Are you thinking about getting a Labrahuahua as a pet? This unusual mix of Chihuahua and Labrador Retriever is quite a gift! In this article, we take a close look at this mixed breed. We talk about how much a puppy costs, what he needs to eat, and more.
When you mix a Chihuahua and a Labrador Retriever, what do you get? The Labrahuahua is a mix of a Chihuahua and a Lab. He is a beautiful dog with a unique look. Lab-ra-waa-wuh is how you pronounce his name in case you were wondering. This new, rare designer dog was made by putting together two very different dogs. This means that their Labrahuahua puppy is in the middle of the scales for being active, friendly, trainable, and needy.
You might be thinking, “How can these two different dogs in size have puppies?” It can happen with artificial insemination, but bigger Chihuahuas and smaller Labs also do it on their own in the wild. Due to their different sizes, the Labrador always has to be the Mom. This mix is a happy dog that needs a lot of attention and company.
No matter how nice he is, not everyone will like him. This detailed guide will tell you everything you need to know about his personality, appearance, grooming, exercise needs, and more. Want to know more about this dog? Get ready to learn everything you need to know.
Labrahuahua history and origin
The Labrahuahua is one of the newest mixed breeds. They are a special kind of designer breed because they are a mix of a Labrador Retriever and a Chihuahua. Because the parents are different sizes, these dogs can’t naturally get together. Instead, the DNA from a male Chihuahua has to be put into a female Labrador Retriever. Labrador Retriever chihuahua mix can’t come from a female Chihuahua because the big size of the puppies could be dangerous. Once called the St. John’s Dog, the Labrador Retriever is now one of the largest and most well-known dog breeds in the United States.
They come from Newfoundland, where they used to help fishermen catch fish and pull in nets. By the 1800s, some of these dogs were being brought back from Labrador on ships from England. There, they were mixed with other Retrievers, Setters, and Spaniels, which changed them and made them better hunters.
The Chihuahua is from Mexico. It is the smallest dog breed in the world, and it is also the oldest dog breed on the American continent. They were named after the Mexican state of Chihuahua, which is where they came from. No one knows what breeds were used to make these dogs, but many people think that the Fennec Fox is in their family tree. In the late 1800s, these small dogs were brought to Europe. The upper class liked this breed a lot, and you could find them in many of their homes. Pre-Columbian Indian groups also thought of the Chihuahua as a sacred animal.
The breed’s Parents
Learn about Labrahuahua’s parents to get an idea of what he might be like. This will offer you an overview of what to expect when you introduce this Labrador and Chihuahua mix into your home, from their pasts to what they are like now.
Labrador Retriever
Here is America’s favorite breed of dog, which has been the case since 1991. Labs work hard to get ducks during the day and are great family pets at night. Labs were first bred to help fishermen in the waters of Newfoundland. They are smart and full of energy. This puppy is a great all-arounder, and they love and care for their families a lot. They are also nice to people they don’t know.
Labradors are large to medium-sized dogs that weigh between 55 and 80 pounds. His strong body, soft coat, and thick otter tail are what make him stand out. Labs are flexible and easy to get along with, but they are very active and need to run around every day to be happy. Labradors are friendly, so they are often mixed with other breeds to make designer dogs.
Chihuahua
The Chihuahua is the Mexican national dog. This pooch goes back to the time of the Aztecs, which was a long time ago. But it wasn’t until the 1800s that Americans found him again and fell in love with him again. This small toy dog that looks like a terrier is said to be charming and sassy. No one knows why he was bred, but now he is known as a companion dog. There are two Chihuahuas that look different because of their genes. The shape of their heads makes it easy to tell them apart.
He wants to be with his family and doesn’t like being alone. He is small, but he has a lot of personality, and he can be hard to train. If you let them, Chihuahuas can also be too protective and aggressive. Chihuahuas are cute and fun to play with, and they don’t weigh more than 6 pounds.
Labrahuahua
As with any mixed breed, you should learn as much as you can about each of his parents. You won’t know if he’s going to be a mix of both parents or more like one parent than the other until you bring him home. Most Labrahuahuas are different in size, appearance, and personality.
But most Labrahuahuas will get the best traits from each parent. There are some things that all Chihuahua-Lab mixes have in common, like how they act, what they eat, and how active they are. Here’s what you can usually expect from this mixed-breed puppy.
Labrahuahua Temperament
The Chihuahua Lab mix will need your full attention 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. So, this mixed breed is not for you if you don’t like needy dogs. If you are, good news! With the Labrador’s loyalty and the Chihuahua’s fear of being alone, it’s likely that you’ll end up with a second shadow.
This means that he needs to be with a family that can spend most of the day with him. We can’t keep working long hours. While we’re talking about what kind of family he needs, he also needs to be placed with a family that is active and can keep his mind and body busy.
He is a fantastic friend to go jogging with, to do an agility course with, and to catch a frisbee. He is also a smart mix, so you’ll need to spend a lot of time playing with him. This will keep his brain working well. If you can’t play with him, make sure he has a box of toys on hand so he can play by himself.
Because he is a Chihuahua, he will also have a “chill out” button, which is good. He will love to sit on your lap and act like he is a lapdog like his Mexican parent. He loves a lot of people. Because he’s a Lab, he can be very smart, and he’ll know when you need a special hug to make you feel better.
When it comes to strangers, his Chihuahua genes will probably show, and he’ll be distant at first. Once he stops being afraid of them, he’ll try to be friends with them right away. But if he isn’t happy, he will bark and tell them to leave him alone. Expect a barking guard dog, which is something to think about if you live near people who are easily upset.
Labrahuahua size and appearance
This small to medium mixed breed dog will weigh between 25 and 50 pounds and stand between 10 and 22 inches tall. He will usually look like a smaller version of his Labrador parent because his Chihuahua legs are shorter and his face is thinner. Males are usually bigger than females in all dog breeds.
Even though he is smaller than a Labrador, the Chihuahua-Labrador mix still looks athletic. It’s likely that he will also get the Lab’s long, thick tail. With his big triangle ears and big brown eyes that look like bugs, he will make all dog lovers fall in love. Most of the time, his ears stand up like his Chihuahua parent’s ears, but the tips will drop down like a Lab’s.
Coat & Colors
Even among the same litter, the coat of this mixed breed can have a distinct appearance. It also depends on whether the coat of his Chihuahua parent is short, long, or fluffy. But a typical Labrahuahua’s coat will be short to medium length, thick, and dense. It will be straight and smooth, and around his ears and neck, he may have some fur that looks like feathers.
There are also a lot of choices when it comes to color. This mix could be white, yellow, black, chocolate, blue, cream, red, or even reddish-brown. Most likely, he will have one color all over his body, but like his Chihuahua parent, he could have a mix of colors, including spots.
Labrahuahua exercise and lifestyle
The Labrahuahua is a medium-sized dog that can live in either an apartment or a big house. He would rather have a yard than live in an apartment. If not, he’ll need to work out a lot more to keep from getting “cabin fever.”
This dog needs 45 to 60 minutes of exercise on a daily basis to be happy. Without it, he will get antsy and irritable. When you add his strong Lab jaws to the fact that he is stubborn and anxious like a Chihuahua, it could be a recipe for destroying furniture. Check out!
They are very smart, so you’ll need to do a lot of different things to keep them fit. As we’ve already said, he’ll love jogging, playing, fetching, and anything else you can think of. Since he loves water, he will also enjoy a trip to the nearby lake. Just get him a dog life jacket to help his shorter legs stay up in the water.
Labrahuahuas are best for families with a lot of time to spend with them and their families. In comparison to his Mexican parent, he is bigger and less snappy, which makes him good for families with smaller kids. This is one of his biggest selling points since Chihuahuas aren’t made to be played with by young kids.
Labrahuahuas can get along with other pets as long as they are socialized well. Overall, he is a mix of things that work well together. All he wants is love and company. There aren’t many places where this person wouldn’t do well.
Labrahuahua training
Because he has a well-balanced personality, he is good for people who are getting a dog for the first time or haven’t trained a dog before. His Lab smarts and ability to learn will shine through. But be aware that he will sometimes go back to being a stubborn Chihuahua. 80% of the time, he’ll do what you say. The other 20% of the time, he’ll act like he didn’t hear you.
Positive reinforcement is the best method to train a dog to obey. This means that whenever he does something good, he should be praised and given treats. And to correct or ignore behavior that isn’t good.
As with all dogs, he needs to be socialized when he is a puppy. This is even more important for dogs like the Chihuahua that are known to be snappy or overprotective. Not only will he be able to play with other dogs and learn how to be a well-mannered puppy, but his confidence will also grow. Introduce him to new places, sounds, and people. It’s a good idea to crate-train a dog that gets anxious when you’re not around. This will be a safe place for him that he will grow to love.
Labrahuahua health
The Chihuahua Lab mix is a hybrid dog that is pretty healthy and should live for 12 to 14 years. Since he is a mixed breed, he could get health problems from either one of his parents. Here are the most important things to keep in mind.
- Eye issues: Both of his parents are known to have problems with their eyes. Entropion, progressive retinal atrophy, and cataracts are the main things to look out for.
- Hip and elbow dysplasia: His Lab parent is at risk for both, so if he is a bigger dog, this could be a problem for him.
- Patellar luxation: This is something his Chihuahua parent is known to have, so if he is a smaller Labrahuahua, it could be a problem.
- Heart problems: Both of his parents have heart problems. Cardiomyopathy and mitral valve disease are the two main things to worry about.
Nutrition
Your Chihuahua-Lab mix will eat between 1 1/2 and 2 cups of dried kibble every day, depending on how big he is and how active he is. You should give him kibble that is of good quality and gives him a well-balanced diet.
The Chihuahua-Lab mix is likely to get fat very fast, especially if he gets the Lab’s appetite. Keep a close eye on how much he eats and how much weight he gains. If he starts to gain weight, cut back on how much he eats and how many treats he gets, or switch him to kibble which helps him lose weight.
Grooming
The Labrahuahua’s coat isn’t hard to take care of. A brush once or twice on a weekly basis will help keep the dog’s skin stay healthy, make his coat shine, and get rid of dirt and dead hair. If he has feathery hair, it also needs to be brushed so it doesn’t get tangled. Every 8 to 12 weeks, you should use a gentle dog shampoo on his sensitive skin and give him a bath.
His teeth should be cleaned at least once a week, and twice a week if his mouth is small like that of his Chihuahua parent. He should also have his ears and eyes cleaned once a week. If your puppy sheds like their Labrador parent, you’ll have to brush them a few times a week.
Labrahuahua Breeders and Puppy Costs
A Chihuahua Lab mix will cost you at least $1,000. Compared to other mixed-breed puppies his size, this price might seem a little high. But you need to remember that breeding him takes a lot more time and skill.
Because they are so different in size, they need extra help to mate. It is necessary to use artificial insemination. The Lab parent will always be his mother, and the Chihuahua parent will always be his father. The Lab’s yellow coat is usually the most wanted and most popular color. This means that breeders can charge more for this look, and they often do.
The best way to find a Labrahuahua is to look online for breeders you can trust. Always look for reviews from past customers online, and if possible, meet them in person. Always ask to see the puppies, their parents, and their health clearances. Don’t buy a dog from a puppy mill or a backstreet breeder because they always put making money ahead of the health of the dogs.
Labrahuahua as a family pet
- The Labrahuahua is sometimes a more needy mix.
- He is a very flexible puppy who can live in most places.
- The Labrahuahua gets along well with both small children and other pets.
- He likes to cuddle with his family and is very loving.
- Labrahuahuas need to be active for 45 to 60 minutes every day.
- At first, they are aloof and barky around strangers, but they quickly warm up to them.
- He barks a lot, and he doesn’t mind being heard.
- It’s important to get the Labrahuahua out and about as soon as possible.
- Labrahuahuas need a lot of mental activity to stop doing bad things.
Quick Breed Summary Table
Weight | 25 to 50 lbs |
Height | 10 to 22 inches tall |
Size | small to medium |
Coat Type | short, long, or fluffy |
colors | white, yellow, black, chocolate, blue, cream, red, or even reddish-brown |
Amount of Shedding | they shed |
Nose | Dark |
Ears | floppy |
Temperament | active, stubborn, Sassy, friendly, and may show some aggressiveness. |
Life Expectancy | 12 to 14 years |
Hypoallergenic | No |
Intelligence | yes they are smart |
Kid-Friendly | yes |
New Owner Friendly | Yes |
Activity level | very active |
Breed Recognition | None |
Last Word
The personalities of his parents make this Chihuahua-Lab mix work really well, even though it seems like it shouldn’t be possible. With the right household and training, the Labrahuahua will grow up to be a cute dog that everyone will love. You need to be able to give him everything he needs. And if you can, you’ll have lots of love, fun, and company for many years.
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