Golden Retriever vs Standard Poodle

A Golden Retriever
Photo: Johan Spaedtke
A Poodle (Standard)
Photo: John Leslie from London, UK

Side by side

Golden Retriever
Standard Poodle
Adult weight
Males 29–34 kg (65–75 lb); females 25–29 kg (55–65 lb)1
Males 27–32 kg (60–70 lb); females 18–23 kg (40–50 lb) (breed club figure)2
Height
Males 56–61 cm; females 51–56 cm3
Males 45–60 cm; females 45–60 cm4
Lifespan
Median 13.2 years5
Median 14 years5
Fully grown
12 months, both sexes6
11 months, both sexes6
Group
Retrievers & water dogs3
Companion & toy4
Coat
Coat with feathering3
Curly coat or corded coat4
Shedding
Moults most as the seasons change
Holds loose hair until it is brushed or clipped out
Grooming
Brushing a few times a week
Exercise
Plenty
A modest amount
Health
Blood blister in the ear flap (much more likely); Underactive thyroid (much more likely)7,8
No sourced figure
Class
Family
Family

Which suits you

Size
The Golden Retriever is a little larger on average: about 29 kg (65 lb) as an adult, against 25 kg (55 lb) for the Standard Poodle.
Shedding
Their coats shed differently: the Golden Retriever moults most as the seasons change, the Standard Poodle holds loose hair until it is brushed or clipped out.
Exercise
Plan for plenty of exercise with the Golden Retriever, and a modest amount with the Standard Poodle.
Temperament
They differ most on affection (Golden Retriever: a lap or leaning dog; Standard Poodle: affectionate on its own terms) and on loyalty (Golden Retriever: friendly with everyone; Standard Poodle: bonded to its family).
Alike
Both are rated the same on independence: keen to work with you.
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

Golden Retriever
Retrievers & water dogs · Large

The Golden Retriever's temperament is friendly, intelligent and devoted. It is eager to please, gentle, keen to work alongside people and seldom a good guard dog.

Standard Poodle
Companion & toy · Medium

In temperament the Standard is alert, quick to learn and energetic, moving with a springy gait and a proud carriage.

The Golden Retriever page →The Standard Poodle page →

Breed traits

Day to day
Golden Retriever
Standard Poodle
Activity
Needs lots of exercise
Needs lots of exercise
Intelligence
Needs daily brain work
Needs daily brain work
Handler demand
Differs
Suits a first-time owner
Needs steady training
With people
Golden Retriever
Standard Poodle
Affection
Differs
A lap or leaning dog
Affectionate on its own terms
Loyalty
Differs
Friendly with everyone
Bonded to its family
Independence
Keen to work with you
Keen to work with you
Around the home
Golden Retriever
Standard Poodle
Sensitivity
Differs
Average
Needs a calm, predictable home
Voice
Barks to alert, then settles
Barks to alert, then settles
Prey drive
Differs
Usually fine with small pets
Chases; needs managing
Breed explains only about 9% of how individual dogs differ in behaviour9. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home10,11.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes
The Golden Retriever grows to the heavier adult, about 29 kg against the Standard Poodle's 25 kg.
Golden Retriever
Standard Poodle
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More comparisons

Compare the Golden Retriever with
Golden Retriever vs Labrador RetrieverEnglish Cocker Spaniel vs Golden RetrieverStandard Poodle vs Toy PoodleFlat-Coated Retriever vs Golden RetrieverMiniature Poodle vs Standard PoodleLabradoodle vs Standard PoodleAll breed comparisons →

Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·