Labrador Retriever vs Great Dane vs Rottweiler – Which one is a better dog breed for you?

"Find similarities and differences between Labrador Retriever vs Great Dane vs Rottweiler" Compare Labrador Retriever and Great Dane. Which is better: Labrador Retriever or Great Dane or Rottweiler?

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

Name	Labrador Retriever	Great Dane	Rottweiler
Origins	England Canada	Germany	Germany
All Dog Breeds By Country Of Origin
Group	Gun Dog	Working Dogs	Working Dogs
Popularity Rank	1	14	8
Reviews	3	1	5
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Other Names	Labrador, Lab	Dane, Gentle Giant, Deutsche Dogge, German Mastiff, Apollo of Dogs	Rottie, Rott
Breed Type	Purebred	Purebred	Purebred
AKC Group	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1917 as a Sporting breed.	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1887 as a Working breed.	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1931 as a Working breed.
FCI Group	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 Molossian type section.	Recognized by FCI in the Pinscher and Schnauzer - Molossoid and Swiss Mountain and Cattledogs group, in the Molossian type 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 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	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 Colonial Rottweiler Club Deutscher Rottweiler Klub International Rottweiler Club
Price	$1000-$2000	$800-$1200	$1200-$2000

General Appearance - Labrador Retriever vs Great Dane vs Rottweiler

Size	Large	Giant	Large Giant
Weight	Male: 60-75 pounds (27-34kg), Female: 55-70 pounds (25-32 kg)	Male: 120-200 pounds (54-90 kg), Female: 100-130 pounds (45-59 kg)	Male: 95-130 pounds (43-59 kg), Female: 85-115 pounds (38-52 kg)
Avg. Weight	Male: 67.5 pounds (30.5 kg), Female: 62.5 pounds (28.5 kg)	Male: 160 pounds (72 kg), Female: 115 pounds (52 kg)	Male: 112.5 pounds (51 kg), Female: 100 pounds (45 kg)
Height	Male: 22-24 inches (56-61cm), Female: 21-23 inches (53-58 cm)	Male: 30-34 inches (76-86 cm), Female: 28-32 inches (71-81 cm)	Male: 24-27 inches (61-69 cm), Female: 22-25 inches (56-63 cm)
Avg. Height	Male: 23 inches (58.5 cm), Female: 22 inches (55.5 cm)	Male: 32 inches (81 cm), Female: 30 inches (76 cm)	Male: 25.5 inches (65 cm), Female: 23.5 inches (59.5 cm)

Hair & Care - Labrador Retriever vs Great Dane vs Rottweiler

Coat	Dense Waterproof Hard Short	Dense	Dense
Colors	Yellow Chocolate Black	Blue Fawn White Brindle Merle Black	Mahogany Tan Rust Black
Grooming	Effortless: The Labrador Retriever requires minimal grooming.	Effortless: The Great Dane requires minimal grooming.	Effortless: The Rottweiler requires minimal grooming.
Shedding Level	Labrador Retrievers shed moderately.	Great Danes shed moderately.	Rottweilers shed moderately.

Characteristics - Labrador Retriever vs Great Dane vs Rottweiler

Temperament	Affectionate Cheerful Friendly Intelligent Loyal Playful Social Alert Energetic Gentle Loving Going Responsive	Friendly Devoted Gentle Reserved Confident Intelligent Loving	Alert Fearless Independent Loyal Courageous Good-natured Intelligent Protective
Intelligent Rank	Outstanding: Labrador Retriever is one of the brightest dog breeds.	Smart: Great Dane's has great intelligence.	Outstanding: Rottweiler is one of the brightest dog breeds.
Trainability	Labrador Retrievers are very easy to train.	Great Danes are quite easy to train.	Rottweilers are easy to train.
Playfulness	The Labrador Retriever is a highly playful breed.	Great Danes are not the most playful dog breed.	Rottweilers, like any other dog breed, like playing.
Sensitivity Level	Labrador Retrievers don't like an irregular daily routine, noisy household and frequent guest visits.	Great Danes 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	Labrador Retrievers may seem unfriendly sometimes due to their independence.	Great Danes are average dogs regarding their affection level.	Rottweilers are average dogs regarding their affection level.
Social Needs	Labrador Retrievers need a lot of social interaction.	Great Danes are a social breed.	Rottweilers need a lot of social interaction.
Barking	Average: The Labrador Retriever barks occasionally.	Low to Average: The Great Dane rarely barks.	Low: The Rottweiler barks none to minimal.
Watchdog Ability	Labrador Retrievers are average watchdogs.	Great Danes are one of the best watchdogs.	Rottweilers are one of the best watchdogs.
Territorial	Labrador Retrievers are average defenders.	Great Danes are extremely protective guard dogs.	Rottweilers are extremely protective guard dogs.
Biting Potential	Moderate The Labrador Retriever has an average chance of biting somebody.	Low The Great Dane has a low chance of biting somebody.	High The Rottweiler has a high chance of biting somebody.
Mouthiness	Labrador Retrievers have a strong tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.	Great Danes have a higher than average tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.	Rottweilers have an average tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.
Impulse to Wander or Roam	Labrador Retrievers have average wanderlust potential.	Great Danes have average wanderlust potential.	Rottweilers tend to escape less than other breeds.
Prey Drive	Labrador Retrievers have low to an average impulse to chase and catch something like a cat or any other small aminals.	Great Danes have an average prey drive, which means that they don't have a high impulse to chase and catch something like a cat or any other small aminals, but it might happen.	Rottweilers have a higher impulse to chase and catch something than other dog breeds.
Apartment Friendly	Labrador Retrievers are not recommended for an apartment lifestyle.	Great Danes are very apartment-friendly dogs.	Rottweilers are not the best choice for an apartment lifestyle, but they don't mind being inside if you walk them several times every day.
Adaptability	Labrador Retrievers adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments.	Great Danes adapt to lifestyle changes and different living environments quite okay usually.	Rottweilers adapt to lifestyle changes and different living environments quite okay usually.
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.	Great Danes 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.	Rottweilers tend to have separation anxiety when their owners left them alone at home because they bond very closely with them.
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.	Yes In history, this breed was unfortunately used for combat dog.

Good With - Labrador Retriever vs Great Dane vs Rottweiler

Stranger Friendly	Labrador Retrievers are very stranger friendly dogs.	Great Danes are average friendly towards strangers.	Rottweilers are not stranger friendly dogs.
Child Friendly	Labrador Retrievers are very kid-friendly dogs.	Great Danes are kid-friendly dogs.	Rottweilers are not the most kid-friendly dogs.
Cat Friendly	Labrador Retrievers are cat-friendly dogs.	Great Danes are average friendly towards cats.	Rottweilers are average friendly towards cats.
Dog Friendly	Labrador Retrievers are very dog-friendly dogs.	Great Danes are average friendly towards other dogs.	Rottweilers are not dog-friendly.
Office Friendly	No Labrador Retriever is not the best dog breed for office environment.	No Great Dane is not the best dog breed for office environment.	No Rottweiler is not the best dog breed for office environment.
Senior Citizens Friendly	Labrador Retrievers are one of the best breeds for elderly people.	Great Danes are usually recommended for elderly people.	Rottweilers are not the best breed for elderly people.
Pet Friendly	Labrador Retrievers are usually friendly towards other pets.	Great Danes are generally with other pets.	Rottweilers are generally with other pets.
Good For First Time Owners	No Labrador Retrievers are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.	No Great Danes are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.	No Rottweilers 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.	Yes This breed makes good as a service dog.
Therapy Dog	Yes This breed makes a perfect therapy dog.	Yes This breed makes a perfect therapy dog.	Yes This breed makes a perfect 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 Great Dane breed usually doesn't like being on a boat.	Not really Rottweiler 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.	Yes 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 - Labrador Retriever vs Great Dane vs Rottweiler

Health Issues	The Labrador Retriever is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly.	Great Danes are commonly healthy dogs.	The Rottweiler is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly.
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	Bloat Cancer Dilated Cardiomyopathy Hip Dysplasia Mitral Valve Disease Patent Ductus Arteriosis Persistent Right Aortic Arch Subvalvular Aortic Stenosis Tricuspid Valve Dysplasia	Allergies Aortic Stenosis Bloat Elbow Dysplasia Hip Dysplasia Hypothyroidism Osteosarcoma Panosteitis Subvalvular Aortic Stenosis
Life Expectancy	10-12 years	7-10 years	8-11 years
Calculate dog years to human years by breed here
Hypoallergenic	No	No	No
Energy Level	Labrador Retrievers are high energy dogs.	Great Danes are high energy dogs.	Rottweilers have a higher energy level than other dog breeds.
Exercise Need	Labrador Retrievers need a lot of exercises.	Great Danes exercise need is minimal.	Rottweilers have an average exercise need.
Sleeping Need	Labrador Retrievers don't need too much sleep.	Great Danes don't need too much sleep.	Rottweilers 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.	8 to 10 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals	Recommended daily amount: 4 to 10 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.
Weight Gain Potential	High: The Labrador Retriever breed has a strong tendency to overweight.	Low to Average.	High: The Rottweiler breed has a strong tendency to overweight.
Weather & Climate	Tolerates warm and cold weather.	Prefers average to warm weather conditions	Prefers average to warm weather conditions
Stinkiness	High The Labrador Retriever has a high chance of bad smell.	Medium The Great Dane has an average chance of bad smell.	Medium The Rottweiler has an average chance of bad smell.
Drooling tendency	The Labrador Retriever is an average drooler.	The Great Dane drools quite a lot, so if you dislike being covered by slobber spots on your clothes, you may want to choose another dog breed.	The Rottweiler 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 - Labrador Retriever vs Great Dane vs Rottweiler

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	10-15 puppies	8-12 puppies
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