Huntaway vs Rhodesian Ridgeback vs Labrador Retriever – Which one is a better dog breed for you?
"Find similarities and differences between Huntaway vs Rhodesian Ridgeback vs Labrador Retriever"
Compare Huntaway and Rhodesian Ridgeback. Which is better: Huntaway or Rhodesian Ridgeback or Labrador Retriever?
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| Name | Huntaway | Rhodesian Ridgeback | Labrador Retriever |
|---|---|---|---|
| Origins |  New Zealand |  Zimbabwe |  England  Canada |
| Group | Pastoral Dogs (Herding Dogs) | Hunting Dogs | Gun Dog |
| Popularity Rank | 280 | 41 | 1 |
| Reviews | 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Rate |
| Other Names | New Zealand Sheepdog New Zealand Huntaway, NZ Huntaway | African Lion Dog, African Lion Hound | Labrador, Lab |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed Type | Purebred | Purebred | Purebred |
| AKC Group | Not recognized by the American Kennel Club. | Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1955 as a Hound breed. | Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1917 as a Sporting breed. |
| FCI Group | Not recognized by FCI. | Recognized by FCI in the Scent hounds and related breeds group, in the Related breeds section. | Recognized by FCI in the Retrievers - Flushing Dogs - Water Dogs group, in the Retrievers section. |
| Breed Recognition | Dog Registry of America Inc. New Zealand 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 Rhodesian Ridgeback Club Of The US | 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 | $300-$400 | $900-$1200 | $1000-$2000 |
General Appearance - Huntaway vs Rhodesian Ridgeback vs Labrador Retriever
| Size | Large | Large | Large |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | 40-65 pounds (18-30 kg) | Male: 80-90 pounds (36-41 kg), Female: 65-75 pounds (29-34 kg) | Male: 60-75 pounds (27-34kg), Female: 55-70 pounds (25-32 kg) |
| Avg. Weight | 52.5 pounds (24 kg) | Male: 85 pounds (38.5 kg), Female: 70 pounds (31.5 kg) | Male: 67.5 pounds (30.5 kg), Female: 62.5 pounds (28.5 kg) |
| Height | 20-24 inches (51-61 cm) | Male: 25-27 inches (63-69 cm), Female: 24-26 inches (61-66 cm) | Male: 22-24 inches (56-61cm), Female: 21-23 inches (53-58 cm) |
| Avg. Height | 22 inches (56 cm) | Male: 26 inches (66 cm), Female: 25 inches (63.5 cm) | Male: 23 inches (58.5 cm), Female: 22 inches (55.5 cm) |
Hair & Care - Huntaway vs Rhodesian Ridgeback vs Labrador Retriever
| Coat | Smooth Rough | Dense | Dense Waterproof Hard Short |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black & Tan | Golden Red White Gray Wheaten | Yellow Chocolate Black |
| Grooming | Average: The Huntaway requires average grooming effort. | Effortless: The Rhodesian Ridgeback requires minimal grooming. | Effortless: The Labrador Retriever requires minimal grooming. |
| Shedding Level | Huntaways shed moderately. | Rhodesian Ridgebacks shed none to minimal. | Labrador Retrievers shed moderately. |
Characteristics - Huntaway vs Rhodesian Ridgeback vs Labrador Retriever
| Temperament | Friendly Energetic Active Intelligent Trainable Vocal | Dignified Loyal Sensitive Intelligent Mischievous Strong Willed | Affectionate Cheerful Friendly Intelligent Loyal Playful Social Alert Energetic Gentle Loving Going Responsive |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intelligent Rank | Smart: Huntaway's has great intelligence. | Average: Rhodesian Ridgeback's has average obedience intelligence. | Outstanding: Labrador Retriever is one of the brightest dog breeds. |
| Trainability | Huntaways are easy to train. | Rhodesian Ridgebacks are quite easy to train. | Labrador Retrievers are very easy to train. |
| Playfulness | The Huntaway is a highly playful breed. | The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a playful breed. | The Labrador Retriever is a highly playful breed. |
| Sensitivity Level | They are a little bit more sensitive than other dog breeds. | 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 | Huntaways are highly affectionate dogs. | Rhodesian Ridgebacks are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate dogs toward their handlers. | Labrador Retrievers may seem unfriendly sometimes due to their independence. |
| Social Needs | Huntaways are a social breed. | Rhodesian Ridgebacks are a social breed. | Labrador Retrievers need a lot of social interaction. |
| Barking | High: The Huntaway is a very vocal breed. | Low to Average: The Rhodesian Ridgeback rarely barks. | Average: The Labrador Retriever barks occasionally. |
| Watchdog Ability | Huntaways are not the best watchdogs. | Rhodesian Ridgebacks are average watchdogs. | Labrador Retrievers are average watchdogs. |
| Territorial | Huntaways are not the best to protect their territory. | Rhodesian Ridgebacks strongly protect their territory. | Labrador Retrievers are average defenders. |
| Biting Potential |
Low The Huntaway has a low chance of biting somebody. |
Low The Rhodesian Ridgeback has a low chance of biting somebody. |
Moderate The Labrador Retriever has an average chance of biting somebody. |
| Mouthiness | Huntaways have a higher than average tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people. | Rhodesian Ridgebacks 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 | Huntaways are not the biggest explorers. | Rhodesian Ridgebacks have high wanderlust potential, which means that this breed has a strong desire for exploring the world. | Labrador Retrievers have average wanderlust potential. |
| Prey Drive | Huntaways don't have an impulse to catch or chase small animals. | Rhodesian Ridgebacks have a high impulse to chase and catch something. | Labrador Retrievers have low to an average impulse to chase and catch something like a cat or any other small aminals. |
| Apartment Friendly | Huntaways are not recommended for an apartment lifestyle. | Rhodesian Ridgebacks 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 | Huntaways adapt well to lifestyle changes and different living environments. | Rhodesian Ridgebacks 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 | Huntaways 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. | Rhodesian Ridgebacks 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. |
Yes In history, this breed was unfortunately used for combat dog. |
Not really In history, this breed was not really used for combat dog. |
Good With - Huntaway vs Rhodesian Ridgeback vs Labrador Retriever
| Stranger Friendly | Huntaways are very stranger friendly dogs. | Rhodesian Ridgebacks are not the most stranger friendly dogs. | Labrador Retrievers are very stranger friendly dogs. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Child Friendly | Huntaways are very kid-friendly dogs. | Rhodesian Ridgebacks are very kid-friendly dogs. | Labrador Retrievers are very kid-friendly dogs. |
| Cat Friendly | Huntaways are very cat-friendly dogs. | Rhodesian Ridgebacks are not the most cat-friendly dogs. | Labrador Retrievers are cat-friendly dogs. |
| Dog Friendly | Huntaways are dog-friendly dogs. | Rhodesian Ridgebacks are not the most dog-friendly dogs. | Labrador Retrievers are very dog-friendly dogs. |
| Office Friendly |
No Huntaway is not the best dog breed for office environment. |
No Rhodesian Ridgeback is not the best dog breed for office environment. |
No Labrador Retriever is not the best dog breed for office environment. |
| Senior Citizens Friendly | Huntaways are one of the best breeds for elderly people. | Rhodesian Ridgebacks are one of the best breeds for elderly people. | Labrador Retrievers are one of the best breeds for elderly people. |
| Pet Friendly | Huntaways are one of the friendliest dog breeds. | Rhodesian Ridgebacks usually don’t get on well with other pets. | Labrador Retrievers are usually friendly towards other pets. |
| Good For First Time Owners |
No Huntaways are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality. |
No Rhodesian Ridgebacks 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. |
Not really This breed generally not used 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. |
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. |
| Boat Dog |
Not really Huntaway breed usually doesn't like being on a boat. |
Not really Rhodesian Ridgeback breed usually doesn't like 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. |
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 - Huntaway vs Rhodesian Ridgeback vs Labrador Retriever
| Health Issues | Very healthy dog breed. | The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly. | The Labrador Retriever is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health Problems | No set | Dermoid Sinus Elbow Dysplasia Hip Dysplasia | 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 | 12-14 years | 10-12 years | 10-12 years |
| Hypoallergenic | No | No | No |
| Energy Level | Huntaways are high energy dogs. | Rhodesian Ridgebacks have a higher energy level than other dog breeds. | Labrador Retrievers are high energy dogs. |
| Exercise Need | Huntaways need a lot of exercises. | Rhodesian Ridgebacks need quite a lot of exercise. | Labrador Retrievers need a lot of exercises. |
| Sleeping Need | Huntaways don't need too much sleep. | Rhodesian Ridgebacks are quite energetic dogs and they don't spend to much time with sleeping. | Labrador Retrievers don't need too much sleep. |
| Avg. daily food consumption | 2 to 3 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals. | Recommended daily amount: 2 3/4 to 4 3/8 cups of a high-quality daily, 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. | Average. | High: The Labrador Retriever breed has a strong tendency to overweight. |
| Weather & Climate | Tolerates warm and cold weather. | Tolerates warm and cold weather. | Tolerates warm and cold weather. |
| Stinkiness |
Medium The Huntaway has an average chance of bad smell. |
Medium The Rhodesian Ridgeback has an average chance of bad smell. |
High The Labrador Retriever has a high chance of bad smell. |
| Drooling tendency | The Huntaway is an average drooler. | The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency. | The Labrador Retriever is an average drooler. |
Reproducibility - Huntaway vs Rhodesian Ridgeback 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 | 5-7 puppies | 6-8 puppies | 5-10 puppies |
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