Rough Collie vs Golden Retriever vs Alaskan Malamute – Which one is a better dog breed for you?

"Find similarities and differences between Rough Collie vs Golden Retriever vs Alaskan Malamute" Compare Rough Collie and Golden Retriever. Which is better: Rough Collie or Golden Retriever or Alaskan Malamute?

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

Name	Rough Collie	Golden Retriever	Alaskan Malamute
Origins	Scotland	Scotland	United States
All Dog Breeds By Country Of Origin
Group	Pastoral Dogs (Herding Dogs)	Gun Dog	Sled Dogs
Popularity Rank	40	3	59
Reviews	2	2	2
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Other Names	Collie, Scottish Collie, Long-Haired Collie, English Collie, Lassie Dog	Yellow Retriever, Golden Flat Coat	Mal, Mally
Breed Type	Purebred	Purebred	Purebred
AKC Group	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1885 as a Herding breed.	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1925 as a Sporting breed.	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1935 as a Working breed.
FCI Group	Recognized by FCI in the Sheepdogs and Cattledogs (except Swiss Cattledogs) group, in the Sheepdogs section.	Recognized by FCI in the Retrievers - Flushing Dogs - Water Dogs group, in the Retrievers section.	Recognized by FCI in the Spitz and primitive types group, in the Nordic Sledge Dogs 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	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. Continental Kennel Club National Kennel Club New Zealand Kennel Club United Kennel Club
Price	$400-$600	$1000-$2000	$1200-$1500

General Appearance - Rough Collie vs Golden Retriever vs Alaskan Malamute

Size	Large	Large	Large
Weight	Male: 60-70 pounds (27-32 kg), Female: 53-65 pounds (24-29 kg)	Male: 60-80 pounds (27-36 kg), Female: 55-70 pounds (25-32 kg)	Male: 80 - 95 pounds (36 - 43 kg), Female: 70 - 85 pounds (32 - 38 kg)
Avg. Weight	Male: 67.5 pounds (30.5 kg), Female: 57.5 pounds (26 kg)	Male: 70 pounds (31.5 kg), Female: 62.5 pounds (28.5 kg)	Male: 80 - 95 pounds (36 - 43 kg), Female: 70 - 85 pounds (32 - 38 kg)
Height	Male: 24–26 inch (60–66 cm), Female: 22–24 inch (55–61 cm)	Male: 22-24 inches (56-61cm), Female: 20-22 inches (51-56 cm)	Male: 24 - 26 inches (61 - 66 cm), Female: 22 - 24 inches (56 - 61 cm)
Avg. Height	Male: 25 inches (62.5 cm), Female: 23 inches (58.5 cm)	Male: 23 inches (58.5 cm), Female: 21 inches (53.5 cm)	Male: 24 - 26 inches (61 - 66 cm), Female: 22 - 24 inches (56 - 61 cm)

Hair & Care - Rough Collie vs Golden Retriever vs Alaskan Malamute

Coat	Rough Soft Thick Straight Harsh Furry	Silky Wavy Shiny Straight	Dense Rough Thick Weather-resistant
Colors	Black & White & Tan Blue & Merle Blue & Merle & White Sable Sable & White White White & Merle Merle	Golden Light	Red Gray White Black
Grooming	Professional: This breed needs a lot of work to keep in good condition.	Average: The Golden Retriever requires average grooming effort.	Average: The Alaskan Malamute requires average grooming effort.
Shedding Level	Rough Collies are heavy shedders.	Golden Retrievers shed moderately.	Alaskan Malamutes are heavy shedders.

Characteristics - Rough Collie vs Golden Retriever vs Alaskan Malamute

Temperament	Friendly Gentle Intelligent Loyal Protective Responsive Social Hard working Docile Obedient Elegant Herding	Confident Intelligent Reliable Friendly Kind Trustworthy	Affectionate Dignified Loyal Devoted Friendly Playful
Intelligent Rank	Very smart: Rough Collie is an excellent dog breed.	Outstanding: Golden Retriever is one of the brightest dog breeds.	Average: Alaskan Malamute's has average obedience intelligence.
Trainability	Rough Collies are very easy to train.	Golden Retrievers are easy to train.	Alaskan Malamutes are easy to train.
Playfulness	The Rough Collie is a playful breed.	The Golden Retriever is a highly playful breed.	The Alaskan Malamute is a playful breed.
Sensitivity Level	Rough Collies don't like an irregular daily routine, noisy household and frequent guest visits.	Golden Retrievers have an average emotional level and are not the most sensitive dog breed.	They are a little bit more sensitive than other dog breeds.
Affection Level	Rough Collies are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate dogs toward their handlers.	Golden Retrievers are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate dogs toward their handlers.	Alaskan Malamutes are average dogs regarding their affection level.
Social Needs	Rough Collies need a lot of social interaction.	Golden Retrievers need a lot of social interaction.	Alaskan Malamutes are a social breed.
Barking	Low to Average: The Rough Collie rarely barks.	Low to Average: The Golden Retriever rarely barks.	Low to Average: The Alaskan Malamute rarely barks.
Watchdog Ability	Rough Collies are one of the best watchdogs.	Golden Retrievers are average watchdogs.	Alaskan Malamutes are one of the best watchdogs.
Territorial	Rough Collies are extremely protective guard dogs.	Golden Retrievers are average defenders.	Alaskan Malamutes are extremely protective guard dogs.
Biting Potential	Low The Rough Collie has a low chance of biting somebody.	Moderate The Golden Retriever has an average chance of biting somebody.	Moderate The Alaskan Malamute has an average chance of biting somebody.
Mouthiness	Rough Collies have an average tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.	Golden Retrievers have a strong tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.	Alaskan Malamutes have an average tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.
Impulse to Wander or Roam	Rough Collies are not the biggest explorers.	Golden Retrievers tend to escape less than other breeds.	Alaskan Malamutes have high wanderlust potential, which means that this breed has a strong desire for exploring the world.
Prey Drive	Rough Collies have a higher impulse to chase and catch something than other dog breeds.	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.	Alaskan Malamutes have a higher impulse to chase and catch something than other dog breeds.
Apartment Friendly	Rough Collies are not the best choice for an apartment lifestyle, but they don't mind being inside if you walk them several times every day.	Golden Retrievers are not recommended for an apartment lifestyle.	Alaskan Malamutes are not apartment-friendly dogs.
Adaptability	Rough Collies adapt well to lifestyle changes and different living environments.	Golden Retrievers adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments.	Alaskan Malamutes adapt to lifestyle changes and different living environments quite okay usually.
Tolerates Being Left Alone	Rough Collies tend to have separation anxiety when their owners left them alone at home because they bond very closely with them.	Golden Retrievers tend to have separation anxiety when their owners left them alone at home because they bond very closely with them.	Alaskan Malamutes 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.	Yes In history, this breed was unfortunately used for combat dog.

Good With - Rough Collie vs Golden Retriever vs Alaskan Malamute

Stranger Friendly	Rough Collies are stranger friendly dogs.	Golden Retrievers are very stranger friendly dogs.	Alaskan Malamutes are stranger friendly dogs.
Child Friendly	Rough Collies are very kid-friendly dogs.	Golden Retrievers are very kid-friendly dogs.	Alaskan Malamutes are kid-friendly dogs.
Cat Friendly	Rough Collies are very cat-friendly dogs.	Golden Retrievers are cat-friendly dogs.	Alaskan Malamutes are not cat-friendly dogs.
Dog Friendly	Rough Collies are dog-friendly dogs.	Golden Retrievers are very dog-friendly dogs.	Alaskan Malamutes are very dog-friendly dogs.
Office Friendly	No Rough Collie is not the best dog breed for office environment.	Yes Golden Retriever is one of the best dog breeds for office environment	No Alaskan Malamute is not the best dog breed for office environment.
Senior Citizens Friendly	Rough Collies are one of the best breeds for elderly people.	Golden Retrievers are one of the best breeds for elderly people.	Alaskan Malamutes are usually recommended for elderly people.
Pet Friendly	Rough Collies are one of the friendliest dog breeds.	Golden Retrievers are usually friendly towards other pets.	Alaskan Malamutes do best when they’re the only pet at the family.
Good For First Time Owners	No Rough Collies are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.	Yes Golden Retrievers are good for novice owners, due to their easy-going personality.	No Alaskan Malamutes are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.
Service Dog	Yes This breed makes good as a service dog.	Yes This breed makes good as a service dog.	Not really This breed generally not used as a service dog.
Therapy Dog	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	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.	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.
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.	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.
Boat Dog	Not really Rough Collie breed usually doesn't like being on a boat.	Yes Golden Retriever breed usually likes being on a boat.	Not really Alaskan Malamute breed usually doesn't like 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 - Rough Collie vs Golden Retriever vs Alaskan Malamute

Health Issues	The Rough Collie is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly.	Golden Retrievers are commonly healthy dogs.	The Alaskan Malamute is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly.
Health Problems	Collie Eye Anomaly Gray Collie Syndrome Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) Drug Sensitivity Hip Dysplasia	Allergies Bloat Cataracts Elbow Dysplasia Epilepsy Hemangiosarcoma Hip Dysplasia Hypothyroidism Osteochondrosis Dissecans Osteosarcoma Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) Subvalvular Aortic Stenosis Von Willebrand's Disease	Cataracts Chondrodysplasia Hemeralopia Hip Dysplasia Hypothyroidism Inherited Polyneuropathy
Life Expectancy	14-16 years	10-12 years	12-15 years
Calculate dog years to human years by breed here
Hypoallergenic	No	No	No
Energy Level	Rough Collies have an average energy level, so if you live a semi-active life, this breed can be a good choice for you.	Golden Retrievers are high energy dogs.	Alaskan Malamutes are high energy dogs.
Exercise Need	Rough Collies need quite a lot of exercise.	Golden Retrievers need a lot of exercises.	Alaskan Malamutes need quite a lot of exercise.
Sleeping Need	Rough Collies sleep 12-14 hours a day as an average dog and they're not considered as a lazy breed.	Golden Retrievers don't need too much sleep.	Alaskan Malamutes 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.	3 to 4 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.	Recommended daily amount: 4 to 5 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.
Weight Gain Potential	Average.	High: The Golden Retriever breed has a strong tendency to overweight.	Average.
Weather & Climate	Prefers average to cold weather conditions The Rough Collie can adapt to well to cold weather conditions, some dogs even can be a good mountain dog.	Tolerates warm and cold weather.	Prefers cold weather The Alaskan Malamute can adapt well to harsh weather conditions, and also can be a good mountain dog.
Stinkiness	Medium The Rough Collie has an average chance of bad smell.	Medium The Golden Retriever has an average chance of bad smell.	Low The Alaskan Malamute has a low chance of bad smell.
Drooling tendency	The Rough Collie is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency.	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 Alaskan Malamute is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency.

Reproducibility - Rough Collie vs Golden Retriever vs Alaskan Malamute

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	5-10 puppies	4-10 puppies
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