Which is Better between the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Labrador Retriever? A Very Detailed Review.

Curly-Coated Retriever versus Labrador Retriever

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Curly-Coated Retriever Versus Labrador Retriever: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Labrador Retriever? Well, you have come to the right place. In this article, we will provide you a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Curly-Coated Retriever 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 Curly-Coated Retriever and the Labrador Retriever.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Curly-Coated Retriever 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 Curly-Coated Retriever 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 more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Curly-Coated Retriever 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 Curly-Coated Retriever or the Labrador Retriever

Curly-Coated Retriever versus Labrador Retriever: Overview

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

Furthermore, both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Labrador Retriever are Sporting Dogs. This means both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Labrador Retriever 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.

Curly-Coated Retriever versus Labrador Retriever: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Curly-Coated Retriever 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.

Factor Curly-Coated Retriever Labrador Retriever
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 1/5 1/5
Height 1 foot, 11 inches to 2 feet, 3 inches tall at the 21 to 24 inches at the shoulder
Does NOT Drool 4/5 3/5
General Health 2/5 3/5
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 3/5
Easygoing 3/5 1/5
Tolerates Being Alone 3/5 2/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 3/5 5/5
Does NOT Shed 3/5 1/5
Easy To Groom 3/5 5/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 1/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 3/5 2/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 1/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 3/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 4/5 3/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 5/5
Easy To Train 4/5 5/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 2/5 3/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 2/5 1/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 5/5
Intelligence 5/5 5/5
Does NOT chew on things 1/5 1/5
Low Prey Drive 1/5 4/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 1/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 5/5
Weight 65 to 100 pounds 55 to 80 pounds
Life Span 9 to 12 years 10 to 12 years
Average Lifespan 10.5 years 11.0 years
Price Range No Data $850 – $1500
Average Price No Data $1290
Temperament Score 91.7 percent 92.2 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Cord-1 PRA
  • EIC (Exercise Induced Collapse)
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • GSD IIIa
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • 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 162 1
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 41 7

    *Data from dogtime.com, OFA.org (The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals), petcalculator.com, wikipedia.org, ATTS.org (the American Temperament Test Society)

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Curly-Coated Retriever 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 a Curly-Coated Retriever is 77 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a Labrador Retriever is 74 out of 125.

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

    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 Curly-Coated Retriever and the Labrador Retriever so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Labrador Retriever

    Below is a list of where the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Labrador Retriever are most different:

  • Curly-Coated Retrievers have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets. However, Labrador Retrievers have a very low prey drive. This means they get along well with other pets.
  • The Similarities Between the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Labrador Retriever

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

  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Labrador Retriever do not adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Labrador Retriever do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Labrador Retriever have the tendency to develop certain health problems.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Labrador Retriever can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Labrador Retriever can tolerate hot weather.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Labrador Retriever get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Labrador Retriever are very easy to train.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Labrador Retriever have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Labrador Retriever require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Labrador Retriever are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Labrador Retriever get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Labrador Retriever are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Labrador Retriever are prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Labrador Retriever have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Labrador Retriever are very playful.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Curly-Coated Retriever versus Labrador Retriever

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Labrador Retriever.

    Curly-Coated Retrievers weigh 65 to 100 pounds when fully grown. Curly-Coated Retrievers are 1 foot, 11 inches to 2 feet, 3 inches tall at the 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.

    Temperament of the Curly-Coated Retriever Versus the Labrador Retriever

    The Labrador Retriever has a better temperament than the Curly-Coated Retriever.

    This is because the temperament score for the Labrador Retriever is 92.2 percent while the temperament score for the Curly-Coated Retriever is 91.7 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 they 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 91.7 percent, the Curly-Coated Retriever has an above-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 Curly-Coated Retriever and the Labrador Retriever by measuring the temperaments of 181 Curly-Coated Retrievers and 842 Labrador Retrievers.

    The Intelligence of the Curly-Coated Retriever versus the Intelligence of the Labrador Retriever

    Curly-Coated Retriever Labrador Retriever
    Intelligence Rank 41 out of 130 dog breeds 7 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 25 To 40 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 Curly-Coated Retriever has an obedience intelligence rank of 41 out of 130 dog breeds. The Curly-Coated Retriever belongs to the `Average Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Curly-Coated Retrievers tend to learn new commands after 25 to 40 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 Curly-Coated Retriever.

    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 Curly-Coated Retriever 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 Curly-Coated Retriever 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 Curly-Coated Retriever. 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 Curly-Coated Retriever is 162 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Curly-Coated Retriever

    Popularity of Curly-Coated Retriever

    Popularity of Labrador Retriever

    Popularity of Labrador Retriever

    Year Curly-Coated Retriever Popularity Rank Labrador Retriever Popularity Rank
    2013 163 1
    2014 163 1
    2015 151 1
    2016 164 1
    2017 171 1
    2018 162 1
    2019 163 1
    2020 159 1

    Health Problems of Curly-Coated Retriever versus Health Problems of Labrador Retriever

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

    Both the Curly-Coated Retriever 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 Curly-Coated Retriever.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Labrador Retriever than for the Curly-Coated Retriever.

    7 health tests are recommended for Curly-Coated Retriever while 8 tests are recommended for the Labrador Retriever.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Curly-Coated Retrievers and in Labrador Retrievers.

    Curly-Coated Retriever Health Problems

    Curly-Coated Retrievers are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Curly-Coated 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 Curly-Coated Retriever puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Curly-Coated 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 Curly-Coated Retrievers for:

  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Cord-1 PRA
  • EIC (Exercise Induced Collapse)
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • GSD IIIa
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Curly-Coated Retrievers 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 Curly-Coated Retrievers 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 Curly-Coated Retriever Breed is Exercise Induced Collapse problems.

    This is because the Curly-Coated Retriever ranks 1 out of 6 dog breeds for Exercise Induced Collapse problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 145 Curly-Coated Retrievers, 12 of them had Exercise Induced Collapse problems.

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

  • Exercise Induced Collapse problems: Rank 1 out of 6 Dog Breeds
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems: Rank 10 out of 32 Dog Breeds
  • Congenital Cardiac problems: Rank 24 out of 159 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 73 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 84 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 136 out of 144 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 Curly-Coated Retriever and in Labrador Retriever and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Labrador Retriever:

    Disease Curly-Coated Retriever Rank Labrador Retriever Rank
    Exercise Induced Collapse problems 1 out of 6 dog breeds 3 out of 6 dog breeds
    Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems 10 out of 32 dog breeds 16 out of 32 dog breeds
    Congenital Cardiac problems 24 out of 159 dog breeds 66 out of 159 dog breeds
    Hips problems 73 out of 198 dog breeds 103 out of 198 dog breeds
    Eyes problems 84 out of 182 dog breeds 119 out of 182 dog breeds
    Elbow problems 136 out of 144 dog breeds 41 out of 144 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
    Legg-Calve-Perthes problems Not Common 8 out of 40 dog breeds
    Shoulder problems Not Common 13 out of 22 dog breeds
    Dentition Database problems Not Common 25 out of 49 dog breeds
    Advanced Cardiac problems Not Common 29 out of 71 dog breeds
    Degenerative Myelopathy problems Not Common 39 out of 70 dog breeds
    Thyroid problems Not Common 76 out of 115 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.

    Is the Curly-Coated Retriever Better for Apartment Owners than the Labrador Retriever?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Labrador Retrievers do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Which one drools more, the Curly-Coated Retriever or the Labrador Retriever

    Curly-Coated Retrievers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Labrador Retrievers drool moderately.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Curly-Coated Retriever or the Labrador Retriever?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers are OK for new dog owners.

    Labrador Retrievers are OK for new dog owners.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Curly-Coated Retriever versus Labrador Retriever

    Curly-Coated Retrievers can be left alone only for a short time.

    Labrador Retrievers do not like to be left alone.

    Do Curly-Coated Retrievers shed more than Labrador Retrievers?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers shed moderately.

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

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Curly-Coated Retriever or the Labrador Retriever?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers are moderately easy to groom.

    Labrador Retrievers are very easy to groom.

    Do Curly-Coated Retrievers Bark and Howl? What about Labrador Retrievers?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers bark and howl, but not very much.

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

    Can Curly-Coated Retrievers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Labrador Retrievers Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Labrador Retrievers can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Can Curly-Coated Retrievers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Labrador Retrievers Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers can tolerate hot weather.

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

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

    Curly-Coated Retrievers get along very well with other dogs.

    Labrador Retrievers get along very well with other dogs.

    Is the Curly-Coated Retriever Easier to Train than the Labrador Retriever?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers are very easy to train.

    Labrador Retrievers are very easy to train.

    Wanderlust Potential: Curly-Coated Retriever vs. Labrador Retriever

    Curly-Coated Retrievers have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

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

    Are Curly-Coated Retrievers good family dogs? What about Labrador Retrievers?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers 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 Curly-Coated Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers?

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

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

    Does the Curly-Coated Retriever Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Labrador Retriever?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers 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.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Curly-Coated Retriever

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Curly-Coated 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 Curly-Coated Retriever:

  • Airedale Terrier (82 percent match with Curly-Coated Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Labrador Retriever vs Airedale Terrier.
  • English Springer Spaniel (79 percent match with Curly-Coated Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Labrador Retriever vs English Springer Spaniel.
  • Irish Setter (82 percent match with Curly-Coated Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Labrador Retriever vs Irish Setter.
  • 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 Curly-Coated Retriever vs Golden Retriever.
  • Aussiedoodle (73 percent match with Labrador Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Curly-Coated Retriever vs Aussiedoodle.
  • Flat-Coated Retriever (77 percent match with Labrador Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Curly-Coated Retriever vs Flat-Coated Retriever.
  • Shiloh Shepherd (79 percent match with Labrador Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Curly-Coated Retriever vs Shiloh Shepherd.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Curly-Coated Retriever Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Curly-Coated Retriever versus Clumber Spaniel     Curly-Coated Retriever versus West Highland White Terrier     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Icelandic Sheepdog     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Sloughi     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Papillon     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Maltipoo     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Irish Terrier     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Irish Terrier     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Akita     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Mudi     

    Labrador Retriever Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Labrador Retriever versus Hovawart     Labrador Retriever versus Norwegian Lundehund     Labrador Retriever versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier     Labrador Retriever versus Chinook     Labrador Retriever versus Borzoi     Labrador Retriever versus Finnish Lapphund     Labrador Retriever versus Boxerdoodle     Labrador Retriever versus Brussels Griffon     Labrador Retriever versus Dachshund     Labrador Retriever versus Pomsky     

    Conclusion: Curly-Coated Retriever 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 Curly-Coated Retriever and the Labrador Retriever better suits you and your family.