Weimaraner vs Labrador: What’s The Difference? (Complete Guide)

Are you looking for your next dog and aren’t sure which one to get, whether a Weimaraner or a Labrador?

Both are a very active breed with a lifespan around 10-13 years. Weimaraners can measure up to 27″ and 90 lbs while Labradors can be up to 24.5″ and 80 lbs. Weimaraners usually come in shades of gray and blue, while Labradors are black, chocolate and yellow.

The Labrador (also called Labrador Retriever) belongs to the Working group, while the Weimaraner belongs to the Sporting group.

Table of Contents hide

1. Appearance of Weimaraner vs Labrador

1.1. Eyes

1.2. Ears

1.3. Nose

1.4. Coat

1.5. Tail

2. Personality of Weimaraner vs Labrador

3. General Care of Weimaraner vs Labrador

4. Training and Exercise of Weimaraner vs Labrador

5. Lifespan and Health Issues of Weimaraner vs Labrador

6. Average Puppy Prices

7. Labrador Rescues

8. Advantages and Disadvantages of Both Breeds

8.1. Labrador

8.2. Weimaraner

9. Further Reading

Labrador is the first dog breed that I’m covering in my breed comparison series that don’t look similar to the Weimaraner, though they are similar in temeperament and exercise needs.

Appearance of Weimaraner vs Labrador

The Weimaraner is considered to be medium to large, they can grow up to 27″ in height and 90 lbs in weight. The Labrador is generally smaller and lighter, they can measure up to 24.5″ and 80 lbs.

Labradors are quite stocky with strong build whereas Weimaraners are more sleek, muscular and sinewy.

Eyes

Weimaraner’s eyes are usually blue when they’re puppies and later they turn into amber or blue-gray. Some Labradors can also have blue eyes when they’re puppies but eventually they will turn brown or hazel.

Weimaraner’s eyes are a medium size and round, Labradors have medium sized eyes and more almond shaped.

Ears

Weimaraner’s ears are fairly long and have a rounded tip. They are set high on their head. Labradors have shorter ears, set further back and close to the head.

Nose

Labrador’s wide nose generally fits their coat but it’s not a rule, it can be brown, black or lighter. Weimaraner’s nose is usually dark brown in gray dogs, dark blue in blue Weimaraners. If you’d like to read more about blue Weimaraners, I wrote a post about them here.

Coat

Both breeds have solid colored coat. Weimaraner comes in shades of gray from mouse to silver and sometimes blue, though that color isn’t standard. The Labrador’s coat can be chocolate brown, black or shades of yellow (light cream to fox red). White markings on chest are acceptable.

Tail

Labrador’s tail starts thick and tapers to a thin point. It’s often called “the otter tail” and they use it as a rudder when they are swimming. Weimaraner’s tail is thinner but it’s strong and where law permits, short-haired Weimaraner’s tail is cropped to cover their genitalia (about 6 inches).

I wrote an article about docking Weimaraners’ tails here.

Personality of Weimaraner vs Labrador

Even if it may not seem like it, the Labrador is a very active breed much like the Weimaraner. Labradors are one of the most favorite dog breeds in the United States and most likely even worldwide for their happy and friendly disposition.

Labradors are very intelligent, not aggressive, playful and love their family and children. Similar to the Weimaraner, they don’t like to be left alone or they will cause destruction.

Weimaraners are famous for their attachment to their families and that has earned them the nickname “velcro dogs”. They will follow their owners everywhere. They are affectionate, though some individuals may prefer affection on their own terms.

Both breeds can be quite energetic, so they can knock small children (or even adults) off their feet. Always supervise your children with any dog.

General Care of Weimaraner vs Labrador

Labradors have a thick undercoat that protects them from the elements. Their top coat is short and very dense. They shed regularly, so if you don’t want their dog glitter all over your house or apartment, you should probably look for a different breed. It’s better to brush your Labrador once a week, more frequently when it’s shedding season.

Weimaraners have a thick coat with no undercoat. They don’t require that much care, weekly brushing and nail trimming is enough for most dogs.

Both breeds don’t need much bathing (if at all) unless they rolled in something stinky or are extremely dirty. Usually once the dirt dries, it will just fall off their coat and you can help by brushing it.

Training and Exercise of Weimaraner vs Labrador

Both the Weimaraner and Labrador are very active breeds so they need plenty of exercise. A walk around the block won’t be enough for any of them. Weimaraners need at least 2 hours daily, Labradors slightly less, about an hour.

Mental stimulation is just as important (if not more) as physical exercise and it often tires them out quicker. Both breeds are very smart and eager to please their owners, so training them should be a breeze with lots of praise.

Labradors are very versatile dogs and thanks to their friendly demeanor they make a great service dogs and canistherapy dogs. For the same reason they aren’t suitable for any kind of guard work.

Both breeds love to work and have been used in rescue and as police dogs. You can’t go wrong with canicross, agility or obedience training.

Most Labradors love water, with Weimaraners it’s bit of a hit and miss but they can learn to love water as well.

Lifespan and Health Issues of Weimaraner vs Labrador

Both breeds have a similar lifespan, generally 10 – 13 years. The oldest Weimaraner was 18 years and 10 months old. The oldest Labrador was whopping 27 years and 3 months!

Labradors absolutely LOVE their food and if you’re not careful, they can quickly get obese, which in turn leads to other health problems.

Both Weimaraners and Labradors are prone to hip dysplasia and epilepsy. Various allergies are common as well and both are at risk of bloat.

Labradors can be genetically predisposed to progressive cornea athropy and cataracts.

Make sure you are getting a puppy from a reputable breeder who does health screenings on the parents and the puppies for hereditary issues.

Average Puppy Prices

The average price of Weimaraner puppies has increased dramatically in the recent years. The average price nowadays can be anywhere between $700 and $2,600.

Labrador puppies can go between $800 to $2,000.

The prices vary due to location of the breeder, the parents’ pedigree and lineage. Sometimes people may offer puppies above or below these price ranges but that may not be a good thing as that can indicate either an inexperienced breeder or a puppy mill.

Labrador Rescues

If you’d like to adopt a Labrador, there are a lot of Lab rescues all over the United States as well as all over the world.

• USA Labrador Rescue Directory
• Canada Labrador Rescue Directory
• International Labrador Rescue Directory

For Weimaraner rescues I’m currently in the process of gathering information about all available rescues around US (international coming soon!), you can check some of them out in the Weimaraner rescue category on this blog.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Both Breeds

Labrador

Weimaraner

Further Reading

If you’d like to read more about other breeds and how they compare to the Weimaraner, check out my Breed Comparison category!

Dana

I’ve always loved dogs, ever since I was a child, but I wasn’t allowed to have one. I dog-sit my sister's Weimaraner often. I decided to start this blog and share what I’ve learned about Nelly, the Weimaraner breed, and dogs in general from scientific papers and journals and my own personal experience. Learn more about Dana.