Rhodesian Ridgeback vs Labrador Retriever vs Bernese Mountain Dog – Which one is a better dog breed for you?

"Find similarities and differences between Rhodesian Ridgeback vs Labrador Retriever vs Bernese Mountain Dog" Compare Rhodesian Ridgeback and Labrador Retriever. Which is better: Rhodesian Ridgeback or Labrador Retriever or Bernese Mountain Dog?

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

Name	Rhodesian Ridgeback	Labrador Retriever	Bernese Mountain Dog
Origins	Zimbabwe	England Canada	Switzerland
All Dog Breeds By Country Of Origin
Group	Hunting Dogs	Gun Dog	Working Dogs
Popularity Rank	41	1	25
Reviews	3	3	1
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Other Names	African Lion Dog, African Lion Hound	Labrador, Lab	Berner Sennenhund, Bernese Cattle Dog, Berner
Breed Type	Purebred	Purebred	Purebred
AKC Group	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1955 as a Hound breed.	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1917 as a Sporting breed.	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1937 as a Working breed.
FCI Group	Recognized by FCI in the Scent hounds and related breeds group, in the Related breeds section.	Recognized by FCI in the Retrievers - Flushing Dogs - Water Dogs group, in the Retrievers section.	Recognized by FCI in the Pinscher and Schnauzer - Molossoid and Swiss Mountain and Cattledogs group, in the Swiss Mountain- and Cattledogs section.
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 Rhodesian Ridgeback Club Of The US	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. Australian National Kennel Council Continental Kennel Club National Kennel Club New Zealand Kennel Club United Kennel Club Canadian Canine Registry
Price	$900-$1200	$1000-$2000	$800-$1000

General Appearance - Rhodesian Ridgeback vs Labrador Retriever vs Bernese Mountain Dog

Size	Large	Large	Large
Weight	Male: 80-90 pounds (36-41 kg), Female: 65-75 pounds (29-34 kg)	Male: 60-75 pounds (27-34kg), Female: 55-70 pounds (25-32 kg)	Male: 85-110 pounds (38–50 kg), Female: 80-105 pounds (36–48 kg)
Avg. Weight	Male: 85 pounds (38.5 kg), Female: 70 pounds (31.5 kg)	Male: 67.5 pounds (30.5 kg), Female: 62.5 pounds (28.5 kg)	Male: 97.5 pounds (38–50 kg), Female: 92.5 pounds (36–48 kg)
Height	Male: 25-27 inches (63-69 cm), Female: 24-26 inches (61-66 cm)	Male: 22-24 inches (56-61cm), Female: 21-23 inches (53-58 cm)	Male: 24-28 inches (61–71 cm), Female: 23-27 inches (58–69 cm)
Avg. Height	Male: 26 inches (66 cm), Female: 25 inches (63.5 cm)	Male: 23 inches (58.5 cm), Female: 22 inches (55.5 cm)	Male: 26 inches (61–71 cm), Female: 25 inches (58–69 cm)

Hair & Care - Rhodesian Ridgeback vs Labrador Retriever vs Bernese Mountain Dog

Coat	Dense	Dense Waterproof Hard Short	Dense
Colors	Golden Red White Gray Wheaten	Yellow Chocolate Black	White Black
Grooming	Effortless: The Rhodesian Ridgeback requires minimal grooming.	Effortless: The Labrador Retriever requires minimal grooming.	Average: The Bernese Mountain Dog requires average grooming effort.
Shedding Level	Rhodesian Ridgebacks shed none to minimal.	Labrador Retrievers shed moderately.	Bernese Mountain Dogs shed above average.

Characteristics - Rhodesian Ridgeback vs Labrador Retriever vs Bernese Mountain Dog

Temperament	Dignified Loyal Sensitive Intelligent Mischievous Strong Willed	Affectionate Cheerful Friendly Intelligent Loyal Playful Social Alert Energetic Gentle Loving Going Responsive	Affectionate Intelligent Faithful Loyal
Intelligent Rank	Average: Rhodesian Ridgeback's has average obedience intelligence.	Outstanding: Labrador Retriever is one of the brightest dog breeds.	Very smart: Bernese Mountain Dog is an excellent dog breed.
Trainability	Rhodesian Ridgebacks are quite easy to train.	Labrador Retrievers are very easy to train.	Bernese Mountain Dogs are easy to train.
Playfulness	The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a playful breed.	The Labrador Retriever is a highly playful breed.	Bernese Mountain Dogs, like any other dog breed, like playing.
Sensitivity Level	They are a little bit more sensitive than other dog breeds.	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.
Affection Level	Rhodesian Ridgebacks are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate dogs toward their handlers.	Labrador Retrievers may seem unfriendly sometimes due to their independence.	Bernese Mountain Dogs are average dogs regarding their affection level.
Social Needs	Rhodesian Ridgebacks are a social breed.	Labrador Retrievers need a lot of social interaction.	Bernese Mountain Dogs need for social interaction is average.
Barking	Low to Average: The Rhodesian Ridgeback rarely barks.	Average: The Labrador Retriever barks occasionally.	Average: The Bernese Mountain Dog barks occasionally.
Watchdog Ability	Rhodesian Ridgebacks are average watchdogs.	Labrador Retrievers are average watchdogs.	Bernese Mountain Dogs are one of the best watchdogs.
Territorial	Rhodesian Ridgebacks strongly protect their territory.	Labrador Retrievers are average defenders.	Bernese Mountain Dogs are extremely protective guard dogs.
Biting Potential	Low The Rhodesian Ridgeback has a low chance of biting somebody.	Moderate The Labrador Retriever has an average chance of biting somebody.	Low The Bernese Mountain Dog has a low chance of biting somebody.
Mouthiness	Rhodesian Ridgebacks have an average tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.	Labrador Retrievers have a strong tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.	Bernese Mountain Dogs have a strong tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.
Impulse to Wander or Roam	Rhodesian Ridgebacks have high wanderlust potential, which means that this breed has a strong desire for exploring the world.	Labrador Retrievers have average wanderlust potential.	Bernese Mountain Dogs have average wanderlust potential.
Prey Drive	Rhodesian Ridgebacks have a high impulse to chase and catch something.	Labrador Retrievers have low to an average impulse to chase and catch something like a cat or any other small aminals.	Bernese Mountain Dogs have a high impulse to chase and catch something.
Apartment Friendly	Rhodesian Ridgebacks are not the best choice for an apartment lifestyle, but they don't mind being inside if you walk them several times every day.	Labrador Retrievers are not recommended for an apartment lifestyle.	Bernese Mountain Dogs are not recommended for an apartment lifestyle.
Adaptability	Rhodesian Ridgebacks adapt well to lifestyle changes and different living environments.	Labrador Retrievers adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments.	Bernese Mountain Dogs adapt to lifestyle changes and different living environments quite okay usually.
Tolerates Being Left Alone	Rhodesian Ridgebacks 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.	Labrador Retrievers tend to have separation anxiety when their owners left them alone at home because they bond very closely with them.	Just like every puppy, they are prone to panic, cry, bark, whine when they left alone by their owner.
Fighting 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.	Not really In history, this breed was not really used for combat dog.

Good With - Rhodesian Ridgeback vs Labrador Retriever vs Bernese Mountain Dog

Stranger Friendly	Rhodesian Ridgebacks are not the most stranger friendly dogs.	Labrador Retrievers are very stranger friendly dogs.	Bernese Mountain Dogs are average friendly towards strangers.
Child Friendly	Rhodesian Ridgebacks are very kid-friendly dogs.	Labrador Retrievers are very kid-friendly dogs.	Bernese Mountain Dogs are kid-friendly dogs.
Cat Friendly	Rhodesian Ridgebacks are not the most cat-friendly dogs.	Labrador Retrievers are cat-friendly dogs.	Bernese Mountain Dogs are average friendly towards cats.
Dog Friendly	Rhodesian Ridgebacks are not the most dog-friendly dogs.	Labrador Retrievers are very dog-friendly dogs.	Bernese Mountain Dogs are average friendly towards other dogs.
Office Friendly	No Rhodesian Ridgeback is not the best dog breed for office environment.	No Labrador Retriever is not the best dog breed for office environment.	No Bernese Mountain Dog is not the best dog breed for office environment.
Senior Citizens Friendly	Rhodesian Ridgebacks are one of the best breeds for elderly people.	Labrador Retrievers are one of the best breeds for elderly people.	Bernese Mountain Dogs are usually recommended for elderly people.
Pet Friendly	Rhodesian Ridgebacks usually don’t get on well with other pets.	Labrador Retrievers are usually friendly towards other pets.	Bernese Mountain Dogs are generally with other pets.
Good For First Time Owners	No Rhodesian Ridgebacks are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.	No Labrador Retrievers are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.	No Bernese Mountain Dogs are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.
Service Dog	Not really This breed generally not used as a service dog.	Yes This breed makes good as a service dog.	Yes This breed makes good as a service dog.
Therapy Dog	Not really This breed generally not used as a therapy dog.	Yes This breed makes a perfect therapy dog.	Not really This breed generally not used as a therapy dog.
Detection Dog or Sniffer Dog	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.	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.
Search and Rescue Dog (SAR)	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.	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.
Boat Dog	Not really Rhodesian Ridgeback breed usually doesn't like being on a boat.	Yes Labrador Retriever breed usually likes being on a boat.	Not really Bernese Mountain Dog 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.	Yes A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling.

Health Factors - Rhodesian Ridgeback vs Labrador Retriever vs Bernese Mountain Dog

Health Issues	The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly.	The Labrador Retriever is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly.	Very healthy dog breed.
Health Problems	Dermoid Sinus Elbow Dysplasia Hip Dysplasia	Acute Moist Dermatitis Bloat Cataracts Cold Tail Ear Infections Elbow Dysplasia Epilepsy Hip Dysplasia Myopathy Osteochondrosis Dissecans Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) Tricuspid Valve Dysplasia	Bloat Cancer Elbow Dysplasia Hip Dysplasia Panosteitis Portosystemic Liver Shunt Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) Von Willebrand's Disease
Life Expectancy	10-12 years	10-12 years	7-10 years
Calculate dog years to human years by breed here
Hypoallergenic	No	No	No
Energy Level	Rhodesian Ridgebacks have a higher energy level than other dog breeds.	Labrador Retrievers are high energy dogs.	Bernese Mountain Dogs have a higher energy level than other dog breeds.
Exercise Need	Rhodesian Ridgebacks need quite a lot of exercise.	Labrador Retrievers need a lot of exercises.	Bernese Mountain Dogs have an average exercise need.
Sleeping Need	Rhodesian Ridgebacks are quite energetic dogs and they don't spend to much time with sleeping.	Labrador Retrievers don't need too much sleep.	Bernese Mountain Dogs are quite energetic dogs and they don't spend to much time with sleeping.
Avg. daily food consumption	Recommended daily amount: 2 3/4 to 4 3/8 cups of a high-quality daily, divided into two meals.	Recommended daily amount: 2.5 to 3 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.	6 to 8 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.
Weight Gain Potential	Average.	High: The Labrador Retriever breed has a strong tendency to overweight.	Average to High.
Weather & Climate	Tolerates warm and cold weather.	Tolerates warm and cold weather.	Prefers cold weather The Bernese Mountain Dog can adapt well to harsh weather conditions, and also can be a good mountain dog.
Stinkiness	Medium The Rhodesian Ridgeback has an average chance of bad smell.	High The Labrador Retriever has a high chance of bad smell.	Medium The Bernese Mountain Dog has an average chance of bad smell.
Drooling tendency	The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency.	The Labrador Retriever is an average drooler.	The Bernese Mountain Dog drools quite a lot, so if you dislike being covered by slobber spots on your clothes, you may want to choose another dog breed.

Reproducibility - Rhodesian Ridgeback vs Labrador Retriever vs Bernese Mountain Dog

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	6-8 puppies	5-10 puppies	1-14 puppies, average 8
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