Flat-Coated Retriever vs Newfoundland vs Labrador Retriever – Which one is a better dog breed for you?

"Find similarities and differences between Flat-Coated Retriever vs Newfoundland vs Labrador Retriever" Compare Flat-Coated Retriever and Newfoundland. Which is better: Flat-Coated Retriever or Newfoundland or Labrador Retriever?

General Appearance Hair & Care Characteristics Good With Health Factors Reproducibility Show differences only

Name	Flat-Coated Retriever	Newfoundland	Labrador Retriever
Origins	United Kingdom	Canada	England Canada
All Dog Breeds By Country Of Origin
Group	Gun Dog	Working Dogs	Gun Dog
Popularity Rank	96	36	1
Reviews	2	2	3
Rate

Other Names	Flatcoat, Flattie, Flatte	Newf, Newfie, The Gentle Giant, Blackbear	Labrador, Lab
Breed Type	Purebred	Purebred	Purebred
AKC Group	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1915 as a Sporting breed.	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1886 as a Working breed.	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1917 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 Pinscher and Schnauzer - Molossoid and Swiss Mountain and Cattledogs group, in the Molossian type 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	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
Price	$1000-$1200	$1500-$2000	$1000-$2000

General Appearance - Flat-Coated Retriever vs Newfoundland vs Labrador Retriever

Size	Large	Giant	Large
Weight	60-70 pounds (27-32 kg)	Male: 130-150 pounds (59-68 kg), Female: 100-120 pounds (45-54 kg)	Male: 60-75 pounds (27-34kg), Female: 55-70 pounds (25-32 kg)
Avg. Weight	65 pounds (29.5 kg)	Male: 140 pounds (63.5 kg), Female: 110 pounds (49.5 kg)	Male: 67.5 pounds (30.5 kg), Female: 62.5 pounds (28.5 kg)
Height	22-23 inches (56-58 cm)	Male: 27-29 inches (69-74 cm), Female: 25-27 inches (63-69 cm)	Male: 22-24 inches (56-61cm), Female: 21-23 inches (53-58 cm)
Avg. Height	Male: 23 inches (58,5 cm), Female: 22 inches (56 cm)	Male: 28 inches (71.5 cm), Female: 26 inches (66 cm)	Male: 23 inches (58.5 cm), Female: 22 inches (55.5 cm)

Hair & Care - Flat-Coated Retriever vs Newfoundland vs Labrador Retriever

Coat	Thick Shiny	Fluffy Waterproof Thick	Dense Waterproof Hard Short
Colors	Liver Black	Gray Brown White Black	Yellow Chocolate Black
Grooming	Easy to groom: The Flat-Coated Retriever doesn't require a lot of grooming.	Professional: This breed needs a lot of work to keep in good condition.	Effortless: The Labrador Retriever requires minimal grooming.
Shedding Level	Flat-Coated Retrievers shed moderately.	Newfoundlands are heavy shedders.	Labrador Retrievers shed moderately.

Characteristics - Flat-Coated Retriever vs Newfoundland vs Labrador Retriever

Temperament	Friendly Devoted Outgoing Confident Optimistic Intelligent	Cheerful Intelligent Social Gentle Courageous Loyal Sweet	Affectionate Cheerful Friendly Intelligent Loyal Playful Social Alert Energetic Gentle Loving Going Responsive
Intelligent Rank	Very smart: Flat-Coated Retriever is an excellent dog breed.	Smart: Newfoundland's has great intelligence.	Outstanding: Labrador Retriever is one of the brightest dog breeds.
Trainability	Flat-Coated Retrievers are easy to train.	Newfoundlands are easy to train.	Labrador Retrievers are very easy to train.
Playfulness	The Flat-Coated Retriever is a highly playful breed.	Newfoundlands, like any other dog breed, like playing.	The Labrador Retriever is a highly playful breed.
Sensitivity Level	Flat-Coated Retrievers don't like an irregular daily routine, noisy household and frequent guest visits.	They are a little bit more sensitive than other dog breeds.	Labrador Retrievers don't like an irregular daily routine, noisy household and frequent guest visits.
Affection Level	Flat-Coated Retrievers are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate dogs toward their handlers.	Newfoundlands are highly affectionate dogs.	Labrador Retrievers may seem unfriendly sometimes due to their independence.
Social Needs	Flat-Coated Retrievers need for social interaction is average.	Newfoundlands are a social breed.	Labrador Retrievers need a lot of social interaction.
Barking	Average: The Flat-Coated Retriever barks occasionally.	Low to Average: The Newfoundland rarely barks.	Average: The Labrador Retriever barks occasionally.
Watchdog Ability	Flat-Coated Retrievers are one of the best watchdogs.	Newfoundlands are one of the best watchdogs.	Labrador Retrievers are average watchdogs.
Territorial	Flat-Coated Retrievers are average defenders.	Newfoundlands are extremely protective guard dogs.	Labrador Retrievers are average defenders.
Biting Potential	Low The Flat-Coated Retriever has a low chance of biting somebody.	Low The Newfoundland has a low chance of biting somebody.	Moderate The Labrador Retriever has an average chance of biting somebody.
Mouthiness	Flat-Coated Retrievers have an average tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.	Newfoundlands have an average tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.	Labrador Retrievers have a strong tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.
Impulse to Wander or Roam	Wanderlust potential of the Flat-Coated Retriever is strong enough to escape from home.	Newfoundlands have average wanderlust potential.	Labrador Retrievers have average wanderlust potential.
Prey Drive	Flat-Coated 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.	Newfoundlands have a higher impulse to chase and catch something than other dog breeds.	Labrador Retrievers have low to an average impulse to chase and catch something like a cat or any other small aminals.
Apartment Friendly	Flat-Coated Retrievers are not apartment-friendly dogs.	Newfoundlands are not the best choice for an apartment lifestyle, but they don't mind being inside if you walk them several times every day.	Labrador Retrievers are not recommended for an apartment lifestyle.
Adaptability	Flat-Coated Retrievers adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments.	Newfoundlands adapt well to lifestyle changes and different living environments.	Labrador Retrievers adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments.
Tolerates Being Left Alone	Just like every puppy, they are prone to panic, cry, bark, whine when they left alone by their owner.	Newfoundlands do best when a family member is at home during the day or if their workplace is dog-friendly so they can take the dog at work.	Labrador 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.	Not really In history, this breed was not really used for combat dog.

Good With - Flat-Coated Retriever vs Newfoundland vs Labrador Retriever

Stranger Friendly	Flat-Coated Retrievers are stranger friendly dogs.	Newfoundlands are stranger friendly dogs.	Labrador Retrievers are very stranger friendly dogs.
Child Friendly	Flat-Coated Retrievers are kid-friendly dogs.	Newfoundlands are very kid-friendly dogs.	Labrador Retrievers are very kid-friendly dogs.
Cat Friendly	Flat-Coated Retrievers are average friendly towards cats.	Newfoundlands are very cat-friendly dogs.	Labrador Retrievers are cat-friendly dogs.
Dog Friendly	Flat-Coated Retrievers are dog-friendly dogs.	Newfoundlands are dog-friendly dogs.	Labrador Retrievers are very dog-friendly dogs.
Office Friendly	No Flat-Coated Retriever is not the best dog breed for office environment.	No Newfoundland is not the best dog breed for office environment.	No Labrador Retriever is not the best dog breed for office environment.
Senior Citizens Friendly	Flat-Coated Retrievers are usually recommended for elderly people.	Newfoundlands are one of the best breeds for elderly people.	Labrador Retrievers are one of the best breeds for elderly people.
Pet Friendly	Flat-Coated Retrievers are generally with other pets.	Newfoundlands are one of the friendliest dog breeds.	Labrador Retrievers are usually friendly towards other pets.
Good For First Time Owners	No Flat-Coated Retrievers are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.	No Newfoundlands are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.	No Labrador Retrievers are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.
Service Dog	Not really This breed generally not used as a service dog.	Yes This breed makes good as a service dog.	Yes This breed makes good as a service dog.
Therapy Dog	Not really This breed generally not used as a therapy dog.	Not really This breed generally not used as a therapy dog.	Yes This breed makes a perfect therapy dog.
Detection Dog or Sniffer Dog	Not really 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.	Not really 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)	Not really 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.	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 Flat-Coated Retriever breed usually likes being on a boat.	Yes Newfoundland breed usually likes being on a boat.	Yes Labrador 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.	Yes 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 - Flat-Coated Retriever vs Newfoundland vs Labrador Retriever

Health Issues	Very healthy dog breed.	Very healthy dog breed.	The Labrador Retriever is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly.
Health Problems	Cancer	Addison's Disease Bloat Cancer Cataracts Cherry Eye Cystinuria Elbow Dysplasia Epilepsy Hip Dysplasia Hypothyroidism Subvalvular Aortic Stenosis	Acute Moist Dermatitis Bloat Cataracts Cold Tail Ear Infections Elbow Dysplasia Epilepsy Hip Dysplasia Myopathy Osteochondrosis Dissecans Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) Tricuspid Valve Dysplasia
Life Expectancy	10-13 years	9-12 years	10-12 years
Calculate dog years to human years by breed here
Hypoallergenic	No	No	No
Energy Level	Flat-Coated Retrievers are high energy dogs.	Newfoundlands have an average energy level, so if you live a semi-active life, this breed can be a good choice for you.	Labrador Retrievers are high energy dogs.
Exercise Need	Flat-Coated Retrievers need a lot of exercises.	Newfoundlands have an average exercise need.	Labrador Retrievers need a lot of exercises.
Sleeping Need	Flat-Coated Retrievers don't need too much sleep.	Newfoundlands sleep 12-14 hours a day as an average dog and they're not considered as a lazy breed.	Labrador Retrievers don't need too much sleep.
Avg. daily food consumption	3-4 cup high-quality commercial dog food (that is formulated for large-breed dogs), divided into two meals.	5 to 6 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.	Recommended daily amount: 2.5 to 3 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.
Weight Gain Potential	Average to High.	Average to High.	High: The Labrador Retriever breed has a strong tendency to overweight.
Weather & Climate	Prefers average to cold weather conditions The Flat-Coated Retriever can adapt to well to cold weather conditions, some dogs even can be a good mountain dog.	Prefers cold weather The Newfoundland can adapt well to harsh weather conditions, and also can be a good mountain dog.	Tolerates warm and cold weather.
Stinkiness	Medium The Flat-Coated Retriever has an average chance of bad smell.	High The Newfoundland has a high chance of bad smell.	High The Labrador Retriever has a high chance of bad smell.
Drooling tendency	The Flat-Coated Retriever is a perfect example for low drooling tendency.	The Newfoundland is a big drooler, so if you're disgusted by slobber spots on your clothes, you should choose a dog from another breed.	The Labrador Retriever is an average drooler.

Reproducibility - Flat-Coated Retriever vs Newfoundland vs Labrador Retriever

Gestation Length	60-64 days	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.	Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy.
Litter Size	4-8 puppies	4-12 puppies	5-10 puppies
Dog Name Generator – Find A Perfect Name For Your Puppy

Popular Dog Compares

Despite the best intentions, there may be errors. If you find one, please let us know and we will fix it as soon as possible. Contact us here.

Rate This Comparsion - Flat-Coated Retriever vs Newfoundland vs Labrador Retriever

Reviews