Poodle vs Labrador Retriever

A side-by-side breed comparison to help you decide which fits your lifestyle.

At a Glance

Attribute	Poodle	Labrador Retriever
Origin	Germany	Canada
Breed Group	Non-Sporting	Sporting
Life Span	12–15 yrs	10–12 yrs
Weight	2.7–32 kg	25–36 kg
Height	24–60 cm	53–62 cm
Temperament	Active, intelligent, and elegant	Friendly, active, and outgoing
Exercise Needs	High (60-90 min/day)	Very High (90+ min/day)
Grooming	high	moderate
Shedding	low	high
Good with Children	Yes	Yes
Apartment Friendly	Yes	No

Temperament Comparison

The Poodle is known for being active, intelligent, and elegant, while the Labrador Retriever tends to be friendly, active, and outgoing.

Poodle

Activeintelligentand elegant

Labrador Retriever

Friendlyactiveand outgoing

Family Suitability

Poodle

Good with children: Yes
Good with other pets: Yes
Apartment friendly: Yes
Exercise: high

Labrador Retriever

Good with children: Yes
Good with other pets: Yes
Apartment friendly: No
Exercise: very high

Training & Exercise

When it comes to daily activity, the Poodle requires high (60-90 min/day) exercise, compared to the Labrador Retriever which needs very high (90+ min/day).

Poodle

Exercise: high
Grooming: high
Shedding: low

Labrador Retriever

Exercise: very high
Grooming: moderate
Shedding: high

Cost Comparison

Understanding the financial commitment of each breed helps you plan for a lifetime of care.

Cost	Poodle	Labrador Retriever
Purchase Price	$1,000 – $3,000	$800 – $3,000
Monthly Cost	~$130/mo	~$140/mo
Est. Lifetime Cost	~$18,720+	~$16,800+

Full Poodle cost guide Full Labrador Retriever cost guide

Health Considerations

Both breeds have breed-specific health considerations. Being aware of these helps you plan for preventive care and vet visits.

Poodle

Life span: 12–15 yrs

Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) — inherited degeneration of the retina causing night blindness then total blindness; a DNA test (prcd-PRA) exists, so screened breeding lines can avoid it and breeders should provide clear parental results.
Hip dysplasia — abnormal hip development leading to pain and arthritis, relevant in this larger size; choose OFA/PennHIP-screened parents and keep the dog lean to delay onset.
Sebaceous adenitis — a breed-associated immune-mediated skin disease destroying the oil glands, causing scaling, hair loss, and secondary infection; lifelong topical and management therapy, and a reason to source from skin-screened lines.
Addison's disease (hypoadrenocorticism) — under-production of adrenal hormones, over-represented in Standard Poodles, causing vague signs (lethargy, vomiting, collapse) that mimic other illness; lifelong but very manageable with hormone replacement once diagnosed.
Gastric dilatation-volvulus (bloat/GDV) — the deep chest predisposes the Standard to life-threatening stomach twisting; an acute surgical emergency, and a reason to discuss prophylactic gastropexy with a vet for at-risk dogs.
Idiopathic epilepsy — inherited seizure disorder usually emerging between 6 months and 5 years; controlled, not cured, with lifelong anticonvulsant medication.
Hypothyroidism — common under-active thyroid causing weight gain, lethargy, and coat changes; diagnosed by blood panel and inexpensively managed with daily levothyroxine.

Labrador Retriever

Life span: 10–12 yrs

Hip dysplasia — a malformed hip joint that develops as the dog grows, leading to pain, lameness, and early arthritis; risk is reduced (not eliminated) by buying from parents with formal hip scores (OFA/PennHIP/BVA) and keeping puppies lean during growth.
Elbow dysplasia — abnormal development of the elbow joint causing front-limb lameness, frequently requiring surgery; like hip dysplasia, parental elbow scoring is the key risk-management tool.
Exercise-induced collapse (EIC) — an inherited DAM2 mutation causing hind-limb weakness and collapse after intense exercise, especially in field-bred Labs; a simple, inexpensive DNA test identifies carriers and affected dogs before purchase.
Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) — an inherited degeneration of the retina causing gradual, irreversible blindness; a DNA test exists, so a responsible breeder will know the parents' status.
Obesity driven by the POMC gene deletion — a documented breed-specific mutation that reduces satiety, making Labs unusually prone to overeating and the joint disease, diabetes, and shortened lifespan that follow excess weight.
Osteoarthritis — extremely common in older and overweight Labs, often secondary to hip or elbow dysplasia; weight control and joint-conscious exercise are the primary preventive levers.
Laryngeal paralysis — a degenerative weakening of the laryngeal muscles in older Labs causing noisy breathing, exercise intolerance, and in severe cases respiratory distress requiring surgery.

Which Breed is Right for You?

Choose the Poodle if you want a breed that's active and intelligent and works well in apartments, especially with a family.

Choose the Labrador Retriever if you prefer a breed that's friendly and active, great with kids.

Full Poodle Profile Full Labrador Retriever Profile

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At a Glance

Attribute	Poodle	Labrador Retriever
Origin	Germany	Canada
Breed Group	Non-Sporting	Sporting
Life Span	12–15 yrs	10–12 yrs
Weight	2.7–32 kg	25–36 kg
Height	24–60 cm	53–62 cm
Temperament	Active, intelligent, and elegant	Friendly, active, and outgoing
Exercise Needs	High (60-90 min/day)	Very High (90+ min/day)
Grooming	high	moderate
Shedding	low	high
Good with Children	Yes	Yes
Apartment Friendly	Yes	No

Cost

Poodle

Labrador Retriever

Purchase Price

$1,000 – $3,000

$800 – $3,000

Monthly Cost

~$130/mo

~$140/mo

Est. Lifetime Cost

~$18,720+

~$16,800+

Health Considerations

Both breeds have breed-specific health considerations. Being aware of these helps you plan for preventive care and vet visits.

Poodle

Life span: 12–15 yrs

Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) — inherited degeneration of the retina causing night blindness then total blindness; a DNA test (prcd-PRA) exists, so screened breeding lines can avoid it and breeders should provide clear parental results.
Hip dysplasia — abnormal hip development leading to pain and arthritis, relevant in this larger size; choose OFA/PennHIP-screened parents and keep the dog lean to delay onset.
Sebaceous adenitis — a breed-associated immune-mediated skin disease destroying the oil glands, causing scaling, hair loss, and secondary infection; lifelong topical and management therapy, and a reason to source from skin-screened lines.
Addison's disease (hypoadrenocorticism) — under-production of adrenal hormones, over-represented in Standard Poodles, causing vague signs (lethargy, vomiting, collapse) that mimic other illness; lifelong but very manageable with hormone replacement once diagnosed.
Gastric dilatation-volvulus (bloat/GDV) — the deep chest predisposes the Standard to life-threatening stomach twisting; an acute surgical emergency, and a reason to discuss prophylactic gastropexy with a vet for at-risk dogs.
Idiopathic epilepsy — inherited seizure disorder usually emerging between 6 months and 5 years; controlled, not cured, with lifelong anticonvulsant medication.
Hypothyroidism — common under-active thyroid causing weight gain, lethargy, and coat changes; diagnosed by blood panel and inexpensively managed with daily levothyroxine.

Labrador Retriever

Life span: 10–12 yrs

Hip dysplasia — a malformed hip joint that develops as the dog grows, leading to pain, lameness, and early arthritis; risk is reduced (not eliminated) by buying from parents with formal hip scores (OFA/PennHIP/BVA) and keeping puppies lean during growth.
Elbow dysplasia — abnormal development of the elbow joint causing front-limb lameness, frequently requiring surgery; like hip dysplasia, parental elbow scoring is the key risk-management tool.
Exercise-induced collapse (EIC) — an inherited DAM2 mutation causing hind-limb weakness and collapse after intense exercise, especially in field-bred Labs; a simple, inexpensive DNA test identifies carriers and affected dogs before purchase.
Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) — an inherited degeneration of the retina causing gradual, irreversible blindness; a DNA test exists, so a responsible breeder will know the parents' status.
Obesity driven by the POMC gene deletion — a documented breed-specific mutation that reduces satiety, making Labs unusually prone to overeating and the joint disease, diabetes, and shortened lifespan that follow excess weight.
Osteoarthritis — extremely common in older and overweight Labs, often secondary to hip or elbow dysplasia; weight control and joint-conscious exercise are the primary preventive levers.
Laryngeal paralysis — a degenerative weakening of the laryngeal muscles in older Labs causing noisy breathing, exercise intolerance, and in severe cases respiratory distress requiring surgery.