Shetland Sheepdog vs Miniature Australian Shepherd vs Labrador Retriever – Which one is a better dog breed for you?

"Find similarities and differences between Shetland Sheepdog vs Miniature Australian Shepherd vs Labrador Retriever" Compare Shetland Sheepdog and Miniature Australian Shepherd. Which is better: Shetland Sheepdog or Miniature Australian Shepherd or Labrador Retriever?

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

Name	Shetland Sheepdog	Miniature Australian Shepherd	Labrador Retriever
Origins	Scotland	United States	England Canada
All Dog Breeds By Country Of Origin
Group	Pastoral Dogs (Herding Dogs)	Pastoral Dogs (Herding Dogs)	Gun Dog
Popularity Rank	24	381	1
Reviews	5	1	3
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Other Names	Miniature Collie, Shetland Collie (obsolete), Dwarf Scotch Shepherd (obsolete), Toonie Dog (obsolete), Sheltie	Mini Australian Shepherd North American Miniature Australian Shepherd, Mini Australian Shepherd, Miniature Aussie Shepherd, North American Shepherd, Mini Aussie, Mini Aussie Shepherd	Labrador, Lab
Breed Type	Purebred	Purebred	Purebred
AKC Group	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1911 as a Herding breed.	Not recognized by the American Kennel Club.	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.	Not recognized by FCI.	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	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 Canadian Canine Registry
Price	$800-$1000	$1000-$2000	$1000-$2000

General Appearance - Shetland Sheepdog vs Miniature Australian Shepherd vs Labrador Retriever

Size	Medium	Medium	Large
Weight	14-27 pounds (6-12 kg)	20–40 pounds (9-18 kg)	Male: 60-75 pounds (27-34kg), Female: 55-70 pounds (25-32 kg)
Avg. Weight	20.5 pounds (9 kg)	30 pounds (13.5 kg)	Male: 67.5 pounds (30.5 kg), Female: 62.5 pounds (28.5 kg)
Height	13-16 inches (33-41 cm)	13–18 inches (33-46 cm)	Male: 22-24 inches (56-61cm), Female: 21-23 inches (53-58 cm)
Avg. Height	14.5 inches (37 cm)	15.5 inches (39.5 cm)	Male: 23 inches (58.5 cm), Female: 22 inches (55.5 cm)

Hair & Care - Shetland Sheepdog vs Miniature Australian Shepherd vs Labrador Retriever

Coat	Dense	Feathered	Dense Waterproof Hard Short
Colors	White Blue Merle Sable Tan Black	Blue Merle Red Merle Red White & Black & Tan	Yellow Chocolate Black
Grooming	Professional: This breed needs a lot of work to keep in good condition.	Average: The Miniature Australian Shepherd requires average grooming effort.	Effortless: The Labrador Retriever requires minimal grooming.
Shedding Level	Shetland Sheepdogs shed moderately.	Miniature Australian Shepherds shed moderately.	Labrador Retrievers shed moderately.

Characteristics - Shetland Sheepdog vs Miniature Australian Shepherd vs Labrador Retriever

Temperament	Affectionate Gentle Lively Responsive Friendly Intelligent Playful	Active Friendly Intelligent Loving Affectionate Good-natured Protective	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.	Smart: Miniature Australian Shepherd's has great intelligence.	Outstanding: Labrador Retriever is one of the brightest dog breeds.
Trainability	Shetland Sheepdogs are quite easy to train.	Miniature Australian Shepherds are very easy to train.	Labrador Retrievers are very easy to train.
Playfulness	Shetland Sheepdogs, like any other dog breed, like playing.	The Miniature Australian Shepherd is a highly playful breed.	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.	Miniature Australian Shepherds 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.	Miniature Australian Shepherds are highly affectionate dogs.	Labrador Retrievers may seem unfriendly sometimes due to their independence.
Social Needs	Shetland Sheepdogs are a social breed.	Miniature Australian Shepherds are a social breed.	Labrador Retrievers need a lot of social interaction.
Barking	High: The Shetland Sheepdog is a very vocal breed.	Low to Average: The Miniature Australian Shepherd rarely barks.	Average: The Labrador Retriever barks occasionally.
Watchdog Ability	Shetland Sheepdogs are good watchdogs.	Miniature Australian Shepherds are one of the best watchdogs.	Labrador Retrievers are average watchdogs.
Territorial	Shetland Sheepdogs are extremely protective guard dogs.	Miniature Australian Shepherds are extremely protective guard dogs.	Labrador Retrievers are average defenders.
Biting Potential	Low The Shetland Sheepdog has a low chance of biting somebody.	Low The Miniature Australian Shepherd 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.	Miniature Australian Shepherds have a higher than 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	Shetland Sheepdogs tend to escape less than other breeds.	Miniature Australian Shepherds are not the biggest explorers.	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.	Miniature Australian Shepherds have a higher impulse to chase and catch something than other dog breeds.	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.	Miniature Australian Shepherds 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	Shetland Sheepdogs adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments.	Miniature Australian Shepherds 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.	Miniature Australian Shepherds 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.	Not really In history, this breed was not really used for combat dog.

Good With - Shetland Sheepdog vs Miniature Australian Shepherd vs Labrador Retriever

Stranger Friendly	Shetland Sheepdogs are not the most stranger friendly dogs.	Miniature Australian Shepherds are not the most stranger friendly dogs.	Labrador Retrievers are very stranger friendly dogs.
Child Friendly	Shetland Sheepdogs are kid-friendly dogs.	Miniature Australian Shepherds are very kid-friendly dogs.	Labrador Retrievers are very kid-friendly dogs.
Cat Friendly	Shetland Sheepdogs are very cat-friendly dogs.	Miniature Australian Shepherds are average friendly towards cats.	Labrador Retrievers are cat-friendly dogs.
Dog Friendly	Shetland Sheepdogs are dog-friendly dogs.	Miniature Australian Shepherds are average friendly towards other dogs.	Labrador Retrievers are very dog-friendly dogs.
Office Friendly	No Shetland Sheepdog is not the best dog breed for office environment.	No Miniature Australian Shepherd 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.	Miniature Australian Shepherds are one of the best breeds 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.	Miniature Australian Shepherds are generally with other pets.	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 Miniature Australian Shepherds 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	Yes This breed makes a perfect 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 Shetland Sheepdog breed usually doesn't like being on a boat.	Not really Miniature Australian Shepherd 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 - Shetland Sheepdog vs Miniature Australian Shepherd 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 Miniature Australian Shepherd 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	Drug Sensitivity Glaucoma Iris Coloboma Juvenile Cataracts Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) Retinal 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	10-13 years	10-12 years
Calculate dog years to human years by breed here
Hypoallergenic	No	No	No
Energy Level	Shetland Sheepdogs have a higher energy level than other dog breeds.	Miniature Australian Shepherds are high energy dogs.	Labrador Retrievers are high energy dogs.
Exercise Need	Shetland Sheepdogs have an average exercise need.	Miniature Australian Shepherds need a lot of exercises.	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.	Miniature Australian Shepherds don't need too much sleep.	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.	1 to 2 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.	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.	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.
Stinkiness	Medium The Shetland Sheepdog has an average chance of bad smell.	Medium The Miniature Australian Shepherd 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 Miniature Australian Shepherd is an average drooler.	The Labrador Retriever is an average drooler.

Reproducibility - Shetland Sheepdog vs Miniature Australian Shepherd 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	4-6 puppies	2-6 puppies	5-10 puppies
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