Why you Should Get the Great Dane Instead of the Labrador Retriever.

Last Updated: Jun 18, 2022

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Great Dane Versus Labrador Retriever: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Great Dane and the Labrador Retriever? Well, you have come to the right place. Because in this article, we will provide you with a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Great Dane and the Labrador Retriever better suits you.

We will provide you a detailed discussion and comparison of dog attributes such as intelligence, price, general health, friendliness, etc, for both the Great Dane and the Labrador Retriever.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Great Dane and the Labrador Retriever is better suited for new dog owners, for owners with kids, for owners that live in apartments, for owners with dog allergies, etc.

Importantly, we did some analysis and calculation and we obtained a number that we call the Better-Pet Score™ for both the Great Dane and for the Labrador Retriever. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you with more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Great Dane and the Labrador Retriever.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Great Dane or the Labrador Retriever.

Great Dane versus Labrador Retriever

Great Dane versus Labrador Retriever: Overview

A very important difference between the Great Dane and the Labrador Retriever is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Great Dane is a giant-sized dog while the Labrador Retriever is a large-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Great Dane belongs to the Working Dogs group. Working Dogs were developed to assist humans in some capacity – including pulling sleds and carts, guarding flocks, guarding homes, and protecting their families. Breeds in the Working Group are known for their imposing stature, strength, intelligence, and fearless. Because of their size and strength, working dogs require a structured home life and firm, fair, consistent training by someone who can provide leadership without resorting to anger or physical force.

On the other hand, the Labrador Retriever belongs to the Sporting Dogs group. Sporting Dogs were bred to help hunters catch and retrieve feathered game. Some sporting dog breeds such as Retrievers, which were built for swimming, were bred to hunt waterfowl in water. Whereas sporting dog breeds like setters, spaniels, and pointing breeds were bred to hunt quail, pheasant, and other game birds nest on grasslands. Many Sporting Group breeds have thick, water-repellent coats that protect them from harsh hunting conditions.

Great Dane versus Labrador Retriever: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Great Dane to the Labrador Retriever based on different important factors such as Price, Health, Kid-friendliness, etc.

When a dog breed scores higher for a factor than the other dog breed, the box of the breed that scores higher is shaded green and the box of the breed that scores lower is shaded red. When there is no difference between the breeds for a particular factor then the box is shaded gray for both pets. Also, when the factor is not important in picking a pet, or when the factor cannot be compared between two pets, the box for the factor is shaded gray for both pets

Most of the factors in the table for each dog breed are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5. “1” means “worst”, and “5” means “best”.

However, some factors such as “Price”, “Average Lifespan”, etc. cannot be on a scale of 1 to 5, so they are not on a scale of 1 to 5 in the comparison table.

Later in this article, we will further explain each factor as it applies to the Great Dane and the Labrador Retriever

FactorGreat DaneLabrador Retriever
Adapts Well To Apartment Living1/51/5
Good For Novice Owners1/53/5
Tolerates Being Alone1/52/5
Weight100 to 200 pounds55 to 80 pounds
Tolerates Cold Weather2/53/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight4/51/5
Does NOT chew on things4/51/5
Height26 to 34 inches tall at the shoulder21 to 24 inches at the shoulder
Tolerates Hot Weather3/53/5
Intelligence3/55/5
Low Prey Drive3/54/5
Tendency NOT to Wander3/53/5
Does NOT Drool2/53/5
General Health4/53/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl2/52/5
Easygoing1/51/5
Affectionate With Family5/55/5
Kid-Friendly5/55/5
Dog Friendly5/55/5
Friendly Toward Strangers5/55/5
Does NOT Shed1/51/5
Easy To Groom5/55/5
Easy To Train5/55/5
NOT Rambunctious1/51/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor1/51/5
Minimal Exercise Needs1/51/5
Potential For Playfulness5/55/5
Life Span7 to 10 years10 to 12 years
Average Lifespan8.5 years11.0 years
Average Price$1560$1290
Price Range$1000 – $2000$850 – $1500
Temperament Score81.5 percent92.2 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Centronuclear Myopathy
  • D Locus (Dilute) DNA Test
  • EIC (Exercise Induced Collapse)
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • prcd-PRA DNA Test
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds151
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds)487
    *Data from AKC.org (The American Kennel Club),dogtime.com, OFA.org (The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals), petcalculator.com, wikipedia.org, ATTS.org (The American Temperament Test Society)

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Great Dane in the table (that is, `Ease of Grooming` score + `General Health` score + `Calmness` score + …etc) and we compared it to the corresponding total score for the Labrador Retriever. We call these total scores the Better-Pet Scores, as we mentioned earlier. We called this score the Better-Pet score because the better dog breed will have a higher score. This is because the pet will the higher score will have minimal needs and be easier to have as a pet.

    The Better-Pet score for the Great Dane is 73 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Labrador Retriever is 74 out of 125.

    Despite the higher Better-Pet score of the Labrador Retriever, we still believe that the Great Dane is a better pet than the Labrador Retriever.

    This is because Great Danes are much cuter but you cannot put a score on cuteness. If you could put a score on cuteness, then the Great Dane will come out on top.

    Also, we are biased in favor of the Great Dane :-). We are for the Great Dane. So get a Great Dane!

    Great Dane versus Labrador Retriever

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Great Dane and the Labrador Retriever

    Below is a list of where the Great Dane and the Labrador Retriever are most different:

  • Great Danes are not prone to gaining weight easily. However, Labrador Retrievers gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • Great Danes are not prone to nip and chew at things. However, Labrador Retrievers are prone to nip and chew at things.
  • The Similarities Between the Great Dane and the Labrador Retriever

    The Great Dane and the Labrador Retriever are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Great Dane and the Labrador Retriever are most similar:

  • Both the Great Dane and the Labrador Retriever do not adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Great Dane and the Labrador Retriever do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Great Dane and the Labrador Retriever cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.
  • Both the Great Dane and the Labrador Retriever have a very high tendency to drool.
  • Both the Great Dane and the Labrador Retriever are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Both the Great Dane and the Labrador Retriever are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the Great Dane and the Labrador Retriever are easily disturbed by noise in their environments. They are sensitive to human tone. They will understand the tone of your voice when you try to correct their behaviors with a firm tone.
  • Both the Great Dane and the Labrador Retriever are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Great Dane and the Labrador Retriever get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Great Dane and the Labrador Retriever get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Great Dane and the Labrador Retriever are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Great Dane and the Labrador Retriever shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
  • Both the Great Dane and the Labrador Retriever are very easy to groom.
  • Both the Great Dane and the Labrador Retriever are very easy to train.
  • Both the Great Dane and the Labrador Retriever have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Great Dane and the Labrador Retriever do things with high intensity. They can be very forceful.
  • Both the Great Dane and the Labrador Retriever require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Great Dane and the Labrador Retriever are very playful.
  • Size Comparison of the Great Dane versus Labrador Retriever

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Great Dane and the Labrador Retriever.

    The Great Dane weighs 100 to 200 pounds when fully grown. The Great Dane is 26 to 34 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, the Labrador Retriever weighs 55 to 80 pounds when fully grown. The Labrador Retriever is 21 to 24 inches at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Size of Great Dane versus Size of Labrador Retriever

    Appearance (Colors) of the Great Dane and the Labrador Retriever

    Great Dane Colors

    The Great Dane comes in the following beautiful primary colors:

    • Black
    • Harlequin
    • Merle (Blue)
    • Yellow / Tan / Blond / Fawn
    • Brown / Chocolate
    • White / Cream
    • Brindle
    • Tricolor (Brown, Black, & White)
    • Merle (Red)
    • Bicolor
    • Gray / Blue / Silver

    The Great Dane comes in the following lovely secondary colors in addition to its primary colors:

    • White / Cream
    • Brown / Chocolate
    • Black
    • Gray / Blue / Silver
    • Golden
    • Merle (Blue)
    • Harlequin
    • Brindle

    Labrador Retriever Colors

    The Labrador Retriever comes in the following beautiful primary colors:

    • Black
    • White / Cream
    • Brown / Chocolate
    • Yellow / Tan / Blond / Fawn
    • Gray / Blue / Silver
    • Golden
    • Red / Chestnut / Orange
    • Brindle

    The Labrador Retriever comes in the following lovely secondary colors in addition to its primary colors:

    • Brown / Chocolate
    • Black
    • White / Cream

    Lifespan of Great Dane versus Labrador Retriever

    The lifespan of the Great Dane is between 7 to 10 years. The average lifespan of the Great Dane is 8.5 years.

    The lifespan of the Labrador Retriever is between 10 to 12 years. The average lifespan of the Labrador Retriever is 11.0 years.

    The Labrador Retriever live longer than the Great Dane.

    Great Dane versus Labrador Retriever

    Temperament of the Labrador Retriever Versus the Great Dane

    The Labrador Retriever has a better temperament than the Great Dane.

    This is because the temperament score for the Labrador Retriever is 92.2 percent while the temperament score for the Great Dane is 81.5 percent, according to the American Temperament Test Society (ATTS).

    The American Temperament Test Society (ATTS) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide fair and objective evaluations of the temperaments of dog breeds.

    Dog breeds with low temperament scores tend to show unprovoked aggression, they easily panic without quickly recovering from the panic, and they tend to avoid people. However, dog breeds with high temperament scores are not aggressive and are not shy. Also, these dogs are generally friendly and are protective of their owners.

    The average temperament score across all dog breeds (over 250 breeds) is 83.7 percent.

    With its temperament score of 81.5 percent, the Great Dane has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 92.2 percent, the Labrador Retriever has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Great Dane and the Labrador Retriever by measuring the temperaments of 314 Great Danes and 842 Labrador Retrievers.

    Price of Great Dane versus Price of Labrador Retriever

    The average price of the Great Dane puppy is $1560. The price of the Great Dane typically ranges from $1000 – $2000. However, the price of a Great Dane can be as low as $100 and as high as $5500. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 1324 Great Dane puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Labrador Retriever puppy is $1290. The price of the Labrador Retriever typically ranges from $850 – $1500. However, the price of the Labrador Retriever can be as low as $100 and as high as $5000. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 1413 Labrador Retriever puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Great Dane is more expensive than the Labrador Retriever.

    Great Dane Labrador Retriever
    Average Price $1560 $1290
    Price Range $1000 to $2000 $850 to $1500

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Great Dane and Labrador Retriever. For different price points, the charts show how many Great Dane puppies or how many Labrador Retriever puppies are listed for sale at those price points.

    A breakdown of the prices of Great Danes. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Great Danes. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Labrador Retrievers

    A breakdown of the prices of Labrador Retrievers

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Great Dane puppy or the Labrador Retriever puppy. This includes if health screening tests have been performed on the puppy, if the puppy is from a famous pedigree, the US State where the puppy is bred, etc.

    Nevertheless, when looking to buy a puppy, look at buying a puppy only from well-established breeders that breed puppies primarily for the love of dogs, and secondarily for profit. Do not buy a puppy from a puppy mill. Puppy mills mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.

    You may also consider adopting a dog instead of buying a dog.

    Great Dane versus Labrador Retriever

    Adopting the Great Dane versus Adopting the Labrador Retriever

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Great Danes and many Labrador Retrievers are currently available for adoption.

    These adorable and cute dogs are waiting in dog shelters hoping that someday someone will rescue them. Furthermore, adoption costs are lesser than the cost of a new puppy. Dog adoption costs are usually around $300. In addition to your local dog shelter, a good place online to see dogs that are available for adoption is petfinder.com.

    Below is an adorable Male Great Dane named Titan that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Great Danes like Titan on pefinder.com.

    Also, like Great Danes, Labrador Retrievers are also available for adoption. For example, Rodeo is a Male Labrador Retriever that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Labrador Retrievers like Rodeo that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

    The Great Dane and the Labrador Retriever can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

    Marmaduke is the name of another Great Dane (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.

    Also, Mr. Moo Moo is an adorable Male Labrador Retriever on petfinder.com that you can adopt.

    Great Danes and Labrador Retrievers are always available for adoption. Images and image labels from petfinder.com

    You can find more Great Danes and Labrador Retrievers that are available for adoption on petfinder.

    The Intelligence of the Great Dane versus the Intelligence of the Labrador Retriever

    Great Dane Labrador Retriever
    Intelligence Rank 48 out of 130 dog breeds 7 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 25 To 40 Repetitions Tend To Learn New Commands After Fewer Than 5 Repetitions

    Professor Stanley Coren, the famous psychology/neuropsychological professor and, dog lover/trainer measured and ranked the intelligence of about 130 different dog breeds.

    According to Prof. Stanley Coren, the total intelligence that a dog demonstrates is the addition of three types of intelligence. These intelligence types are:

  • Instinctive Intelligence: This is the natural intelligence a dog has because of what the dog was bred for. This type of intelligence comes from instinct. For example, dog breeds that were bred for guarding will have high `guarding` instinctive intelligence, while dog breeds that were bred for hunting will what high `hunting` instinctive intelligence. However, you cannot compare the intelligence of dog breeds based on instinctive intelligence because such a comparison will not make sense.
  • Adaptive Intelligence (learning and problem-solving ability): This indicates what a dog can learn to do for himself or herself. It includes learning and benefiting from experience with his environment, solving new problems, and so forth. Adaptive intelligence is specific to each dog, and not breed specific. Thus, two dogs can have remarkably different levels of adaptive intelligence even if they are of the same breed.
  • Working/Obedience Intelligence: This intelligence is the closest to what we might call school-learning ability and it is based upon what the dog can learn to do when instructed by humans. Importantly, different dog breeds have different learning abilities. Also, science has shown that some dog breeds can learn faster than some other breeds. This means certain dog breeds tend to have higher working/obedience intelligence than some other breeds. Dogs with high Working/Obedience Intelligence are smart and easy to train.

  • Prof. Coren showed that the Working/Obedience Intelligence of different dog breeds can be measured reliably. Thus, he was able to rank different dog breeds based on their Working/Obedience Intelligence.

    This is important because according to Prof. Coren, 51 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from its genes while 49 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from the dog`s environmental circumstances.

    To rank the intelligence of dog breeds, Prof. Coren employed the help of 208 dog obedience judges in North America to fill out a detailed survey on dog obedience. This number represented more than half of all of these judges in North America at the time. He also employed 63 veterinarians and 14 guard dog experts to collect data on the personality of different dog breeds.

    Prof. Coren found that the Great Dane has an obedience intelligence rank of 48 out of 130 dog breeds. The Great Dane belongs to the `Average Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Great Danes tend to learn new commands after 25 to 40 repetitions.

    The Labrador Retriever has an obedience intelligence rank of 7 out of 130 dog breeds. The Labrador Retriever belongs to the `Brightest Dogs` category. This means that Labrador Retrievers tend to learn new commands after fewer than 5 repetitions.

    The Labrador Retriever is more intelligent than the Great Dane.

    However, Prof. Coren noted that a dog should not be judged based on its intelligence alone, that other factors such as sociability, adorability, and compatibility with the owner are other very important factors that new dog owners need to consider when deciding on a new dog.

    The Popularity of Great Dane versus Popularity of Labrador Retriever

    Every year, the American Kennel Club (AKC) publishes information on how popular a dog breed is in that particular year. The AKC gets the popularity information of a breed from how many dogs of that breed the owners register with the AKC every year. The AKC collects this data for about 200 dog breeds. The AKC collects this data for purebred dogs only(no mixed or hybrid dogs).

    The graphs and the table below show the popularity of the Great Dane and the Labrador Retriever over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Labrador Retriever is more popular with dog owners than the Great Dane. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Labrador Retriever is 1 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Great Dane is 15 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Great Dane

    Popularity of Great Dane

    Popularity of Labrador Retriever

    Popularity of Labrador Retriever

    Year Great Dane Popularity Rank Labrador Retriever Popularity Rank
    2013 16 1
    2014 15 1
    2015 15 1
    2016 14 1
    2017 14 1
    2018 16 1
    2019 17 1
    2020 15 1
    2021 17 1

    Health Problems of Great Dane versus Health Problems of Labrador Retriever

    Every dog breed has its own set of health problems that it has a tendency to develop. There is nothing like a perfect dog breed.

    Both the Great Dane and the Labrador Retriever are prone to certain genetic health conditions. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is the organization that keeps track of health problems in dogs. Based on the extensive records that the OFA keeps, the OFA knows what health problems each dog breed is naturally prone to develop. Hence, the OFA recommends which health screening that breeders should perform on a dog breed to make sure that the breeders won`t breed `defective` dog parents that can pass down defective genes to their puppy offspring.

    The more health problems a dog breed is prone to develop, the more health tests the OFA will recommend for that dog breed.

    Based on our review of OFA records, we found that the Labrador Retriever is prone to more genetic health problems than the Great Dane.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Labrador Retriever than for the Great Dane.

    4 health tests are recommended for Great Dane while 8 tests are recommended for the Labrador Retriever.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Great Danes and in Labrador Retrievers.

    Great Dane Health Problems

    Great Danes are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Great Dane puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Great Dane puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Great Dane breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Great Danes for:

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia

  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Great Danes here.

    Labrador Retriever Health Problems

    Labrador Retrievers are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Labrador Retriever puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Labrador Retriever puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Labrador Retriever breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Labrador Retrievers for:

  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Centronuclear Myopathy
  • D Locus (Dilute) DNA Test
  • EIC (Exercise Induced Collapse)
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • prcd-PRA DNA Test

  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Labrador Retrievers here.

    More Discussions on Health Problems in Great Danes and Labrador Retrievers

    Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Great Dane Breed is Shoulder problems.

    This is because the Great Dane ranks 4 out of 22 dog breeds for Shoulder problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 183 Great Danes, 10 of them had Shoulder problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Great Danes, and how common these diseases are in Great Danes relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Shoulder problems: Rank 4 out of 22 Dog Breeds
  • Advanced Cardiac problems: Rank 33 out of 71 Dog Breeds
  • Dentition Database problems: Rank 35 out of 49 Dog Breeds
  • Congenital Cardiac problems: Rank 40 out of 159 Dog Breeds
  • Thyroid problems: Rank 42 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 59 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 75 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 92 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 130 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Labrador Retriever Breed is Achromatopsia Day Blindness problems.

    This is because the Labrador Retriever ranks 1 out of 1 dog breeds for Achromatopsia Day Blindness problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 87 Labrador Retrievers, 0 of them had Achromatopsia Day Blindness problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Labrador Retrievers, and how common these diseases are in Labrador Retrievers relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Achromatopsia Day Blindness problems: Rank 1 out of 1 Dog Breeds
  • D Locus problems: Rank 1 out of 3 Dog Breeds
  • Hereditary Nasal Parakeratosis problems: Rank 1 out of 1 Dog Breeds
  • Copper Toxicosis problems: Rank 2 out of 2 Dog Breeds
  • Exercise Induced Collapse problems: Rank 3 out of 6 Dog Breeds
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes problems: Rank 8 out of 40 Dog Breeds
  • Shoulder problems: Rank 13 out of 22 Dog Breeds
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems: Rank 16 out of 32 Dog Breeds
  • Dentition Database problems: Rank 25 out of 49 Dog Breeds
  • Advanced Cardiac problems: Rank 29 out of 71 Dog Breeds
  • Degenerative Myelopathy problems: Rank 39 out of 70 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 41 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Congenital Cardiac problems: Rank 66 out of 159 Dog Breeds
  • Thyroid problems: Rank 76 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 78 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 103 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 119 out of 182 Dog Breeds

  • The table below lists the common health problems in Great Dane and in Labrador Retriever and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Great Dane and the Labrador Retriever:

    Disease Great Dane Rank Labrador Retriever Rank
    Shoulder problems 4 out of 22 dog breeds 13 out of 22 dog breeds
    Advanced Cardiac problems 33 out of 71 dog breeds 29 out of 71 dog breeds
    Dentition Database problems 35 out of 49 dog breeds 25 out of 49 dog breeds
    Congenital Cardiac problems 40 out of 159 dog breeds 66 out of 159 dog breeds
    Thyroid problems 42 out of 115 dog breeds 76 out of 115 dog breeds
    Eyes problems 59 out of 182 dog breeds 119 out of 182 dog breeds
    Elbow problems 75 out of 144 dog breeds 41 out of 144 dog breeds
    Hips problems 92 out of 198 dog breeds 103 out of 198 dog breeds
    Patella problems 130 out of 145 dog breeds 78 out of 145 dog breeds
    Achromatopsia Day Blindness problems Not Common 1 out of 1 dog breeds
    D Locus problems Not Common 1 out of 3 dog breeds
    Hereditary Nasal Parakeratosis problems Not Common 1 out of 1 dog breeds
    Copper Toxicosis problems Not Common 2 out of 2 dog breeds
    Exercise Induced Collapse problems Not Common 3 out of 6 dog breeds
    Legg-Calve-Perthes problems Not Common 8 out of 40 dog breeds
    Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems Not Common 16 out of 32 dog breeds
    Degenerative Myelopathy problems Not Common 39 out of 70 dog breeds

    *To learn more about each of these diseases, go to OFA.org and search for the disease.

    Again, most of these health problems can be prevented through health screening. Responsible breeders screen male and female dog parents for genetic problems. These breeders will only breed dogs that are free of genetic defects. That way, there is little or no chance that their puppies will grow up to have genetic health problems. Always ask a breeder for the list of health tests the breeder screens their dogs for before buying a puppy from such a breeder.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Great Dane versus Labrador Retriever

    Great Danes do not like to be left alone.

    Labrador Retrievers do not like to be left alone.

    Do Great Danes shed more than Labrador Retrievers?

    Great Danes shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Labrador Retrievers shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Great Dane or the Labrador Retriever?

    Great Danes are very easy to groom.

    Labrador Retrievers are very easy to groom.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Great Dane or the Labrador Retriever?

    Great Danes get along very well with other dogs.

    Labrador Retrievers get along very well with other dogs.

    Are Great Danes good family dogs? What about Labrador Retrievers?

    Great Danes are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Labrador Retrievers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Is the Great Dane Easier to Train than the Labrador Retriever?

    Great Danes are very easy to train.

    Labrador Retrievers are very easy to train.

    Which one drools more, the Great Dane or the Labrador Retriever

    Great Danes have a very high tendency to drool.

    Labrador Retrievers drool moderately.

    How Kid-friendly are Great Danes and Labrador Retrievers?

    Great Danes get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Labrador Retrievers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Does the Great Dane Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Labrador Retriever?

    Great Danes have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.

    Labrador Retrievers have a very low prey drive. This means they get won`t chase after smaller pets. They tend to get along well with other pets.

    Do Great Danes Bark and Howl? What about Labrador Retrievers?

    Great Danes are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Labrador Retrievers are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Can Great Danes Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Labrador Retrievers Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Great Danes cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Labrador Retrievers can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Great Dane vs. Labrador Retriever

    Great Danes have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.

    Labrador Retrievers have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.

    Can Great Danes Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Labrador Retrievers Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Great Danes can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Labrador Retrievers can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Is the Great Dane Better for Apartment Owners than the Labrador Retriever?

    Great Danes do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Labrador Retrievers do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Great Dane or the Labrador Retriever?

    Great Danes are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Labrador Retrievers are OK for new dog owners.

    Great Dane Versus Other Dog Breeds

    You may also be interested in how the Great Dane compares to other breeds aside from the Labrador Retriever. So, see below the links to the comparison of the Great Dane to other breeds:

    Great Dane versus Standard Schnauzer     Great Dane versus Mastiff     Great Dane versus Bich Poo     Great Dane versus German Shorthaired Pointer     Great Dane versus Pomchi     Great Dane versus Fila Brasileiro     Great Dane versus Lowchen     Great Dane versus Goldendoodle     Great Dane versus Doberman Pinscher     Great Dane versus Saluki     Great Dane versus Kerry Blue Terrier     Great Dane versus Boykin Spaniel     Great Dane versus Pyrenean Shepherd     Great Dane versus Maltipoo     Great Dane versus Coton de Tulear     Great Dane versus Pembroke Welsh Corgi     Great Dane versus American Pit Bull Terrier     Great Dane versus Maremma Sheepdog     

    Conclusion: Great Dane versus Labrador Retriever. Which One is a Better Pet?

    In summary, there is nothing like a better dog breed or a worse dog breed. The important question to ask is which dog breed better matches your interests and lifestyle. We hope our discussion above will help you in deciding which dog breed between the Great Dane and the Labrador Retriever better suits you and your family.