A Detailed Comparison of the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Lakeland Terrier.

Flat-Coated Retriever versus Lakeland Terrier

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Flat-Coated Retriever Versus Lakeland Terrier: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Lakeland Terrier? 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 Flat-Coated Retriever and the Lakeland Terrier 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 Flat-Coated Retriever and the Lakeland Terrier.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Lakeland Terrier 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 Flat-Coated Retriever and for the Lakeland Terrier. 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 Flat-Coated Retriever and the Lakeland Terrier.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Flat-Coated Retriever or the Lakeland Terrier

Flat-Coated Retriever versus Lakeland Terrier

Flat-Coated Retriever versus Lakeland Terrier: Overview

A very important difference between the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Lakeland Terrier is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Flat-Coated Retriever is a medium-sized dog while the Lakeland Terrier is a small-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Flat-Coated 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.

On the other hand, the Lakeland Terrier belongs to the Terrier Dogs group. Terrier Dogs were originally bred to go underground to hunt rodents and other small wild animals (vermin). Terriers come in a wide range of sizes and shapes, but all terriers are energetic, highly intelligent, and territorial. Terries also have the tendency to escape. They require a securely fenced yard.

Flat-Coated Retriever versus Lakeland Terrier: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Flat-Coated Retriever to the Lakeland Terrier 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 Flat-Coated Retriever Lakeland Terrier
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 1/5 4/5
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 2/5
Height 1 foot, 10 inches to 2 feet tall at the shoulder 13 to 14 inches tall at the shoulder
Life Span 10 to 12 years 12 to 15 years
Good For Novice Owners 2/5 3/5
Does NOT Drool 4/5 5/5
Does NOT Shed 3/5 4/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 5/5
Low Prey Drive 3/5 2/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 4/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 4/5 4/5
Easy To Groom 4/5 2/5
General Health 4/5 5/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 2/5 3/5
Easy To Train 4/5 2/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 2/5 2/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 2/5 3/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 2/5 2/5
Easygoing 1/5 3/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 4/5
Dog Friendly 5/5 3/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 5/5 3/5
Intelligence 5/5 4/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 1/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 1/5 2/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 4/5
Weight 55 to 70 pounds 15 to 17 pounds
Average Lifespan 11.0 years 13.5 years
Average Price $1350 $1810
Price Range $1150 – $1800 $1600 – $2325
Temperament Score 92.0 percent 75.0 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • No Data
    Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 94 142
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 18 62

    *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 Flat-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 Lakeland Terrier. 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 Flat-Coated Retriever is 78 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a Lakeland Terrier is 81 out of 125.

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

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

    Flat-Coated Retriever versus Lakeland Terrier

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Lakeland Terrier

    Below is a list of where the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Lakeland Terrier are most different:

  • Flat-Coated Retrievers do not adapt well to apartment living. However, Lakeland Terriers adapt well to apartment living.
  • The Similarities Between the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Lakeland Terrier

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

  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Lakeland Terrier do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Lakeland Terrier are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Lakeland Terrier do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Lakeland Terrier can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Lakeland Terrier can tolerate hot weather.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Lakeland Terrier are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Lakeland Terrier gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Lakeland Terrier are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Lakeland Terrier have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Lakeland Terrier do things with high intensity. They can be very forceful.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Lakeland Terrier are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Lakeland Terrier get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Lakeland Terrier are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Lakeland Terrier have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Lakeland Terrier require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Lakeland Terrier are very playful.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Flat-Coated Retriever versus Lakeland Terrier

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Lakeland Terrier.

    Flat-Coated Retrievers weigh 55 to 70 pounds when fully grown. Flat-Coated Retrievers are 1 foot, 10 inches to 2 feet tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Lakeland Terriers weigh 15 to 17 pounds when fully grown. Lakeland Terriers are 13 to 14 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Temperament of the Flat-Coated Retriever Versus the Lakeland Terrier

    The Flat-Coated Retriever has a better temperament than the Lakeland Terrier.

    This is because the temperament score for the Flat-Coated Retriever is 92.0 percent while the temperament score for the Lakeland Terrier is 75.0 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 92.0 percent, the Flat-Coated Retriever has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 75.0 percent, the Lakeland Terrier has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Lakeland Terrier by measuring the temperaments of 87 Flat-Coated Retrievers and 8 Lakeland Terriers.

    Price of Flat-Coated Retriever versus Price of Lakeland Terrier

    The average price of the Flat-Coated Retriever puppy is $1350. The price of the Flat-Coated Retriever typically ranges from $1150 – $1800. However, the price of a Flat-Coated Retriever can be as low as $100 and as high as $2500. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 8 Flat-Coated Retriever puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Lakeland Terrier puppy is $1810. The price of the Lakeland Terrier typically ranges from $1600 – $2325. However, the price of a Lakeland Terrier can be as low as $1000 and as high as $2550. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 11 Lakeland Terrier puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Lakeland Terrier is more expensive than the Flat-Coated Retriever.

    Flat-Coated Retriever Lakeland Terrier
    Average Price $1350 $1810
    Price Range $1150 to $1800 $1600 to $2325

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Flat-Coated Retriever and Lakeland Terrier. For different price points, the charts show how many Flat-Coated Retriever puppies or how many Lakeland Terrier puppies are listed for sale at those price points.

    A breakdown of the prices of Flat-Coated Retrievers. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Flat-Coated Retrievers. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Lakeland Terriers

    A breakdown of the prices of Lakeland Terriers

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Flat-Coated Retriever puppy or the Lakeland Terrier 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.

    Flat-Coated Retriever versus Lakeland Terrier

    Adopting the Flat-Coated Retriever versus Adopting the Lakeland Terrier

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Flat-Coated Retrievers and many Lakeland Terriers 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 Flat-Coated Retriever named Clarence that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Flat-Coated Retrievers like Clarence on pefinder.com.

    Also, like Flat-Coated Retrievers, Lakeland Terriers are also available for adoption. For example, Boo And Bean is a Male Lakeland Terrier that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Lakeland Terriers like Boo And Bean that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

    The Flat-Coated Retriever and the Lakeland Terrier can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

    Palisade is the name of another Flat-Coated Retriever (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.

    Also Remington , an adorable Male Lakeland Terrier on petfinder.com that you can adopt.

    Flat-Coated Retrievers and Lakeland Terriers are always available for adoption. Images from petfinder.com

    You can find more Flat-Coated Retrievers and Lakeland Terriers that are available for adoption on petfinder.

    The Intelligence of the Flat-Coated Retriever versus the Intelligence of the Lakeland Terrier

    Flat-Coated Retriever Lakeland Terrier
    Intelligence Rank 18 out of 130 dog breeds 62 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 5 To 15 Repetitions Tend To Learn New Commands After 40 To 80 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 Flat-Coated Retriever has an obedience intelligence rank of 18 out of 130 dog breeds. The Flat-Coated Retriever belongs to the `Excellent Working Dogs` category. This means that Flat-Coated Retrievers tend to learn new commands after 5 to 15 repetitions.

    The Lakeland Terrier has an obedience intelligence rank of 62 out of 130 dog breeds. The Lakeland Terrier belongs to the `Fair Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Lakeland Terriers tend to learn new commands after 40 to 80 repetitions!.

    The Flat-Coated Retriever is more intelligent than the Lakeland Terrier.

    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 Flat-Coated Retriever versus Popularity of Lakeland Terrier

    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 Flat-Coated Retriever and the Lakeland Terrier over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Flat-Coated Retriever is more popular with dog owners than the Lakeland Terrier. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Flat-Coated Retriever is 94 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Lakeland Terrier is 142 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Flat-Coated Retriever

    Popularity of Flat-Coated Retriever

    Popularity of Lakeland Terrier

    Popularity of Lakeland Terrier

    Year Flat-Coated Retriever Popularity Rank Lakeland Terrier Popularity Rank
    2013 94 134
    2014 92 149
    2015 86 141
    2016 89 145
    2017 96 138
    2018 91 147
    2019 104 148
    2020 102 136

    Is the Flat-Coated Retriever Better for Apartment Owners than the Lakeland Terrier?

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

    Lakeland Terriers adapt very well to apartment living.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Flat-Coated Retriever versus Lakeland Terrier

    Flat-Coated Retrievers do not like to be left alone.

    Lakeland Terriers do not like to be left alone.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Flat-Coated Retriever or the Lakeland Terrier?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Lakeland Terriers are OK for new dog owners.

    Which one drools more, the Flat-Coated Retriever or the Lakeland Terrier

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

    Lakeland Terriers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Do Flat-Coated Retrievers shed more than Lakeland Terriers?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers shed moderately.

    Lakeland Terriers do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

    Does the Flat-Coated Retriever Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Lakeland Terrier?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.

    Lakeland Terriers 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.

    Can Flat-Coated Retrievers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Lakeland Terriers Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Lakeland Terriers can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Can Flat-Coated Retrievers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Lakeland Terriers Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers can tolerate hot weather.

    Lakeland Terriers can tolerate hot weather.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Flat-Coated Retriever or the Lakeland Terrier?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers are very easy to groom.

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

    Is the Flat-Coated Retriever Easier to Train than the Lakeland Terrier?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers are very easy to train.

    Lakeland Terriers are not easy to train.

    Do Flat-Coated Retrievers Bark and Howl? What about Lakeland Terriers?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

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

    Wanderlust Potential: Flat-Coated Retriever vs. Lakeland Terrier

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

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

    Are Flat-Coated Retrievers good family dogs? What about Lakeland Terriers?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Lakeland Terriers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Flat-Coated Retrievers and Lakeland Terriers?

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

    Lakeland Terriers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Flat-Coated Retriever or the Lakeland Terrier?

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

    Lakeland Terriers get along fairly well with other dogs.

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

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

  • Wirehaired Pointing Griffon (81 percent match with Flat-Coated Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Lakeland Terrier vs Wirehaired Pointing Griffon.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Lakeland Terrier

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Lakeland Terrier 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 Lakeland Terrier:

  • Irish Terrier (79 percent match with Lakeland Terrier). Here is our comparison of the Flat-Coated Retriever vs Irish Terrier.
  • Barbet (80 percent match with Lakeland Terrier). Here is our comparison of the Flat-Coated Retriever vs Barbet.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Flat-Coated Retriever Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Flat-Coated Retriever versus Affenpinscher     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Gordon Setter     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Berger Picard     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Toy Fox Terrier     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Gordon Setter     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Golden Retriever     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Glen of Imaal Terrier     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Chow Chow     

    Lakeland Terrier Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Lakeland Terrier versus English Toy Spaniel     Lakeland Terrier versus Whoodle     Lakeland Terrier versus Dachshund     Lakeland Terrier versus Field Spaniel     Lakeland Terrier versus Irish Setter     Lakeland Terrier versus Chinook     Lakeland Terrier versus Central Asian Shepherd Dog     Lakeland Terrier versus Welsh Springer Spaniel     Lakeland Terrier versus Staffordshire Bull Terrier     Lakeland Terrier versus Pomapoo     

    Conclusion: Flat-Coated Retriever versus Lakeland Terrier. 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 Flat-Coated Retriever and the Lakeland Terrier better suits you and your family.