Labrador Retriever vs German Shepherd vs Poodle Comparison - Dog breed selector: Lab or Alsatian wolf dog or Barbone? Find the right dog for you
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Compare Labrador Retriever and German Shepherd. Which is better: Labrador Retriever or German Shepherd or Poodle?
Name | Labrador Retriever | German Shepherd | Poodle |
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Origins | England Canada | Germany | Germany France |
Group | Gun Dog | Pastoral / Herding Dogs | Companion Dogs |
Popularity Rank | 1 | 2 | 7 |
Reviews | 10 | 21 | 14 |
User Ratings |
Other Names
What other names do they have? |
Lab Labrador |
Alsatian wolf dog Berger Allemand Deutscher Schäferhund Schäferhund Alsatian |
Barbone Caniche Chien Canne Grosse Pudel French Poodle |
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Breed Type
Which dog is purebred or crossbreed? Labrador Retriever vs German Shepherd vs Poodle breed type comparison: | Purebred | Purebred | Purebred |
Labrador Retriever vs German Shepherd vs Poodle Size and Weight Comparison
Size
Which is bigger, Labrador Retriever or German Shepherd or Poodle? Which is the smallest dog, Labrador Retriever or German Shepherd or Poodle? | Large | Large | Medium |
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Weight
Which is heavier, Labrador Retriever or German Shepherd or German Shepherd? Labrador Retriever vs German Shepherd vs Poodle weight comparison: | Male: 60-75 pounds (27-34kg), Female: 55-70 pounds (25-32 kg) | Male: 66-88 pounds (30-40 kg), Female: 49-71 pounds (22-32 kg) | Male: 45-70 pounds (20-32 kg), Female: 45-60 pounds (20-27 kg) |
Average Weight
Which dog has a smaller / higher average weight? | Male: 67.5 pounds (30.5 kg), Female: 62.5 pounds (28.5 kg) | Male: 77 pounds (35 kg), Female: 60 pounds (27 kg) | Male: 57.5 pounds (26 kg), Female: 52.5 pounds (23.5 kg) |
Height
Which is taller, Labrador Retriever or German Shepherd or Poodle? Labrador Retriever vs German Shepherd vs Poodle height comparison: | Male: 22-24 inches (56-61cm), Female: 21-23 inches (53-58 cm) | Male: 24-26 inches (60-65 cm), Female: 22-24 inches (55-60 cm) | 15 inches (38 cm) or more |
Average Height
Which dog has a smaller / higher average height? | Male: 23 inches (58.5 cm), Female: 22 inches (55.5 cm) | Male: 25 inches (62.5 cm), Female: 23 inches (57.5 cm) | 15 inches (38 cm) or more |
Labrador Retriever vs German Shepherd vs Poodle Price and Availability Comparison
Price
Which is cheaper, Labrador Retriever or German Shepherd or Poodle? Which is more expensive? | $1000-$2000 | $800-$2000 | $1000-$1500 |
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Availability
Which is easier to get, Labrador Retriever or German Shepherd or Poodle? | Very frequent: The Labrador Retriever is quite easy to get. | Very frequent: The German Shepherd is quite easy to get. | Very frequent: The Poodle is quite easy to get. |
Labrador Retriever vs German Shepherd vs Poodle Trainability and Intelligence Comparison
Intelligent Rank
Which is the smarter dog? Which is best? Labrador Retriever vs German Shepherd vs Poodle intelligence: | Outstanding: Labrador Retriever is one of the brightest dog breeds. | Outstanding: German Shepherd is one of the brightest dog breeds. | Outstanding: Poodle is one of the brightest dog breeds. |
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Trainability
Labrador Retriever vs German Shepherd vs Poodle trainability comparison. | Labrador Retriever dogs are very easy to train. | German Shepherd dogs are easy to train. | Poodle dogs are easy to train. |
Watchdog Ability
Which is the better watchdog: Labrador Retriever or German Shepherd or Poodle? | Labrador Retriever dogs are average watchdogs. | German Shepherd dogs are one of the best watchdogs. | Poodle dogs are good watchdogs. |
Guarding Behavior / Territorial
Which is a better guard dog Labrador Retriever or German Shepherd or Poodle?
Which dog is most likely to protect its owner?
Which is the best dog to use for protection? | Labrador Retriever dogs are average defenders. | German Shepherd dogs are extremely protective guard dogs. | Poodle dogs strongly protect their territory. |
Labrador Retriever vs German Shepherd vs Poodle Personality and Temperament Comparison
Temperament
Which one has a better personality? Which is a better family dog, Labrador Retriever or German Shepherd or Poodle? Labrador Retriever vs German Shepherd vs Poodle behavior/temperament comparison: |
Playful Loving Energetic Alert Intelligent Friendly Responsive Affectionate Loyal Gentle Going Social Cheerful |
Curious Alert Courageous Intelligent Confident Obedient Loyal Watchful |
Active Alert Intelligent Trainable Faithful Instinctual |
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Sensitivity Level
Which dog is more sensitive? What's the difference? | Sensitive: Labrador Retriever dogs don't like an irregular daily routine, noisy household, and frequent guest visits. | Sensitive: German Shepherd dogs 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: Labrador Retriever vs German Shepherd vs Poodle? | Slightly Below Average: Labrador Retriever dogs may seem unfriendly sometimes due to their independence. | High: German Shepherd dogs are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving, and affectionate dogs toward their handlers. | High: Poodle dogs are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving, and affectionate dogs toward their handlers. |
Social Needs
Labrador Retriever vs German Shepherd vs Poodle social needs comparison: | Labrador Retriever dogs need a lot of social interaction. | German Shepherd dogs need for social interaction is average. | Poodle dogs need a lot of social interaction. |
Impulse to Wander or Roam
Which dog has a greater roaming instinct? | Labrador Retriever dogs have average wanderlust potential. | German Shepherd dogs are not the biggest explorers. | Poodle dogs have average wanderlust potential. |
Prey Drive
Which dog has a higher prey drive? Which can be better for hunting? | Labrador Retriever dogs have low to an average impulse to chase and catch something like a cat or any other small aminals. | German Shepherd dogs have a higher impulse to chase and catch something than other dog breeds. | Poodle dogs have low to an average impulse to chase and catch something like a cat or any other small aminals. |
Labrador Retriever vs German Shepherd vs Poodle Activity and Playfulness Comparison
Playfulness
Labrador Retriever vs German Shepherd vs Poodle playfulness comparison: | The Labrador Retriever is a highly playful breed. | Average: German Shepherds, like any other dog breed, like playing. | The Poodle is a playful breed. |
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Barking
Which dog barks more/less: Labrador Retriever vs German Shepherd vs Poodle? | Average: The Labrador Retriever barks occasionally. | Low to Average: The German Shepherd rarely barks. | Average to High: The Poodle is a vocal breed. |
Apartment Friendly
Which dog is more apartment friendly Labrador Retriever or German Shepherd or Poodle? | It is not recommended to keep the Labrador Retriever breed in the home. | It is not the best choice if you want to keep them indoors, however, with careful exercise and several walks a day, they will tolerate the indoor environment, so it is possible to keep German Shepherd indoors. | Very house-friendly dog the Poodle breed. |
Labrador Retriever vs German Shepherd vs Poodle Adaptability and Independence Comparison
Adaptability
Which dog has a higher adaptability potential? Which is the better dog? | Labrador Retriever dogs adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments. | German Shepherd dogs adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments. | Poodle dogs adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments. |
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Tolerates Being Left Alone
Which dog can be left alone: Labrador Retriever or German Shepherd or Poodle? | Labrador Retriever dogs tend to have separation anxiety when their owners left them alone at home because they bond very closely with them. | Just like every puppy, they are prone to panic, cry, bark, whine when they left alone by their owner. | Poodle dogs tend to have separation anxiety when their owners left them alone at home because they bond very closely with them. |
Labrador Retriever vs German Shepherd vs Poodle Bite Characteristics Comparison
Bite Force PSI
Which bite is stronger: Labrador Retriever or German Shepherd or Poodle? | Between 200 and 400 PSI ⏺ Labrador Retriever bite force: Ordinary. | Between 200 and 400 PSI ⏺ German Shepherd bite force: Ordinary. | Between 200 and 400 PSI ⏺ Poodle bite force: Ordinary. |
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Biting Potential
Which breed of dog is most likely to bite? Biting potential comparison: | Moderate ⏺ The Labrador Retriever has an average chance of biting somebody. | High 🔼 The German Shepherd has a high chance of biting somebody. | Low 🔽 The Poodle has a low chance of biting somebody. |
Mouthiness
Which is the better dog? Labrador Retriever vs German Shepherd vs Poodle mouthiness comparison: | Labrador Retriever dogs have a strong tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people. | German Shepherd dogs have a strong tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people. | Poodle dogs have a higher than average tendency to nip, chew, playbite, or herd people. |
Labrador Retriever vs German Shepherd vs Poodle Health and Lifespan Comparison
Health Issues
Labrador Retriever vs German Shepherd vs Poodle health comparison. Which is the healthier: Labrador Retriever vs German Shepherd vs Poodle? | The Labrador Retriever is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly. | German Shepherds are commonly healthy dogs. | The Poodle is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly. |
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Health Problems
Which one has more or less genetic/health problems: Labrador Retriever vs German Shepherd vs Poodle? What are the allergies, genetic diseases and concerns for them? Labrador Retriever vs German Shepherd vs Poodle health problems comparison: |
Cataracts Hip Dysplasia Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) Bloat Epilepsy Ear Infections Elbow Dysplasia Osteochondrosis Dissecans Tricuspid Valve Dysplasia Acute Moist Dermatitis Cold Tail Myopathy |
Cataracts Hip Dysplasia Allergies Cancer Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) Von Willebrand's Disease Bloat Epilepsy Blindness Cherry Eye Elbow Dysplasia Diabetes Heart Disease Retinal Dysplasia Demodectic Mange Degenerative Myelopathy Wobbler's Syndrome Panosteitis Hemophilia B Megaesophagus Cushing's Syndrome Lens Luxation Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency Chronic Diarrhea Cruciate Ligament Rupture Digestive Problems Hemophilia A Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy Lupus Myasthenia Gravis Nail Bed Disease Osteochondrosis Pannus Paralysis Perianal Fistula Seborrhea Vitiligo |
Cataracts Hip Dysplasia Legg-perthes Disease Patellar Luxation Allergies Hypothyroidism Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) Von Willebrand's Disease Bloat Epilepsy Sebaceous Adenitis Ear Infections Addison's Disease Cushing's Syndrome Runny Eyes Canine Atrial Septal Defect (asd) Neonatal Encephalopathy (news) Optic Nerve Hypoplasia Premature Graying |
Veterinarian Visits
Which one may need more or less veterinary visits? |
Average The Labrador Retriever should have a complete physical check-up at least once per year. |
Rare The German Shepherd should have a complete physical check-up at least every 12-18 months (but preferably once per year). |
Average The Poodle should have a complete physical check-up at least once per year. |
Life Expectancy
Labrador Retriever vs German Shepherd vs Poodle lifespan comparison. How long do Labrador Retriever, German Shepherd and Poodle breeds live? Which one has a longer lifespan/life expectancy? |
10-12 years The average lifespan of Labrador Retriever: 11 years |
9-13 years The average lifespan of German Shepherd: 11 years |
11-15 years The average lifespan of Poodle: 13 years |
Weather and Climate
Which dog is best for hot or cold weather: Labrador Retriever vs German Shepherd vs Poodle? | Tolerates warm and cold weather Dogs that tolerate hot and cold weather are typically those that have a double coat of fur. | Tolerates warm and cold weather Dogs that tolerate hot and cold weather are typically those that have a double coat of fur. | Tolerates warm and cold weather Dogs that tolerate hot and cold weather are typically those that have a double coat of fur. |
Labrador Retriever vs German Shepherd vs Poodle Energy and Activity Comparison
Energy Level
Who has more energy a Labrador Retriever or German Shepherd or Poodle?
Labrador Retriever vs German Shepherd vs Poodle energy level comparison: | Labrador Retriever dogs are high-energy dogs. | German Shepherd dogs are high-energy dogs. | Poodle dogs have a higher energy level than other dog breeds. |
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Activity Requirement / Exercise Need
Labrador Retriever vs German Shepherd vs Poodle exercise need comparison. Which dog needs more activity? Which dog needs the most exercise: Labrador Retriever or German Shepherd or Poodle? Which dog needs the most walking? Which dog is the laziest? | Labrador Retriever dogs need a lot of exercises. | German Shepherd dogs need quite a lot of exercise. | Poodle dogs need quite a lot of exercise. |
Sleeping Need
Which one sleeps the least/most: Labrador Retriever or German Shepherd or Poodle? | Labrador Retriever dogs don't need too much sleep. | German Shepherd dogs don't need too much sleep. | Poodle dogs are quite energetic dogs and they don't spend too much time with sleeping. |
Labrador Retriever vs German Shepherd vs Poodle Diet and Weight Management Comparison
Average daily food consumption
Which dog eats more: Labrador Retriever or German Shepherd or Poodle? | 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. | 2 to 3 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals. |
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Weight Gain Potential / Prone to Obesity
Which dog breed is more prone to obesity? Labrador Retriever vs German Shepherd vs Poodle weight gain potential comparison: | High: The Labrador Retriever breed has a strong tendency to be overweight. | Low to Average: The German Shepherd has a low to the average risk for obesity. | Average to High: If you don't pay attention to the Poodle's weight, he can easily gain weight. |
Labrador Retriever vs German Shepherd vs Poodle Allergies and Grooming Comparison
Coat / Hair Types
What type of coat/fur do they have? Labrador Retriever vs German Shepherd vs Poodle coat comparison: |
Dense Waterproof Hard Short | Fuzzy | Curly |
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Colors
What are the original Labrador Retriever, German Shepherd and Poodle color? |
Black Yellow Chocolate |
Black Tan Red Silver |
Black Gray Red Blue Cream White Silver Brown Fawn Beige Apricot |
Grooming
Which dog is easy to maintain, Labrador Retriever or German Shepherd or Poodle? Labrador Retriever vs German Shepherd vs Poodle grooming comparison: | Effortless: The Labrador Retriever requires minimal grooming. | Average: The German Shepherd requires average grooming effort. | Professional: This breed needs a lot of work to keep in good condition. |
Shedding Level
Who sheds more Labrador Retriever or German Shepherd or Poodle? Labrador Retriever or German Shepherd or {name3 shedding: | Labrador Retriever dogs shed moderately. | German Shepherd dogs are heavy shedders. | Poodle dogs shed none to minimal. |
Bath Time / Bathing Frequency
Which dog should be bathed more: Labrador Retriever or German Shepherd or Poodle? | 3-4 weeks More often than average. These dog coats tend to be longer, softer, and oilier than short-haired breeds. | 8-12 weeks Very rarely. Bathing your dog is beneficial to them in more ways than just one. | 3-4 weeks More often than average. These dog coats tend to be longer, softer, and oilier than short-haired breeds. |
Hypoallergenic
Labrador Retriever vs German Shepherd vs Poodle hypoallergenic comparison. Which dog is hypoallergenic or not? | No See more. | No See more. | Yes See more. |
Stinkiness
Which dog breed smells the least? Which dog smells the most? Which is best, Labrador Retriever vs German Shepherd vs Poodle? | High 🔼 The Labrador Retriever has a high chance of bad smell. | Medium ⏺ The German Shepherd has an average chance of bad smell. | Medium ⏺ The Poodle has an average chance of bad smell. |
Drooling Tendency
Which dog drools the most? Which dog drools the least? | The Labrador Retriever is an average drooler. | The German Shepherd is a perfect example of a very low drooling tendency. | The Poodle is a perfect example of a very low drooling tendency. |
Labrador Retriever vs German Shepherd vs Poodle Good With Comparison
Pet Friendly
Which dog breeds get along well with other animals/pets? | Labrador Retriever dogs are usually friendly towards other pets. | German Shepherd dogs are generally with other pets. | Poodle dogs are usually friendly towards other pets. |
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Stranger Friendly
Which dog is more stranger friendly Labrador Retriever or German Shepherd or Poodle? Which dog is more friendly? | Labrador Retriever dogs are very stranger-friendly dogs. | German Shepherd dogs are stranger-friendly dogs. | Poodle dogs are stranger-friendly dogs. |
Child Friendly
Which dog is more child/kid friendly Labrador Retriever or German Shepherd or Poodle? | Labrador Retriever dogs are very kid-friendly dogs. | German Shepherd dogs are very kid-friendly dogs. | Poodle dogs are very kid-friendly dogs. |
Cat Friendly
Which dog is more cat friendly Labrador Retriever or German Shepherd or Poodle? | Labrador Retriever dogs are cat-friendly dogs. | German Shepherd dogs are average friendly towards cats. | Poodle dogs are cat-friendly dogs. |
Dog Friendly
Which dog is more dog friendly Labrador Retriever or German Shepherd or Poodle? | Labrador Retriever dogs are very dog-friendly dogs. | German Shepherd dogs are not the most dog-friendly dogs. | Poodle dogs are dog-friendly dogs. |
Good For First Time Owners
Which dog is good for the first-time owners: Labrador Retriever vs German Shepherd vs Poodle? |
Yes Labrador Retriever dogs are good for novice owners, due to their easy-going personality. |
Yes German Shepherd dogs are good for novice owners, due to their easy-going personality. |
Yes Poodle dogs are good for novice owners, due to their easy-going personality. |
Office Friendly
Which one fits better in the office? |
No Labrador Retriever is not the best dog breed for office environment. |
No German Shepherd is not the best dog breed for office environment. |
No Poodle is not the best dog breed for office environment. |
Senior Citizens Friendly
Which dog is good for elderly people? | Labrador Retrievers are one of the best breeds for elderly people. | German Shepherds are one of the best breeds for elderly people. | Poodles are one of the best breeds for elderly people. |
Labrador Retriever vs German Shepherd vs Poodle As a Working Dog Comparison
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. |
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Therapy Dog
Which one could be a therapy dog: Labrador Retriever or German Shepherd or Poodle? Which is better for autism? | Yes This breed makes a perfect therapy dog. | Yes This breed makes a perfect therapy dog. | Yes This breed makes a perfect therapy dog. |
Detection Dog or Sniffer Dog
Which one could be a detection/sniffer dog? | Yes After proper training, they can excel at this kind of work. | Yes After proper training, they can excel at this kind of work. | Not really They are not typically employed for this type of work, but there may be exceptional cases. |
Search and Rescue Dog (SAR)
Which one could be a search and rescue dog? | Yes This breed would make an excellent search and rescue dog. | Yes This breed would make an excellent search and rescue dog. | Not really This dog breed is not typically used as a search and rescue dog. |
Boat and Sailor Dog
Which one could be a boat dog: Labrador Retriever vs German Shepherd vs Poodle? | Yes Labrador Retriever breed usually likes being on a boat. | Not really German Shepherd breed usually doesn't like being on a boat. | Yes Poodle breed usually likes being on a boat. |
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. |
Fighting Dog / Military Dog | Not really In history, this breed was not really used for combat dog. | Yes In history, this breed was unfortunately used for combat dogs. | Not really In history, this breed was not really used for combat dog. |
Labrador Retriever vs German Shepherd vs Poodle Reproducibility Comparison
Gestation Length | 60-64 days See more. | 60-64 days See more. | 60-64 days See more. |
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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 Labrador Retriever and German Shepherd and Poodle have? | 5-10 puppies | 6-10 puppies | 2-4 puppies |
Labrador Retriever vs German Shepherd vs Poodle Recognition Comparison
AKC Group
Which dog is recognized by the AKC? | Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1917 as a Sporting breed. | Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1908 as a Herding breed. | Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1887 as a Non-Sporting & Toy breed. |
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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 Sheepdogs and Cattledogs (except Swiss Cattledogs) group, in the Sheepdogs section. | Recognized by FCI in the Companion and Toy Dogs group, in the Poodle section. |
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 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 German Shepherd Dog Club Of America |
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 |
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