weimaraner or lab retriever?

Hi there smtp. Labs and weims are both high energy big dogs. Which means lots of training and exercise.  I have more experience with weims, so I can give you my take on them. 
 
Weims are known to be considerably attached thier owners.  They will follow you from room to room and often like to be touching some part of you.  They are incredibly intelligent and if you don't stimulate this intelligence in some way then they will get creative. Which could turn out to be destruction of property.  They need obedience training. I joined an obedience club and keep up with Scout's(that's my weim) training.  Most of them like to learn stuff cause that means they're hanging out with thier most favorite people in the world.  The other side of it is exercise.  They need to get their heart rate going. They were bred for endurance to hunt all day.  That's not to say they need excessive amounts of exercise, but I believe the proper balance of the mental(30 minutes of obedience/mental games like hide&seek) and physical exercise(30 minutes of hard running at least). This is an adult weim of course.  For puppies this would be a bit much.  A well bred weim will have an even temperment and should be able to take a day or two off without complete meltdown.  I have found that people who HAVE to exercise thier weim at least 2-3 hours a day are not giving them enough mental stimulation.  Anyhow I digress.
Some of the good things:
Because of their attachment to you they make you feel like the most awesome person in the world.  If you like to run they are awesome running partners.  Most weims were bred to work closely to thier owners while they hunt, so its natural for them to run a few yards ahead and back to you.  Obviously this needs to be reinforced from the start and worked on. But it is much easier than training sighthound recall.  In fact I just got back from a 45 minute trail jog with my dog. He just loves it.  If you or your bf hunts they are very versitile in what they can be trained to do.  If you guys hunt that combines both physical and mental criteria and it tires them out like nothing else does.  They can be incredibly amusing too in thier antics and human like expressions.  The males tend to be more laid back than the females(at least that's what I have found).  But this may vary from breed line to breed line.  They are beautiful dogs, but that's pretty obvious and I probably didn't need to state that.  Weims are definitely bigger than labs.  Females can weigh between 45-70 pounds and males between 55-90.  I highly recommend checking out this site.  It has a whole section on getting a weimaraner puppy and whether its right for you:
[linkhttp://www.weimclubamerica.org/puppies/index.html]http://www.weimclubamerica.org/puppies/index.html[/link]
It even has a quiz.  If you do decide to get a weim the site above has links to local breed clubs in your area. I HIGHLY recommend you contact those club's breeder referral person.  You will be ensured of getting a quality dog from a reputable breeder that way(one that does health tests and shows this dogs in different venues).  These are the people you want to deal with because they're really in it to improve the breed and not to make money.  Plus most will guarantee the health of your pup and will take the pup back should you need to.  In fact if you decide to get a lab go through the lab club of america and do the same thing.  If you don't want a puppy then check out the breed rescues in your area.  There are needy weims and labs galore.  Whatever you do, do your research (which it looks like you're doing) and really make sure its what both of you want.  Happy hunting and please let me know if you have any questions!

My grandfather had a weim. named Duchess.  And that she was!  She went everywhere with him.  Grandpa bought a van so he could take her "chair" with wherever he visited.  Family visits included adding the chair for Duchess to the living room.  I remember her as a well loved part of the family.  I love that silver color and will never forget her eyes.  He never lived with another dog after she past.  It is like she was his only love.

ORIGINAL: smtp

what are your guys' opinion on weimaraners and lab retrievers? i want to get a lab retriever but my bf wants to get the weimaraner....what are some pros and cons to both of them from experienced folks...thanks, any insight will help!! 

I think Weims are incredible dogs.  But I also think that if you are a first time owner, you'll want to do a ton of research on any breed before you purchase a pup, especially these two high energy breeds you've mentioned.  Ewin has given you alot of valuable info, if you have questions don't be afraid to ask because that's why we're all here on iDog.  Ask yourself if you're willing to put in the overtime that it takes to raise a puppy.  It's alot more work than most people think and alot of older pups end up in shelters because of it.

Good luck and post lots of pics when you do adopt!!!

I was always under the impression that weims were more energetic than labs--am I correct?

Its my understanding that the american looking labs have as much energy as weims whereas the english style labs tend to be a bit more mellow. Marley(from marley&me) was a field bred lab;o)

i love weims, ive always loved their temperments and that beautiful blue coats, i would never own one though (or a lab)..i prefer my mellow giants
Theres a weim that comes to our park named blue, he is an awsome dog, he is such a clown

I have a weim and she is the absolute best dog ever. She is like a human. She will eat off a spoon, just anything I tell her to do she does. I have never had a lab, but I wanna get a male weim, just because my dog is so great. She is excellent with children. You can do anything you want to with her. She stays still while her nails are painted. As soon as I pull out the nail clippers, she lays down on her side and puts her paw up!!! The only bad thing is she has bad separation anxiety, but she is getting older and growing out of it. I would suggest a weim. Meet Bella.....

I am a lab person myself,  but Weims are very nice dogs.  Both dogs will take a lot of work.  Labs a great but can be very hard headed.  There are other dogs you might consider.
 
Try This it might help:
 
[linkhttp://www.dogbreedadvice.com/wizard.html]http://www.dogbreedadvice.com/wizard.html[/link]

Aw Bella!  So cute!!!! Thanks for posting the pic!

I've had black labs, golden retrievers and german shepards while growing up.  Right now I have two black labs.  I'm extremely partial to the black labs (or goldens) due to their loving attitudes and mild temperment around kids.  Very outgoing ....   Whether or not they're high energy or low energy really depends on each invidual dogs personality.  My smaller lab is very energetic while my bigger lab is extremely docile and mellow.  Generally its been my experience over the years that the smaller the dog, the more hyperactive they are.

Thanks everyone for their input....i am more confused! I've done a whole lot of research on the labradors....i've read up on breeders...the champion lines...their policies, temperaments...but i've not read much on the weims..the only encounter i've had of a weim is my cousin's weim - Chance ..he is one smart weim and VERY adorable ! he melts my heart.. He is so obedient. You put a treat on his paw and say NO..he is faced with the temptation but he actually listens. Look at his face...soo cute. I want a weim with his colored eyes. Most weims have gray eyes that actually scare me. I think that is why i was initially put off , they were ghostly. My cousin's fiance put a lot of time and work into his dog when he got him. I'm just afraid i can't do the same. I've always wanted a golden lab or a labrador, that is why it's hard for me to say hey, i want a Weim now, just because Chance is soo cute. Because i'm afraid the weim i get will not be that obedient. And of course it comes with me training him properly. So my bf wants the Weim, i want the lab but i am trying to be convinced to get the Weim. 

I would advise against getting a dog because you know of one stellar example of the breed. Your expectations become fixed and specific and high, and dogs are unique organisms. It's a recipe for disappointment.

If Chance just makes you crazy happy, but you are not sure you want to commit, good! Trust that! Go to a dog show and pet fifty weims. Pet a bunch of other dogs too, and talk to breeders! Breeders are great because they are quite knowledgable and are not trying to hard-sell you. I have been talked out of a breed that I thought was perfect for me, and they were right!

I suggest a dog show because it's very efficient. Go with your extrovert hat on, talk to as many people and as many dogs as you can, and then do a compare-contrast session with your bf over a drink. It's a fourteen-year decision--be choosy!

Chance is handsome!!! Early intervention for weims is really important.  Obedience training from the time they get home and a LOT of socializing in different environments is incredibly important.  If at least one of you doesn't have the time to really work a lot with them from the beginning I wouldn't recommend one. But the time you put up front will reap many MANY rewards. Chance sounds wonderful, but I definitely think you should check out a dog show in your area and meet some more weims and really talk to the breeders. You could meet/greet with the lab breeders too.  Its great that you're doing your research. Most weims I know do not have the gray eyes(they're usually the yellowish ones)!

I have one of each!! I've had Luna (Lab) since he was 12 weeks old. I've had Wilson (Weim) since he was 3 years old. They are very different in personalities. They're both excellent dogs, but with different qualities. Both my guys are high energy dogs, but my lifestyle can accomodate that for the most part. My  Lav is extremely easy to train......in all areas. Obedience, he has a CGC certificat, agility, he is a service dog, he is working towards his TDI certification. The Weim on the other hand is extremely obedient, but we're just now working on CGC. They are both VERY affectionate, and both seem to be "cling on's", haha.
Ya gotta love 'em!!!