Flat-Coated Retriever vs Labrador Retriever

A Flat-Coated Retriever
Photo: Fesoj-wr
A Labrador Retriever
Photo: SixtyWeb

Side by side

Flat-Coated Retriever
Labrador Retriever
Adult weight
Males 27–36 kg (60–79 lb); females 25–32 kg (55–71 lb)1
Males 29–36 kg (65–80 lb); females 25–32 kg (55–70 lb) (breed club figure)2
Lifespan
Median 11.7 years3
Median 13.1 years3
Fully grown
12 months, both sexes4
Group
Retrievers & water dogs5
Retrievers & water dogs6
Coat
Coat with feathering5
Short coat6
Shedding
Sheds through the year
Moults most as the seasons change
Grooming
Brushing a few times a week
A brush once a week
Exercise
Plenty
Health
Blood-vessel cancer (much more likely); Toe melanoma (much more likely)7,8
Elbow joint disease (much more likely); Outward-drooping eyelid (much more likely)9,10
Class
Family
Family

Which suits you

Lifespan
In UK vet records the Labrador Retriever lives longer: a median of 13.1 years, against 11.7 for the Flat-Coated Retriever.
Shedding
Their coats shed differently: the Flat-Coated Retriever sheds through the year, the Labrador Retriever moults most as the seasons change.
Grooming
The Flat-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 handler demand (Flat-Coated Retriever: needs steady training; Labrador Retriever: suits a first-time owner) and on sensitivity (Flat-Coated Retriever: average; Labrador Retriever: hardy, takes a busy home in its stride).
Alike
They are much the same size as adults, about 30 kg (66 lb) for the Flat-Coated Retriever and 31 kg (68 lb) for the Labrador Retriever.
Alike
Both are rated the same on affection: a lap or leaning dog.
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

Flat-Coated Retriever
Retrievers & water dogs · Medium

In temperament it is cheerful, outgoing and friendly with strangers, and its enthusiastic tail action is noted in the breed standard.

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 Flat-Coated Retriever page →The Labrador Retriever page →

Breed traits

Day to day
Flat-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
Flat-Coated Retriever
Labrador Retriever
Affection
A lap or leaning dog
A lap or leaning dog
Loyalty
Friendly with everyone
Friendly with everyone
Independence
Keen to work with you
Keen to work with you
Around the home
Flat-Coated Retriever
Labrador Retriever
Sensitivity
Differs
Average
Hardy, takes a busy home in its stride
Voice
Barks to alert, then settles
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 behaviour11. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home12,13.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes
Both grow to much the same adult weight, about 31 kg.
Flat-Coated Retriever
Labrador Retriever
0102030402m4m6m9m12m18m
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More comparisons

Compare the Flat-Coated Retriever with
Golden Retriever vs Labrador RetrieverFlat-Coated Retriever vs Golden RetrieverChesapeake Bay Retriever vs Labrador RetrieverGerman Shepherd vs Labrador 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 ·