Comparator

Golden Retriever or Labrador Retriever: which breed to choose?

Golden Retriever and Labrador Retriever are two dog breeds often compared by future adopters. Here is a point-by-point comparison to help you decide: size, temperament, purchase price, monthly budget, and compatibility with your lifestyle.

Golden Retriever

Large24–34 kg1,200–1,800 €

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Labrador Retriever

Large25–36 kg1,000–1,600 €

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Key takeaways

Golden Retriever and Labrador Retriever are similar in size (24–34 kg).
Labrador Retriever is cheaper to buy: 1,000–1,600 € vs 1,200–1,800 € for Golden Retriever.
Monthly budget is similar for both breeds: about 170 € per month.
Both breeds need a similar level of daily activity (4/5).
For “Family & children”, both breeds are tied (5/5).
Labrador Retriever is rated higher for “Apartment living”: 3/5 vs 2/5 for Golden Retriever.
Labrador Retriever is rated higher for “First-time owner”: 5/5 vs 3/5 for Golden Retriever.
Golden Retriever lives longer on average: 12–14 years vs 10–12 years for Labrador Retriever.

Our verdict

Choose Golden Retriever if you’re looking for…

Active families : He likes sharing walks, games and regular human presence.
Committed first-time adopters : His cooperative nature makes him easy to handle if daily needs are met.
Households with children : His natural gentleness often makes him a very good companion for family life.

Choose Labrador Retriever if you’re looking for…

Active families : He enjoys group life, walks, and daily interactions.
Committed beginner owners : His cooperation makes training easier if exercise needs are truly met.
People looking for a versatile dog : He adapts well to many companionship, recreational sport, or work projects.

Detailed comparison

	Golden Retriever	Labrador Retriever
General information
Origin	United Kingdom	United Kingdom
FCI group	8	8
Size	Large	Large
Height at withers	51–61 cm	54–57 cm
Weight	24–34 kg	25–36 kg
Coat	Medium-long, dense	Short, dense
Life expectancy	12–14 ans	10–12 ans
Average price	1,200–1,800 €	1,000–1,600 €
Monthly budget	≈ 170 €	≈ 170 €
Compatibility
Family & children	Excellent	Excellent
Daily activity required	High	High
Apartment living	Fairly good	Good
First-time owner	Good	Excellent
Other pets	Very good	Very good
Tolerance for being alone	Limited	Limited
Guarding instinct	Fairly good	Fairly good
Pros & Cons
	Obedient Low escape risk Not destructive Good health Drools little High exercise needs Not very adaptable Barks a lot High-maintenance grooming Sheds a lot	Obedient Low escape risk Very adaptable Not destructive Barks little Robust health Easy grooming Drools little High exercise needs Sheds a lot

Add a third breed Which dog to choose

Golden Retriever or Labrador Retriever: which breed to choose?

Golden Retriever

Labrador Retriever

Key takeaways

Our verdict

Detailed comparison

Golden Retriever

Labrador Retriever

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