Shetland Sheepdog vs Labrador Retriever – Which one is a better dog breed for you?
"Find similarities and differences between Shetland Sheepdog vs Labrador Retriever"
Compare Shetland Sheepdog and Labrador Retriever. Which is better: Shetland Sheepdog or Labrador Retriever?
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| Name | Shetland Sheepdog | Labrador Retriever |
|---|---|---|
| Origins |  Scotland | England  Canada |
| Group | Pastoral Dogs (Herding Dogs) | Gun Dog |
| Popularity Rank | 24 | 1 |
| Reviews | 5 | 3 |
| Rate |
| Other Names | Miniature Collie, Shetland Collie (obsolete), Dwarf Scotch Shepherd (obsolete), Toonie Dog (obsolete), Sheltie | Labrador, Lab |
|---|---|---|
| Breed Type | Purebred | Purebred |
| AKC Group | Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1911 as a Herding breed. | Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1917 as a Sporting 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. |
| 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 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 Canadian Canine Registry |
| Price | $800-$1000 | $1000-$2000 |
General Appearance - Shetland Sheepdog vs Labrador Retriever
| Size | Medium | Large |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 14-27 pounds (6-12 kg) | Male: 60-75 pounds (27-34kg), Female: 55-70 pounds (25-32 kg) |
| Avg. Weight | 20.5 pounds (9 kg) | Male: 67.5 pounds (30.5 kg), Female: 62.5 pounds (28.5 kg) |
| Height | 13-16 inches (33-41 cm) | Male: 22-24 inches (56-61cm), Female: 21-23 inches (53-58 cm) |
| Avg. Height | 14.5 inches (37 cm) | Male: 23 inches (58.5 cm), Female: 22 inches (55.5 cm) |
Hair & Care - Shetland Sheepdog vs Labrador Retriever
| Coat | Dense | Dense Waterproof Hard Short |
|---|---|---|
| Colors | White Blue Merle Sable Tan Black | Yellow Chocolate Black |
| Grooming | Professional: This breed needs a lot of work to keep in good condition. | Effortless: The Labrador Retriever requires minimal grooming. |
| Shedding Level | Shetland Sheepdogs shed moderately. | Labrador Retrievers shed moderately. |
Characteristics - Shetland Sheepdog vs Labrador Retriever
| Temperament | Affectionate Gentle Lively Responsive Friendly Intelligent Playful | Affectionate Cheerful Friendly Intelligent Loyal Playful Social Alert Energetic Gentle Loving Going Responsive |
|---|---|---|
| Intelligent Rank | Outstanding: Shetland Sheepdog is one of the brightest dog breeds. | Outstanding: Labrador Retriever is one of the brightest dog breeds. |
| Trainability | Shetland Sheepdogs are quite easy to train. | Labrador Retrievers are very easy to train. |
| Playfulness | Shetland Sheepdogs, like any other dog breed, like playing. | The Labrador Retriever is a highly playful breed. |
| Sensitivity Level | Shetland Sheepdogs don't like an irregular daily routine, noisy household and frequent guest visits. | Labrador Retrievers don't like an irregular daily routine, noisy household and frequent guest visits. |
| Affection Level | Shetland Sheepdogs 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 | Shetland Sheepdogs are a social breed. | Labrador Retrievers need a lot of social interaction. |
| Barking | High: The Shetland Sheepdog is a very vocal breed. | Average: The Labrador Retriever barks occasionally. |
| Watchdog Ability | Shetland Sheepdogs are good watchdogs. | Labrador Retrievers are average watchdogs. |
| Territorial | Shetland Sheepdogs are extremely protective guard dogs. | Labrador Retrievers are average defenders. |
| Biting Potential |
Low The Shetland Sheepdog has a low chance of biting somebody. |
Moderate The Labrador Retriever has an average chance of biting somebody. |
| Mouthiness | Shetland Sheepdogs have a low 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 | Shetland Sheepdogs tend to escape less than other breeds. | Labrador Retrievers have average wanderlust potential. |
| Prey Drive | Shetland Sheepdogs 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. |
| Apartment Friendly | Shetland Sheepdogs are not recommended for an apartment lifestyle. | Labrador Retrievers are not recommended for an apartment lifestyle. |
| Adaptability | Shetland Sheepdogs adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments. | Labrador Retrievers adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments. |
| Tolerates Being Left Alone | Shetland Sheepdogs 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. |
Not really In history, this breed was not really used for combat dog. |
Good With - Shetland Sheepdog vs Labrador Retriever
| Stranger Friendly | Shetland Sheepdogs are not the most stranger friendly dogs. | Labrador Retrievers are very stranger friendly dogs. |
|---|---|---|
| Child Friendly | Shetland Sheepdogs are kid-friendly dogs. | Labrador Retrievers are very kid-friendly dogs. |
| Cat Friendly | Shetland Sheepdogs are very cat-friendly dogs. | Labrador Retrievers are cat-friendly dogs. |
| Dog Friendly | Shetland Sheepdogs are dog-friendly dogs. | Labrador Retrievers are very dog-friendly dogs. |
| Office Friendly |
No Shetland Sheepdog is not the best dog breed for office environment. |
No Labrador Retriever is not the best dog breed for office environment. |
| Senior Citizens Friendly | Shetland Sheepdogs are usually recommended for elderly people. | Labrador Retrievers are one of the best breeds for elderly people. |
| Pet Friendly | Shetland Sheepdogs are one of the friendliest dog breeds. | Labrador Retrievers are usually friendly towards other pets. |
| Good For First Time Owners |
No Shetland Sheepdogs 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. |
Yes This breed makes good as a service dog. |
| Therapy Dog |
Yes This breed makes a perfect 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. |
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. |
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 Shetland Sheepdog 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. |
Health Factors - Shetland Sheepdog vs Labrador Retriever
| Health Issues | The Shetland Sheepdog 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 | Cancer Cataracts Collie Eye Anomaly Drug Sensitivity Elbow Dysplasia Epilepsy Haemophilia Heart Problems Hip Dysplasia Hypothyroidism Patellar Luxation Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) Trichiasis 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 |
| Life Expectancy | 12-14 years | 10-12 years |
| Hypoallergenic | No | No |
| Energy Level | Shetland Sheepdogs have a higher energy level than other dog breeds. | Labrador Retrievers are high energy dogs. |
| Exercise Need | Shetland Sheepdogs have an average exercise need. | Labrador Retrievers need a lot of exercises. |
| Sleeping Need | Shetland Sheepdogs 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: 2.5 to 3 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals. |
| Weight Gain Potential | Average. | High: The Labrador Retriever breed has a strong tendency to overweight. |
| Weather & Climate |
Prefers average to cold weather conditions The Shetland Sheepdog can adapt to well to cold weather conditions, some dogs even can be a good mountain dog. | Tolerates warm and cold weather. |
| Stinkiness |
Medium The Shetland Sheepdog has an average chance of bad smell. |
High The Labrador Retriever has a high chance of bad smell. |
| Drooling tendency | The Shetland Sheepdog is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency. | The Labrador Retriever is an average drooler. |
Reproducibility - Shetland Sheepdog vs Labrador Retriever
| Gestation Length | 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. |
| Litter Size | 4-6 puppies | 5-10 puppies |
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Reviews
- Ishan.
Jun 8, 2020, 1:29:43 AM:
Very useful as we are deciding which one to take-a labrador or a shetland sheepdog.