Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Dutch Shepherd Versus Labrador Retriever: Introduction
- Dutch Shepherd versus Labrador Retriever: Overview
- Dutch Shepherd versus Labrador Retriever: Comparison Table
- The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Dutch Shepherd and the Labrador Retriever
- The Similarities Between the Dutch Shepherd and the Labrador Retriever
- Size (Weight and Height) of Dutch Shepherd versus Labrador Retriever
- Temperament of the Labrador Retriever Versus the Dutch Shepherd
- Price of Dutch Shepherd versus Price of Labrador Retriever
- Adopting the Dutch Shepherd versus Adopting the Labrador Retriever
- Tolerates Being Alone: Dutch Shepherd versus Labrador Retriever
- Which one drools more, the Dutch Shepherd or the Labrador Retriever
- Do Dutch Shepherds Bark and Howl? What about Labrador Retrievers?
- Wanderlust Potential: Dutch Shepherd vs. Labrador Retriever
- Which is Easier to Groom, the Dutch Shepherd or the Labrador Retriever?
- Does the Dutch Shepherd Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Labrador Retriever?
- Can Dutch Shepherds Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Labrador Retrievers Tolerate Cold Weather?
- Can Dutch Shepherds Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Labrador Retrievers Tolerate Hot Weather?
- Are Dutch Shepherds good family dogs? What about Labrador Retrievers?
- How Kid-friendly are Dutch Shepherds and Labrador Retrievers?
- Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Dutch Shepherd or the Labrador Retriever?
- Do Dutch Shepherds shed more than Labrador Retrievers?
- Is the Dutch Shepherd Easier to Train than the Labrador Retriever?
- Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Dutch Shepherd
- Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Labrador Retriever
- Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You
- Conclusion: Dutch Shepherd versus Labrador Retriever. Which One is a Better Pet?
Dutch Shepherd Versus Labrador Retriever: Introduction
Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Dutch Shepherd 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 Dutch Shepherd 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 Dutch Shepherd and the Labrador Retriever.
Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Dutch Shepherd 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 Dutch Shepherd 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 Dutch Shepherd 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 Dutch Shepherd or the Labrador Retriever
Dutch Shepherd versus Labrador Retriever: Overview
A very important difference between the Dutch Shepherd and the Labrador Retriever is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Dutch Shepherd is a medium-sized dog while the Labrador Retriever is a large-sized dog.
Furthermore, the Dutch Shepherd 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.
Dutch Shepherd versus Labrador Retriever: Comparison Table
The table below compares the Dutch Shepherd 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 | Dutch Shepherd | Labrador Retriever |
|---|---|---|
| Life Span | 12 to 15 years | 10 to 12 years |
| Tolerates Being Alone | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| Friendly Toward Strangers | 2/5 | 5/5 |
| Does NOT Drool | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| Potential NOT to Gain Weight | 4/5 | 1/5 |
| Does NOT chew on things | 4/5 | 1/5 |
| Does NOT Bark or Howl | 4/5 | 2/5 |
| Tendency NOT to Wander | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| Height | 21 to 25 inches | 21 to 24 inches at the shoulder |
| Adapts Well To Apartment Living | 3/5 | 1/5 |
| Good For Novice Owners | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| Easygoing | 3/5 | 1/5 |
| Easy To Groom | 3/5 | 5/5 |
| Low Prey Drive | 3/5 | 4/5 |
| Calmness/ Low Vigor | 3/5 | 1/5 |
| Tolerates Cold Weather | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| Tolerates Hot Weather | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| Affectionate With Family | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| Kid-Friendly | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| Dog Friendly | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| Does NOT Shed | 2/5 | 1/5 |
| General Health | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| Intelligence | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| NOT Rambunctious | 2/5 | 1/5 |
| Minimal Exercise Needs | 2/5 | 1/5 |
| Potential For Playfulness | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| Easy To Train | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Weight | 50 to 70 pounds | 55 to 80 pounds |
| Average Lifespan | 13.5 years | 11.0 years |
| Average Price | $1590 | $1290 |
| Price Range | $900 – $2000 | $850 – $1500 |
| Temperament Score | 96.2 percent | 92.2 percent |
| Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests | No Data |
|
*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 Dutch Shepherd 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 Dutch Shepherd is 85 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a Labrador Retriever is 74 out of 125.
Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Dutch Shepherd is a better pet than the Labrador Retriever. So, you should get the Dutch Shepherd!
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 Dutch Shepherd 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 Dutch Shepherd and the Labrador Retriever
Below is a list of where the Dutch Shepherd and the Labrador Retriever are most different:
The Similarities Between the Dutch Shepherd and the Labrador Retriever
The Dutch Shepherd and the Labrador Retriever are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Dutch Shepherd and the Labrador Retriever are most similar:
Size (Weight and Height) of Dutch Shepherd versus Labrador Retriever
Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Dutch Shepherd and the Labrador Retriever.
Dutch Shepherds weigh 50 to 70 pounds when fully grown. Dutch Shepherds are 21 to 25 inches 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 Labrador Retriever Versus the Dutch Shepherd
The Dutch Shepherd has a better temperament than the Labrador Retriever.
This is because the temperament score for the Dutch Shepherd is 96.2 percent while the temperament score for the Labrador Retriever is 92.2 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 96.2 percent, the Dutch Shepherd 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 Dutch Shepherd and the Labrador Retriever by measuring the temperaments of 26 Dutch Shepherds and 842 Labrador Retrievers.
Price of Dutch Shepherd versus Price of Labrador Retriever
The average price of the Dutch Shepherd puppy is $1590. The price of the Dutch Shepherd typically ranges from $900 – $2000. However, the price of a Dutch Shepherd can be as low as $100 and as high as $5000. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 116 Dutch Shepherd 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 a 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 Dutch Shepherd is more expensive than the Labrador Retriever.
| Dutch Shepherd | Labrador Retriever | |
|---|---|---|
| Average Price | $1590 | $1290 |
| Price Range | $900 to $2000 | $850 to $1500 |
The charts below show the price distribution for the Dutch Shepherd and Labrador Retriever. For different price points, the charts show how many Dutch Shepherd puppies or how many Labrador Retriever puppies are listed for sale at those price points.
A breakdown of the prices of Dutch Shepherds. The typical price range is shaded Green.
A breakdown of the prices of Labrador Retrievers
Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Dutch Shepherd 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 from 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 one of those puppy mills that mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.
You may also consider adopting a dog instead of buying a dog.
Adopting the Dutch Shepherd versus Adopting the Labrador Retriever
You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Dutch Shepherds 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 Dutch Shepherd named Saber that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Dutch Shepherds like Saber on pefinder.com.
Also, like Dutch Shepherds, Labrador Retrievers are also available for adoption. For example, Brozart is a Male Labrador Retriever that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Labrador Retrievers like Brozart that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.
Mercy – Located In Connecticut is the name of another Dutch Shepherd (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.
You can find more Dutch Shepherds and Labrador Retrievers that are available for adoption on petfinder.
Tolerates Being Alone: Dutch Shepherd versus Labrador Retriever
Dutch Shepherds do not like to be left alone.
Labrador Retrievers do not like to be left alone.
Which one drools more, the Dutch Shepherd or the Labrador Retriever
Dutch Shepherds do have a very low tendency to drool.
Labrador Retrievers drool moderately.
Do Dutch Shepherds Bark and Howl? What about Labrador Retrievers?
Dutch Shepherds are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.
Labrador Retrievers are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
Wanderlust Potential: Dutch Shepherd vs. Labrador Retriever
Dutch Shepherds 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.
Is the Dutch Shepherd Better for Apartment Owners than the Labrador Retriever?
Dutch Shepherds adapt moderately well to apartment living.
Labrador Retrievers do not adapt well to apartment living.
Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Dutch Shepherd or the Labrador Retriever?
Dutch Shepherds are OK for new dog owners.
Labrador Retrievers are OK for new dog owners.
Which is Easier to Groom, the Dutch Shepherd or the Labrador Retriever?
Dutch Shepherds are moderately easy to groom.
Labrador Retrievers are very easy to groom.
Does the Dutch Shepherd Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Labrador Retriever?
Dutch Shepherds have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and 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.
Can Dutch Shepherds Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Labrador Retrievers Tolerate Cold Weather?
Dutch Shepherds can very well tolerate cold weather.
Labrador Retrievers can moderately tolerate cold weather.
Can Dutch Shepherds Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Labrador Retrievers Tolerate Hot Weather?
Dutch Shepherds can tolerate hot weather.
Labrador Retrievers can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.
Are Dutch Shepherds good family dogs? What about Labrador Retrievers?
Dutch Shepherds 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 Dutch Shepherds and Labrador Retrievers?
Dutch Shepherds get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
Labrador Retrievers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Dutch Shepherd or the Labrador Retriever?
Dutch Shepherds get along very well with other dogs.
Labrador Retrievers get along very well with other dogs.
Do Dutch Shepherds shed more than Labrador Retrievers?
Dutch Shepherds shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
Labrador Retrievers shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
Is the Dutch Shepherd Easier to Train than the Labrador Retriever?
Dutch Shepherds are very easy to train.
Labrador Retrievers are very easy to train.
Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Dutch Shepherd
Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Dutch Shepherd 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 Dutch Shepherd:
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:
Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You
You may also be interested in how the Dutch Shepherd and how the Labrador Retriever compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Dutch Shepherd and of the Labrador Retriever to other breeds:
Dutch Shepherd Versus Other Dog Breeds
Dutch Shepherd versus Irish Wolfhound Dutch Shepherd versus Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Dutch Shepherd versus Alaskan Klee Kai Dutch Shepherd versus Miniature Schnauzer Dutch Shepherd versus Harrier Dutch Shepherd versus Boxerdoodle Dutch Shepherd versus Bergamasco Sheepdog Dutch Shepherd versus Neapolitan Mastiff Dutch Shepherd versus Golden Retriever Dutch Shepherd versus Finnish Lapphund
Labrador Retriever Versus Other Dog Breeds
Labrador Retriever versus Pekingese Labrador Retriever versus American Bulldog Labrador Retriever versus Tibetan Spaniel Labrador Retriever versus Peek A Poo Labrador Retriever versus Stabyhoun Labrador Retriever versus Dutch Shepherd Labrador Retriever versus Kishu Ken Labrador Retriever versus Yorkipoo Labrador Retriever versus Tibetan Mastiff Labrador Retriever versus Shiba Inu
Conclusion: Dutch Shepherd 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 Dutch Shepherd and the Labrador Retriever better suits you and your family.