Labrador Retriever vs German Shepherd Dog
The two published breed profiles side by side: size, energy, grooming, lifespan, temperament ratings and health.
| Labrador Retriever | German Shepherd Dog | |
|---|---|---|
| Size class | Large | Large |
| Adult weight | 24.9 to 36.3 kg | 22.7 to 40.8 kg |
| In pounds | 55 to 80 lb | 50 to 90 lb |
| Adult height | 55 to 62 cm | 56 to 66 cm |
| Energy | Very high | Very high |
| Grooming | Moderate | Moderate |
| Coat | Short double | Medium double |
| Shedding | High | High |
| Lifespan | 11 to 13 years | 12 to 14 years |
| Good with children | Reliably good | Reliably good |
| Good with other dogs | Reliably good | Fine with supervision |
| Country of origin | Great Britain | Germany |
The main differences
- They are about the same size: the Labrador Retriever is 24.9 to 36.3 kg and the German Shepherd Dog 22.7 to 40.8 kg.
- Both have very high energy in their published profiles.
- Grooming is moderate for both.
- The German Shepherd Dog usually lives longer: 12 to 14 years against 11 to 13 years.
Temperament
Labrador Retriever: Good tempered and versatile, valued equally as a family companion, guide dog, service dog and working gundog.
German Shepherd Dog: Steady of nerve, loyal, self-assured, courageous and tractable, never nervous, over-aggressive or shy.
Health worth asking about
Conditions each breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable: it means ask the breeder for the parents' test results.
Labrador Retriever
- Hip dysplasia, which breeding stock should be hip scored by x-ray before mating
- Elbow dysplasia, which breeding stock should be elbow graded by x-ray before mating
- Progressive retinal atrophy (prcd-PRA), detectable by DNA test on both parents
- Exercise induced collapse (EIC), detectable by DNA test on both parents
German Shepherd Dog
- Hip dysplasia, which breeding stock should be hip scored by x-ray before mating
- Elbow dysplasia, which breeding stock should be elbow graded by x-ray before mating
- Degenerative myelopathy (DM), detectable by DNA test on both parents
- Hereditary eye disease screened under the BVA/KC/ISDS Eye Scheme
Common questions
Which is bigger, the Labrador Retriever or the German Shepherd Dog?
They are about the same size. Adults weigh 24.9 to 36.3 kg for the Labrador Retriever and 22.7 to 40.8 kg for the German Shepherd Dog, going by the published breed profiles.
Which lives longer, the Labrador Retriever or the German Shepherd Dog?
The published life expectancy is 11 to 13 years for the Labrador Retriever and 12 to 14 years for the German Shepherd Dog. These are typical ranges across the breed, not a promise about one dog.
Is the Labrador Retriever or the German Shepherd Dog better with children?
They score the same: reliably good with children. Any dog needs supervising around young children, whatever their breed rating.
Related comparisons
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Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.
Sources
Every figure on this page comes from the two breed guides, which cite:
- akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
- fci.be for country of origin
- akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
- fci.be for country of origin