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Comparison

Labrador Retriever vs Miniature Schnauzer

Side-by-side comparison from peer-reviewed sources. Lifespan and health figures draw on Royal Veterinary College VetCompass and AKC breed data.

"Labrador Retriever studio portrait"
Large13.1 yr avg

Labrador Retriever

AKC · Sporting

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"Miniature Schnauzer studio portrait"
Small13.3 yr avg

Miniature Schnauzer

AKC · Terrier

View breed
At a glance

Side-by-side

The numbers that most change day-to-day care. A citrus border marks a meaningful advantage.

Large

Labrador Retriever

Lifespan13.1 yrrange 13–14
SizeLarge
Weight55–80 lb24.9–36.3 kg
Height21.5–24.5 in54.6–62.2 cm
Senior at6 yrgeriatric at 10
AKC groupSporting
Energy5/590 min/day
Trainability5/5
Shedding4/5
With kids5/5
With other dogs5/5
Small

Miniature Schnauzer

Lifespan13.3 yrrange 13–14
SizeSmall
Weight11–20 lb5–9.1 kg
Height12–14 in30.5–35.6 cm
Senior at8 yrgeriatric at 12
AKC groupTerrier
Energy3/545 min/day
Trainability5/5
Shedding3/5
With kids5/5
With other dogs3/5
Health

Common health issues

Top 3 prevalence-ranked conditions for each breed. See each breed's full health profile for screening schedules and source data.

Labrador Retriever

  • Moderatetypical onset ~2 yr

    Elbow Dysplasia

    Description and veterinary guidance for Elbow Dysplasia land in Phase 4. Prevalence and onset-age figures above are drawn from https://ofa.org/diseases/disease-statistics/.

  • Low prevalencetypical onset ~7 yr

    Cataracts

    Description and veterinary guidance for Cataracts land in Phase 4. Prevalence and onset-age figures above are drawn from https://ofa.org/diseases/disease-statistics/.

  • Low prevalencetypical onset ~1 yr

    Congenital Cardiac Defect

    Description and veterinary guidance for Congenital Cardiac Defect land in Phase 4. Prevalence and onset-age figures above are drawn from https://ofa.org/diseases/disease-statistics/.

Miniature Schnauzer

  • Low prevalencetypical onset ~7 yr

    Cataracts

    Description and veterinary guidance for Cataracts land in Phase 4. Prevalence and onset-age figures above are drawn from https://ofa.org/diseases/disease-statistics/.

  • Low prevalencetypical onset ~2 yr

    Patellar Luxation

    Description and veterinary guidance for Patellar Luxation land in Phase 4. Prevalence and onset-age figures above are drawn from https://ofa.org/diseases/disease-statistics/.

  • Low prevalencetypical onset ~1 yr

    Congenital Cardiac Defect

    Description and veterinary guidance for Congenital Cardiac Defect land in Phase 4. Prevalence and onset-age figures above are drawn from https://ofa.org/diseases/disease-statistics/.

Synthesis

Which is right for you?

Labrador Retriever and Miniature Schnauzer have similar median lifespans, around 13.2 years.

Size gap is meaningful: the Labrador Retriever is large and the Miniature Schnauzer is small. Expect different considerations for housing, travel, and vet-care costs.

Energy levels differ significantly. Labrador Retrievers need substantially more daily exercise than Miniature Schnauzers — plan for 90+ active minutes per day with the Labrador Retriever.

See Labrador Retriever profileSee Miniature Schnauzer profile
Or calculate your dog's age
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