Labrador Retriever versus Plott. Final Verdict on Which one is a Better Pet.

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Labrador Retriever Versus Plott: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Labrador Retriever and the Plott? 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 Labrador Retriever and the Plott 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 Labrador Retriever and the Plott.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Labrador Retriever and the Plott 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 Labrador Retriever and for the Plott. 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 Labrador Retriever and the Plott.

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

Labrador Retriever versus Plott: Overview

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

Furthermore, 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.

On the other hand, the Plott belongs to the Hound Dogs group. Hound Dogs were bred to pursue and hunt warm-blooded animals. Hounds hunt by using their good sight or their good sense of smell. Dogs that belong to the Hound Group have strong prey drives and often will stop at nothing to catch what they are pursuing.

Labrador Retriever versus Plott: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Labrador Retriever to the Plott 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 Labrador Retriever and the Plott

Factor Labrador Retriever Plott
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 1/5 1/5
Life Span 10 to 12 years 12 to 14 years
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 2/5
Low Prey Drive 4/5 1/5
Height 21 to 24 inches at the shoulder 20 to 27 inches tall at the shoulder
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 1/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 3/5 2/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 4/5
Does NOT Drool 3/5 5/5
General Health 3/5 5/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 3/5 1/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 2/5 5/5
Easygoing 1/5 2/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 4/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 3/5
Dog Friendly 5/5 5/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 5/5 3/5
Does NOT Shed 1/5 4/5
Easy To Groom 5/5 5/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 1/5 3/5
Easy To Train 5/5 4/5
Intelligence 5/5 3/5
Does NOT chew on things 1/5 3/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 2/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 1/5 2/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 1/5 1/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 3/5
Weight 55 to 80 pounds 40 to 75 pounds
Average Lifespan 11.0 years 13.0 years
Average Price $1290 $600
Price Range $850 – $1500 $480 – $700
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Centronuclear Myopathy
  • D Locus (Dilute) DNA Test
  • EIC (Exercise Induced Collapse)
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • prcd-PRA DNA Test
  • No Data
    Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 1 161

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

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Plott is not better or worse than the Labrador Retriever. So, you can get the Plott or the Labrador 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 Labrador Retriever and the Plott so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Labrador Retriever and the Plott

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

  • Labrador Retrievers have a very low prey drive. This means they get along well with other pets. However, Plotts have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Labrador Retrievers are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl. However, Plotts are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl.
  • Labrador Retrievers shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies. However, Plotts do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.
  • The Similarities Between the Labrador Retriever and the Plott

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

  • Both the Labrador Retriever and the Plott do not adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Labrador Retriever and the Plott do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Labrador Retriever and the Plott 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 Labrador Retriever and the Plott are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Labrador Retriever and the Plott get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Labrador Retriever and the Plott are very easy to groom.
  • Both the Labrador Retriever and the Plott are very easy to train.
  • Both the Labrador Retriever and the Plott have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Labrador Retriever and the Plott do things with high intensity. They can be very forceful.
  • Both the Labrador Retriever and the Plott require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Labrador Retriever versus Plott

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

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

    On the other hand, Plotts weigh 40 to 75 pounds when fully grown. Plotts are 20 to 27 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Lifespan of Labrador Retriever versus Plott

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

    The lifespan of Plotts is between 12 to 14 years. The average lifespan of Plotts is 13.0 years.

    Plotts live longer than Labrador Retrievers.

    Price of Labrador Retriever versus Price of Plott

    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 reviewing the prices of 1413 Labrador Retriever puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Plott puppy is $600. The price of the Plott typically ranges from $480 – $700. However, the price of the Plott can be as low as $300 and as high as $800. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 17 Plott puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Labrador Retriever is more expensive than the Plott.

    Labrador Retriever Plott
    Average Price $1290 $600
    Price Range $850 to $1500 $480 to $700

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

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

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

    A breakdown of the prices of Plotts

    A breakdown of the prices of Plotts

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Labrador Retriever puppy or the Plott 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.

    Adopting the Labrador Retriever versus Adopting the Plott

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Labrador Retrievers and many Plotts 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 Labrador Retriever named Ernest that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Labrador Retrievers like Ernest on pefinder.com.

    Also, like Labrador Retrievers, Plotts are also available for adoption. For example, Jack is a Male Plott that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Plotts like Jack that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

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

    21-284 Shadow is the name of another Labrador Retriever (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.

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

    The Popularity of Labrador Retriever versus Popularity of Plott

    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 Labrador Retriever and the Plott over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Labrador Retriever is more popular with dog owners than the Plott. 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 Plott is 161 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Labrador Retriever

    Popularity of Labrador Retriever

    Popularity of Plott

    Popularity of Plott

    Year Labrador Retriever Popularity Rank Plott Popularity Rank
    2013 1 149
    2014 1 154
    2015 1 149
    2016 1 158
    2017 1 166
    2018 1 171
    2019 1 177
    2020 1 167

    Tolerates Being Alone: Labrador Retriever versus Plott

    Labrador Retrievers do not like to be left alone.

    Plotts do not like to be left alone.

    Do Labrador Retrievers shed more than Plotts?

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

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

    Which one drools more, the Labrador Retriever or the Plott

    Labrador Retrievers drool moderately.

    Plotts do have a very low tendency to drool.

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

    Labrador Retrievers are very easy to groom.

    Plotts are very easy to groom.

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

    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.

    Plotts 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.

    Do Labrador Retrievers Bark and Howl? What about Plotts?

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

    Plotts are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.

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

    Labrador Retrievers can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Plotts cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Wanderlust Potential: Labrador Retriever vs. Plott

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

    Plotts have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

    Can Labrador Retrievers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Plotts Tolerate Hot Weather?

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

    Plotts can tolerate hot weather.

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

    Labrador Retrievers get along very well with other dogs.

    Plotts get along very well with other dogs.

    Are Labrador Retrievers good family dogs? What about Plotts?

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

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

    How Kid-friendly are Labrador Retrievers and Plotts?

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

    Plotts get along fairly well with kids. They are quite kid-friendly.

    Is the Labrador Retriever Easier to Train than the Plott?

    Labrador Retrievers are very easy to train.

    Plotts are very easy to train.

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

    Labrador Retrievers do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Plotts do not adapt well to apartment living.

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

    Labrador Retrievers are OK for new dog owners.

    Plotts are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    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 Plott vs Golden Retriever.
  • Aussiedoodle (73 percent match with Labrador Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Plott vs Aussiedoodle.
  • Flat-Coated Retriever (77 percent match with Labrador Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Plott vs Flat-Coated Retriever.
  • Shiloh Shepherd (79 percent match with Labrador Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Plott vs Shiloh Shepherd.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Plott

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

  • Patterdale Terrier (77 percent match with Plott). Here is our comparison of the Labrador Retriever vs Patterdale Terrier.
  • Rhodesian Ridgeback (77 percent match with Plott). Here is our comparison of the Labrador Retriever vs Rhodesian Ridgeback.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Labrador Retriever Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Labrador Retriever versus Yorkshire Terrier     Labrador Retriever versus Maltipoo     Labrador Retriever versus American Bulldog     Labrador Retriever versus Saint Bernard     Labrador Retriever versus Manchester Terrier     Labrador Retriever versus Welsh Terrier     Labrador Retriever versus Bouvier des Flandres     Labrador Retriever versus Anatolian Shepherd Dog     Labrador Retriever versus Peek A Poo     Labrador Retriever versus Morkie     Labrador Retriever versus Bloodhound     Labrador Retriever versus Puggle     Labrador Retriever versus Schipperke     Labrador Retriever versus Bordoodle     Labrador Retriever versus Bracco Italiano     Labrador Retriever versus Carolina Dog     Labrador Retriever versus Catahoula Leopard Dog     Labrador Retriever versus Scottish Deerhound     Labrador Retriever versus Saint Berdoodle     Labrador Retriever versus Azawakh     Labrador Retriever versus Bich Poo     Labrador Retriever versus Basenji     Labrador Retriever versus Aussiedoodle     Labrador Retriever versus Patterdale Terrier     Labrador Retriever versus Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen     

    Plott Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Plott versus Catahoula Leopard Dog     Plott versus Toy Fox Terrier     Plott versus Great Dane     Plott versus Alaskan Klee Kai     Plott versus Bedlington Terrier     Plott versus Pomeranian     Plott versus Belgian Tervuren     Plott versus Dutch Shepherd     Plott versus Pyredoodle     Plott versus Newfoundland     Plott versus Papillon     Plott versus Affenhuahua     Plott versus Caucasian Shepherd Dog     Plott versus Bergamasco Sheepdog     Plott versus Valley Bulldog     Plott versus Akbash     Plott versus Catahoula Leopard Dog     Plott versus Black and Tan Coonhound     Plott versus English Toy Spaniel     Plott versus Rhodesian Ridgeback     Plott versus Norwegian Buhund     Plott versus Pharaoh Hound     Plott versus Berger Picard     Plott versus Schnoodle     Plott versus Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen     

    Conclusion: Labrador Retriever versus Plott. 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 Labrador Retriever and the Plott better suits you and your family.