Weimaraner Lab Mix

A Rich Working History

The Weimaraner was bred to be a hunting dog, and therefore their origins have root in breeds like the Bloodhound, the German Shorthaired Pointer, the English Pointer, the silver-gray Huehnerhund, and the blue Great Dane.

The breed slowly made its way to the Americas, but their popularity exploded after many Weimaraner pups were brought back from Germany after the end of World War II.

The Labrador breed are descended from the St. John’s dog, a fishing dog that was outcrossed to various working retrievers to make the perfect sporting breed. Labradors were favored by wealthy aristocrats in their early days, before becoming one of the most popular breeds in the modern age.

Weimaraner Lab Characteristics

The Weimaraner Labrador mix will take on the characteristics of its parent breeds – but as with any mix, the results may vary.

Looking at the Weimaraner, the height span is 23-27 inches, with weight between 55 and 90 lbs. The Labrador is a bit smaller, with a height of 21.5 to 24.5 inches, and a weight between 55 and 80 lbs.

You could assume that a Weimaraner Black Lab mix would fall in a similar weight and height class based on these figures. However, in reality they could be at the Lab minimum or Weimaraner maximum.

As for appearance, the Labmaraner is a beautiful dog. It has long legs, a glossy coat, and a strong, muscular frame. It’s face tends to take on more of the attributes of a Weimaraner, while its paws often feature the webbed characteristics of the Labrador.

The Lab Weimaraner mix tends to have a short, single-layered coat. Longer coats are possible, but are rare. The glossy coat can range in color from brown or black to yellow or gray, depending on the color of the pup’s parents.

Grooming

Since Weimaraner and Lab mix dogs have relatively short coats, their grooming requirements are fairly light.

Brushing once a week or so should be sufficient. However, Labradors are prolific shedders, and can molt a great deal. Although Weimaraners shed less, their mix could go either way. So be prepared for either eventuality.

Weimaraner Lab Mix Temperament

Labrador Weimaraner mixes are very active dogs that tend to have a lot of energy. Since both parent breeds are fairly high-energy, you can count on your Labmaraner having an active personality.

These dogs tend to be very loyal and loving, as you would expect from the origin breeds. They are great with kids, and generally make excellent family pets. Their friendly temperament means that although they are likely to bark to alert their owners of an intruder – before running over to get their belly rubbed by said intruder.

Labradors suffer from separation anxiety and can become destructive if left alone too long, so we wouldn’t recommend a Lab or Lab mix to someone who is out of the house for much of the day.

Labs are also often friendly to the point of being quite pushy, a characteristic that you are less likely to see in a Weimaraner. You won’t know until your pup is older whether this is a trait your pup will exhibit or not.

Weimaraner and Labrador Health

Any mixed breed dog will be susceptible to inheriting the health issues of the parent breeds.

On the Weimaraner side, potential health problems include hypertrophic osteodystrophy (a bone disease) , spinal dysraphism (a spinal deformity that can lead to neurological abnormalities) , hyperuricosuria (a condition that can lead to bladder and kidney stones) , and hypomyelination (a condition that can lead to tremors in puppies).

Other potential problems include hemophilia A, distichiasis, canine hip dysplasia, and von Willebrand’s disease.

For Labradors, health problems typically include eye problems, joint problems, obesity, and cancer. While generally healthy pups, one of the most common issues with Labs include hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia. Labradors may also be prone to obesity and related concerns, including diabetes and arthritis. These factors can typically be controlled by proper feeding habits and regular exercise.

Weimaraner Lab mix health testing

When searching for Weimaraner Lab mix puppies, it’s very important that you be aware of the potential health problems. It’s also essential that you ensure that the breeder has tested both parents for any potential genetic defects or disease markers.

The Lab parent should have as a minimum a recent clear eye test, good hip and elbow scores, as well as a PRA clear DNA test.

The Weimaraner parent should also have good hip scores and have had their eyes checked by a vet.

Your pup might be prone to the health issues of either parent, and it may take on more or less of the characteristics of either parent. With mixed breeds, there’s really no way to tell what you’re going to get.

Socialization and Training

Lab Weimaraner mixes are typically happy, social dogs, but they need to be socialized early for best results.

The ideal socialization window for young dogs is typically between 8 and 16 weeks of age. This is the period where your pup will be most open to new experiences. And less fearful of larger dogs and unfamiliar humans.

Older dogs can certainly be socialized, but it’s a longer, slower process. Keep in mind that socialization needs to happen with other dogs, and with other people.

As for training, Labradors are generally eager to please. They respond very well to positive reinforcement training with treats.

Weimaraners are a bit more strong-willed than labradors, which can make training a bit more difficult. Adult Weimaraners can have a stubborn streak, so it’s vital to start training early.

Lab Weimaraners should be trained early and often for best results. Typically the first 20 months of a dog’s life are the prime time for training.

As they are both sporting dog breeds with the potential for prey drive, recall training from a young age is essential.

Finding a Weimaraner Lab Mix Puppy

While Labs are extremely common, Weimaraner’s are less so. And thus, the Weimaraner Lab cross is actually rather uncommon. Because of the rarity factor, it’s almost always necessary to buy your pup from a breeder. Finding one in a rescue situation will be quite difficult.

When choosing a breeder, make sure to do your research. You want to identify a reputable breeder that is knowledgeable and kind to their pups. Ask if the breeder conducted any health testing on the parents, as the results of those tests could sway your decision.