of social interaction. |
| Barking | Average: The Labrador Retriever barks occasionally. | Low to Average: The Golden Retriever rarely barks. |
| Watchdog Ability | Labrador Retrievers are average watchdogs. | Golden Retrievers are average watchdogs. |
| Territorial | Labrador Retrievers are average defenders. | Golden Retrievers are average defenders. |
| Biting Potential |
Moderate The Labrador Retriever has an average chance of biting somebody. |
Moderate The Golden Retriever has an average chance of biting somebody. |
| Mouthiness | Labrador Retrievers have a strong tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people. | Golden Retrievers have a strong tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people. |
| Impulse to Wander or Roam | Labrador Retrievers have average wanderlust potential. | Golden Retrievers tend to escape less than other breeds. |
| Prey Drive | Labrador Retrievers have low to an average impulse to chase and catch something like a cat or any other small aminals. | Golden Retrievers have an average prey drive, which means that they don't have a high impulse to chase and catch something like a cat or any other small aminals, but it might happen. |
| Apartment Friendly | Labrador Retrievers are not recommended for an apartment lifestyle. | Golden Retrievers are not recommended for an apartment lifestyle. |
| Adaptability | Labrador Retrievers adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments. | Golden Retrievers adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments. |
| Tolerates Being Left Alone | Labrador Retrievers tend to have separation anxiety when their owners left them alone at home because they bond very closely with them. | Golden Retrievers tend to have separation anxiety when their owners left them alone at home because they bond very closely with them. |
| Fighting Dog |
Not really In history, this breed was not really used for combat dog. |
Not really In history, this breed was not really used for combat dog. |
Good With - Labrador Retriever vs Golden Retriever
| Stranger Friendly | Labrador Retrievers are very stranger friendly dogs. | Golden Retrievers are very stranger friendly dogs. |
|---|---|---|
| Child Friendly | Labrador Retrievers are very kid-friendly dogs. | Golden Retrievers are very kid-friendly dogs. |
| Cat Friendly | Labrador Retrievers are cat-friendly dogs. | Golden Retrievers are cat-friendly dogs. |
| Dog Friendly | Labrador Retrievers are very dog-friendly dogs. | Golden Retrievers are very dog-friendly dogs. |
| Office Friendly |
No Labrador Retriever is not the best dog breed for office environment. |
Yes Golden Retriever is one of the best dog breeds for office environment |
| Senior Citizens Friendly | Labrador Retrievers are one of the best breeds for elderly people. | Golden Retrievers are one of the best breeds for elderly people. |
| Pet Friendly | Labrador Retrievers are usually friendly towards other pets. | Golden Retrievers are usually friendly towards other pets. |
| Good For First Time Owners |
No Labrador Retrievers are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality. |
Yes Golden Retrievers are good for novice owners, due to their easy-going personality. |
| Service Dog |
Yes This breed makes good as a service dog. |
Yes This breed makes good as a service dog. |
| Therapy Dog |
Yes This breed makes a perfect therapy dog. |
Yes This breed makes a perfect therapy dog. |
| Detection Dog or Sniffer Dog |
Yes A detection dog or sniffer dog is a dog that is trained to use its senses (mostly its smell) to detect substances such as explosives, illegal drugs, wildlife scat, currency, blood, and contraband electronics such as illicit mobile phones. |
Yes A detection dog or sniffer dog is a dog that is trained to use its senses (mostly its smell) to detect substances such as explosives, illegal drugs, wildlife scat, currency, blood, and contraband electronics such as illicit mobile phones. |
| Search and Rescue Dog (SAR) |
Yes The use of dogs in search and rescue (SAR) is a valuable component in wilderness tracking, natural disasters, mass casualty events, and in locating missing people. |
Yes The use of dogs in search and rescue (SAR) is a valuable component in wilderness tracking, natural disasters, mass casualty events, and in locating missing people. |
| Boat Dog |
Yes Labrador Retriever breed usually likes being on a boat. |
Yes Golden Retriever breed usually likes being on a boat. |
| Cart Pulling or Drafting Dog |
Not really A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling. |
Not really A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling. |
Health Factors - Labrador Retriever vs Golden Retriever
| Health Issues | The Labrador Retriever is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly. | Golden Retrievers are commonly healthy dogs. |
|---|---|---|
| Health Problems |
Acute Moist Dermatitis Bloat Cataracts Cold Tail Ear Infections Elbow Dysplasia Epilepsy Hip Dysplasia Myopathy Osteochondrosis Dissecans Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) Tricuspid Valve Dysplasia |
Allergies Bloat Cataracts Elbow Dysplasia Epilepsy Hemangiosarcoma Hip Dysplasia Hypothyroidism Osteochondrosis Dissecans Osteosarcoma Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) Subvalvular Aortic Stenosis Von Willebrand's Disease |
| Life Expectancy | 10-12 years | 10-12 years |
| Hypoallergenic | No | No |
| Energy Level | Labrador Retrievers are high energy dogs. | Golden Retrievers are high energy dogs. |
| Exercise Need | Labrador Retrievers need a lot of exercises. | Golden Retrievers need a lot of exercises. |
| Sleeping Need | Labrador Retrievers don't need too much sleep. | Golden Retrievers don't need too much sleep. |
| Avg. daily food consumption | Recommended daily amount: 2.5 to 3 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals. | 3 to 4 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals. |
| Weight Gain Potential | High: The Labrador Retriever breed has a strong tendency to overweight. | High: The Golden Retriever breed has a strong tendency to overweight. |
| Weather & Climate | Tolerates warm and cold weather. | Tolerates warm and cold weather. |
| Stinkiness |
High The Labrador Retriever has a high chance of bad smell. |
Medium The Golden Retriever has an average chance of bad smell. |
| Drooling tendency | The Labrador Retriever is an average drooler. | The Golden Retriever drools quite a lot, so if you dislike being covered by slobber spots on your clothes, you may want to choose another dog breed. |
Reproducibility - Labrador Retriever vs Golden Retriever
| Gestation Length | 60-64 days | 60-64 days |
|---|---|---|
| How often can the have a litter? |
Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy. |
Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy. |
| Litter Size | 5-10 puppies | 5-10 puppies |
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Rate This Comparsion - Labrador Retriever vs Golden Retriever
Reviews
- Laura Chaparro
Sep 13, 2019, 1:20:29 PM:
This helped a lot choosing a good dog for our family!!! We are choosing a golden!!! ?☀️
- Stacey
Apr 25, 2020, 1:59:23 PM:
This list is extremely contradicting. And I’ve never met a Labrador retriever that was unfriendly but requires socialization.
- Charmaine
Jun 23, 2020, 9:24:20 PM:
Extremely helpful. Thanks!
- Danis
Nov 3, 2020, 3:02:30 PM:
labrador
- Hater
Nov 9, 2020, 11:38:12 AM:
Terrible
- rhonda
Dec 16, 2020, 5:59:18 PM:
after always having german sepherds this helped me chose a lab very very helpfuj
- Bill r
Jan 29, 2021, 7:53:23 PM:
Mostly as expected based on having had perfect Golden; & from having black Lab years ago. Data helpful- am in preliminary search for dog; mine died. My Golden died of a heart issue before she was 8; This was/still hurts.
- Colleen Anderson
Mar 3, 2021, 5:59:18 PM:
Excellent information