Golden Retriever vs Labrador Retriever vs Belgian Malinois Comparison - Dog breed selector: Yellow Retriever or Labrador or Malinois? Find the right dog for you

"Find similarities and differences between Golden Retriever vs Labrador Retriever vs Belgian Malinois" Compare Golden Retriever and Labrador Retriever. Which is better: Golden Retriever or Labrador Retriever or Belgian Malinois?

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

Name	Golden Retriever	Labrador Retriever	Belgian Malinois
Origins	Scotland	England Canada	Belgium
All Dog Breeds By Country Of Origin
Group	Gun Dog	Gun Dog	Pastoral / Herding Dogs
Popularity Rank	3	1	44
Reviews	9	3	2
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Other Names What other names do they have?	Yellow Retriever, Golden Flat Coat	Labrador, Lab	Malinois
Breed Type Which dog is purebred or crossbreed? Golden Retriever vs Labrador Retriever vs Belgian Malinois breed type comparison:	Purebred	Purebred	Purebred
AKC Group Which dog is recognized by the AKC?	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1925 as a Sporting breed.	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1917 as a Sporting breed.	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1959 as a Herding breed.
FCI Group Which dog is recognized by the FCI?	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.	Not recognized by FCI.
Breed Recognition What other organizations and kennel clubs recognize these dog breeds?	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	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 Which is cheaper, Golden Retriever or Labrador Retriever or Belgian Malinois? Which is more expensive?	$1000-$2000	$1000-$2000	No data available
Availability	Very frequent	Very frequent	Very frequent

Golden Retriever vs Labrador Retriever vs Belgian Malinois General Appearance & Basic Info Comparison

Size Which is bigger, Golden Retriever or Labrador Retriever or Belgian Malinois? Golden Retriever vs Labrador Retriever vs Belgian Malinois size comparison:	Large	Large	Large
Weight Which is heavier, Golden Retriever or Labrador Retriever or Labrador Retriever? Golden Retriever vs Labrador Retriever vs Belgian Malinois weight comparison:	Male: 60-80 pounds (27-36 kg), Female: 55-70 pounds (25-32 kg)	Male: 60-75 pounds (27-34kg), Female: 55-70 pounds (25-32 kg)	Male: 65-75 pounds (29-34 kg), Female: 60-70 pounds (27-32 kg)
Avg. Weight Which dog has a smaller / higher average weight?	Male: 70 pounds (31.5 kg), Female: 62.5 pounds (28.5 kg)	Male: 67.5 pounds (30.5 kg), Female: 62.5 pounds (28.5 kg)	Male: 70 pounds (31.5 kg), Female: 65 pounds (29.5 kg)
Height Which is taller, Golden Retriever or Labrador Retriever or Belgian Malinois? Golden Retriever vs Labrador Retriever vs Belgian Malinois height comparison:	Male: 22-24 inches (56-61cm), Female: 20-22 inches (51-56 cm)	Male: 22-24 inches (56-61cm), Female: 21-23 inches (53-58 cm)	Male: 24-26 inches (61-66 cm), Female: 22-24 inches (56-61 cm)
Avg. Height Which dog has a smaller / higher average height?	Male: 23 inches (58.5 cm), Female: 21 inches (53.5 cm)	Male: 23 inches (58.5 cm), Female: 22 inches (55.5 cm)	Male: 25 inches (63.5 cm), Female: 23 inches (58.5 cm)

Golden Retriever vs Labrador Retriever vs Belgian Malinois Hair & Care Comparison

Coat / Hair Types What type of coat/fur do they have? Golden Retriever vs Labrador Retriever vs Belgian Malinois coat comparison:	Silky Wavy Shiny Straight	Dense Waterproof Hard Short	Weather-resistant Straight
Colors What are the original Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever and Belgian Malinois color?	Golden Light	Yellow Chocolate Black	Brindle Cream Fawn Black
Grooming Which is easy to maintain, Golden Retriever or Labrador Retriever or Belgian Malinois? Golden Retriever vs Labrador Retriever vs Belgian Malinois grooming comparison:	Average: The Golden Retriever requires average grooming effort.	Effortless: The Labrador Retriever requires minimal grooming.	Average: The Belgian Malinois requires average grooming effort.
Shedding Level Who sheds more Golden Retriever or Labrador Retriever or Belgian Malinois? Golden Retriever or Labrador Retriever or {name3 shedding:	Golden Retrievers shed moderately.	Labrador Retrievers shed moderately.	Belgian Malinoiss shed moderately.
Bath Time / Bathing Frequency Which dog should be bathed more: Golden Retriever or Labrador Retriever or Belgian Malinois?	2-3 weeks Frequent.	3-4 weeks More often than average.	8-12 weeks Very rarely.

Golden Retriever vs Labrador Retriever vs Belgian Malinois Characteristics Comparison

Temperament Which one has a better personality? Which is a better family dog, Golden Retriever or Labrador Retriever or Belgian Malinois? Golden Retriever vs Labrador Retriever vs Belgian Malinois behavior/temperament comparison:	Confident Intelligent Reliable Friendly Kind Trustworthy	Affectionate Cheerful Friendly Intelligent Loyal Playful Social Alert Energetic Gentle Loving Going Responsive	Active Alert Confident Friendly Hard working Protective Stubborn Watchful
Intelligent Rank Which is the smarter dog? Which is best? Golden Retriever vs Labrador Retriever vs Belgian Malinois intelligence:	Outstanding: Golden Retriever is one of the brightest dog breeds.	Outstanding: Labrador Retriever is one of the brightest dog breeds.	Very smart: Belgian Malinois is an excellent dog breed.
Trainability Golden Retriever vs Labrador Retriever vs Belgian Malinois trainability comparison.	Golden Retrievers are easy to train.	Labrador Retrievers are very easy to train.	Belgian Malinoiss are very easy to train.
Playfulness Golden Retriever vs Labrador Retriever vs Belgian Malinois playfulness comparison:	The Golden Retriever is a highly playful breed.	The Labrador Retriever is a highly playful breed.	The Belgian Malinois is a highly playful breed.
Sensitivity Level Which dog is more sensitive? What's the difference?	Golden Retrievers have an average emotional level and are not the most sensitive dog breed.	Labrador 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.
Affection Level Which is the more affectionate dog breed: Golden Retriever vs Labrador Retriever vs Belgian Malinois?	Golden Retrievers are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate dogs toward their handlers.	Labrador Retrievers may seem unfriendly sometimes due to their independence.	Belgian Malinoiss may seem unfriendly sometimes due to their independence.
Social Needs Golden Retriever vs Labrador Retriever vs Belgian Malinois social needs comparison:	Golden Retrievers need a lot of social interaction.	Labrador Retrievers need a lot of social interaction.	Belgian Malinoiss are a social breed.
Barking Which dog barks more/less: Golden Retriever vs Labrador Retriever vs Belgian Malinois?	Low to Average: The Golden Retriever rarely barks.	Average: The Labrador Retriever barks occasionally.	Average to high: The Belgian Malinois is a vocal breed.
Watchdog Ability Which is the better watchdog: Golden Retriever or Labrador Retriever or Belgian Malinois?	Golden Retrievers are average watchdogs.	Labrador Retrievers are average watchdogs.	Belgian Malinoiss are one of the best watchdogs.
Guarding Behavior / Territorial Which dog is most likely to protect its owner? Which is the best dog to use for protection?	Golden Retrievers are average defenders.	Labrador Retrievers are average defenders.	Belgian Malinoiss strongly protect their territory.
Biting Potential Which breed of dog is most likely to bite? Biting potential comparison:	Moderate The Golden Retriever has an average chance of biting somebody.	Moderate The Labrador Retriever has an average chance of biting somebody.	Low The Belgian Malinois has a low chance of biting somebody.
Bite Force Which bite is stronger: Golden Retriever or Labrador Retriever or Belgian Malinois?	Between 200 and 400 PSI Ordinary: Average dogs have bite force between 200 and 400 PSI.	Between 200 and 400 PSI Ordinary: Average dogs have bite force between 200 and 400 PSI.	Between 100 and 200 PSI The weakest: Dogs that have the weakest bite force below 200 PSI.
Mouthiness Which is the better dog? Golden Retriever vs Labrador Retriever vs Belgian Malinois mouthiness comparison:	Golden Retrievers have a strong tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.	Labrador Retrievers have a strong tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.	Belgian Malinoiss have an average tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.
Impulse to Wander or Roam Which dog has a greater roaming instinct?	Golden Retrievers tend to escape less than other breeds.	Labrador Retrievers have average wanderlust potential.	Wanderlust potential of the Belgian Malinois is strong enough to escape from home.
Prey Drive Which dog has a higher prey drive? Which can be better for hunting?	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.	Labrador Retrievers have low to an average impulse to chase and catch something like a cat or any other small aminals.	Belgian Malinoiss 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 Which dog is more apartment friendly Golden Retriever or Labrador Retriever or Belgian Malinois?	Nem ajánlott lakásban tartani Golden Retriever kutyafajtát.	Nem ajánlott lakásban tartani Labrador Retriever kutyafajtát.	Nem a legjobb választás Belgian Malinois, ha lakásban szeretnéd tartani, ugyanakkor alapos lemozgatással, napi többszöri sétával tolerálják a benti körülményeket is, így megoldható Belgian Malinois tartása lakásban.
Adaptability Which dog has a higher adaptability potential? Which is the better dog?	Golden Retrievers adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments.	Labrador Retrievers adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments.	Belgian Malinoiss adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments.
Tolerates Being Left Alone Which dog can be left alone: Golden Retriever or Labrador Retriever or Belgian Malinois?	Golden Retrievers tend to have separation anxiety when their owners left them alone at home because they bond very closely with them.	Labrador Retrievers tend to have separation anxiety when their owners left them alone at home because they bond very closely with them.	Belgian Malinoiss 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.
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.

Golden Retriever vs Labrador Retriever vs Belgian Malinois Good With Comparison

Stranger Friendly Which dog is more stranger friendly Golden Retriever or Labrador Retriever or Belgian Malinois? Which dog is more friendly?	Golden Retrievers are very stranger friendly dogs.	Labrador Retrievers are very stranger friendly dogs.	Belgian Malinoiss are not the most stranger friendly dogs.
Child Friendly Which dog is more child/kid friendly Golden Retriever or Labrador Retriever or Belgian Malinois?	Golden Retrievers are very kid-friendly dogs.	Labrador Retrievers are very kid-friendly dogs.	Belgian Malinoiss are kid-friendly dogs.
Cat Friendly Which dog is more cat friendly Golden Retriever or Labrador Retriever or Belgian Malinois?	Golden Retrievers are cat-friendly dogs.	Labrador Retrievers are cat-friendly dogs.	Belgian Malinoiss are average friendly towards cats.
Dog Friendly Which dog is more dog friendly Golden Retriever or Labrador Retriever or Belgian Malinois?	Golden Retrievers are very dog-friendly dogs.	Labrador Retrievers are very dog-friendly dogs.	Belgian Malinoiss are average friendly towards other dogs.
Good For First Time Owners Which dog is good for the first-time owners: Golden Retriever vs Labrador Retriever vs Belgian Malinois?	Yes Golden Retrievers are good for novice owners, due to their easy-going personality.	No Labrador Retrievers are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.	No Belgian Malinoiss are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.
Service Dog Which one could be a service dog?	Yes This breed makes good as a service dog.	Yes This breed makes good as a service dog.	Yes This breed makes good as a service dog.
Therapy Dog Which one could be a therapy dog: Golden Retriever or Labrador Retriever or Belgian Malinois? Which is better for autism?	Yes This breed makes a perfect therapy dog.	Yes This breed makes a perfect therapy dog.	Not really This breed generally not used as a therapy dog.
Detection Dog or Sniffer Dog Which one could be a detection/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.	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.
Office Friendly Which one fits better in the office?	Yes Golden Retriever is one of the best dog breeds for office environment	No Labrador Retriever is not the best dog breed for office environment.	No Belgian Malinois is not the best dog breed for office environment.
Search and Rescue Dog (SAR) Which one could be a search and rescue dog?	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.	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.
Senior Citizens Friendly Which dog is good for elderly people?	Golden Retrievers are one of the best breeds for elderly people.	Labrador Retrievers are one of the best breeds for elderly people.	Belgian Malinoiss are usually recommended for elderly people.
Boat Dog Which one could be a boat dog: Golden Retriever vs Labrador Retriever vs Belgian Malinois?	Yes Golden Retriever breed usually likes being on a boat.	Yes Labrador Retriever breed usually likes being on a boat.	Not really Belgian Malinois breed usually doesn't like being on a boat.
Pet Friendly Which dog breeds get along well with other animals/pets?	Golden Retrievers are usually friendly towards other pets.	Labrador Retrievers are usually friendly towards other pets.	Belgian Malinoiss are generally with other pets.
Cart Pulling or Drafting Dog Which one could be a 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.	Not really A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling.

Golden Retriever vs Labrador Retriever vs Belgian Malinois Health Factors Comparison

Health Issues Golden Retriever vs Labrador Retriever vs Belgian Malinois health comparison. Which is the healthier: Golden Retriever vs Labrador Retriever vs Belgian Malinois?	Golden Retrievers are commonly healthy dogs.	The Labrador Retriever is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly.	The Belgian Malinois is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly.
Health Problems Which one has more or less genetic/health problems: Golden Retriever vs Labrador Retriever vs Belgian Malinois? What are the allergies, genetic diseases and concerns for them? Golden Retriever vs Labrador Retriever vs Belgian Malinois health problems comparison:	Allergies Bloat Cataracts Elbow Dysplasia Epilepsy Hemangiosarcoma Hip Dysplasia Hypothyroidism Osteochondrosis Dissecans Osteosarcoma Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) Subvalvular Aortic Stenosis Von Willebrand's Disease	Acute Moist Dermatitis Bloat Cataracts Cold Tail Ear Infections Elbow Dysplasia Epilepsy Hip Dysplasia Myopathy Osteochondrosis Dissecans Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) Tricuspid Valve Dysplasia	Elbow Dysplasia Epilepsy Eye Problems Hip Dysplasia
Veterinarian Visits Which one may need more or less veterinary visits?	Rare The Golden Retriever should have a complete physical check-up at least every 12-18 months (but preferably once per year).	Average The Labrador Retriever should have a complete physical check-up at least once per year.	Average The Belgian Malinois should have a complete physical check-up at least once per year.
Life Expectancy Golden Retriever vs Labrador Retriever vs Belgian Malinois lifespan comparison. How long do Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever and Belgian Malinois breeds live? Which one has a longer lifespan/life expectancy?	10-12 years	10-12 years	12-14 years
Calculate dog years to human years by breed here
Hypoallergenic Golden Retriever vs Labrador Retriever vs Belgian Malinois hypoallergenic comparison. Which dog is hypoallergenic or not?	No	No	No
Energy Level Who has more energy a Golden Retriever or Labrador Retriever or Belgian Malinois? Golden Retriever vs Labrador Retriever vs Belgian Malinois energy level comparison:	Golden Retrievers are high energy dogs.	Labrador Retrievers are high energy dogs.	Belgian Malinoiss are high energy dogs.
Activity Requirement / Exercise Need Golden Retriever vs Labrador Retriever vs Belgian Malinois exercise need comparison. Which dog needs more activity? Which dog needs the most exercise: Golden Retriever or Labrador Retriever or Belgian Malinois? Which dog needs the most walking? Which dog is the laziest?	Golden Retrievers need a lot of exercises.	Labrador Retrievers need a lot of exercises.	Belgian Malinoiss need a lot of exercises.
Sleeping Need Which one sleeps the least/most: Golden Retriever or Labrador Retriever or Belgian Malinois?	Golden Retrievers don't need too much sleep.	Labrador Retrievers don't need too much sleep.	Belgian Malinoiss don't need too much sleep.
Avg. daily food consumption Which dog eats more: Golden Retriever or Labrador Retriever or Belgian Malinois?	3 to 4 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.	2 to 3 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.
Weight Gain Potential / Prone to Obesity Which dog breed is more prone to obesity? Golden Retriever vs Labrador Retriever vs Belgian Malinois weight gain potential comparison:	High: The Golden Retriever breed has a strong tendency to overweight.	High: The Labrador Retriever breed has a strong tendency to overweight.	Low to Average.
Weather & Climate Which dog is best for hot or cold weather: Golden Retriever vs Labrador Retriever vs Belgian Malinois?	Tolerates warm and cold weather.	Tolerates warm and cold weather.	Tolerates warm and cold weather.
Stinkiness Which dog breed smells least? Which dog smells most? Which is best, Golden Retriever vs Labrador Retriever vs Belgian Malinois?	Medium The Golden Retriever has an average chance of bad smell.	High The Labrador Retriever has a high chance of bad smell.	Medium The Belgian Malinois has an average chance of bad smell.
Drooling tendency Which dog drools the most? Which dog drools the least?	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.	The Labrador Retriever is an average drooler.	The Belgian Malinois is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency.

Golden Retriever vs Labrador Retriever vs Belgian Malinois Reproducibility Comparison

Gestation Length	60-64 days	60-64 days	60-64 days
Litter Frequency	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 How many puppies can Golden Retriever and Labrador Retriever and Belgian Malinois have?	5-10 puppies	5-10 puppies	6-10 puppies
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