Quick answer
Which one should I get?
If you have serious space and a lower tolerance for shedding, the Labradoodle's 2/5 shedding score and better apartment fit make it the practical pick. If you have room, patience for a giant coat, and want a famously gentle family dog, the Newfoundland delivers on temperament.
Labradoodle or Newfoundland? On paper they differ most on energy level, and on the scales Newfoundland is the heavier at 100–150 lbs. Here is how the two compare on everything that shapes an ordinary week.
This is for someone already down to Labradoodle and Newfoundland and deciding between them. For this pair the decision usually turns on energy level and shedding, so those are covered first and in most detail. Anyone choosing from a flat has a clear answer here: Labradoodle rates 2/5 against 1/5. There is no origin story here — only what changes about your week.
Between Labradoodle and Newfoundland, energy level is what separates them, and Newfoundland is the lower-effort dog of the two to keep.
Choose Labradoodle if this is your first dog, shedding is a problem in your house and you want a dog that picks up training quickly.
Choose Newfoundland if your walking routine is modest and the dog will be alone during the working day.
| Feature | labradoodle | newfoundland | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size class | medium | giant | Equal |
| Weight | 15–65 lbs | 100–150 lbs | Equal |
| Height | 14–24 in | 26–28 in | Equal |
| Lifespan | 12–14 years | 9–10 years | labradoodle |
| Exercise need | Very high (5/5) | Moderate (3/5) | newfoundland |
| Grooming need | High (4/5) | High (4/5) | Equal |
| Shedding | Low (2/5) | Very high (5/5) | labradoodle |
| Energy level | Very high (5/5) | Low (2/5) | Equal |
| Barking | Low (2/5) | Low (2/5) | Equal |
| Apartment suitability | Low (2/5) | Very low (1/5) | labradoodle |
| Good for first-time owners | High (4/5) | Moderate (3/5) | labradoodle |
| Tolerates being alone | Low (2/5) | Moderate (3/5) | newfoundland |
| Trainability | Very high (5/5) | High (4/5) | labradoodle |
| Good with kids | Very high (5/5) | Very high (5/5) | Equal |
| Good with other dogs | High (4/5) | High (4/5) | Equal |
| Friendly to strangers | High (4/5) | High (4/5) | Equal |
| Cost level | High (4/5) | Very high (5/5) | labradoodle |
| Coat | Wavy to curly | Heavy water-resistant double coat | Equal |
| Origin | Australia | Various | Equal |
| Typical monthly cost | $120–$220 | $150–$310 | Equal |
| Typical first-year cost | $1,800–$3,200 | $2,200–$4,200 | Equal |
The Newfoundland is a genuine giant: 100-150 lbs and 26-28 inches, against the Labradoodle's 15-65 lbs and 14-24 inches. Even a large standard Labradoodle sits well below a Newfoundland's typical weight, and this breed was built for hauling and water rescue work, not for fitting into tight spaces or being casually lifted into a car when it's time for a vet visit.
The Labradoodle rates 5/5 on exercise need, very high, while the Newfoundland sits at 3/5, moderate, a lower bar than its size might suggest. Both breeds are quiet, tying at 2/5 barking, so noise isn't a differentiator here even though the Newfoundland is the far larger dog and could, in theory, sound intimidating when it does bark, which in practice is rarely.
Grooming ties at 4/5 for both, but shedding does not: the Newfoundland rates 5/5, very high, against the Labradoodle's 2/5, low. That heavy double coat is built for cold water work and sheds accordingly, especially during seasonal blowouts twice a year. If shedding is a dealbreaker, this is the single biggest number to pay attention to in this whole comparison, full stop.
The Newfoundland scores just 1/5 on apartment suitability, the lowest score in this comparison, against the Labradoodle's 2/5. Its sheer size makes small-space living genuinely impractical, and most leases with weight limits will simply rule it out. On the plus side, it tolerates being alone better than the Labradoodle, 3/5 versus 2/5, a rare advantage for a giant breed that's otherwise demanding on space.
The Labradoodle rates higher for first-time owners, 4/5 against the Newfoundland's 3/5, and is slightly more trainable, 5/5 versus 4/5. The Newfoundland is still a fundamentally biddable, easygoing breed; it's just a lot of dog to manage physically while you're both learning leash manners and basic commands, and its strength means early training matters more than usual, ideally starting the week it comes home.
Kids, other dogs, and strangers all tie between these two breeds, at 5/5, 4/5, and 4/5 respectively. The Newfoundland's "Sweet, Patient, Devoted" temperament traits back up its reputation as a nanny dog, matching the Labradoodle score-for-score on family-friendliness despite the enormous size gap between the two breeds and their very different builds and working histories on land and in water.
The Labradoodle's lifespan advantage is significant, 12-14 years against the Newfoundland's 9-10. The Newfoundland's health list is shorter but weighted toward cardiac risk: subaortic stenosis and dilated cardiomyopathy alongside hip dysplasia and bloat, conditions worth discussing directly with a breeder or vet given how serious they can be for a giant breed carrying this much weight on a comparatively young heart.
The Newfoundland costs more to keep, 5/5 against the Labradoodle's 4/5. Monthly costs run $150-310 for the Newfoundland versus $120-220 for the Labradoodle, and first-year costs hit $2,200-4,200 against $1,800-3,200. Feeding a 100-150 lb dog is the biggest line item driving that gap, followed closely by larger medication doses and bigger everything, from crates to car harnesses to the vet's scale.
Labradoodle weighs 15–65 lbs and lives 12–14 years; Newfoundland weighs 100–150 lbs and lives 9–10 years. The two diverge most on energy level, shedding and exercise need. They are level on barking, good with other dogs and grooming need, so those cannot decide it. Where the table declares a winner it means less work for the owner, nothing more; descriptive rows are left as ties on purpose. The value here is in the differences between the two columns; treat any single score as approximate.
No, it's rated 1/5, the lowest apartment suitability score in this comparison. Its size alone makes small-space living impractical, regardless of its calm, moderate exercise needs.
The Newfoundland, considerably, 5/5 against the Labradoodle's 2/5. That heavy, water-resistant double coat sheds heavily, so anyone drawn to the Labradoodle for its lower-shedding coat should know the Newfoundland is close to the opposite extreme.
Yes, tying the Labradoodle at 5/5. The breed's reputation as a gentle nanny dog is backed up by its temperament traits, Sweet, Patient, and Devoted, and it scores identically to the Labradoodle on this measure despite its much larger size.
The Labradoodle, 5/5 versus the Newfoundland's 3/5. It's a common misconception that a bigger dog needs more exercise; here the giant breed is actually the more moderate mover.
Notably more. Expect $150-310 a month against $120-220 for the Labradoodle, and $2,200-4,200 in year one against $1,800-3,200. Food costs for a 100-150 lb dog add up fast.
The Labradoodle, by a wide margin, 12-14 years against the Newfoundland's 9-10. That's typical of giant breeds generally, which trade size for a shorter lifespan.
Cardiac conditions stand out on its list, specifically subaortic stenosis and dilated cardiomyopathy, alongside hip dysplasia and bloat. Ask a breeder about cardiac screening before committing to this breed.
If you have serious space and a lower tolerance for shedding, the Labradoodle's 2/5 shedding score and better apartment fit make it the practical pick. If you have room, patience for a giant coat, and want a famously gentle family dog, the Newfoundland delivers on temperament.
$120-220 for a Labradoodle versus $150-310 for a Newfoundland, with the giant breed's food needs driving the difference.
The Labradoodle needs more, 5/5 versus the Newfoundland's 3/5, moderate. Despite its size, the Newfoundland isn't a high-mileage dog.
The Labradoodle, by up to five years, 12-14 versus the Newfoundland's 9-10, a typical tradeoff for giant breeds.
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Health information here is general and is not veterinary advice. If your dog shows pain, sudden behaviour change, or worsening symptoms, consult a licensed veterinarian.
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