Greater Swiss Mountain Dog vs Labrador Retriever

A Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
Photo: Canarian
A Labrador Retriever
Photo: SixtyWeb

Side by side

Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
Labrador Retriever
Adult weight
Males 52–64 kg (115–140 lb); females 39–50 kg (85–110 lb) (breed club figure)1
Males 29–36 kg (65–80 lb); females 25–32 kg (55–70 lb) (breed club figure)2
Lifespan
No sourced figure
Median 13.1 years3
Fully grown
13 months, both sexes4
12 months, both sexes4
Group
Pinschers & molossoids5
Retrievers & water dogs6
Coat
Coat of medium length5
Short coat6
Shedding
Moults most as the seasons change
Grooming
Brushing a few times a week
A brush once a week
Exercise
A moderate amount
Plenty
Health
No sourced figure
Elbow joint disease (much more likely); Outward-drooping eyelid (much more likely)7,8
Class
Family
Family

Which suits you

Size
The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is much larger: about 51 kg (113 lb) as an adult, against 31 kg (68 lb) for the Labrador Retriever.
Grooming
The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog needs more grooming, brushing a few times a week, where the Labrador Retriever needs a brush once a week.
Exercise
Plan for plenty of exercise with the Labrador Retriever, and a moderate amount with the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog.
Temperament
They differ most on independence (Greater Swiss Mountain Dog: cooperative, with its own ideas; Labrador Retriever: keen to work with you) and on loyalty (Greater Swiss Mountain Dog: bonded to its family; Labrador Retriever: friendly with everyone).
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

Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
Pinschers & molossoids · Giant

In temperament the breed is calm, confident and watchful, attached to its household and inclined to bark at strangers without being aggressive. It matures slowly.

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 Greater Swiss Mountain Dog page →The Labrador Retriever page →

Breed traits

Day to day
Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
Labrador Retriever
Activity
Differs
A good daily walk and play
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
Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
Labrador Retriever
Affection
A lap or leaning dog
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
Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
Labrador Retriever
Sensitivity
Hardy, takes a busy home in its stride
Hardy, takes a busy home in its stride
Voice
Barks to alert, then settles
Barks to alert, then settles
Prey drive
Usually fine with small pets
Usually fine with small pets
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 Greater Swiss Mountain Dog grows to the heavier adult, about 51 kg against the Labrador Retriever's 31 kg.
Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
Labrador Retriever
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More comparisons

Compare the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog with
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Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·