Differences and Similarities between the Collie and the Labrador Retriever.

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Collie Versus Labrador Retriever: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Collie and the Labrador Retriever? Well, you have come to the right place. Because in this article, we will provide you with a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Collie and the Labrador Retriever better suits you.

We will provide you a detailed discussion and comparison of dog attributes such as intelligence, price, general health, friendliness, etc, for both the Collie and the Labrador Retriever.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Collie and the Labrador Retriever is better suited for new dog owners, for owners with kids, for owners that live in apartments, for owners with dog allergies, etc.

Importantly, we did some analysis and calculation and we obtained a number that we call the Better-Pet Score™ for both the Collie and for the Labrador Retriever. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you with more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Collie and the Labrador Retriever.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Collie or the Labrador Retriever.

Collie versus Labrador Retriever

Collie versus Labrador Retriever: Overview

A very important difference between the Collie and the Labrador Retriever is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Collie is a medium-sized dog while the Labrador Retriever is a large-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Collie belongs to the Herding Dogs group. Herding Dogs were bred for moving livestock, including sheep, cattle, and even reindeer. Herding dogs work closely with their human shepherds, and their natural intelligence and responsiveness make them highly trainable. They have high levels of energy, which needs to be channeled properly to prevent destructive behavior. Herding breeds are protective of their people and property and make excellent watchdogs. Their intelligence, agility, and activity level make them well suited to dog sports.

On the other hand, the Labrador Retriever belongs to the Sporting Dogs group. Sporting Dogs were bred to help hunters catch and retrieve feathered game. Some sporting dog breeds such as Retrievers, which were built for swimming, were bred to hunt waterfowl in water. Whereas sporting dog breeds like setters, spaniels, and pointing breeds were bred to hunt quail, pheasant, and other game birds nest on grasslands. Many Sporting Group breeds have thick, water-repellent coats that protect them from harsh hunting conditions.

Collie versus Labrador Retriever: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Collie to the Labrador Retriever based on different important factors such as Price, Health, Kid-friendliness, etc.

When a dog breed scores higher for a factor than the other dog breed, the box of the breed that scores higher is shaded green and the box of the breed that scores lower is shaded red. When there is no difference between the breeds for a particular factor then the box is shaded gray for both pets. Also, when the factor is not important in picking a pet, or when the factor cannot be compared between two pets, the box for the factor is shaded gray for both pets

Most of the factors in the table for each dog breed are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5. “1” means “worst”, and “5” means “best”.

However, some factors such as “Price”, “Average Lifespan”, etc. cannot be on a scale of 1 to 5, so they are not on a scale of 1 to 5 in the comparison table.

Later in this article, we will further explain each factor as it applies to the Collie and the Labrador Retriever

Factor Collie Labrador Retriever
Does NOT Drool 5/5 3/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 5/5 3/5
Life Span 10 to 14 years 10 to 12 years
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 2/5
Easy To Groom 2/5 5/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 4/5 1/5
Height 22 to 26 inches all at the shoulder 21 to 24 inches at the shoulder
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 3/5 1/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 3/5
General Health 3/5 3/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 1/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 1/5
NOT Rambunctious 3/5 1/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 3/5 1/5
Good For Novice Owners 4/5 3/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 3/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 5/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 4/5 5/5
Easy To Train 4/5 5/5
Intelligence 4/5 5/5
Low Prey Drive 2/5 4/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 2/5 2/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 5/5
Easygoing 1/5 1/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 5/5
Does NOT Shed 1/5 1/5
Weight 50 to 70 pounds 55 to 80 pounds
Average Lifespan 12.0 years 11.0 years
Average Price $1480 $1290
Price Range $1000 – $1800 $850 – $1500
Temperament Score 80.8 percent 92.2 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Clear By Parentage
  • Dermatomyositis
  • Multiple Drug Sensitivity
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Centronuclear Myopathy
  • D Locus (Dilute) DNA Test
  • EIC (Exercise Induced Collapse)
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • prcd-PRA DNA Test
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 37 1
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 16 7

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Collie in the table (that is, `Ease of Grooming` score + `General Health` score + `Calmness` score + …etc) and we compared it to the corresponding total score for the Labrador Retriever. We call these total scores the Better-Pet Scores, as we mentioned earlier. We called this score the Better-Pet score because the better dog breed will have a higher score. This is because the pet will the higher score will have minimal needs and be easier to have as a pet.

    The Better-Pet score for the Collie is 83 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Labrador Retriever is 74 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Collie is a better pet than the Labrador Retriever. So, you should get the Collie!

    Although we have done our best to analyze these two dog breeds in a very unbiased way, however, we will like to let you know that there are some dog attributes that cannot be assigned a number for comparison. We cannot put a number on how cute a dog breed is, for example. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

    Also, the dog breed that best suits you will depend on your peculiar lifestyle, your taste, and your priorities, which we do not know. So, for you to decide on which breed is right for you, read through the rest of the article to further understand both the Collie and the Labrador Retriever so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    Collie versus Labrador Retriever

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Collie and the Labrador Retriever

    Below is a list of where the Collie and the Labrador Retriever are most different:

  • Collies require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom. However, Labrador Retrievers are very easy to groom.
  • Collies do the things they do with very low vigor. They are not forceful. However, Labrador Retrievers do things with high intensity. They can be very forceful.
  • The Similarities Between the Collie and the Labrador Retriever

    The Collie and the Labrador Retriever are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Collie and the Labrador Retriever are most similar:

  • Both the Collie and the Labrador Retriever do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Collie and the Labrador Retriever are good for new dog owners.
  • Both the Collie and the Labrador Retriever can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the Collie and the Labrador Retriever get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Collie and the Labrador Retriever are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Collie and the Labrador Retriever are very easy to train.
  • Both the Collie and the Labrador Retriever are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Collie and the Labrador Retriever are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the Collie and the Labrador Retriever are very playful.
  • Both the Collie and the Labrador Retriever are easily disturbed by noise in their environments. They are sensitive to human tone. They will understand the tone of your voice when you try to correct their behaviors with a firm tone.
  • Both the Collie and the Labrador Retriever are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Collie and the Labrador Retriever get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Collie and the Labrador Retriever shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Collie versus Labrador Retriever

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Collie and the Labrador Retriever.

    Collies weigh 50 to 70 pounds when fully grown. Collies are 22 to 26 inches all at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Labrador Retrievers weigh 55 to 80 pounds when fully grown. Labrador Retrievers are 21 to 24 inches at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Lifespan of Collie versus Labrador Retriever

    The lifespan of Collies is between 10 to 14 years. The average lifespan of Collies is 12.0 years.

    The lifespan of Labrador Retrievers is between 10 to 12 years. The average lifespan of Labrador Retrievers is 11.0 years.

    Collies live longer than Labrador Retrievers.

    Collie versus Labrador Retriever

    Temperament of the Labrador Retriever Versus the Collie

    The Labrador Retriever has a better temperament than the Collie.

    This is because the temperament score for the Labrador Retriever is 92.2 percent while the temperament score for the Collie is 80.8 percent, according to the American Temperament Test Society (ATTS).

    The American Temperament Test Society (ATTS) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide fair and objective evaluations of the temperaments of dog breeds.

    Dog breeds with low temperament scores tend to show unprovoked aggression, they easily panic without quickly recovering from the panic, and they tend to avoid people. However, dog breeds with high temperament scores are not aggressive and are not shy. Also, these dogs are generally friendly and are protective of their owners.

    The average temperament score across all dog breeds (over 250 breeds) is 83.7 percent.

    With its temperament score of 80.8 percent, the Collie has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 92.2 percent, the Labrador Retriever has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Collie and the Labrador Retriever by measuring the temperaments of 896 Collies and 842 Labrador Retrievers.

    Price of Collie versus Price of Labrador Retriever

    The average price of the Collie puppy is $1480. The price of the Collie typically ranges from $1000 – $1800. However, the price of a Collie can be as low as $300 and as high as $15000. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 356 Collie puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Labrador Retriever puppy is $1290. The price of the Labrador Retriever typically ranges from $850 – $1500. However, the price of the Labrador Retriever can be as low as $100 and as high as $5000. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 1413 Labrador Retriever puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Collie is more expensive than the Labrador Retriever.

    Collie Labrador Retriever
    Average Price $1480 $1290
    Price Range $1000 to $1800 $850 to $1500

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Collie and Labrador Retriever. For different price points, the charts show how many Collie puppies or how many Labrador Retriever puppies are listed for sale at those price points.

    A breakdown of the prices of Collies. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Collies. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Labrador Retrievers

    A breakdown of the prices of Labrador Retrievers

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Collie puppy or the Labrador Retriever puppy. This includes if health screening tests have been performed on the puppy, if the puppy is from a famous pedigree, the US State where the puppy is bred, etc.

    Nevertheless, when looking to buy a puppy, look at buying a puppy only from well-established breeders that breed puppies primarily for the love of dogs, and secondarily for profit. Do not buy a puppy from a puppy mill. Puppy mills mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.

    You may also consider adopting a dog instead of buying a dog.

    Collie versus Labrador Retriever

    Adopting the Collie versus Adopting the Labrador Retriever

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Collies and many Labrador Retrievers are currently available for adoption.

    These adorable and cute dogs are waiting in dog shelters hoping that someday someone will rescue them. Furthermore, adoption costs are lesser than the cost of a new puppy. Dog adoption costs are usually around $300. In addition to your local dog shelter, a good place online to see dogs that are available for adoption is petfinder.com.

    Below is an adorable Male Collie named Humphrey that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Collies like Humphrey on pefinder.com.

    Also, like Collies, Labrador Retrievers are also available for adoption. For example, Yukon Cornelius is a Male Labrador Retriever that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Labrador Retrievers like Yukon Cornelius that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

    The Collie and the Labrador Retriever can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

    Rory Charlie`O is the name of another Collie (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.

    Also, Abner is an adorable Male Labrador Retriever on petfinder.com that you can adopt.

    Collies and Labrador Retrievers are always available for adoption. Images from petfinder.com

    You can find more Collies and Labrador Retrievers that are available for adoption on petfinder.

    The Intelligence of the Collie versus the Intelligence of the Labrador Retriever

    Collie Labrador Retriever
    Intelligence Rank 16 out of 130 dog breeds 7 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 5 To 15 Repetitions Tend To Learn New Commands After Fewer Than 5 Repetitions

    Professor Stanley Coren, the famous psychology/neuropsychological professor and, dog lover/trainer measured and ranked the intelligence of about 130 different dog breeds.

    According to Prof. Stanley Coren, the total intelligence that a dog demonstrates is the addition of three types of intelligence. These intelligence types are:

  • Instinctive Intelligence: This is the natural intelligence a dog has because of what the dog was bred for. This type of intelligence comes from instinct. For example, dog breeds that were bred for guarding will have high `guarding` instinctive intelligence, while dog breeds that were bred for hunting will what high `hunting` instinctive intelligence. However, you cannot compare the intelligence of dog breeds based on instinctive intelligence because such a comparison will not make sense.
  • Adaptive Intelligence (learning and problem-solving ability): This indicates what a dog can learn to do for himself or herself. It includes learning and benefiting from experience with his environment, solving new problems, and so forth. Adaptive intelligence is specific to each dog, and not breed specific. Thus, two dogs can have remarkably different levels of adaptive intelligence even if they are of the same breed.
  • Working/Obedience Intelligence: This intelligence is the closest to what we might call school-learning ability and it is based upon what the dog can learn to do when instructed by humans. Importantly, different dog breeds have different learning abilities. Also, science has shown that some dog breeds can learn faster than some other breeds. This means certain dog breeds tend to have higher working/obedience intelligence than some other breeds. Dogs with high Working/Obedience Intelligence are smart and easy to train.
  • Prof. Coren showed that the Working/Obedience Intelligence of different dog breeds can be measured reliably. Thus, he was able to rank different dog breeds based on their Working/Obedience Intelligence.

    This is important because according to Prof. Coren, 51 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from its genes while 49 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from the dog`s environmental circumstances.

    To rank the intelligence of dog breeds, Prof. Coren employed the help of 208 dog obedience judges in North America to fill out a detailed survey on dog obedience. This number represented more than half of all of these judges in North America at the time. He also employed 63 veterinarians and 14 guard dog experts to collect data on the personality of different dog breeds.

    Prof. Coren found that the Collie has an obedience intelligence rank of 16 out of 130 dog breeds. The Collie belongs to the `Excellent Working Dogs` category. This means that Collies tend to learn new commands after 5 to 15 repetitions.

    The Labrador Retriever has an obedience intelligence rank of 7 out of 130 dog breeds. The Labrador Retriever belongs to the `Brightest Dogs` category. This means that Labrador Retrievers tend to learn new commands after fewer than 5 repetitions.

    The Labrador Retriever is more intelligent than the Collie.

    However, Prof. Coren noted that a dog should not be judged based on its intelligence alone, that other factors such as sociability, adorability, and compatibility with the owner are other very important factors that new dog owners need to consider when deciding on a new dog.

    The Popularity of Collie versus Popularity of Labrador Retriever

    Every year, the American Kennel Club (AKC) publishes information on how popular a dog breed is in that particular year. The AKC gets the popularity information of a breed from how many dogs of that breed the owners register with the AKC every year. The AKC collects this data for about 200 dog breeds. The AKC collects this data for purebred dogs only(no mixed or hybrid dogs).

    The graphs and the table below show the popularity of the Collie and the Labrador Retriever over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Labrador Retriever is more popular with dog owners than the Collie. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Labrador Retriever is 1 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Collie is 37 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Collie

    Popularity of Collie

    Popularity of Labrador Retriever

    Popularity of Labrador Retriever

    Year Collie Popularity Rank Labrador Retriever Popularity Rank
    2013 35 1
    2014 36 1
    2015 36 1
    2016 37 1
    2017 40 1
    2018 38 1
    2019 38 1
    2020 40 1

    Health Problems of Collie versus Health Problems of Labrador Retriever

    Every dog breed has its own set of health problems that it has a tendency to develop. There is nothing like a perfect dog breed.

    Both the Collie and the Labrador Retriever are prone to certain genetic health conditions. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is the organization that keeps track of health problems in dogs. Based on the extensive records that the OFA keeps, the OFA knows what health problems each dog breed is naturally prone to develop. Hence, the OFA recommends which health screening that breeders should perform on a dog breed to make sure that the breeders won`t breed `defective` dog parents that can pass down defective genes to their puppy offspring.

    The more health problems a dog breed is prone to develop, the more health tests the OFA will recommend for that dog breed.

    Based on our review of OFA records, we found that the Labrador Retriever is prone to more genetic health problems than the Collie.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Labrador Retriever than for the Collie.

    4 health tests are recommended for Collie while 8 tests are recommended for the Labrador Retriever.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Collies and in Labrador Retrievers.

    Collie Health Problems

    Collies are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Collie puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Collie puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Collie breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Collies for:

  • Clear By Parentage
  • Dermatomyositis
  • Multiple Drug Sensitivity
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Collies here.

    Labrador Retriever Health Problems

    Labrador Retrievers are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Labrador Retriever puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Labrador Retriever puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Labrador Retriever breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Labrador Retrievers for:

  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Centronuclear Myopathy
  • D Locus (Dilute) DNA Test
  • EIC (Exercise Induced Collapse)
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • prcd-PRA DNA Test
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Labrador Retrievers here.

    More Discussions on Health Problems in Collies and Labrador Retrievers

    Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Collie Breed is Collie Eye Anomaly problems.

    This is because the Collie ranks 1 out of 7 dog breeds for Collie Eye Anomaly problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 114 Collies, 16 of them had Collie Eye Anomaly problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Collies, and how common these diseases are in Collies relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Collie Eye Anomaly problems: Rank 1 out of 7 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 1 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Multiple Drug Resistance (Mdr1) problems: Rank 1 out of 7 Dog Breeds
  • Dentition Database problems: Rank 13 out of 49 Dog Breeds
  • Degenerative Myelopathy problems: Rank 16 out of 70 Dog Breeds
  • Thyroid problems: Rank 65 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 107 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 182 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Labrador Retriever Breed is Achromatopsia Day Blindness problems.

    This is because the Labrador Retriever ranks 1 out of 1 dog breeds for Achromatopsia Day Blindness problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 87 Labrador Retrievers, 0 of them had Achromatopsia Day Blindness problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Labrador Retrievers, and how common these diseases are in Labrador Retrievers relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Achromatopsia Day Blindness problems: Rank 1 out of 1 Dog Breeds
  • D Locus problems: Rank 1 out of 3 Dog Breeds
  • Hereditary Nasal Parakeratosis problems: Rank 1 out of 1 Dog Breeds
  • Copper Toxicosis problems: Rank 2 out of 2 Dog Breeds
  • Exercise Induced Collapse problems: Rank 3 out of 6 Dog Breeds
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes problems: Rank 8 out of 40 Dog Breeds
  • Shoulder problems: Rank 13 out of 22 Dog Breeds
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems: Rank 16 out of 32 Dog Breeds
  • Dentition Database problems: Rank 25 out of 49 Dog Breeds
  • Advanced Cardiac problems: Rank 29 out of 71 Dog Breeds
  • Degenerative Myelopathy problems: Rank 39 out of 70 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 41 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Congenital Cardiac problems: Rank 66 out of 159 Dog Breeds
  • Thyroid problems: Rank 76 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 78 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 103 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 119 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • The table below lists the common health problems in Collie and in Labrador Retriever and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Collie and the Labrador Retriever:

    Disease Collie Rank Labrador Retriever Rank
    Collie Eye Anomaly problems 1 out of 7 dog breeds Not Common
    Eyes problems 1 out of 182 dog breeds 119 out of 182 dog breeds
    Multiple Drug Resistance (Mdr1) problems 1 out of 7 dog breeds Not Common
    Dentition Database problems 13 out of 49 dog breeds 25 out of 49 dog breeds
    Degenerative Myelopathy problems 16 out of 70 dog breeds 39 out of 70 dog breeds
    Thyroid problems 65 out of 115 dog breeds 76 out of 115 dog breeds
    Elbow problems 107 out of 144 dog breeds 41 out of 144 dog breeds
    Hips problems 182 out of 198 dog breeds 103 out of 198 dog breeds
    Achromatopsia Day Blindness problems Not Common 1 out of 1 dog breeds
    D Locus problems Not Common 1 out of 3 dog breeds
    Hereditary Nasal Parakeratosis problems Not Common 1 out of 1 dog breeds
    Copper Toxicosis problems Not Common 2 out of 2 dog breeds
    Exercise Induced Collapse problems Not Common 3 out of 6 dog breeds
    Legg-Calve-Perthes problems Not Common 8 out of 40 dog breeds
    Shoulder problems Not Common 13 out of 22 dog breeds
    Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems Not Common 16 out of 32 dog breeds
    Advanced Cardiac problems Not Common 29 out of 71 dog breeds
    Congenital Cardiac problems Not Common 66 out of 159 dog breeds
    Patella problems Not Common 78 out of 145 dog breeds

    *To learn more about each of these diseases, go to OFA.org and search for the disease.

    Again, most of these health problems can be prevented through health screening. Responsible breeders screen male and female dog parents for genetic problems. These breeders will only breed dogs that are free of genetic defects. That way, there is little or no chance that their puppies will grow up to have genetic health problems. Always ask a breeder for the list of health tests the breeder screens their dogs for before buying a puppy from such a breeder.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Collie versus Labrador Retriever

    Collies do not like to be left alone.

    Labrador Retrievers do not like to be left alone.

    Do Collies shed more than Labrador Retrievers?

    Collies shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Labrador Retrievers shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Which one drools more, the Collie or the Labrador Retriever

    Collies do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Labrador Retrievers drool moderately.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Collie or the Labrador Retriever?

    Collies require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    Labrador Retrievers are very easy to groom.

    Does the Collie Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Labrador Retriever?

    Collies have a high prey drive. They have the tendency to chase after smaller animals and pets. They do not get along well with other pets.

    Labrador Retrievers have a very low prey drive. This means they get won`t chase after smaller pets. They tend to get along well with other pets.

    Do Collies Bark and Howl? What about Labrador Retrievers?

    Collies are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Labrador Retrievers are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Can Collies Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Labrador Retrievers Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Collies can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Labrador Retrievers can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Collie vs. Labrador Retriever

    Collies do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.

    Labrador Retrievers have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.

    Can Collies Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Labrador Retrievers Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Collies can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Labrador Retrievers can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Collie or the Labrador Retriever?

    Collies get along very well with other dogs.

    Labrador Retrievers get along very well with other dogs.

    Are Collies good family dogs? What about Labrador Retrievers?

    Collies are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Labrador Retrievers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Collies and Labrador Retrievers?

    Collies get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Labrador Retrievers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Is the Collie Easier to Train than the Labrador Retriever?

    Collies are very easy to train.

    Labrador Retrievers are very easy to train.

    Is the Collie Better for Apartment Owners than the Labrador Retriever?

    Collies adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Labrador Retrievers do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Collie or the Labrador Retriever?

    Collies are very good for new dog owners.

    Labrador Retrievers are OK for new dog owners.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Collie

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Collie that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Collie:

  • Keeshond (84 percent match with Collie). Here is our comparison of the Labrador Retriever vs Keeshond.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Labrador Retriever

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Labrador Retriever that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Labrador Retriever:

  • Golden Retriever (75 percent match with Labrador Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Collie vs Golden Retriever.
  • Aussiedoodle (73 percent match with Labrador Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Collie vs Aussiedoodle.
  • Flat-Coated Retriever (77 percent match with Labrador Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Collie vs Flat-Coated Retriever.
  • Shiloh Shepherd (79 percent match with Labrador Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Collie vs Shiloh Shepherd.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the Collie and how the Labrador Retriever compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Collie and of the Labrador Retriever to other breeds:

    Collie Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Collie versus Welsh Springer Spaniel     Collie versus American Water Spaniel     Collie versus American Foxhound     Collie versus Glen of Imaal Terrier     Collie versus Tibetan Terrier     Collie versus Icelandic Sheepdog     Collie versus Black Russian Terrier     Collie versus German Shorthaired Pointer     Collie versus Black Mouth Cur     Collie versus Patterdale Terrier     Collie versus Patterdale Terrier     Collie versus Yorkipoo     Collie versus Spinone Italiano     Collie versus Pyrenean Shepherd     Collie versus Keeshond     Collie versus Norwich Terrier     Collie versus Bloodhound     Collie versus Valley Bulldog     Collie versus Bracco Italiano     Collie versus Wirehaired Pointing Griffon     Collie versus Curly-Coated Retriever     Collie versus Braque du Bourbonnais     Collie versus Chinese Shar-Pei     Collie versus Tibetan Terrier     Collie versus Bouvier des Flandres     

    Labrador Retriever Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Labrador Retriever versus Chorkie     Labrador Retriever versus Scottish Terrier     Labrador Retriever versus Spinone Italiano     Labrador Retriever versus Belgian Malinois     Labrador Retriever versus American Water Spaniel     Labrador Retriever versus Spanish Mastiff     Labrador Retriever versus Doberman Pinscher     Labrador Retriever versus Cockapoo     Labrador Retriever versus Bedlington Terrier     Labrador Retriever versus Doberman Pinscher     Labrador Retriever versus Shiloh Shepherd     Labrador Retriever versus Westiepoo     Labrador Retriever versus Briard     Labrador Retriever versus Afador     Labrador Retriever versus Australian Kelpie     Labrador Retriever versus Bearded Collie     Labrador Retriever versus Belgian Sheepdog     Labrador Retriever versus Treeing Walker Coonhound     Labrador Retriever versus Coton de Tulear     Labrador Retriever versus Chow Chow     Labrador Retriever versus Icelandic Sheepdog     Labrador Retriever versus Chorkie     Labrador Retriever versus Tibetan Terrier     Labrador Retriever versus Belgian Tervuren     Labrador Retriever versus Bloodhound     

    Conclusion: Collie versus Labrador Retriever. Which One is a Better Pet?

    In summary, there is nothing like a better dog breed or a worse dog breed. The important question to ask is which dog breed better matches your interests and lifestyle. We hope our discussion above will help you in deciding which dog breed between the Collie and the Labrador Retriever better suits you and your family.