The breeds · side by side
for a first duck dog
Labrador Retriever or Golden Retriever.
The two retrievers most first-time duck handlers choose between. The coat work, the water, and the lines inside each breed matter more than the breed name; a field-bred dog of either is a different purchase from a show-bred one.
Every value below shows its source and how sure we are. Breed sets the odds; the parents set the dog. Nothing here is a prediction about one dog.
What the question turns on
Cold water
4 of 5 · Undercoat provides protection from water, cold and all types of ground cover; the standard describes a dog with the substance and soundness to hunt waterfowl for long hours under difficult conditions
4 of 5 · Dense, water-repellent coat with good undercoat on a breed the standard calls primarily a hunting dog
Grooming load
2 of 5 · Once a week (RKC grooming band); coat length short; sheds
3 of 5 · More than once a week (RKC grooming band); coat length medium; sheds
Energy
5 of 5
field lineHigher energy and drive than show-bred dogs; bred to hunt all day
Water work
Retrievers shall perform equally well on the land and in the water and are tested on both at every level
Retrievers shall perform equally well on the land and in the water and are tested on both at every level
The rest, read the same way
Height at the shoulder
dogs 23.5 in (22.5 to 24.5) · bitches 22.5 in (21.5 to 23.5)
dogs 23.5 in (23 to 24) · bitches 22 in (21.5 to 22.5)
Weight
dogs 72.5 lb (65 to 80) · bitches 62.5 lb (55 to 70)
dogs 70 lb (65 to 75) · bitches 60 lb (55 to 65)
Coat
Short, straight and very dense, fairly hard to the hand, with a soft weather-resistant undercoat; a slight wave down the back is permissible; black, yellow or chocolate
field lineLighter bone structure, more length of leg, a less dense coat and a narrower head with more length of muzzle
show lineStockier, heavier of bone, denser in coat, with a head often incorrectly described as square or blocky
Dense and water-repellent with good undercoat; outer coat firm and resilient, straight or wavy, lying close to the body; untrimmed natural ruff, moderate feathering on forelegs and underbody, heavier on neck, thighs and tail; rich lustrous golden of various shades
field lineShorter, thinner coat with less feathering, darker shades from gold to red; leaner, lighter-boned build
show lineLonger, heavier coat with more feathering, lighter shades from cream to rich gold; broader head and heavier build
Shedding
Shedding 4 of 5 (AKC breed page trait score)
Shedding 4 of 5 (AKC breed page trait score)
Heat tolerance
4 of 5 · Short dense double coat: short, straight, very dense outer coat with a soft weather-resistant undercoat
3 of 5 · Medium double coat: dense and water-repellent with good undercoat, firm resilient outer coat, moderate to heavy feathering
Median lifespan
13.1 years (13 to 13.1)
13.2 years (13.1 to 13.2)
Life expectancy at birth
11.8 years (11.7 to 11.9)
Not recorded for this breed yet.
Exercise need
More than 2 hours per day
More than 2 hours per day
Exercise need
More than 2 hours per day
More than 2 hours per day
Grooming
Once a week
More than once a week
Role
Retrieving gun dog with the substance and soundness to hunt waterfowl or upland game for long hours under difficult conditions
Primarily a hunting dog (a non-slip retriever), to be shown in hard working condition
Primary game
Waterfowl
Waterfowl and upland birds, retrieved to hand; AKC retriever tests are built around upland game or waterfowl hunting situations
Also used on
Upland game
Not recorded for this breed yet.
Range
Close: a non-slip retriever works from the handler's side and goes out on command; test retrieves should not normally exceed 100 yards (Junior, Senior) or 150 yards (Master)
Close: a non-slip retriever works from the handler's side and goes out on command; test retrieves should not normally exceed 100 yards (Junior, Senior) or 150 yards (Master)
Field trial standard
AKC retriever hunting tests score four abilities 0-10: marking (memory), style, perseverance/courage/hunting, and trainability (steadiness, control, response, delivery); dogs must perform equally well on land and in water; Senior and Master dogs run blind retrieves and honor another dog's retrieve; tests are designed to approximate upland or waterfowl hunting
AKC retriever hunting tests score four abilities 0-10: marking (memory), style, perseverance/courage/hunting, and trainability (steadiness, control, response, delivery); dogs must perform equally well on land and in water; Senior and Master dogs run blind retrieves and honor another dog's retrieve
Hip dysplasia
11.3% · 11.3% dysplastic of 325,251 OFA hip evaluations on record (all data through Oct 2026; OFA hip registry dates from 1974); 87.5% normal (21.8% excellent, 57.1% good, 8.6% fair); breed rank 121 of the breeds listed
19.3% · 19.3% dysplastic of 193,301 OFA hip evaluations on record (all data through Oct 2026; OFA hip registry dates from 1974); 78.3% normal (5.9% excellent, 50.2% good, 22.2% fair); breed rank 55
Elbow dysplasia
9.9% · 9.9% abnormal of 149,110 OFA elbow evaluations on record (grade 1 7.6%, grade 2 1.7%, grade 3 0.6%); breed rank 49
11.8% · 11.8% abnormal of 84,443 OFA elbow evaluations on record (grade 1 9.2%, grade 2 2.1%, grade 3 0.5%); breed rank 44
Most common disorders
Most prevalent disorders in UK Labradors under primary care (2013, sample n = 2,074): otitis externa 10.4%, overweight/obesity 8.8%, degenerative joint disease 5.5%; 61.6% had at least one disorder recorded. Median longevity 12.0 yr in that sample; chocolate-coloured dogs shorter-lived (10.7 vs 12.1 yr) with more otitis and pyo-traumatic dermatitis.
GRCA 1998-99 National Health Survey (owner-reported, Purdue-analysed): neoplasia accounted for 61.4% of veterinarian-confirmed deaths (264 of 430); lifetime risk of hot spots about 1 in 3, hypothyroidism 1 in 4, hemangiosarcoma 1 in 5, lymphosarcoma 1 in 8. Elbow/hip dysplasia and cardiovascular disease ranked second and third in owners' concerns.
Toward strangers
0.4 of 4 · C-BARQ stranger-directed aggression breed mean 0.41 (online sample, n = 349); breed-club sample 0.36 (n = 277); ranked 5th (online) and 6th (breed club) of the 8 breeds common to both surveys, where rank 1 is the most aggressive (Dachshund)
0.2 of 4 · C-BARQ stranger-directed aggression breed mean 0.23 (online sample, n = 181); breed-club sample 0.36 (n = 179); ranked 7th of the 8 breeds common to both surveys in both samples, where rank 1 is the most aggressive (only the Siberian Husky scored lower)
Toward other dogs
0.6 of 4 · C-BARQ dog-directed aggression breed mean 0.59 (online sample, n = 349); breed-club sample 0.46 (n = 277)
0.6 of 4 · C-BARQ dog-directed aggression breed mean 0.63 (online sample, n = 181); breed-club sample 0.49 (n = 179)
Aggression, as studied
Among breed-club Labradors, field-bred dogs scored higher than conformation-bred dogs on owner-directed aggression (z = 2.18, P < 0.05); stranger- and dog-directed aggression did not differ between the lines. The authors note this is the opposite pattern to English Springer Spaniels, so show breeding is not itself the cause.
Not recorded for this breed yet.
What to ask a breeder for
Clearances
- prcd-PRA DNA test (optional, recommended) · US
- Cardiac evaluation (optional, recommended: advanced cardiac incl. echo for stud dogs) · US
- Centronuclear myopathy (CNM) DNA test (optional, recommended) · US
- D Locus (dilute) DNA test (CHIC requirement since 11/1/2016) · US
- Elbow evaluation (CHIC requirement, at or after 24 months) · US
- Hip evaluation (CHIC requirement, at or after 24 months) · US
- Eye examination by a board-certified ACVO ophthalmologist, results registered with OFA; annual for breeding stock · US
- Exercise Induced Collapse (EIC) DNA test (CHIC requirement; the dog does not have to be clear to be bred) · US
- DNA (good practice): CNM, EIC, macular corneal dystrophy (MCD), prcd-PRA, skeletal dysplasia 2 (SD2), Stargardt disease (STGD) · UK
- DNA (best practice): hereditary nasal parakeratosis (HNPK) · UK
- Eye testing · UK
- Elbow scoring · UK
- Hip scoring · UK
- Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis 5 (NCL5) DNA test · US
- DNA tests available, use at the breeder's judgement: prcd-PRA, GR-PRA1, ichthyosis · US
- Eye exam by an ACVO diplomate within 12 months before breeding; yearly for life for dogs that produce offspring · US
- Cardiac exam by an ACVIM (Cardiology) diplomate at 12 months or older · US
- Elbow evaluation at 24 months or older · US
- Hip evaluation at 24 months or older · US
- DNA (best practice): ichthyosis (ICT-A), progressive retinal atrophy GR_PRA1 · UK
- DNA (good practice): progressive retinal atrophy GR_PRA2 · UK
- Eye testing including gonioscopy for primary lens/glaucoma (PLA) · UK
- Elbow scoring · UK
- Hip scoring · UK
The health clearances each breed’s own club and registry name. Reference only: what to ask for, never a statement about any dog’s health.
Kennels breeding these two
The selector
Which one, for your life?
A few minutes of honest answers: the birds, the ground, the water, the house, the week. The selector ranks both of these against what you said, explains every rank, and shows exactly where the one you came in wanting lands.
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