Labrador Retriever vs Pointer
Compare the Labrador Retriever to the Pointer. Use the tool below to compare temperament, size, personality, maintenance requirements, and everything else between Labrador Retrievers and Pointers.
Quick Summary
- Owner Experience - The Labrador Retriever is a good choice for new owners, whereas the Pointer is not recommended for new/inexperienced owners.
- Children - Both the Labrador Retriever and Pointer are great with children.
- Grooming - Both the Labrador Retriever and Pointer are very low maintenance and easy to groom.
- Barking - Both breeds will bark frequently, but the Labrador Retriever has the highest tendency to bark between the two.
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| Breed Name | Labrador Retriever | Pointer |
| General Details | ||
| Breed Type | Purebred | Purebred |
| Is Hypoallergenic | No | No |
| Lifespan | 10-12 yrs. | 12-15 yrs. |
| Height | 21-24 in. | 23-28 in. |
| Weight | 55-80 lb | 45-75 lb |
| Intelligence | High | High |
| History | ||
| Origin Country | Canada | United Kingdom |
| Origin Year | 1700 AD | 1650 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 90°F | 45°F to 80°F |
| Barks/Howls | ||
| Exercise Needs | ||
| Energy Level | High | High |
| Exercise Required | High | High |
| Top Running Speed | 20 mph | 24 mph |
| Strength | High | High |
| Grooming Needs | ||
| Coat Maintenance | Medium | Low |
| Shedding | High | Low |
| Dander | Medium | Low |
| Drool Amount | Medium | Low |
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 | Labrador Retriever | Pointer |
| Breed Mentality | ||
| Dominant/Alpha | No | No |
| Family/Pack | Yes | Yes |
| Independent | No | Yes |
| Breed Focus | ||
| Distracted Easily | No | Yes |
| Average | No | No |
| Focused & Patient | Yes | No |
| Breed Instincts | ||
| Aggression | Below Average | Below Average |
| Burrow/Digging | Below Average | Below Average |
| Chasing | Below Average | Below Average |
| Follow Commands | Average | Below Average |
| Fighting | Very Low | Below Average |
| Guarding | Very Low | Below Average |
| Herding | Very Low | Below Average |
| Hunting | High | High |
| Protection | Very Low | Below Average |
| Remove Vermin | Below Average | Below Average |
| Sledding | Below Average | Very Low |
| Watch | Below Average | Below Average |
| Breed Name | Labrador Retriever | Pointer |
| Lifespan | ||
| Lifespan | 10-12 yrs. | 12-15 yrs. |
| Common Health Issues | ||
| Acute Moist Dermatitis | Yes | No |
| Bloat | Yes | No |
| Cataracts | Yes | No |
| Cold Tail | Yes | No |
| Ear Infections | Yes | No |
| Elbow Dysplasia | Yes | No |
| Epilepsy | Yes | No |
| Hip Dysplasia | Yes | No |
| Myopathy | Yes | No |
| Osteochondrosis Dissecans | Yes | No |
| Progressive Retinal Atrophy | Yes | No |
| Tricuspid Valve Dysplasia | Yes | No |
| Breed Name | Labrador Retriever | Pointer |
| Coat | ||
| Fur | Yes | No |
| Hair | No | Yes |
| Coat Type | ||
| Double Coat | Yes | No |
| Single Coat | No | Yes |
| Smooth Coat | No | Yes |
| Coat Texture | ||
| Straight | Yes | Yes |
| Coat Length(s) | ||
| Short | Yes | Yes |
| Coat Color(s) | ||
| Black | Yes | Yes |
| Chocolate | Yes | No |
| Yellow | Yes | No |
| Black&white | No | Yes |
| Lemon | No | Yes |
| Lemon&white | No | Yes |
| Liver | No | Yes |
| Liver&white | No | Yes |
| Orange | No | Yes |
| Orange&white | No | Yes |