11 Dog Breeds Like the Labrador Retriever
The Gentle and Outgoing: Labrador Retriever
The Labrador Retriever dogs are an intelligent, gentle, playful, tempered, kind, and outgoing. They're one of the most demanded dogs in the world. They are very loyal and obedient companions, and one among the most trusted dog breeds to get along well with children, strangers, and other pets, and make good family pets.

Want a dog that looks like a Labrador Retriever? There are several other Retriever-type dogs to choose from, as well as many other dogs with similar coloration.
11 Other Dog Breeds That Resemble Labrador Retrievers
You might love the Labrador's temperament and other aspects of the breed, but perhaps you're seeking a dog with different traits. Consider adding one of the following breeds to your family instead.
- Chesapeake Bay Retrievers
- Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
- Flat Coated Retriever
- American Water Spaniel
- Curly Coated Retriever
- Vizsla
- German Shorthaired Pointer
- Golden Retriever
- Rhodesian Ridgeback
- Central Asian Shepherd Dog
- Anatolian Shepherd
1. Chesapeake Bay Retriever
The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is a medium to large sized dog, belonging to the retriever, and sporting groups of dog breeds. Its an Intelligent, affectionate, playful, devoted and dominant dog that was developed in the United States Chesapeake Bay area during the 19th century. The Chesapeake Bay Retriever dog is a newer breed than the Labrador that is more active and aggressive dog that is not a perfect apartment living pet like the Labrador, it is more suitable for field work.
Why Choose a Chesapeake Bay Retriever dog?
- More active and aggressive dog that make a better guard dog.
- Better option for field work.
Labrador Retriever | Chesapeake Bay Retriever | |
---|---|---|
Height | 21.5 - 24.5 inches | 21-26 inches |
Weight | 55 to 80 pounds | 55-80 pounds |
Coat | Short, straight, and dense | Medium wiry, curly |
Color | Yellow, Chocolate, Black | Brown, chocolate, liver |
LifeSpan | 10 - 12 years | 10-13 years |
2. Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is a small to medium-sized dog, belonging to the gundog that was bred primarily for hunting. It's an intelligent, playful, alert, devoted and gentle dog that was developed in the 19th-century sportsmen in the Little River District of Nova Scotia, Yarmouth County in Canada. Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is the smallest of all the retriever breeds, which is an outgoing, and high-energy dog that get well along with children and strangers.
Why choose a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever?
- Well suited to active families with children.
- Reserved towards strangers, and make a better guard dog.

Labrador Retriever (Left) and Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever (Right)
patchpuppy.com, dogbreedo.com
Labrador Retriever | Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever | |
---|---|---|
Height | 21.5 - 24.5 inches | 17 - 21 inches |
Weight | 55 - 80 pounds | 35 - 50 pounds |
Coat | Short, straight, and dense | Medium-length coat with a softer, dense undercoat |
Color | Yellow, Chocolate, Black | Varying shades of red or orange, with white on the chest, feet, and on top of the nose |
LifeSpan | 10 - 12 years | 12 - 14 years |
3. Flat Coated Retriever
The Flat-coated Retriever is a medium to large-sized dog, belonging to the gundog family of dog breeds, native to United Kingdom, England. It's an active. Energetic, outgoing, confident and gentle dog breed that gets well along with children and other pets and makes an excellent family pet. The Flat-coated Retriever look like a Labrador retriever, but it has thick and medium-length coat, and available in black or liver-color only. Flat-coated Retrievers are lean-looking dog that has strong and a longer muzzle than Labradors.
Why choose a Flat Coated Retriever?
- Make an excellent companion dog for people who are looking for an active dog breed.
- Intelligent and highly trainable dogs.
Labrador Retriever | Flat Coated Retriever | |
---|---|---|
Height | 21.5 - 24.5 inches | 22 - 24.5 inches |
Weight | 55 - 80 pounds | 60 - 80 pounds |
Coat | Short, straight, and dense | Flat-lying coat |
Color | Yellow, Chocolate, Black | Black, Liver |
LifeSpan | 10 - 12 years | 8 - 10 years, upto 14 years |
4. American Water Spaniel
American Water Spaniel is a medium sized dog from a spaniel group of dog breeds, originated in the areas along the Fox River in United States, to be a hunting dog. They were developed from mixing between Irish and English water spaniels, along with other dogs, they are skilled swimmers who are primarily water retrievers. American Water Spaniels are an energetic, athletic, devoted and obedient dogs that make a good family pet.
Why choose an American Water Spaniel?
- Medium sized dog, good for apartment living.
- Reserved and aloof with strangers that make excellent guard dog.
Labrador Retriever | American Water Spaniel | |
---|---|---|
Height | 21.5 - 24.5 inches | 15 - 18 inches |
Weight | 55 - 80 pounds | 25 - 45 pounds |
Coat | Short, straight, and dense | Luscious brown coat |
Color | Yellow, Chocolate, Black | Liver, Chocolate, Brown |
LifeSpan | 10 - 12 years | 10 - 14 years |
5. Curly-coated Retriever
The curly-coated retriever is a medium sized dog from a gun dog group of dog breeds, developed in England in 1860, for upland bird and waterfowl hunting. Curly coated retrievers are highly energetic, and calm, gentle and well-mannered and quick learners dogs, which are always keen to please their masters. They are devoted and obedient dogs, which get along well with children and other pets and make a good family pet.
Why choose a Curly-coated Retriever?
- Though they are not hypoallergenic dogs, but they shed less, and don't release as much dander.
- Make good companions for active and outdoorsy families.
Labrador Retriever | Curly Coated Retriever | |
---|---|---|
Height | 21.5 - 24.5 inches | 23 - 27 inches |
Weight | 55 - 80 pounds | 60 - 95 pounds |
Coat | Short, straight, and dense | Medium long, curly, waterproof oily coat |
Color | Yellow, Chocolate, Black | Black, Liver |
LifeSpan | 10 - 12 years | 10 - 14 years |
6. Vizsla Dog
Vizsla is a medium sized hunting dog, from the sporting group of dog breeds, native to Hungary, whose ancestors were probably brought to Hungary by the Magyars more than 1,000 years ago. Vizsla is an extremely energetic, athletic and affectionate dog that has athletic and muscular built, that give them speed and endurance. It's an ancient hunting dog of the nomadic Magyar tribe, and the national dog of Hungary.
Why choose a Vizsla dog?
- Vizsla dogs are energetic, lively and loving dogs that excel in various sports and activities, and make a good companion for an experienced and active owner.
- They get well along with children and safe dogs to have at home.
Labrador Retriever | Vizsla | |
---|---|---|
Height | 21.5 - 24.5 inches | 23 - 27 inches |
Weight | 55 to 80 pounds | 60 - 95 pounds |
Coat | Short, straight, and dense | Short, smooth coat |
Color | Yellow, Chocolate, Black | Yellow, copper-brown color, russet gold, and dark sandy gold |
LifeSpan | 10 - 12 years | 10 - 12 years |
7. German Shorthaired Pointer
The German Shorthaired Pointer is a medium-large sized dog, from Pointing dog group of dog breeds, developed in the 19th century, in Germany for hunting. It's an excellent hunter that has powerful, slender body, strong legs, excellent stamina and speed and suitable for both land and water. The German Shorthaired Pointer is gentle and playful with children, and strangers and make an excellent family pet.
They are very athletic, and energetic dogs, which love physical activities like running, swimming, and make an excellent hunting companion.
Why choose a German Shorthaired Pointer dog?
- They are very athletic, and energetic dogs, which love physical activities like running, swimming, and make an excellent hunting companion.

Labrador Retriever (Left) and Chocolate German Shorthair Pointer (Right)
pinterest.co.uk, national Geographic
Labrador Retriever | German Shorthaired Pointer | |
---|---|---|
Height | 21.5 - 24.5 inches | 22 - 25 inches |
Weight | 55 - 80 pounds | 55 - 70 pounds |
Coat | Short, straight, and dense | Short, dense hairs |
Color | Yellow, Chocolate, Black | Solid liver (a reddish brown), or liver and white in distinctive patterns |
LifeSpan | 10 - 12 years | 12 - 14 years |
8. Golden Retriever
Golden Retriever is a Medium to large-sized dog. This dog is well known for its excellent obedience standard and admired as an extraordinary pet for family. Golden Retriever was bred for retrieve shot fresh water birds like duck. Though this is a hairy dog but it has dense and water resistant crimped outer coat that help them during water sports. Golden Retriever love water sports and also it’s a great athlete.
Why to choose a Golden Retriever?
- Golden Retrievers are great family dogs, just like Labrador retrievers, which are more suited to living in cold climates.
Labrador Retriever | Golden Retriever | |
---|---|---|
Height | 21.5 - 24.5 inches | 21.5 - 24.0 inches |
Weight | 55 - 80 pounds | 55 - 75 pounds |
Coat | Short, straight, and dense | Long and smooth outer coat, and the soft and fuzzy undercoat |
Color | Yellow, Chocolate, Black | Cream to dark gold, and even red |
LifeSpan | 10 - 12 years | 10 - 12 years |
9. Rhodesian Ridgeback
The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a large dog, belongs to hunting and guardian dog breed category, native to South Africa and also known as Lion Hunter. It was developed by the early colonists of the Cape Colony, by interbred with European dogs, to hunt large game and assist in the hunting of lions. The Rhodesian Ridgeback has a ridge of hair that runs along its back in the opposite direction to the rest of the coat. It's a strong willed, athletic, affectionate, loyal and courageous dog that make an excellent companion dog.
Why to choose a Rhodesian Ridgeback?
- Both Labrador Retriever and Rhodesian Ridgeback are dogs of different dog breed groups, which have a lot of difference in temperament. Ridgebacks are athletic, muscular and hardy dogs, which are excellent hunters and extremely tolerant dogs that make excellent hunting companions.
Labrador Retriever | Rhodesian Ridgeback | |
---|---|---|
Height | 21.5 - 24.5 inches | 24 - 27 inches |
Weight | 55 - 80 pounds | 70 - 85 pounds |
Coat | Short, straight, and dense | Short, thick hair |
Color | Yellow, Chocolate, Black | Red Wheaten, Light Wheaten, Wheaten |
LifeSpan | 10 - 12 years | 10 - 12 years |
10. Central Asian Shepherd (Alabai) Dog
The Central Asian Shepherd Dog is an ancient large dog, developed from Central Asia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and surrounding areas. It's a powerful, courageous, Independent, and adaptable dog, that was developed by nomadic tribes of central Asia, for guarding sheep and goat herds and also known as Alabay, Alabai and Turkmen Wolfhound.
Why to choose an Alabai dog?
- They are healthy, self cared, and independent dogs that need less grooming.
- Alabai dogs are large-sized, mastiff type dogs.
Labrador Retriever | Central Asian Shepherd Dog | |
---|---|---|
Height | 21.5 - 24.5 inches | Fluffy coats made up of coarse, straight hair |
Weight | 55 - 80 pounds | 70 - 110+ pounds |
Coat | Short, straight, and dense | Both short and long haired |
Color | Yellow, Chocolate, Black | Black, White, Brindle, Deadgrass, Piebald, Rust, Grey |
LifeSpan | 10 - 12 years | 12 - 15 years |
11. Anatolian Shepherd
The Anatolian Shepherd Dog is an ancient large-sized working guard dog, originating province of the Central Anatolia Region in central Turkey, also known as Kangal Shepherd Dog, Kangal Çoban, Turkish Kangal Dog. This is an intelligent, protective, dominant, aggressive but loyal and devoted dog breed, that make an excellent working guard dog.
Why to choose an Anatolian Shepherd dog?
- They are highly intelligent, independent, and hardy dogs that make a good livestock guardian dog.
- Anatolian Shepherds are large-sized, mastiff type dogs.
Labrador Retriever | Anatolian Shepherd | |
---|---|---|
Height | 21.5 - 24.5 inches | 25 - 31 inches |
Weight | 55 - 80 pounds | 9- - 140 lb |
Coat | Short, straight, and dense | Short, dense coat |
Color | Yellow, Chocolate, Black | White, Brindle, Blue Fawn, White & Biscuit, Red Fawn, Liver |
LifeSpan | 10 - 12 years | 10 - 13 years |
This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.
© 2023 Aaradhya