Pitador, Pit lab, or Labrabull, whatever you may call it; the breed is a mix of one of the friendliest and most agile dogs breeds- the Labrador Retriever and the Pitbull Terrier. Get yourself a Labrabull to have a 24-hour companion who will never want to leave your side, will be ever ready to go wherever his mommy or daddy is taking him and will be always available for warm cuddles on your low days.
Here is an article about everything you would want to know before bringing your Labrabull home.
Pitbull Lab Mix (Labrabull):
Quick Breed Summary of Pitbull Lab Mix:
| Height | 17 to 24 inches |
| Weight | 45-90 pounds |
| Lifespan | 10-14 years |
| Colors | Brown, black, yellow, chocolate white and tan |
| Intelligence | Highly intelligent |
| Breed Type | Mixed breed |
| AKC Breed Popularity | Not recognized by AKC |
| Temperament | Loyal, energetic, affectionate and smart |
| Daily Food Consumption | 30 calorie per pound of bodyweight |
| Common Health Issues | Hip and elbow dysplasia, bloat, eye conditions, allergies |
Facts About Pitbull Lab Mix:
Pitbulls had a violent history of being involved in bloodsports, due to which there are places where Pitbulls are inhibited or have boundaries and certain rules and regulations for them. Such rules are applicable even for Pitbull mixes. So before getting your Labrabull, you should go through all the rules and regulations in your locality to avoid any future inconvenience.
Labrabulls usually have a tendency to become dominating, which if not controlled, can lead to disobedience. So, it is very important to start training them from a very young age.
Being a mixed breed, Pitbull lab mixes are healthy dogs and can live up to 10-14 years.
About The Pitbull Lab Mix:
The Labrabull is a very friendly, protective, and active breed. His parents- the Labrador and the Pitbull have given him their genes of friendliness and agility, which makes him a very fun-loving and affectionate dog to be with. These dogs are hard on the outside, getting a muscular build from Pitbull and soft on the inside, getting their lovely friendly nature from Labrador. If trained well, you will not have to worry about the aggressive history of Pitbulls and can surely trust them even in the presence of kids. When it comes to training and grooming, you do not have much to worry about. Labrabulls are an easy-to-train breed and would love to do whatever you want them to, in return for your love, attention, and a small treat. Having thin shiny coats, they do not require much grooming and brushing. Once-a-week brushing and bathing just when required, would be enough for them. Labrabulls do not want to stay alone for long, so try to take them with you wherever possible and try not to go for long vacations leaving your pooch alone. Well, once you start getting their love, you yourself will never want to leave them alone. With proper training and socializing, you can expect to get a lovely bundle of joy and a best friend to your family members.
Appearance of Pitbull Lab Mix:
Being a mixed breed, the appearance of an adult Labrabull is unpredictable. It might have more Pitbull features or more Labrador features or it might even have a balance of features from both its parents. What can be predicted are the common features that both the parents have. Both the dogs are medium-sized, so the expected height of a Labrabull is 17 to 24 inches. While a Pitbull has a comparatively muscular built, Labrador is leaner and has drop ears, unlike a bit stiff ears of Pitbulls. So your Labrabull can inherit any of these features and depending upon the body feature it is getting from, it can weigh anywhere between 45-90 pounds. This mixed breed usually has long pointed ears and a longer muzzleAbout their coat, Pitbull Lab mixes usually have a shiny thin coat having less shedding. But there is a possibility of your dog getting a double coat feature from the Labrador side, thus, increased shedding. The coat color will highly depend on the coat colors of its parents. While Labradors come in 3 basic colors- black, brown, and yellow, Pitbulls come in a wider range of colors. So, you can expect your Labrabull to be black, brown, yellow, tan, chocolate, or white in color. It is also possible that your dog changes its color with age, such as a shiny black Pitbull Lab mix can grow a grey color around his muzzle and eyes in old age.
History And Origin of Pitbull Lab Mix:
The Labrabull has gained a lot of popularity due to its athletic, protective and playful nature which it gets from its parents- the Pitbull Terrier and the Labrador Retriever.
We do not know much about the history of the mix; where exactly the crossbreed originated from, when was this cross done or the exact reasons behind the cross.
To get a better understanding of the breed, let us have a look at the history and origins of its popular parents.
Pitbull:
Pitbull itself is a mixed breed of Bulldogs and Terriers, originating back in the 1800s.
In those times, people in the United Kingdom were involved in cruel bloodsports associated with Bulldogs like ratting and bull baiting. Bulldogs were used for such sports where they were manipulated into killing rats and bulls as an entertainment. As these sports gained popularity, so increased the need for more athletic and energetic dogs with better skills in sports. Thus, the Bulldog and Terrier were made to crossbreed to give rise to Pitbull, which had the gameness of a Bulldog and swiftness of a Terrier. Decades later, Pitbulls were brought to America where people began using them as catch dogs and farm dogs, to protect their livestock and also as a companion. Due to their prior reputation as fighting dogs, people often used to misinterpret them and associate them as aggressive. So to counter this image of Pitbulls, the San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, in 1966, renamed them as “St. Francis Terriers”.A similar effort was done by the New York City Centre for Animal Care and Control by naming them as “New Yorkies” which was soon dropped due to public opposition.
Labrador Retriever:
The Labrador breed is one of the most popular breeds in both America and Britain. Their ancestors date back to the 18th century when they were used by fishermen as helper dogs. Labradors were initially, called St. John’s Dogs or lesser Newfoundland Dogs, after the name of the place, the breed was inhabiting the name Labrador was first coined by the Earl of Malmesbury in one of his letters, in 1887. Fishermen in Newfoundland used to use these dogs extensively for retrieving fish, hauling in fishing lines through water, and many such activities. The first Labrador Retrievers as described by Colonel Peter Hawker were not much larger than English pointers having a long head and deep chest, smooth coat usually black in color. The breed was first photographed in 1856 when a dog named “Nell” was pictured. The name Labrador Retriever became more popular in England in the 1870s. The Labs were recognized by the Kennel Club in 1903 and by the American Kennel Club in 1917. Since then Labradors have been loved and used for various purposes such as for guarding, police dogs, therapy dogs, or simply as darling pets.
Is Labrabull Good With Children?
Being an offspring of fighting dogs, you might be worried about bringing it home near your kids. But you must know, whether your dog will get along with your children or not, depends on several other factors, majorly- how you train your dog since its puppyhood. Proper socializing from an early age can help your dog get along with your kids very well.
Care Of Pitbull Lab Mix:
Prior to bringing your Labrabull home, you need to be well aware of all its requirements and everything that you need to do for taking care of your pooch. Read further to know all about its food, exercise, training, and grooming requirements.
Food And Nutrition Requirements:
Irrespective of any breed, it is important to give the best quality food in appropriate amounts to meet their nutritional requirements. As for the Labrabull, these dogs are athletic and active, because of which their food requirements are high. But due to their high food drives, they are also prone to obesity. So you need to manage their diet very carefully. The amount of food to be fed depends on various factors, majorly, age, and weight. To decide on the amount, you can keep in mind this formula of feeding 30 calories per pound of body weight. About protein and fat needs; a puppy will require about 12g protein per kilogram of its weight which will decrease to 2.62g at maturity and about 8% of fat in his diet which will reduce to 5% at maturity. A Labrabull puppy can be fed with milk, 4 times a day, and soft food for about 6 months. Gradually you can decrease the frequency of feeding to 3 times a day for a mature Labrabull. You can spit the total serving of the day into 3 equal meals such that you also have some saved for giving as treats throughout the day.
Exercise Requirements:
Both Pitbull and Labrador are active breeds. Naturally, their cross will require a moderate to a high amount of exercise. Like any other energetic breed, sufficient physical activity is required to channelize their energy and prevent them from becoming destructive.60 minutes of exercise is mandatory for mature Labrabulls and it would be great if you can take them for walks and some more play for another 60 minutes. Due to the presence of Labrador genes, your dog might like to swim. You can try taking him to a safe swimming pool and enjoy seeing your pooch playing with water. Taking your Labrabull to parks and playgrounds can be a good way to give them as much open area as they want to play and jump around. But when you are taking them to any new place, you need to check all the rules and regulations as Pitbulls are restricted at certain places. These rules for Pitbulls have to be abided even for a Pitmixes. Relieving your dog off the leash can help by exposing your dog to a wide environment. But before taking your first step towards unleashing, make sure your dog is well socialized and trained to your calls.
Training Requirements:
Your Labrabull can be your favorite student as he will be ever ready to do whatever you ask for and will always want to please you. Although these dogs are quick learners and can be readily trained, it is best to start their training at a young age. Try to make them familiar with the presence of humans and children. Introducing another pet can help in better socialization. They would love to be awarded by a treat on completing their tasks. This is how you can try teaching them your commands and calls. Such as, if you want them to learn your command “leave”, then you can try by taking a treat in your hand, letting them sniff, not letting them eat it, and asking them to leave. Initially, they might try eating it from your hand but once they turn, you can give them the treat. This way, by awarding them, you can train your pooch easily. Make sure to not punish them in any circumstance. Positive reinforcement is the key to train them. If you begin punishing, then it may lead to unwanted aggressive behavior.
Grooming Requirements:
You can be free of any worry when it comes to grooming your Labrabull. These dogs have a low shedding coat due to which they do not require any extensive grooming. A once-a-week routine of brushing their coat can be enough to keep their coat shiny and smooth. But if you have a Labrabull with a thicker and denser coat, then it would be better to opt for a once-a-day brushing routine. Also, you might have to increase your grooming sessions in their shedding seasons. Labrabulls have sensitive skin susceptible to various skin problems and allergies. It is very important to invest in a good shampoo that suits their skin and coat. Also, you do not want to strip them of their natural oils. So, you can invest in some good dry dog shampoo that will be suitable for their skin and also will prevent the loss of natural oils from their body. Take care of your pet’s dental health and brush his teeth routinely. Though low at maintenance, you need to make sure that your dog has clean and dry ears, a clean mouth, well-groomed nails and are free of worms and fleas.
Common Health Issues of Pitbull Lab Mix:
Mixed breeds are generally known to be healthy due to the presence of higher genetic variation. But there are chances of inheriting health issues from any of their parents.
Following are some common health issues you should be aware of, found in Labrabulls-
Hip and elbow dysplasia- it is quite common to find hip and elbow dysplasia in Labrabulls as such large dogs are likely to inherit joint problems from their parents. You can prevent this by providing your dog with sufficient nutrients and enough exercise.
Obesity- taking special care of the amount of food you are giving your pooch is unavoidable. If in the thought of maintaining a “healthy body weight”, you make your pet overeat, then he might get obese.
Bloating- in this condition, the stomach gets filled with gas and starts expanding which can be very painful and even fatal.
Hypothyroidism- inherited from the pitbull’s genes, hypothyroidism is when there is insufficient production of thyroid gland hormones in the body. You may check for symptoms like lethargy, weight gain, coarse hair texture, etc. and visit a vet if you have any doubts.
Remember to ask for evidence of the parent dogs’ health from the breeder, beforehand.
Summary:
Before bringing this Pitbull mix home, do remember to talk with your neighbors and locality. You do not want to cause inconvenience to anyone around you. Also, not to forget, check with your breeder about the health of its parents.
You might have to look for many things before getting a Labrabull, but your pooch will only look for your love, care, and time.
So if you are looking for a companion who will play with you, protect you, give you cuddles at your lows, will jump around with you at your highs, and stay with you through thick and thin, then Labrabull is the right choice.
Dr. Aram Baker has been with Santa Clarita Animal Hospital since 1995 and his special interests include behaviour medicine and dermatology. He graduated from the Cleveland Humanities Magnet Program in Reseda, CA and attended California State University at Northridge where he received a Bachelor’s degree in biology. He went on to pursue his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine at the University of California at Davis. He also spent time in the zoological medicine department at U.C. Davis during his Junior and Senior years. He is dedicated to caring for all pets big or small, young or old with compassion, patience, kindness, and love.