Labrador Retriever vs Poodle
Compare the Labrador Retriever to the Poodle. Use the tool below to compare temperament, size, personality, maintenance requirements, and everything else between Labrador 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 Labrador Retriever and Poodle are great with children.
- Grooming - The Labrador Retriever is very easy to groom. The Poodle has high grooming requirements.
- Barking - The Labrador Retriever bark/howls frequently. The Poodle has an average level of barking.
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| Breed Name | Labrador 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 | Canada | Germany |
| Origin Year | 1700 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 90°F | 35°F to 80°F |
| Barks/Howls | ||
| Exercise Needs | ||
| Energy Level | High | High |
| Exercise Required | High | Medium-High |
| Top Running Speed | 20 mph | 32 mph |
| Strength | High | Medium |
| Grooming Needs | ||
| Coat Maintenance | Medium | High |
| Shedding | High | None |
| Dander | Medium | None |
| Drool Amount | Medium | 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 | Labrador 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 | Below Average | Below Average |
| Follow Commands | Average | Average |
| Fighting | Very Low | Below Average |
| Guarding | Very Low | Very Low |
| Herding | Very Low | Average |
| Hunting | High | High |
| Protection | Very Low | Below Average |
| Remove Vermin | Below Average | Very Low |
| Sledding | Below Average | Very Low |
| Watch | Below Average | Average |
| Breed Name | Labrador Retriever | Poodle |
| Lifespan | ||
| Lifespan | 10-12 yrs. | 12-15 yrs. |
| Common Health Issues | ||
| Acute Moist Dermatitis | Yes | No |
| Addison's Disease | No | Yes |
| Allergies | No | Yes |
| Bloat | Yes | Yes |
| Canine Atrial Septal Defect (asd) | No | Yes |
| Cataracts | Yes | Yes |
| Cold Tail | Yes | No |
| Cushing's Syndrome | No | Yes |
| Ear Infections | Yes | Yes |
| Elbow Dysplasia | Yes | No |
| Epilepsy | Yes | Yes |
| Hip Dysplasia | Yes | Yes |
| Hypothyroidism | No | Yes |
| Legg-perthes Disease | No | Yes |
| Myopathy | Yes | No |
| Neonatal Encephalopathy (news) | No | Yes |
| Optic Nerve Hypoplasia | No | Yes |
| Osteochondrosis Dissecans | Yes | No |
| Patellar Luxation | No | Yes |
| Premature Graying | No | Yes |
| Progressive Retinal Atrophy | Yes | Yes |
| Runny Eyes | No | Yes |
| Sebaceous Adenitis | No | Yes |
| Tricuspid Valve Dysplasia | Yes | No |
| Von Willebrand's Disease | No | Yes |
| Breed Name | Labrador 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 | ||
| Straight | Yes | No |
| Rough | No | Yes |
| Wavy | No | Yes |
| Coat Length(s) | ||
| Short | Yes | No |
| Long | No | Yes |
| Coat Color(s) | ||
| Black | Yes | Yes |
| Chocolate | Yes | No |
| Yellow | Yes | No |
| Apricot | 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 |