Weimaraner vs Labrador Retriever vs Belgian Malinois – Which one is a better dog breed for you?

"Find similarities and differences between Weimaraner vs Labrador Retriever vs Belgian Malinois" Compare Weimaraner and Labrador Retriever. Which is better: Weimaraner or Labrador Retriever or Belgian Malinois?

General Appearance Hair & Care Characteristics Good With Health Factors Reproducibility Show differences only

Name	Weimaraner	Labrador Retriever	Belgian Malinois
Origins	Germany	England Canada	Belgium
All Dog Breeds By Country Of Origin
Group	Gun Dog	Gun Dog	Pastoral Dogs (Herding Dogs)
Popularity Rank	34	1	44
Reviews	1	3	1
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Other Names	Weimaraner Vorstehhund, Weim, Grey Ghost	Labrador, Lab	Malinois
Breed Type	Purebred	Purebred	Purebred
AKC Group	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1943 as a Sporting breed.	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1917 as a Sporting breed.	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1959 as a Herding breed.
FCI Group	Recognized by FCI in the Pointing Dogs group, in the Continental Pointing Dogs section.	Recognized by FCI in the Retrievers - Flushing Dogs - Water Dogs group, in the Retrievers section.	Not recognized by FCI.
Breed Recognition	American Canine Registry American Kennel Club America's Pet Registry Canadian Kennel Club Dog Registry of America Inc. Federation Cynologique Internationale Kennel Club of Great Britain North American Purebred Registry, Inc. American Canine Association, Inc. Australian National Kennel Council Continental Kennel Club National Kennel Club New Zealand Kennel Club	American Canine Registry American Kennel Club America's Pet Registry Canadian Kennel Club Dog Registry of America Inc. Federation Cynologique Internationale Kennel Club of Great Britain North American Purebred Registry, Inc. American Canine Association, Inc. Australian National Kennel Council Continental Kennel Club National Kennel Club New Zealand Kennel Club United Kennel Club Canadian Canine Registry	American Canine Registry American Kennel Club America's Pet Registry Canadian Kennel Club Dog Registry of America Inc. Federation Cynologique Internationale Kennel Club of Great Britain North American Purebred Registry, Inc. American Canine Association, Inc. Australian National Kennel Council Continental Kennel Club National Kennel Club New Zealand Kennel Club United Kennel Club
Price	$1500-$2000	$1000-$2000	$1200-$1400

General Appearance - Weimaraner vs Labrador Retriever vs Belgian Malinois

Size	Large	Large	Large
Weight	Male: 55-70 pounds (25-32 kg), Female: 50-65 pounds (23-29 kg)	Male: 60-75 pounds (27-34kg), Female: 55-70 pounds (25-32 kg)	Male: 65-75 pounds (29-34 kg), Female: 60-70 pounds (27-32 kg)
Avg. Weight	Male: 62.5 pounds (28.5 kg), Female: 57.5 pounds (26 kg)	Male: 67.5 pounds (30.5 kg), Female: 62.5 pounds (28.5 kg)	Male: 70 pounds (31.5 kg), Female: 65 pounds (29.5 kg)
Height	Male: 24-24 inches (61-69 cm), Female: 22-25 inches (56-63 cm)	Male: 22-24 inches (56-61cm), Female: 21-23 inches (53-58 cm)	Male: 24-26 inches (61-66 cm), Female: 22-24 inches (56-61 cm)
Avg. Height	Male: 24 inches (65 cm), Female: 23.5 inches (59.5 cm)	Male: 23 inches (58.5 cm), Female: 22 inches (55.5 cm)	Male: 25 inches (63.5 cm), Female: 23 inches (58.5 cm)

Hair & Care - Weimaraner vs Labrador Retriever vs Belgian Malinois

Coat	Fine	Dense Waterproof Hard Short	Weather-resistant Straight
Colors	Blue Silver Gray	Yellow Chocolate Black	Brindle Cream Fawn Black
Grooming	Effortless: The Weimaraner requires minimal grooming.	Effortless: The Labrador Retriever requires minimal grooming.	Average: The Belgian Malinois requires average grooming effort.
Shedding Level	Weimaraners shed moderately.	Labrador Retrievers shed moderately.	Belgian Malinoiss shed moderately.

Characteristics - Weimaraner vs Labrador Retriever vs Belgian Malinois

Temperament	Alert Energetic Intelligent Steady Social Aloof Fast Powerful Stubborn	Affectionate Cheerful Friendly Intelligent Loyal Playful Social Alert Energetic Gentle Loving Going Responsive	Active Alert Confident Friendly Hard working Protective Stubborn Watchful
Intelligent Rank	Very smart: Weimaraner is an excellent dog breed.	Outstanding: Labrador Retriever is one of the brightest dog breeds.	Very smart: Belgian Malinois is an excellent dog breed.
Trainability	Weimaraners are easy to train.	Labrador Retrievers are very easy to train.	Belgian Malinoiss are very easy to train.
Playfulness	The Weimaraner is a highly playful breed.	The Labrador Retriever is a highly playful breed.	The Belgian Malinois is a highly playful breed.
Sensitivity Level	Weimaraners don't like an irregular daily routine, noisy household and frequent guest visits.	Labrador Retrievers don't like an irregular daily routine, noisy household and frequent guest visits.	They are a little bit more sensitive than other dog breeds.
Affection Level	Weimaraners are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate dogs toward their handlers.	Labrador Retrievers may seem unfriendly sometimes due to their independence.	Belgian Malinoiss may seem unfriendly sometimes due to their independence.
Social Needs	Weimaraners need a lot of social interaction.	Labrador Retrievers need a lot of social interaction.	Belgian Malinoiss are a social breed.
Barking	Average to high: The Weimaraner is a vocal breed.	Average: The Labrador Retriever barks occasionally.	Average to high: The Belgian Malinois is a vocal breed.
Watchdog Ability	Weimaraners are average watchdogs.	Labrador Retrievers are average watchdogs.	Belgian Malinoiss are one of the best watchdogs.
Territorial	Weimaraners are average defenders.	Labrador Retrievers are average defenders.	Belgian Malinoiss strongly protect their territory.
Biting Potential	Low The Weimaraner has a low chance of biting somebody.	Moderate The Labrador Retriever has an average chance of biting somebody.	Low The Belgian Malinois has a low chance of biting somebody.
Mouthiness	Weimaraners have a strong tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.	Labrador Retrievers have a strong tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.	Belgian Malinoiss have an average tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.
Impulse to Wander or Roam	Weimaraners have high wanderlust potential, which means that this breed has a strong desire for exploring the world.	Labrador Retrievers have average wanderlust potential.	Wanderlust potential of the Belgian Malinois is strong enough to escape from home.
Prey Drive	Weimaraners have a high impulse to chase and catch something.	Labrador Retrievers have low to an average impulse to chase and catch something like a cat or any other small aminals.	Belgian Malinoiss have an average prey drive, which means that they don't have a high impulse to chase and catch something like a cat or any other small aminals, but it might happen.
Apartment Friendly	Weimaraners are not apartment-friendly dogs.	Labrador Retrievers are not recommended for an apartment lifestyle.	Belgian Malinoiss are not the best choice for an apartment lifestyle, but they don't mind being inside if you walk them several times every day.
Adaptability	Weimaraners adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments.	Labrador Retrievers adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments.	Belgian Malinoiss adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments.
Tolerates Being Left Alone	Weimaraners tend to have separation anxiety when their owners left them alone at home because they bond very closely with them.	Labrador Retrievers tend to have separation anxiety when their owners left them alone at home because they bond very closely with them.	Belgian Malinoiss do best when a family member is at home during the day or if their workplace is dog-friendly so they can take the dog at work.
Fighting Dog	Not really In history, this breed was not really used for combat dog.	Not really In history, this breed was not really used for combat dog.	Not really In history, this breed was not really used for combat dog.

Good With - Weimaraner vs Labrador Retriever vs Belgian Malinois

Stranger Friendly	Weimaraners are stranger friendly dogs.	Labrador Retrievers are very stranger friendly dogs.	Belgian Malinoiss are not the most stranger friendly dogs.
Child Friendly	Weimaraners are not the most kid-friendly dogs.	Labrador Retrievers are very kid-friendly dogs.	Belgian Malinoiss are kid-friendly dogs.
Cat Friendly	Weimaraners are cat-friendly dogs.	Labrador Retrievers are cat-friendly dogs.	Belgian Malinoiss are average friendly towards cats.
Dog Friendly	Weimaraners are dog-friendly dogs.	Labrador Retrievers are very dog-friendly dogs.	Belgian Malinoiss are average friendly towards other dogs.
Office Friendly	No Weimaraner is not the best dog breed for office environment.	No Labrador Retriever is not the best dog breed for office environment.	No Belgian Malinois is not the best dog breed for office environment.
Senior Citizens Friendly	Weimaraners are not the best breed for elderly people.	Labrador Retrievers are one of the best breeds for elderly people.	Belgian Malinoiss are usually recommended for elderly people.
Pet Friendly	Weimaraners are usually friendly towards other pets.	Labrador Retrievers are usually friendly towards other pets.	Belgian Malinoiss are generally with other pets.
Good For First Time Owners	No Weimaraners are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.	No Labrador Retrievers are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.	No Belgian Malinoiss are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.
Service Dog	Not really This breed generally not used as a service dog.	Yes This breed makes good as a service dog.	Yes This breed makes good as a service dog.
Therapy Dog	Not really This breed generally not used as a therapy dog.	Yes This breed makes a perfect therapy dog.	Not really This breed generally not used as a therapy dog.
Detection Dog or Sniffer Dog	Not really A detection dog or sniffer dog is a dog that is trained to use its senses (mostly its smell) to detect substances such as explosives, illegal drugs, wildlife scat, currency, blood, and contraband electronics such as illicit mobile phones.	Yes A detection dog or sniffer dog is a dog that is trained to use its senses (mostly its smell) to detect substances such as explosives, illegal drugs, wildlife scat, currency, blood, and contraband electronics such as illicit mobile phones.	Yes A detection dog or sniffer dog is a dog that is trained to use its senses (mostly its smell) to detect substances such as explosives, illegal drugs, wildlife scat, currency, blood, and contraband electronics such as illicit mobile phones.
Search and Rescue Dog (SAR)	Yes The use of dogs in search and rescue (SAR) is a valuable component in wilderness tracking, natural disasters, mass casualty events, and in locating missing people.	Yes The use of dogs in search and rescue (SAR) is a valuable component in wilderness tracking, natural disasters, mass casualty events, and in locating missing people.	Yes The use of dogs in search and rescue (SAR) is a valuable component in wilderness tracking, natural disasters, mass casualty events, and in locating missing people.
Boat Dog	Not really Weimaraner breed usually doesn't like being on a boat.	Yes Labrador Retriever breed usually likes being on a boat.	Not really Belgian Malinois breed usually doesn't like being on a boat.
Cart Pulling or Drafting Dog	Not really A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling.	Not really A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling.	Not really A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling.

Health Factors - Weimaraner vs Labrador Retriever vs Belgian Malinois

Health Issues	Weimaraners tend to have a lot and frequent health issues.	The Labrador Retriever is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly.	The Belgian Malinois is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly.
Health Problems	Bloat Distichiasis Drug Sensitivity Ectropion Entropion Hip Dysplasia Hypothyroidism Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) Von Willebrand's Disease	Acute Moist Dermatitis Bloat Cataracts Cold Tail Ear Infections Elbow Dysplasia Epilepsy Hip Dysplasia Myopathy Osteochondrosis Dissecans Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) Tricuspid Valve Dysplasia	Elbow Dysplasia Epilepsy Eye Problems Hip Dysplasia
Life Expectancy	10-12 years	10-12 years	12-14 years
Calculate dog years to human years by breed here
Hypoallergenic	No	No	No
Energy Level	Weimaraners are high energy dogs.	Labrador Retrievers are high energy dogs.	Belgian Malinoiss are high energy dogs.
Exercise Need	Weimaraners need a lot of exercises.	Labrador Retrievers need a lot of exercises.	Belgian Malinoiss need a lot of exercises.
Sleeping Need	Weimaraners don't need too much sleep.	Labrador Retrievers don't need too much sleep.	Belgian Malinoiss don't need too much sleep.
Avg. daily food consumption	2.5 to 3 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.	Recommended daily amount: 2.5 to 3 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.	2 to 3 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.
Weight Gain Potential	Low to Average.	High: The Labrador Retriever breed has a strong tendency to overweight.	Low to Average.
Weather & Climate	Tolerates warm and cold weather.	Tolerates warm and cold weather.	Tolerates warm and cold weather.
Stinkiness	Medium The Weimaraner has an average chance of bad smell.	High The Labrador Retriever has a high chance of bad smell.	Medium The Belgian Malinois has an average chance of bad smell.
Drooling tendency	The Weimaraner drools quite a lot, so if you dislike being covered by slobber spots on your clothes, you may want to choose another dog breed.	The Labrador Retriever is an average drooler.	The Belgian Malinois is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency.

Reproducibility - Weimaraner vs Labrador Retriever vs Belgian Malinois

Gestation Length	60-64 days	60-64 days	60-64 days
How often can the have a litter?	Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy.	Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy.	Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy.
Litter Size	6-8 puppies	5-10 puppies	6-10 puppies
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