15 Dogs That Are Similar to Labs (with Pictures)

It’s hard not to love a Lab. They are indeed one of the kindest, goofiest, sweetest, and most loving dog breeds around. Sometimes for whatever reason, the Labrador Retriever is not the perfect fit for your family. This may leave you looking for another similar type of dog that has many of the same personality traits as the Labrador. We did some searching and came up with a list of dogs that we think are very similar to these fun-loving canines.

The 15 Dog Breeds Similar to Labrador Retrievers

1. Chesapeake Bay Retriever

The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is another type of retriever very similar to the Labrador. These dogs are usually a brown color, and they are incredibly affectionate and smart. This is a sporting dog that will love to go hunting or play ball for hours. The Chesapeake is going to have just about as much energy as a Labrador, and they will very often be right around the same size as the Lab as well.

If you have a lake in your backyard, you will find that your Chesapeake may spend more time in the lake than with you! These dogs love to swim and play and be happy.

2. Curly Coated Retriever

You may have already picked up on the trend that many of the Retrievers are very much alike. The Curly-Coated Retriever is another dog that is very similar to the Labrador. This dog breed originated in England, and just like the Chesapeake (and the Lab), you will find your Curly Coated Retriever loves the water. The Curly-Coated Retriever will be taller than a Lab, and their coat can be a bit more challenging to manage at times.

Overall, this dog is adorable, smart, and very quickly trained. Most of the Curly Coated Retrievers have longer hair than a typical Lab.

3. Flat-Coated Retriever

Moving along from the Curly Coated Retriever, we have the Flat-Coated Retriever. The Flat-Coated Retriever will look very much like a Labrador, and act very much like one, but you can see the differences in their coat. You will also notice that their ears are quite a bit different than that of Labs. They have much more fur around the ears.

Overall the Flat-Coat will behave very similar to the Lab and be looking to chase, hunt, swim, and play the day away. These are excellent family dogs that want to please people and keep things friendly at all times.

4. Bassador (Basset Hound & Labrador Mix)

The Bassador is a mix between a Basset Hound and a Labrador. The Bassador is part Labrador, so naturally, he will inherit many of the same traits, but you get a bit of the Basset Hound thrown in as well. A Bassador is a dog that wants to be with people always. If you are looking for a full-time companion, this is the dog. They generally have relatively high energy, and they love their food. The Bassador looks sort of like a very short Labrador.

So, if one of the things that were keeping you from getting a Labrador is the size, you may enjoy this breed.

5. Corgidor (Corgi & Labrador Mix)

A Corgidor is a mix between a Labrador and a Corgi. The dog will look like a Labrador with very short legs, so basically, a dog that looks like a Lab but smaller. The Corgidor is an extremely loyal dog. Your Corgidor will have energy all day but will want to cuddle up close at night. This is a family dog that will enjoy people who want to stay active and want to play. The Corgidors tend to be lighter in color and can sometimes have markings and not be just plain black, brown, or yellow.

Although a Corgidor can adapt to living in a small yard or an apartment space, they will thrive when given room to run and explore.

6. Sheprador (German Shepherd & Labrador Mix)

The Sheprador is a cross between a German Shepard and a Labrador. Since both the German Shepard and the Labrador are very large, the crossbreed is also going to be quite large. A Sheprador is a fun, high-energy dog that also makes an excellent watchdog. Your Sheprador will take care of you and your family and make sure everybody gets plenty of exercise in a day as well.

The Sheprador can be prone to some health issues, so make sure to purchase from a loyal and trusted breeder. This breed will instantly become a part of the family.

7. Golden Retriever

It probably is not a surprise to you that the Golden Retriever makes it on our list of dogs similar to Labs. The Golden Retriever and the Labrador have always had very similar personalities. They tend to get along well with each other as well. The primary difference you will find between the Labrador and the Golden Retriever is the coat.

The hair and the coat of the Golden Retriever are going to be a bit more work than that of the Labrador. However, thanks to how adorable and loving they are, you will (hopefully) forget how many times a week you fill your vacuum with hair.

8. Huskador (Husky & Labrador Mix)

The Huskador is a Husky Labrador mix. This is one of the most intelligent dogs on our list. You will find that the Huskador is very easy to train and capable of learning a variety of things. If you want a loyal and energetic dog for your family that will be smarter than some of your family members, the Huskador could do the trick. These dogs can be a bit more expensive to purchase. They have a very unique and beautiful look to them, and they will enjoy being outside as much as you will let them.

9. Standard Poodle

At first glance, you may not think that a Labrador and a Standard Poodle are that much alike. In reality, their temperament and their intelligence are quite similar. Now, this will be a different-looking dog, but Poodles can be groomed to look a variety of different ways. There are several types of Poodles, including Miniature and Toy, but the closest to the Labrador would be the Standard. The Standard Poodle is a water dog that will love the chance to swim and enjoy the outdoors. Poodles are brilliant animals, and they can be trained to do amazing things.

If your family has the time to train and raise this wonderful dog, you will have a friend for life.

10. Labradoodle

Naturally, the next dog on our list would be the Labradoodle. The Labradoodle is a cross between a Labrador and a Standard Poodle. With one of these pups, you’ll be blessed with the ease of taking care of a Poodles coat, mixed with the affection and loyalty of the Labrador. The Labradoodle has a bit more of a caring and loving personality than a Standard Poodle, and they can either look a lot like a Lab or a lot like a Poodle—it depends on the parents and the breeder.

Labradoodles are becoming increasingly popular because of their low-maintenance coats and how much they enjoy being around people.

11. Springador

The Springador is a mix between a Springer Spaniel and a Labrador. Springer Spaniels will come a bit later on our list, as they have very often been compared to Labradors from a personality standpoint. If you like the idea of a small Labrador, mixed with a breed that has a wonderful personality, the Springador could be a good match for you. This is a dog that will likely love to hunt and will be very loyal to your family.

Springadors tend to develop very lovely markings because of the mix of the two coats. Their ears will resemble more of the long hair Spaniel-type ears, but they can very often have a face that looks more like a Lab.

12. Weimaraner

The Weimaraner is a large dog that, aside from its height, can sometimes resemble a Labrador. The Weimaraner is a hunting dog, and they are generally very tall and thin animals. The Weimaraners are smart dogs, but they are usually not going to be as loving and affectionate as a Lab. If you want a large breed dog that is alert and fast, the Weimaraner is a great fit.

If you want a goofy dog to cuddle up on the couch, you may need to look more at the pure-bred Labrador Retriever.

13. Bloodhound

You may be wondering how a hound can be that similar to a Retriever. The thing is, the Bloodhound has such a gentle personality that it is an excellent alternative to a Labrador. This breed was initially developed for hunting and tracking, but they make lovely family pets. Bloodhounds can come in a variety of colors, and they are large and loving animals.

Bloodhounds typically do quite well with kids as long as both parties understand the overwhelming size of the Bloodhound.

14. Springer Spaniel

The Spring Spaniel can be very similar to the Labrador because of it’s general personality. The overall size of the Springer will be quite a bit smaller. These dogs are intelligent, fun, and happy. They love to retrieve, and they want to be an active member of the family unit. The Springador, which we mentioned above, is a mix between a Labrador and Springer Spaniel.

Since these breeds can be so similar, the Springer Spaniel, the Springador, and the Labrador all make a great addition to your home. Might as well get one of each!

15. Newfoundland

If you love a big dog and you aren’t sure the Labrador is big enough for you, the Newfoundland is a great way to go. These dogs have a very similar look to a Labrador when you look at the face. They are mostly black but can be found in brown or a white-black mix as well. These dogs are gentle giants. They will be larger than most of the people in your home but they will still try and curl up on your lap.

The Newfoundland will not have quite as much energy as a Labrador as they are so much larger. The worst thing about Newfoundlands is their lifespan. Because they are so much bigger, this dog only tends to live about 8–10 years.

Conclusion: Dogs That Look Like Labs

There is not a dog on this list that would make a bad addition to a family home. The one thing we kept constant between all of these breeds is the friendliness and overall loving temperament of the Labrador. The Labrador Retriever is a dog that you can instantly fall in love with, and these fifteen dogs have very similar traits.

• Related Read: Labrador Growth & Weight Chart

Featured Image: Public Domain Pictures