Golden Retriever vs Poodle
Compare the Golden Retriever to the Poodle. Use the tool below to compare temperament, size, personality, maintenance requirements, and everything else between Golden Retrievers and Poodles.
Quick Summary
- Owner Experience - Both breeds are good choices for new or inexperienced owners, but the Poodle is better suited for new owners.
- Children - Both the Golden Retriever and Poodle are great with children.
- Grooming - The Golden Retriever requires moderate grooming, but the Poodle has high grooming needs.
- Barking - The Golden Retriever has an above-average tendency to bark, while the Poodle is an average barker.
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| Breed Name | Golden Retriever | Poodle |
| General Details | ||
| Breed Type | Purebred | Purebred |
| Is Hypoallergenic | No | Yes |
| Lifespan | 10-12 yrs. | 12-15 yrs. |
| Height | 21-24 in. | 15-24 in. |
| Weight | 55-80 lb | 45-70 lb |
| Intelligence | High | High |
| History | ||
| Origin Country | UK (Scotland) | Germany |
| Origin Year | 1865 AD | 1200 AD |
| Temperament | ||
| Overall Friendliness | ||
| Family Friendly | ||
| Kid Friendly | ||
| Pet Friendly | ||
| Stranger Friendly | ||
| Personality | ||
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| Living Environment | ||
| Apartment | Yes | Yes |
| Indoor | Yes | Yes |
| Small Yard | Yes | Yes |
| Medium Yard | Yes | Yes |
| Large Yard | Yes | Yes |
| Temperature Tolerance ¹ | 30°F to 80°F | 35°F to 80°F |
| Barks/Howls | ||
| Exercise Needs | ||
| Energy Level | High | High |
| Exercise Required | Medium-High | Medium-High |
| Top Running Speed | 25 mph | 32 mph |
| Strength | High | Medium |
| Grooming Needs | ||
| Coat Maintenance | Medium-High | High |
| Shedding | Medium-High | None |
| Dander | Medium | None |
| Drool Amount | None | None |
¹This is estimated min/max temperature range for a healthy adult dog. Dogs that live indoors, puppies, seniors, unwell dogs, and/or dogs with improperly groomed coats may overheat sooner and get cold more quickly.
| Breed Name | Golden Retriever | Poodle |
| Breed Mentality | ||
| Dominant/Alpha | No | No |
| Family/Pack | Yes | Yes |
| Independent | No | No |
| Breed Focus | ||
| Distracted Easily | No | Yes |
| Average | No | No |
| Focused & Patient | Yes | Yes |
| Breed Instincts | ||
| Aggression | Below Average | Below Average |
| Burrow/Digging | Below Average | Very Low |
| Chasing | High | Below Average |
| Follow Commands | High | Average |
| Fighting | Below Average | Below Average |
| Guarding | Below Average | Very Low |
| Herding | Below Average | Average |
| Hunting | High | High |
| Protection | Below Average | Below Average |
| Remove Vermin | Below Average | Very Low |
| Sledding | Below Average | Very Low |
| Watch | Below Average | Average |
| Breed Name | Golden Retriever | Poodle |
| Lifespan | ||
| Lifespan | 10-12 yrs. | 12-15 yrs. |
| Common Health Issues | ||
| Addison's Disease | No | Yes |
| Allergies | Yes | Yes |
| Bloat | Yes | Yes |
| Canine Atrial Septal Defect (asd) | No | Yes |
| Cataracts | Yes | Yes |
| Cushing's Syndrome | No | Yes |
| Ear Infections | No | Yes |
| Elbow Dysplasia | Yes | No |
| Epilepsy | Yes | Yes |
| Hemangiosarcoma | Yes | No |
| Hip Dysplasia | Yes | Yes |
| Hypothyroidism | Yes | Yes |
| Legg-perthes Disease | No | Yes |
| Neonatal Encephalopathy (news) | No | Yes |
| Optic Nerve Hypoplasia | No | Yes |
| Osteochondrosis Dissecans | Yes | No |
| Osteosarcoma | Yes | No |
| Patellar Luxation | No | Yes |
| Premature Graying | No | Yes |
| Progressive Retinal Atrophy | Yes | Yes |
| Runny Eyes | No | Yes |
| Sebaceous Adenitis | No | Yes |
| Subvalvular Aortic Stenosis | Yes | No |
| Von Willebrand's Disease | Yes | Yes |
| Breed Name | Golden Retriever | Poodle |
| Coat | ||
| Fur | Yes | No |
| Hair | No | Yes |
| Coat Type | ||
| Double Coat | Yes | No |
| Corded Coat | No | Yes |
| Single Coat | No | Yes |
| Coat Texture | ||
| Wavy | Yes | Yes |
| Rough | No | Yes |
| Coat Length(s) | ||
| Medium | Yes | No |
| Long | No | Yes |
| Coat Color(s) | ||
| Dark Golden | Yes | No |
| Gold | Yes | No |
| Light Golden | Yes | No |
| Apricot | No | Yes |
| Black | No | Yes |
| Black & Apricot | No | Yes |
| Black & Brown | No | Yes |
| Black & Cream | No | Yes |
| Black & Gray | No | Yes |
| Black & Red | No | Yes |
| Black & Silver | No | Yes |
| Black & Tan | No | Yes |
| Black & White | No | Yes |
| Blue | No | Yes |
| Blue & White | No | Yes |
| Brown | No | Yes |
| Brown & Apricot | No | Yes |
| Brown & White | No | Yes |
| Cafe Au Lait | No | Yes |
| Cream | No | Yes |
| Cream & White | No | Yes |
| Gray | No | Yes |
| Gray & White | No | Yes |
| Red | No | Yes |
| Red & Apricot | No | Yes |
| Red & White | No | Yes |
| Silver | No | Yes |
| Silver Beige | No | Yes |
| White | No | Yes |
| White & Apricot | No | Yes |
| White & Silver | No | Yes |