Labradors and Golden Retrievers are very alike: big, friendly, easy-to-train family dogs that live 10 to 12 years and shed a lot. The differences are smaller but matter day to day. Labradors are more energetic and much more food-driven, so weight is their big health risk. Goldens have a longer coat that needs more grooming and carry a high risk of cancer.
Labrador vs Golden Retriever at a glance
| Labrador Retriever | Golden Retriever | |
|---|---|---|
| Adult weight | 25 to 36 kg | 25 to 34 kg |
| Lifespan | 10 to 12 years | 10 to 12 years |
| Daily exercise | About 60 minutes | About 60 minutes |
| Energy | High | Moderate-High |
| Shedding | High | High |
| Professional grooming | About every 8 weeks ($671 a year) | About every 6 weeks ($874 a year) |
| Trainability | 5 out of 5 | 5 out of 5 |
| Apartment living | Challenging | Fair |
| Families with kids | Excellent | Excellent |
| First-time owners | Excellent | Excellent |
| Separation anxiety | High | Moderate |
| First year cost | $7,251 | $7,909 |
| Cost each year after | $2,751 | $2,909 |
| Lifetime cost | $36,328 | $38,406 |
| Main health risks | Obesity, Hip Dysplasia, Elbow Dysplasia | Hip Dysplasia, Elbow Dysplasia, Hemangiosarcoma |
Figures come from our breed profiles of the Labrador Retriever and Golden Retriever, where each one is explained and sourced. Costs are estimates in Australian dollars: the first year includes buying the puppy; yearly costs cover food, grooming and routine vet care; lifetime is our standard estimate. Ratings are ThinkPets ratings (how we rate).
Choose a Labrador if…
- You want a dog that’s easy to groom. The short coat sheds heavily but needs little more than brushing.
- Your household is active and can give it at least an hour of exercise a day, plus play.
- You’re disciplined about food. Labradors are unusually hungry, and many carry a gene that weakens the feeling of being full.
- You want slightly lower costs each year.
Choose a Golden Retriever if…
- You want a slightly gentler, calmer version of the retriever, with the same easy temperament.
- You don’t mind more grooming: the longer coat needs regular brushing and a professional groom about every six weeks.
- You’ll keep up with vet checks as it ages, because cancer is the most common cause of death in the breed.
- You’re happy to pay a bit more each year, mostly for grooming.
The health difference that matters most
For a Labrador, it’s weight. About a quarter of Labradors carry a variant of the POMC gene linked to stronger hunger, and Labradors kept lean live longer than heavier ones, as explained on our Labrador profile. For a Golden Retriever, it’s cancer: in the Golden Retriever Lifetime Study, about three-quarters of deaths so far have been cancer-related, explained on our Golden Retriever profile. Both breeds are prone to hip and elbow dysplasia, so ask the breeder for hip and elbow scores for both parents.
Shedding: neither is a low-maintenance coat
Both breeds have a double coat and shed heavily, especially in spring and autumn. The Labrador’s short coat is quicker to brush; the Golden’s longer coat tangles and holds more dirt, which is why it costs more to groom.
Quick answers
Is a Labrador or a Golden Retriever better with kids?
Both are rated excellent with children. Goldens are often a little gentler; Labradors are often more boisterous when young. Either needs training and supervision with small children because of its size.
Which sheds more?
Both shed heavily. The Golden’s longer coat is more noticeable around the house and needs more brushing.
Which lives longer?
Both typically live 10 to 12 years. Keeping either breed lean is one of the best ways to help it reach the upper end of that range.
Which costs more to own?
In our estimates a Golden Retriever costs a little more, mainly because of grooming. The table shows first-year, yearly and lifetime figures.
Can either live in an apartment?
Not easily. Both are large, active dogs that do best in a house with a yard and an hour or more of exercise a day.
Read the full profiles: Labrador · Golden Retriever. Comparing other breeds? See Cavoodle vs Groodle, try our breed match quiz or see what popular breeds cost.