Labrador Retriever vs Alaskan Malamute vs Goldendoodle – Which one is a better dog breed for you?

"Find similarities and differences between Labrador Retriever vs Alaskan Malamute vs Goldendoodle" Compare Labrador Retriever and Alaskan Malamute. Which is better: Labrador Retriever or Alaskan Malamute or Goldendoodle?

General Appearance Hair & Care Characteristics Good With Health Factors Reproducibility Show differences only

Name	Labrador Retriever	Alaskan Malamute	Goldendoodle
Origins	England Canada	United States	United States Canada
All Dog Breeds By Country Of Origin
Group	Gun Dog	Sled Dogs	Companion Dogs
Popularity Rank	1	59	447
Reviews	3	3	4
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Other Names	Labrador, Lab	Mal, Mally	Curly Golden, Curly Retriever, Goldenpoo
Breed Type	Purebred	Purebred	Cross Breed
AKC Group	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1917 as a Sporting breed.	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1935 as a Working breed.	Not recognized by the American Kennel Club.
FCI Group	Recognized by FCI in the Retrievers - Flushing Dogs - Water Dogs group, in the Retrievers section.	Recognized by FCI in the Spitz and primitive types group, in the Nordic Sledge Dogs section.	Not recognized by FCI.
Breed Recognition	American Canine Registry American Kennel Club America's Pet Registry Canadian Kennel Club Dog Registry of America Inc. Federation Cynologique Internationale Kennel Club of Great Britain North American Purebred Registry, Inc. American Canine Association, Inc. Australian National Kennel Council Continental Kennel Club National Kennel Club New Zealand Kennel Club United Kennel Club Canadian Canine Registry	American Canine Registry American Kennel Club America's Pet Registry Canadian Kennel Club Dog Registry of America Inc. Federation Cynologique Internationale Kennel Club of Great Britain North American Purebred Registry, Inc. American Canine Association, Inc. Continental Kennel Club National Kennel Club New Zealand Kennel Club United Kennel Club	Dog Registry of America Inc. American Canine Hybrid Club Designer Breed Registry Designer Dogs Kennel Club International Designer Canine Registry
Price	$1000-$2000	$1200-$1500	600-800

General Appearance - Labrador Retriever vs Alaskan Malamute vs Goldendoodle

Size	Large	Large	Large
Weight	Male: 60-75 pounds (27-34kg), Female: 55-70 pounds (25-32 kg)	Male: 80 - 95 pounds (36 - 43 kg), Female: 70 - 85 pounds (32 - 38 kg)	Miniature: 15-30 pounds (7-14 kg)Standard: 45-100 pounds (20-45 kg), Medium: 30-45 pounds (14-20 kg)
Avg. Weight	Male: 67.5 pounds (30.5 kg), Female: 62.5 pounds (28.5 kg)	Male: 80 - 95 pounds (36 - 43 kg), Female: 70 - 85 pounds (32 - 38 kg)	Miniature: 22.5 pounds (10.5 kg)Standard: 72.5 pounds (32.5 kg), Medium: 37.5 pounds (17 kg)
Height	Male: 22-24 inches (56-61cm), Female: 21-23 inches (53-58 cm)	Male: 24 - 26 inches (61 - 66 cm), Female: 22 - 24 inches (56 - 61 cm)	13-24 inches (33-61 cm)
Avg. Height	Male: 23 inches (58.5 cm), Female: 22 inches (55.5 cm)	Male: 24 - 26 inches (61 - 66 cm), Female: 22 - 24 inches (56 - 61 cm)	18.5 inches (47 cm)

Hair & Care - Labrador Retriever vs Alaskan Malamute vs Goldendoodle

Coat	Dense Waterproof Hard Short	Dense Rough Thick Weather-resistant	Curly Wavy Smooth Straight
Colors	Yellow Chocolate Black	Red Gray White Black	Black Gray White Brown Red Yellow
Grooming	Effortless: The Labrador Retriever requires minimal grooming.	Average: The Alaskan Malamute requires average grooming effort.	Professional: This breed needs a lot of work to keep in good condition.
Shedding Level	Labrador Retrievers shed moderately.	Alaskan Malamutes are heavy shedders.	Goldendoodles shed moderately.

Characteristics - Labrador Retriever vs Alaskan Malamute vs Goldendoodle

Temperament	Affectionate Cheerful Friendly Intelligent Loyal Playful Social Alert Energetic Gentle Loving Going Responsive	Affectionate Dignified Loyal Devoted Friendly Playful	Energetic Intelligent Friendly Trainable
Intelligent Rank	Outstanding: Labrador Retriever is one of the brightest dog breeds.	Average: Alaskan Malamute's has average obedience intelligence.	Average: Goldendoodle's has average obedience intelligence.
Trainability	Labrador Retrievers are very easy to train.	Alaskan Malamutes are easy to train.	Goldendoodles are very easy to train.
Playfulness	The Labrador Retriever is a highly playful breed.	The Alaskan Malamute is a playful breed.	The Goldendoodle is a playful breed.
Sensitivity Level	Labrador Retrievers don't like an irregular daily routine, noisy household and frequent guest visits.	They are a little bit more sensitive than other dog breeds.	They are a little bit more sensitive than other dog breeds.
Affection Level	Labrador Retrievers may seem unfriendly sometimes due to their independence.	Alaskan Malamutes are average dogs regarding their affection level.	Goldendoodles are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate dogs toward their handlers.
Social Needs	Labrador Retrievers need a lot of social interaction.	Alaskan Malamutes are a social breed.	Goldendoodles need for social interaction is average.
Barking	Average: The Labrador Retriever barks occasionally.	Low to Average: The Alaskan Malamute rarely barks.	Average: The Goldendoodle barks occasionally.
Watchdog Ability	Labrador Retrievers are average watchdogs.	Alaskan Malamutes are one of the best watchdogs.	Goldendoodles are average watchdogs.
Territorial	Labrador Retrievers are average defenders.	Alaskan Malamutes are extremely protective guard dogs.	Goldendoodles are not the best to protect their territory.
Biting Potential	Moderate The Labrador Retriever has an average chance of biting somebody.	Moderate The Alaskan Malamute has an average chance of biting somebody.	Low The Goldendoodle has a low chance of biting somebody.
Mouthiness	Labrador Retrievers have a strong tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.	Alaskan Malamutes have an average tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.	Goldendoodles have lower than average tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.
Impulse to Wander or Roam	Labrador Retrievers have average wanderlust potential.	Alaskan Malamutes have high wanderlust potential, which means that this breed has a strong desire for exploring the world.	Goldendoodles have average wanderlust potential.
Prey Drive	Labrador Retrievers have low to an average impulse to chase and catch something like a cat or any other small aminals.	Alaskan Malamutes have a higher impulse to chase and catch something than other dog breeds.	Goldendoodles have low to an average impulse to chase and catch something like a cat or any other small aminals.
Apartment Friendly	Labrador Retrievers are not recommended for an apartment lifestyle.	Alaskan Malamutes are not apartment-friendly dogs.	Goldendoodles are very apartment-friendly dogs.
Adaptability	Labrador Retrievers adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments.	Alaskan Malamutes adapt to lifestyle changes and different living environments quite okay usually.	Goldendoodles adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments.
Tolerates Being Left Alone	Labrador Retrievers tend to have separation anxiety when their owners left them alone at home because they bond very closely with them.	Alaskan Malamutes do best when a family member is at home during the day or if their workplace is dog-friendly so they can take the dog at work.	Just like every puppy, they are prone to panic, cry, bark, whine when they left alone by their owner.
Fighting Dog	Not really In history, this breed was not really used for combat dog.	Yes In history, this breed was unfortunately used for combat dog.	Not really In history, this breed was not really used for combat dog.

Good With - Labrador Retriever vs Alaskan Malamute vs Goldendoodle

Stranger Friendly	Labrador Retrievers are very stranger friendly dogs.	Alaskan Malamutes are stranger friendly dogs.	Goldendoodles are very stranger friendly dogs.
Child Friendly	Labrador Retrievers are very kid-friendly dogs.	Alaskan Malamutes are kid-friendly dogs.	Goldendoodles are very kid-friendly dogs.
Cat Friendly	Labrador Retrievers are cat-friendly dogs.	Alaskan Malamutes are not cat-friendly dogs.	Goldendoodles are cat-friendly dogs.
Dog Friendly	Labrador Retrievers are very dog-friendly dogs.	Alaskan Malamutes are very dog-friendly dogs.	Goldendoodles are very dog-friendly dogs.
Office Friendly	No Labrador Retriever is not the best dog breed for office environment.	No Alaskan Malamute is not the best dog breed for office environment.	No Goldendoodle is not the best dog breed for office environment.
Senior Citizens Friendly	Labrador Retrievers are one of the best breeds for elderly people.	Alaskan Malamutes are usually recommended for elderly people.	Goldendoodles are one of the best breeds for elderly people.
Pet Friendly	Labrador Retrievers are usually friendly towards other pets.	Alaskan Malamutes do best when they’re the only pet at the family.	Goldendoodles are usually friendly towards other pets.
Good For First Time Owners	No Labrador Retrievers are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.	No Alaskan Malamutes are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.	No Goldendoodles are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.
Service Dog	Yes This breed makes good as a service dog.	Not really This breed generally not used as a service dog.	Not really This breed generally not used as a service dog.
Therapy Dog	Yes This breed makes a perfect therapy dog.	Not really This breed generally not used as a therapy dog.	Not really This breed generally not used as a therapy dog.
Detection Dog or Sniffer Dog	Yes A detection dog or sniffer dog is a dog that is trained to use its senses (mostly its smell) to detect substances such as explosives, illegal drugs, wildlife scat, currency, blood, and contraband electronics such as illicit mobile phones.	Not really A detection dog or sniffer dog is a dog that is trained to use its senses (mostly its smell) to detect substances such as explosives, illegal drugs, wildlife scat, currency, blood, and contraband electronics such as illicit mobile phones.	Not really A detection dog or sniffer dog is a dog that is trained to use its senses (mostly its smell) to detect substances such as explosives, illegal drugs, wildlife scat, currency, blood, and contraband electronics such as illicit mobile phones.
Search and Rescue Dog (SAR)	Yes The use of dogs in search and rescue (SAR) is a valuable component in wilderness tracking, natural disasters, mass casualty events, and in locating missing people.	Not really The use of dogs in search and rescue (SAR) is a valuable component in wilderness tracking, natural disasters, mass casualty events, and in locating missing people.	Not really The use of dogs in search and rescue (SAR) is a valuable component in wilderness tracking, natural disasters, mass casualty events, and in locating missing people.
Boat Dog	Yes Labrador Retriever breed usually likes being on a boat.	Not really Alaskan Malamute breed usually doesn't like being on a boat.	Not really Goldendoodle breed usually doesn't like being on a boat.
Cart Pulling or Drafting Dog	Not really A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling.	Not really A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling.	Not really A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling.

Health Factors - Labrador Retriever vs Alaskan Malamute vs Goldendoodle

Health Issues	The Labrador Retriever is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly.	The Alaskan Malamute is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly.	Goldendoodles are commonly healthy dogs.
Health Problems	Acute Moist Dermatitis Bloat Cataracts Cold Tail Ear Infections Elbow Dysplasia Epilepsy Hip Dysplasia Myopathy Osteochondrosis Dissecans Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) Tricuspid Valve Dysplasia	Cataracts Chondrodysplasia Hemeralopia Hip Dysplasia Hypothyroidism Inherited Polyneuropathy	Addison's Disease Allergies Bloat Cataracts Hip Dysplasia Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) Subvalvular Aortic Stenosis Von Willebrand's Disease
Life Expectancy	10-12 years	12-15 years	10-15 years
Calculate dog years to human years by breed here
Hypoallergenic	No	No	No
Energy Level	Labrador Retrievers are high energy dogs.	Alaskan Malamutes are high energy dogs.	Goldendoodles have a higher energy level than other dog breeds.
Exercise Need	Labrador Retrievers need a lot of exercises.	Alaskan Malamutes need quite a lot of exercise.	Goldendoodles need quite a lot of exercise.
Sleeping Need	Labrador Retrievers don't need too much sleep.	Alaskan Malamutes don't need too much sleep.	Goldendoodles are quite energetic dogs and they don't spend to much time with sleeping.
Avg. daily food consumption	Recommended daily amount: 2.5 to 3 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.	Recommended daily amount: 4 to 5 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.	1.5 to 2 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two or three meals.
Weight Gain Potential	High: The Labrador Retriever breed has a strong tendency to overweight.	Average.	Average.
Weather & Climate	Tolerates warm and cold weather.	Prefers cold weather The Alaskan Malamute can adapt well to harsh weather conditions, and also can be a good mountain dog.	Tolerates warm and cold weather.
Stinkiness	High The Labrador Retriever has a high chance of bad smell.	Low The Alaskan Malamute has a low chance of bad smell.	Low The Goldendoodle has a low chance of bad smell.
Drooling tendency	The Labrador Retriever is an average drooler.	The Alaskan Malamute is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency.	The Goldendoodle is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency.

Reproducibility - Labrador Retriever vs Alaskan Malamute vs Goldendoodle

Gestation Length	60-64 days	60-64 days	60-64 days
How often can the have a litter?	Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy.	Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy.	Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy.
Litter Size	5-10 puppies	4-10 puppies	4-8 puppies
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