Labrador Retriever vs Miniature Australian Shepherd vs Golden Retriever Comparison - Dog breed selector: Lab or Mini Aussie or Golden Flat Coat? Find the right dog for you
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Compare Labrador Retriever and Miniature Australian Shepherd. Which is better: Labrador Retriever or Miniature Australian Shepherd or Golden Retriever?
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Name | Labrador Retriever | Miniature Australian Shepherd | Golden Retriever |
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Origins | ![]() ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Group | Gun Dog | Pastoral / Herding Dogs | Gun Dog |
Popularity Rank | 1 | 381 | 3 |
Reviews | 6 | 2 | 13 |
User Ratings |
Other Names
What other names do they have? |
Lab Labrador |
Mini Aussie Mini Aussie Shepherd Mini Australian Shepherd Miniature Aussie Shepherd North American Shepherd North American Miniature Australian Shepherd |
Golden Flat Coat Yellow Retriever |
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Breed Type
Which dog is purebred or crossbreed? Labrador Retriever vs Miniature Australian Shepherd vs Golden Retriever breed type comparison: | Purebred | Purebred | Purebred |
Labrador Retriever vs Miniature Australian Shepherd vs Golden Retriever Price and Availability Comparison
Price
Which is cheaper, Labrador Retriever or Miniature Australian Shepherd or Golden Retriever? Which is more expensive? | $1000-$2000 | $1000-$2000 | $1000-$2000 |
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Availability
Which is easier to get, Labrador Retriever or Miniature Australian Shepherd or Golden Retriever? | Very frequent: The Labrador Retriever is quite easy to get. | Average: The Miniature Australian Shepherd is a commonly available dog breed. | Very frequent: The Golden Retriever is quite easy to get. |
Labrador Retriever vs Miniature Australian Shepherd vs Golden Retriever Size Comparison
Size
Which is bigger, Labrador Retriever or Miniature Australian Shepherd or Golden Retriever? Which is the smallest dog, Labrador Retriever or Miniature Australian Shepherd or Golden Retriever? | Large | Medium | Large |
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Weight
Which is heavier, Labrador Retriever or Miniature Australian Shepherd or Miniature Australian Shepherd? Labrador Retriever vs Miniature Australian Shepherd vs Golden Retriever weight comparison: | Male: 60-75 pounds (27-34kg), Female: 55-70 pounds (25-32 kg) | 20–40 pounds (9-18 kg) | Male: 60-80 pounds (27-36 kg), Female: 55-70 pounds (25-32 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) | 30 pounds (13.5 kg) | Male: 70 pounds (31.5 kg), Female: 62.5 pounds (28.5 kg) |
Height
Which is taller, Labrador Retriever or Miniature Australian Shepherd or Golden Retriever? Labrador Retriever vs Miniature Australian Shepherd vs Golden Retriever height comparison: | Male: 22-24 inches (56-61cm), Female: 21-23 inches (53-58 cm) | 13–18 inches (33-46 cm) | Male: 22-24 inches (56-61cm), Female: 20-22 inches (51-56 cm) |
Average Height
Which dog has a smaller / higher average height? | Male: 23 inches (58.5 cm), Female: 22 inches (55.5 cm) | 15.5 inches (39.5 cm) | Male: 23 inches (58.5 cm), Female: 21 inches (53.5 cm) |
Labrador Retriever vs Miniature Australian Shepherd vs Golden Retriever Grooming, Hair and Care Comparison
Coat / Hair Types
What type of coat/fur do they have? Labrador Retriever vs Miniature Australian Shepherd vs Golden Retriever coat comparison: |
Dense Waterproof Hard Short | Feathered |
Silky Wavy Shiny Straight |
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Colors
What are the original Labrador Retriever, Miniature Australian Shepherd and Golden Retriever color? |
Black Yellow Chocolate | Red Red Merle White & Black & Tan Blue Merle | Golden Light |
Grooming
Which dog is easy to maintain, Labrador Retriever or Miniature Australian Shepherd or Golden Retriever? Labrador Retriever vs Miniature Australian Shepherd vs Golden Retriever grooming comparison: | Effortless: The Labrador Retriever requires minimal grooming. | Average: The Miniature Australian Shepherd requires average grooming effort. | Average: The Golden Retriever requires average grooming effort. |
Shedding Level
Who sheds more Labrador Retriever or Miniature Australian Shepherd or Golden Retriever? Labrador Retriever or Miniature Australian Shepherd or {name3 shedding: | Labrador Retriever dogs shed moderately. | Miniature Australian Shepherd dogs shed moderately. | Golden Retriever dogs shed moderately. |
Bath Time / Bathing Frequency
Which dog should be bathed more: Labrador Retriever or Miniature Australian Shepherd or Golden Retriever? | 3-4 weeks More often than average. These dog coats tend to be longer, softer, and oilier than short-haired breeds. | 6-8 weeks Rarely. Bathing your dog is beneficial to them in more ways than just one. | 2-3 weeks Frequent. This breed has high-maintenance hair and may require a bath every 2-3 weeks. |
Labrador Retriever vs Miniature Australian Shepherd vs Golden Retriever Personality / Temperament Comparison
Temperament
Which one has a better personality? Which is a better family dog, Labrador Retriever or Miniature Australian Shepherd or Golden Retriever? Labrador Retriever vs Miniature Australian Shepherd vs Golden Retriever behavior/temperament comparison: |
Playful Loving Energetic Alert Intelligent Friendly Responsive Affectionate Loyal Gentle Going Social Cheerful |
Active Loving Protective Intelligent Friendly Affectionate Good-natured |
Intelligent Confident Friendly Reliable Kind Trustworthy |
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Intelligent Rank
Which is the smarter dog? Which is best? Labrador Retriever vs Miniature Australian Shepherd vs Golden Retriever intelligence: | Outstanding: Labrador Retriever is one of the brightest dog breeds. | Smart: The Miniature Australian Shepherd dogs have great intelligence. | Outstanding: Golden Retriever is one of the brightest dog breeds. |
Trainability
Labrador Retriever vs Miniature Australian Shepherd vs Golden Retriever trainability comparison. | Labrador Retriever dogs are very easy to train. | Miniature Australian Shepherd dogs are very easy to train. | Golden Retriever dogs are easy to train. |
Playfulness
Labrador Retriever vs Miniature Australian Shepherd vs Golden Retriever playfulness comparison: | The Labrador Retriever is a highly playful breed. | The Miniature Australian Shepherd is a highly playful breed. | The Golden Retriever is a highly playful breed. |
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: Miniature Australian Shepherd dogs don't like an irregular daily routine, noisy household, and frequent guest visits. | Golden Retriever dogs have an average emotional level and are not the most sensitive dog breed. |
Affection Level
Which is the more affectionate dog breed: Labrador Retriever vs Miniature Australian Shepherd vs Golden Retriever? | Slightly Below Average: Labrador Retriever dogs may seem unfriendly sometimes due to their independence. | Average to High: Miniature Australian Shepherd dogs are highly affectionate dogs. | High: Golden Retriever dogs are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving, and affectionate dogs toward their handlers. |
Social Needs
Labrador Retriever vs Miniature Australian Shepherd vs Golden Retriever social needs comparison: | Labrador Retriever dogs need a lot of social interaction. | Miniature Australian Shepherd dogs are a social breed. | Golden Retriever dogs need a lot of social interaction. |
Barking
Which dog barks more/less: Labrador Retriever vs Miniature Australian Shepherd vs Golden Retriever? | Average: The Labrador Retriever barks occasionally. | Low to Average: The Miniature Australian Shepherd rarely barks. | Low to Average: The Golden Retriever rarely barks. |
Watchdog Ability
Which is the better watchdog: Labrador Retriever or Miniature Australian Shepherd or Golden Retriever? | Labrador Retriever dogs are average watchdogs. | Miniature Australian Shepherd dogs are one of the best watchdogs. | Golden Retriever dogs are average watchdogs. |
Guarding Behavior / Territorial
Which is a better guard dog Labrador Retriever or Miniature Australian Shepherd or Golden Retriever?
Which dog is most likely to protect its owner?
Which is the best dog to use for protection? | Labrador Retriever dogs are average defenders. | Miniature Australian Shepherd dogs are extremely protective guard dogs. | Golden Retriever dogs are average defenders. |
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. | Low 🔽 The Miniature Australian Shepherd has a low chance of biting somebody. | Moderate ⏺ The Golden Retriever has an average chance of biting somebody. |
Bite Force
Which bite is stronger: Labrador Retriever or Miniature Australian Shepherd or Golden Retriever? | Between 200 and 400 PSI ⏺ Labrador Retriever bite force: Ordinary. | Between 200 and 400 PSI ⏺ Miniature Australian Shepherd bite force: Ordinary. | Between 200 and 400 PSI ⏺ Golden Retriever bite force: Ordinary. |
Mouthiness
Which is the better dog? Labrador Retriever vs Miniature Australian Shepherd vs Golden Retriever mouthiness comparison: | Labrador Retriever dogs have a strong tendency to nip, chew, playbite, or herd people. | Miniature Australian Shepherd dogs have a higher than average tendency to nip, chew, playbite, or herd people. | Golden Retriever dogs have a strong tendency to nip, chew, playbite, or herd people. |
Impulse to Wander or Roam
Which dog has a greater roaming instinct? | Labrador Retriever dogs have average wanderlust potential. | Miniature Australian Shepherd dogs are not the biggest explorers. | Golden Retriever dogs tend to escape less than other breeds. |
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. | Miniature Australian Shepherd dogs have a higher impulse to chase and catch something than other dog breeds. | Golden Retriever dogs 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 Labrador Retriever or Miniature Australian Shepherd or Golden Retriever? | 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 Miniature Australian Shepherd indoors. | It is not recommended to keep the Golden Retriever breed in the home. |
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. | Miniature Australian Shepherd dogs adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments. | Golden Retriever dogs adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments. |
Tolerates Being Left Alone
Which dog can be left alone: Labrador Retriever or Miniature Australian Shepherd or Golden Retriever? | Labrador Retriever dogs tend to have separation anxiety when their owners left them alone at home because they bond very closely with them. | Miniature Australian Shepherd dogs 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. | Golden Retriever dogs tend to have separation anxiety when their owners left them alone at home because they bond very closely with them. |
Labrador Retriever vs Miniature Australian Shepherd vs Golden Retriever Good With Comparison
Stranger Friendly
Which dog is more stranger friendly Labrador Retriever or Miniature Australian Shepherd or Golden Retriever? Which dog is more friendly? | Labrador Retriever dogs are very stranger-friendly dogs. | Miniature Australian Shepherd dogs are not the most stranger-friendly dogs. | Golden Retriever dogs are very stranger-friendly dogs. |
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Pet Friendly
Which dog breeds get along well with other animals/pets? | Labrador Retriever dogs are usually friendly towards other pets. | Miniature Australian Shepherd dogs are generally with other pets. | Golden Retriever dogs are usually friendly towards other pets. |
Child Friendly
Which dog is more child/kid friendly Labrador Retriever or Miniature Australian Shepherd or Golden Retriever? | Labrador Retriever dogs are very kid-friendly dogs. | Miniature Australian Shepherd dogs are very kid-friendly dogs. | Golden Retriever dogs are very kid-friendly dogs. |
Cat Friendly
Which dog is more cat friendly Labrador Retriever or Miniature Australian Shepherd or Golden Retriever? | Labrador Retriever dogs are cat-friendly dogs. | Miniature Australian Shepherd dogs are average friendly towards cats. | Golden Retriever dogs are cat-friendly dogs. |
Dog Friendly
Which dog is more dog friendly Labrador Retriever or Miniature Australian Shepherd or Golden Retriever? | Labrador Retriever dogs are very dog-friendly dogs. | Miniature Australian Shepherd dogs are average friendly towards other dogs. | Golden Retriever dogs are very dog-friendly dogs. |
Good For First Time Owners
Which dog is good for the first-time owners: Labrador Retriever vs Miniature Australian Shepherd vs Golden Retriever? |
Yes Labrador Retriever dogs are good for novice owners, due to their easy-going personality. |
Yes Miniature Australian Shepherd dogs are good for novice owners, due to their easy-going personality. |
Yes Golden Retriever 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 Miniature Australian Shepherd 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
Which dog is good for elderly people? | Labrador Retrievers are one of the best breeds for elderly people. | Miniature Australian Shepherds are one of the best breeds for elderly people. | Golden Retrievers are one of the best breeds for elderly people. |
Labrador Retriever vs Miniature Australian Shepherd vs Golden Retriever Health Comparison
Health Issues
Labrador Retriever vs Miniature Australian Shepherd vs Golden Retriever health comparison. Which is the healthier: Labrador Retriever vs Miniature Australian Shepherd vs Golden Retriever? | The Labrador Retriever is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly. | The Miniature Australian Shepherd is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly. | Golden Retrievers are commonly healthy dogs. |
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Health Problems
Which one has more or less genetic/health problems: Labrador Retriever vs Miniature Australian Shepherd vs Golden Retriever? What are the allergies, genetic diseases and concerns for them? Labrador Retriever vs Miniature Australian Shepherd vs Golden Retriever 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 |
Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) Drug Sensitivity Retinal Dysplasia Glaucoma Juvenile Cataracts Iris Coloboma |
Cataracts Hip Dysplasia Allergies Hypothyroidism Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) Von Willebrand's Disease Bloat Epilepsy Elbow Dysplasia Osteochondrosis Dissecans Hemangiosarcoma Osteosarcoma Subvalvular Aortic Stenosis |
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. |
Average The Miniature Australian Shepherd should have a complete physical check-up at least once per year. |
Rare The Golden Retriever should have a complete physical check-up at least every 12-18 months (but preferably once per year). |
Life Expectancy
Labrador Retriever vs Miniature Australian Shepherd vs Golden Retriever lifespan comparison. How long do Labrador Retriever, Miniature Australian Shepherd and Golden Retriever 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 Miniature Australian Shepherd: 11 years |
10-12 years The average lifespan of Golden Retriever: 11 years |
Hypoallergenic
Labrador Retriever vs Miniature Australian Shepherd vs Golden Retriever hypoallergenic comparison. Which dog is hypoallergenic or not? | No See more. | No See more. | No See more. |
Energy Level
Who has more energy a Labrador Retriever or Miniature Australian Shepherd or Golden Retriever?
Labrador Retriever vs Miniature Australian Shepherd vs Golden Retriever energy level comparison: | Labrador Retriever dogs are high-energy dogs. | Miniature Australian Shepherd dogs are high-energy dogs. | Golden Retriever dogs are high-energy dogs. |
Activity Requirement / Exercise Need
Labrador Retriever vs Miniature Australian Shepherd vs Golden Retriever exercise need comparison. Which dog needs more activity? Which dog needs the most exercise: Labrador Retriever or Miniature Australian Shepherd or Golden Retriever? Which dog needs the most walking? Which dog is the laziest? | Labrador Retriever dogs need a lot of exercises. | Miniature Australian Shepherd dogs need a lot of exercises. | Golden Retriever dogs need a lot of exercises. |
Sleeping Need
Which one sleeps the least/most: Labrador Retriever or Miniature Australian Shepherd or Golden Retriever? | Labrador Retriever dogs don't need too much sleep. | Miniature Australian Shepherd dogs don't need too much sleep. | Golden Retriever dogs don't need too much sleep. |
Average daily food consumption
Which dog eats more: Labrador Retriever or Miniature Australian Shepherd or Golden Retriever? | Recommended daily amount: 2.5 to 3 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals. | 1 to 2 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 / Prone to Obesity
Which dog breed is more prone to obesity? Labrador Retriever vs Miniature Australian Shepherd vs Golden Retriever weight gain potential comparison: | High: The Labrador Retriever breed has a strong tendency to be overweight. | Average: The Miniature Australian Shepherd has an average risk for obesity. | High: The Golden Retriever breed has a strong tendency to be overweight. |
Weather and Climate
Which dog is best for hot or cold weather: Labrador Retriever vs Miniature Australian Shepherd vs Golden Retriever? | Tolerates warm and cold weather Dogs that tolerate hot and cold weather are typically those that have a double coat of fur. | Prefers average to cold weather conditions The Miniature Australian Shepherd can adapt to well to cold weather conditions, some dogs even can be a good mountain dog. | Tolerates warm and cold weather Dogs that tolerate hot and cold weather are typically those that have a double coat of fur. |
Stinkiness
Which dog breed smells the least? Which dog smells the most? Which is best, Labrador Retriever vs Miniature Australian Shepherd vs Golden Retriever? | High 🔼 The Labrador Retriever has a high chance of bad smell. | Medium ⏺ The Miniature Australian Shepherd has an average chance of bad smell. | Medium ⏺ The Golden Retriever 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 Miniature Australian Shepherd 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. |
Labrador Retriever vs Miniature Australian Shepherd vs Golden Retriever As a Working Dog Comparison
Service Dog
Which one could be a service dog? | Yes This breed makes good as a service dog. | Not really This breed generally not used 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 Miniature Australian Shepherd or Golden Retriever? Which is better for autism? | Yes This breed makes a perfect therapy dog. | Not really This breed is generally not used as a 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. | Not really They are not typically employed for this type of work, but there may be exceptional cases. | Yes After proper training, they can excel at this kind of work. |
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. | Not really This dog breed is not typically used as a search and rescue dog. | Yes This breed would make an excellent search and rescue dog. |
Boat and Sailor Dog
Which one could be a boat dog: Labrador Retriever vs Miniature Australian Shepherd vs Golden Retriever? | Yes Labrador Retriever breed usually likes being on a boat. | Not really Miniature Australian Shepherd breed usually doesn't like being on a boat. | Yes Golden Retriever 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. | 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. |
Labrador Retriever vs Miniature Australian Shepherd vs Golden Retriever 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 Miniature Australian Shepherd and Golden Retriever have? | 5-10 puppies | 2-6 puppies | 5-10 puppies |
Labrador Retriever vs Miniature Australian Shepherd vs Golden Retriever Recognition Comparison
AKC Group
Which dog is recognized by the AKC? | Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1917 as a Sporting breed. | Not recognized by the American Kennel Club. | Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1925 as a Sporting 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. | Not recognized by FCI. | Recognized by FCI in the Retrievers - Flushing Dogs - Water Dogs group, in the Retrievers 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 |
America's Pet Registry American Canine Association, Inc. |
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 |
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