Caring For My Labrahuahua: The Chihuahua Lab Mix
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One of the latest trends in the hybrid dog breed world is the Chihuahua Lab mix, also known as the Labrahuahua. The Labrahuahua is an adorable mix of the Chihuahua and Labrador retriever dog breeds.
Amusingly, the Labrahuahua looks as if a Labrador had been squashed down to the size of a Chihuahua. Although they are small, this adorable hybrid has a huge personality and a heart full of love.
Labrahuahuas need a lot of attention and exercise and are better suited to a family setting where at least one person works from home so they are not left alone regularly for hours at a time.
Read on to find out more about this awesome little Lab Chihuahua mix.
Contents & Quick Navigation
Main Characteristics Of A Chihuahua Lab Mix
Before we get into the details, let’s take a quick look at the main characteristics of the Labrahuahua.
Parent breeds: Chihuahua and Labrador retriever
Height: 10 to 22 inches
Weight: 25 to 50 pounds
Lifespan: 12 to 16 years
Coat type: Short to medium and dense
Coat color: White, yellow/cream, black, red, or blue
Key characteristics: Good with children, moderately trainable, low grooming maintenance, high exercise/stimulation requirements, expensive puppy purchase, frequent barking
Parent Breed History
It is interesting to note that both parent breeds of the Labrahuahua are native to the Americas. The Chihuahua comes from Mexico, while the Labrador retriever comes from Newfoundland, Canada.
Knowing more about the parentage of the Labrahuahua can help you understand the complexity of this unique breed’s look, personality, and care requirements.
Chihuahua Breed History
The Chihuahua has a history steeped in conquest, survival, and ancient Native American history. The modern Chihuahua’s ancestor was the Techichi of the ancient Toltec civilization. It was a slightly larger dog that acted as a companion and an alert dog.
When the Aztecs conquered the Toltec people in the 1100s, they took a liking to the Techichi and refined the breed to a smaller, more compact size. It is thought that the Techichi was bred with a hairless dog breed that came to the North American continent via the land bridge to Asia. The slightly modified Techichi became a beloved breed to the Aztec Empire and was integral to the culture.
During the Spanish conquest and subsequent colonization of what is now known as Mexico and Central America (but was then the Aztec Empire in the 1500s), the Techichi managed to survive the destruction of the civilisation in remote locations.
In the middle of the 19th century, Europeans and white Americans became interested in the small dog, which was now located in the Chihuahua region of Mexico. The breed was then named the Chihuahua and was formally recognised by the American Kennel Club in 1908.
This table is a quick summary of the main characteristics of the Chihuahua breed:
Labrador Retriever Breed History
Ironically, the Labrador does not come from the Labrador region! Instead, it hails from Newfoundland, Canada. English duck hunters found the breed charming and very helpful when they visited Canada and brought a few back to England with them.
The Labrador retriever was specifically bred to be a working dog. It would accompany waterfowl hunters, and once a bird was shot down, the Labrador would jump into the water and retrieve the bird’s carcass for its owner.
To be able to brave the icy waters in the Canadian winter, these dogs were bred to have thick, dense coats and strong, rudder-like tails to help them maneuver in the water.
Since it made its way to the top of the AKC’s “America’s favorite breed” list in 1991, it has only continued to grow in popularity! This is due to the Labrador’s incredible temperament and loveable nature.
This table is a quick summary of the main characteristics of the Labrador retriever breed:
How Was The Chihuahua Lab Mix Made?
Now, the Labrador retriever is a medium-to-large dog and is fairly hefty, while the Chihuahua is a small dog and rather dainty. So, how did this combination of Lab and Chihuahua come to be?
There are a few rare occasions of larger Chihuahuas mating with smaller Labradors found in wild packs across North and Central America. However, this is not where you will be getting your Labrahuahua from unless it is rescued.
Most Labrahuahuas that are on the market are due to artificial insemination and breeder intervention. Essentially, one day, a breeder thought, “what would I get if I crossed my loyal and calm Labrador with my feisty little Chihuahua?” and the rest is doggy history.
Due to the complicated process of artificial insemination, Labrahuahua puppies are quite expensive.
It is important to note that in a Lab and Chihuahua mix, the Labrador is the female, and the Chihuahua is the male, as a female Chihuahua would be too small to carry a litter of puppies that are crossed with a larger breed like the Labrador.
Once Chihuahuas had gained their popularity due to 2000s movies like Legally Blonde, people began searching for dogs that were crossed with the Chihuahua, and so the Labrahuahua grew in popularity.
What Does The Labrahuahua Look Like?
The Labrahuahua takes after its Chihuahua parent in size and stature but takes on the looks of its Labrador retriever parent. They tend to be slightly bigger than Chihuahuas but broader with more stocky proportions like their Labrador retriever parents.
Height: 10 to 22 inches
Weight: 25 to 50 pounds
The Labrahuahua can come in a variety of colors, but the more common ones are:
- Black
- Yellow/cream
- White
- Red
- Blue
The Labrahuahua will usually take on the coloration of the Labrador retriever parent over that of its Chihuahua parent. Chihuahuas can have natural markings such as a jacket, brindle, or spots.
While it is rare for a Labrahuahua to have markings, you may come across a Lab Chihuahua mix that displays the markings of its Chihuahua parents. This means the Chihuahua genes are strong.
Labrahuahuas notably have the thick, rounded ears similar to the Labrador retriever parent rather than the thinner pointy ears of the Chihuahua. The Labrahuahua’s ears will often fold over when relaxed and can be rather fluffy.
What Kind Of Personality Does The Labrahuahua Have?
The Labrahuahua is full of life, energy, and most importantly love. These dogs adore their humans and will do anything for a good, long snuggle any opportunity they get. They are incredibly affectionate with the people they are comfortable with.
Labrahuahuas are wary of strangers and may bark quite a lot at them initially. However, as they get used to each other, the Labrahuahua will warm up to strangers quickly and go looking for love and cuddles.
Unfortunately, the flip side of this is your Labrahuahua can be very needy and suffer when they are left alone for any period of time. You will need to put routines and training in place to avoid the onset of social anxiety in your Labrahuahua.
The Chihuahua does not get along with other dog breeds or pets but will get along well with others of its own kind. The Labrador retriever gets along with just about anything that moves. Fortunately, the Labrahuahua does get along with other dogs provided it is socialized properly.
Labrahuahuas are excellent companions for children. They are small and are therefore not intimidating, but they are not as dainty and snappy as Chihuahuas are. Labrahuahuas adore children and the endless fun they can provide through games, cuddles, and dropped snacks.
What Kind Of Care Does My Labrahuahua Need?
Just like all other dog breeds and hybrid breeds, Labrahuahuas need individualized care. A careful look at the needs of Chihuahuas and Labrador retrievers can help you understand why your Labrahuahua needs the care it does.
Let’s take a closer look at how you can best care for your Labrahuahua.
Grooming
Owning a dog is a privilege, grooming that precious ball of fluff is a responsibility that should not be taken lightly. We can separate your dog’s grooming needs into three main categories: coat, nails, and teeth.
Coat
Labrahuahuas have short coats; however, they are also fairly thick and dense. This means they need frequent brushing to loosen up the hair and prevent it from becoming compacted. Brushing them once a week should be sufficient.
Labrahuahuas shed seasonally and will need additional brushing during their shedding time. If they are not being brushed often enough, they will become itchy and may develop sores on their bodies from scratching, or compacted fur pulling on the skin.
A silicone brush can be used to gently grab the loose hair in the coat and massage the skin at the same time to promote healthy oil production. A deshedding brush is handy to use as well as it will help your Labrahuahua shed during their seasonal shedding time.
Your Labrahuahua will need a bath every three to four months, depending on how dirty they get and how frequently you keep up with their grooming.
Nails
On top of all the brushing and bathing, your Labrahuahua may need its nails trimmed once every three months to keep them short, functional, and healthy. This may increase in frequency as your Labrahuahua gets older and is less active.
Teeth
The last item on the grooming list is teeth brushing. Chihuahuas frequently suffer from periodontal disease because of the small size of their skulls. Brushing your Labrahuahua’s teeth every day will help reduce the chance of them developing periodontal disease.
Exercise
Labrador retrievers and Chihuahuas are both active dogs that need a lot of physical exercise. Your Labrahuahua needs one hour of exercise a day broken up into three 20-minute sessions.
Exercise can come in the form of running around, going on hikes, playing games, training, and doing obstacle courses.
Labrahuahuas are fairly clever dogs. Both parent breeds are intelligent and need a substantial amount of stimulation everyday to prevent them from becoming bored. Games, training, puzzle toys, and snuffle blankets are all excellent ways to exercise your Labrahuahua’s mind and keep your furniture unchewed.
Nutrition
Chihuahuas and Labrador retrievers need different kinds of nutrition owing to the difference in the size and needs of their bodies. However, supplying your Labrahuahua with a healthy, well-rounded, balanced diet is fairly simple.
Check out our article dedicated to the 10 best natural dog foods.
What Are The Common Health Concerns Of The Labrahuahua?
The Labrahuahua has a few health issues to be concerned about and these come from the parent breeds. However, Labrahuahuas will be healthier than either parent as they are more genetically diverse because they are a hybrid breed.
The major health concerns you should be aware of are luxating patellas, elbow and hip dysplasia, eye issues, and heart conditions.
- Patella luxation is common in Chihuahuas and other smaller dog breeds. If your Labrahuahua is on the smaller side, this could be a problem.
- Labrador retrievers frequently suffer from elbow and hip dysplasia (as do many other large dog breeds). If your Labrahuahua is on the larger side, this could be a potential problem.
- Entropion is an eye disease. Labrahuahuas are likely to suffer from entropion as both parent breeds commonly suffer from it.
- Like entropion, both parent breeds often suffer from heart conditions such as cardiomyopathy and mitral valve disease. Therefore, this is a common problem seen in Labrahuahuas.
The best way to protect your Labrahuahua is by being proactive with yearly vet visits. Taking your dog to the vet every year is a necessity as they need vaccine boosters and yearly physical check-ups. Your vet will be able to tell you if anything is wrong as your dog ages.
FAQs About The Chihuahua Lab Mix
How much is a Labrahuahua puppy?
A Labrahuahua puppy can set you back at least $1,000. This is because the process of breeding is a lot more hands-on and breeders involved than other hybrid dog breeds, such as a Chiweenie, where both parent breeds are small.
If you are looking for a Labrahuahua that has the yellow jacket of the Labrador retriever parent, then you can expect to pay a good deal more than $1,000 because breeders know they are sought after.
Before purchasing your Labrahuahua from a breeder, make sure you do your homework on the breeder. There are many backyard breeders or puppy mills that have very poor breeding practices and pass themselves off as reputable breeders.
You should be able to go and meet the breeder, view their breeding stock, and meet the puppies before you purchase your puppy from them. Look for online reviews or even speak to previous customers.
Can I find Labrahuahuas at an animal shelter?
You can find the odd Labrahuahua at a normal animal shelter, however, you would have more luck looking at a specialized shelter for Labradors or Chihuahuas, as the combination does not happen ‘by accident’ very often.
Do Labrahuahuas get along with other pets?
Fortunately, Labrahuahuas take after their Labrador retriever parent in this regard. Labrahuahuas get along fairly well with other household pets such as cats, other dogs, and even large reptiles.
It is important to socialize and train your Labrahuahua from an early age as to what is and what is not appropriate behavior around your other pets to ensure a happy home life and harmony among all your furry, feathered, and scaly friends.
Will my Labrahuahua bark a lot?
Chihuahuas are known to be “yappy” dogs who bark a lot. Labradors do their fair share of barking when trying to alert their owners to something they see, hear, or smell. Unfortunately, the Labrahuahua can go either way in terms of barking frequency.
Check out our article dedicated to correcting bad barking behavior to help you keep your Labrahuahua from bothering the neighbors at all hours.
Barking Off On The Chihuahua Lab Mix
The Labrahuahua, a Chihuahua Labrador retriever mix, is a loveable dog who enjoys cuddles, long walks on the beach, and endless attention.
Let’s recap the main characteristics of the Labrahuahua:
Parent breeds: Chihuahua and Labrador retriever
Height: 10 to 22 inches
Weight: 25 to 50 pounds
Lifespan: 12 to 16 years
Coat type: Short to medium and dense
Coat color: White, yellow/cream, black, red, or blue
Key characteristics: Good with children, moderately trainable, low grooming maintenance, high exercise/stimulation requirements, expensive puppy purchase, frequent barking
Remember, knowing about the parent breeds will help you understand the Labrahuahua better. As a hybrid dog, the Labrahuahua can land anywhere on the spectrum between either of its parent breeds.
This is a guide on the average Labrahuahua, always remember that hybrids are unique and will be different in personality and looks, even among puppies from the same litter.
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Caring For My Labrahuahua: The Chihuahua Lab Mix was last modified: March 13th, 2023 by
