Curly-Coated Retriever vs Labrador Retriever

A Curly-Coated Retriever
Photo: Mattias Agar
A Labrador Retriever
Photo: SixtyWeb

Side by side

Curly-Coated Retriever
Labrador Retriever
Adult weight
Males 29–41 kg (64–90 lb); females 27–36 kg (60–79 lb) (breed club figure)1
Males 29–36 kg (65–80 lb); females 25–32 kg (55–70 lb) (breed club figure)2
Height
Males 63.5–68.6 cm; females 58.4–63.5 cm3
No sourced figure
Lifespan
Median 12.2 years4
Median 13.1 years4
Fully grown
12 months, both sexes5
Group
Retrievers & water dogs6
Retrievers & water dogs7
Coat
Curly coat6
Short coat7
Shedding
Holds loose hair until it is brushed or clipped out
Moults most as the seasons change
Grooming
Brushing a few times a week
A brush once a week
Exercise
Plenty
Health
No sourced figure
Elbow joint disease (much more likely); Outward-drooping eyelid (much more likely)8,9
Class
Field
Family

Which suits you

Shedding
Their coats shed differently: the Curly-Coated Retriever holds loose hair until it is brushed or clipped out, the Labrador Retriever moults most as the seasons change.
Grooming
The Curly-Coated Retriever needs more grooming, brushing a few times a week, where the Labrador Retriever needs a brush once a week.
Temperament
They differ most on affection (Curly-Coated Retriever: likes its own space; Labrador Retriever: a lap or leaning dog) and on independence (Curly-Coated Retriever: cooperative, with its own ideas; Labrador Retriever: keen to work with you).
Alike
They are much the same size as adults, about 33 kg (73 lb) for the Curly-Coated Retriever and 31 kg (68 lb) for the Labrador Retriever.
Neither is the better dog in general. Which suits you depends on your home, your days and the care you can give.
Take the breed matcher

What they're like

Curly-Coated Retriever
Retrievers & water dogs · Large

In temperament it is confident and intelligent, and is often described as more independent and reserved than the Labrador. It can be aloof with strangers while affectionate with its own people.

Labrador Retriever
Retrievers & water dogs · Large

The breed is friendly, outgoing and keen to work alongside people. Its steady nature has made it a common choice as a guide dog for blind people.

The Curly-Coated Retriever page →The Labrador Retriever page →

Breed traits

Day to day
Curly-Coated Retriever
Labrador Retriever
Activity
Needs lots of exercise
Needs lots of exercise
Intelligence
Learns readily, likes games
Learns readily, likes games
Handler demand
Differs
Needs steady training
Suits a first-time owner
With people
Curly-Coated Retriever
Labrador Retriever
Affection
Differs
Likes its own space
A lap or leaning dog
Loyalty
Differs
Bonded to its family
Friendly with everyone
Independence
Differs
Cooperative, with its own ideas
Keen to work with you
Around the home
Curly-Coated Retriever
Labrador Retriever
Sensitivity
Differs
Average
Hardy, takes a busy home in its stride
Voice
Differs
Quiet
Barks to alert, then settles
Prey drive
Differs
Chases; needs managing
Usually fine with small pets
Breed explains only about 9% of how individual dogs differ in behaviour10. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home11,12.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes
The Curly-Coated Retriever grows to the heavier adult, about 34 kg against the Labrador Retriever's 31 kg.
Curly-Coated Retriever
Labrador Retriever
02040602m4m6m9m12m18m
02040602m3m4m6m9m12m18m

More comparisons

Compare the Curly-Coated Retriever with
Golden Retriever vs Labrador RetrieverChesapeake Bay Retriever vs Labrador RetrieverGerman Shepherd vs Labrador RetrieverChesapeake Bay Retriever vs Curly-Coated RetrieverLabrador Retriever vs Nova Scotia Duck Tolling RetrieverGreater Swiss Mountain Dog vs Labrador RetrieverAll breed comparisons →

Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·