Chihuahua Labrador Retriever Mix: Labrahuahua Breed Information

What do you get when you mix a Chihuahua with a Labrador Retriever? An unusual but beautiful Chihuahua Lab mix, also known as the Labrahuahua. And just in case you’re wondering how to say his name, it’s Lab-ra-waa-wuh. This new and rare designer dog has two very different parents. This means their Labrahuahua pup falls somewhere in the middle of the energetic, friendliness, trainable, and needy scales.

You might be wondering, ‘how can they have puppies?’. Artificial insemination can be involved in the process, but it also happens out in the wild with bigger Chihuahuas and smaller Labs. The Mom always has to be the Labrador, due to the size differences of the breed.  This mix is a happy-go-lucky pup that needs a lot of company and attention.

However lovely he is, he isn’t for everyone. This comprehensive guide will walk you through his personality, appearance, grooming and exercise needs, and much more. Curious about this canine? Buckle up and let’s find out everything you need to know.

Parent Breeds

For you to understand what the Labrahuahua might be like, you need to learn about his parents. From their histories and breed purpose to what they are like, it’ll give you an idea about what to expect when you bring this Labrador & Chihuahua mixed breed into your home.

Chihuahua

The Chihuahua is a national symbol of Mexico. He dates back thousands of years ago to Aztec times. But it wasn’t until Americans rediscovered him again in the 18^th Century that we fell back in love with him. Compact and confident, this terrier-like toy pup is described as charming and sassy. His breed purpose is unknown, but he is now known today as a companion dog. There are two genetically different looking Chihuahuas. They are easily distinguished by the shapes of their head.

He craves the company of his family and hates to be left alone. He has a lot of personality packed into his tiny body, and he can be stubborn to train. Chihuahuas can also become overprotective and aggressive if you let them. Don’t let him get too big for his boots, otherwise, he’ll rule the roost. Chihuahuas are fun and affectionate, and weighs no more than 6 pounds.

Labrador Retriever

Here we have America’s favorite dog breed, and he has been since 1991. Labs are hardworking duck retrievers by day and a fantastic family friend at night. Originally bred to assist fishermen in the waters of Newfoundland, Labs are full of energy and intelligence. A great all-rounder, this pup has a lot of love and affection for their families. They are also friendly with strangers.

Labradors are a medium to large-sized canine who weighs anywhere between 55 and 80 pounds. His muscular body, luscious coat, and thick otter tail are his signature features. Labs are adaptable and easy-going, but super energetic and must be exercised every day to keep him happy. Because of the Labrador’s friendly nature, they are often paired with other breeds to create designer dogs.

Labrahuahua

As with all mixed breeds, you must learn as much as you can about each of his parents. He is either going to be an equal blend of both or more like one parent over the other, but you won’t know until you bring him home. You’ll find that most Labrahuahuas can vary in both size, appearance, and temperament.

However, most Labrahuahuas will inherit the best of both his parents. There are some commonalities that most Chihuahua Lab mixes will carry when it comes to temperament, nutrition, and activity levels. Below we show you what you can typically expect from this hybrid pup.

Temperament

The Chihuahua Lab mix will demand your full attention, all day every day. So if you aren’t a fan of needy dogs, this mixed breed is not the one for you. If you are, you’re in luck! With his Labrador devotion coupled with the separation anxiety of the Chihuahua, it’s likely that you’ll find yourself with a second shadow.

This means that he must be placed with a family that can spend the majority of their day with him. Long hours in the office will not do. As we’re on the subject of what type of family he needs, he also needs to be placed with an active family who can keep his mind and body stimulated.

He makes a great jogging partner, agility course participant, and frisbee catcher (just don’t throw it too high!). He is also an intelligent mix, and so you’ll also need to spend a lot of time playing with him, as interaction will stimulate his brain. For those times that you cannot play, ensure he has a box of toys handy so that he can entertain himself.

Thankfully, because of his Chihuahua genes, he will also have a ‘chill-out’ button. He’ll love to snuggle on your lap and pretend he is the same lapdog that his Mexican parent is. He has a lot of love to give. Because of his Lab genes, he can be very intuitive, and he’ll know when you need an extra special cuddle to cheer you up.

His Chihuahua genes are likely to shine through when it comes to strangers, and he’ll be aloof at first. Once his suspicion has disappeared, he’ll be trying to make friends with them in no time. If he isn’t happy, though, he will bark and tell them off. Expect a barky watchdog, and this is something to think about if you have sensitive neighbors.

Size & Appearance

This small to medium-sized mixed breed will weigh anywhere between 25 to 50 pounds and measure 10 to 22 inches tall. He will typically look like a miniature version of his Labrador parent, thanks to his shorter Chihuahua legs and skinnier features. As with all dog breeds, the males are usually bigger than the females.

Despite his smaller size when compared to the Labrador, the Chihuahua Lab mix is still athletic looking. It’s likely that he’ll inherit the long and thick tail of the Lab too. With big bug-like brown eyes framed by his large triangle ears, he’ll make all dog lovers swoon. His ears usually stand to attention like his Chihuahua parent’s ears do, but they will drop down at the tips like the Labs.

Coat & Colors

The coat of the Labrahuahua varies a lot, even in the same litter. It is also dependent on whether his Chihuahua parent’s coat is short or long-haired, or even fluffy. But a typical Labrahuahua coat will be thick and dense, and of short to medium length. It’ll be straight and smooth, and he may have slight feathering fur around his ears and neck.

When it comes to colors, there are also a lot of options. This mix has a chance to be white, yellow, black, chocolate, blue, cream, or red. It is more than likely that his color will be solid across his body, but he could inherit a mixture of colors, including spots, like his Chihuahua parent.

Exercise & Living Conditions

Being a medium-sized dog, the Labrahuahua is suited to both apartment or large home living. If he lives in an apartment, he’ll prefer having access to a yard. If not, then he’ll need a lot more exercise to stop him from getting cabin fever.

When it comes to exercise, this guy will need around 45 to 60 minutes of exercise every day to keep him happy. Without it, he’ll become restless and agitated. His powerful Lab jaws, combined with his stubborn and anxious Chihuahua nature, could be a recipe for furniture destruction. You have been warned!

They are very intelligent, and so you’ll need to mix up his exercise routine with varied activities. As we have already mentioned, he’ll love jogging, playing, retrieving, and anything else you can think of. Being a water puppy, he will also appreciate a trip to the local lake. Just be sure to invest in a doggy life jacket to support his shorter legs in the water.

When it comes to his family, Labrahuahuas are best suited to families with plenty of time to give. Compared to his Mexican parent, his more substantial size and less-snappy demeanor mean that they are also suited to families with younger children. This is one of his biggest appeals in that Chihuahuas aren’t suited to the enthusiastic handling of young children.

As long as Labrahuahuas are socialized well, they can be suited to multi-pet households. All in all, he is an adaptable mix who just wants love and company. There aren’t many living conditions this guy wouldn’t thrive in.

Training

His well-balanced personality means that he is suitable for the first time dog owner who has little dog training experience. His Lab intelligence and trainability will shine through. But be warned, he will have off days where he’ll revert back to his stubborn Chihuahua ways. He’ll be obedient 80% of the time, but he’ll pretend he hasn’t heard you for the other 20%.

When it comes to how you conduct obedience training, the best way is to use the positive reinforcement training method. This means rewarding him with treats and plenty of praise as soon as he does something good. And to correct or ignore undesirable behaviors.

As with all dogs, it is crucial to socialize him during puppyhood. This is even more important for dogs who are known to be snappy or overprotective, like the Chihuahua. Not only will this allow him to interact with other dogs and learn how to be a polite pup, but it will also build his confidence. Expose him to unfamiliar situations, noises, and people. For a dog that is likely to become anxious when you are not around, it is advised to crate train. This will give him a safe haven that he’ll learn to love.

Health

The Chihuahua Lab mix is a relatively healthy hybrid that should enjoy a long lifespan of 12 to 14 years. As he is a mixed breed, he could inherit the health problems associated with either of his parents. Here are the main concerns to take note of.

Eye concerns: both of his parents are known to suffer from eye conditions. The main concerns to look for are entropion, progressive retinal atrophy, and cataracts.

Hip and elbow dysplasia: his Lab parent is at risk from both dysplasias, so if he is a bigger dog, this might be an issue for him.

Patellar luxation: his Chihuahua parent is known to suffer from this, so if he is a smaller Labrahuahua, this could be a concern.

Heart conditions: both of his parents suffer from heart problems, and the two main concerns to be aware of is cardiomyopathy and mitral valve disease.

Nutrition

Depending on the size and energy levels of your Chihuahua Lab mix, he will consume between 1 ½ to 2 cups of dried kibble every day. You should feed him a high-quality kibble that provides a well-balanced diet.

The Chihuahua Lab mix is prone to becoming overweight very quickly, especially if he inherits the Lab’s appetite. Be sure to keep a close eye on his food intake and weight gain. If he starts to pile on the pounds, lower his food consumption, treat allowances, or switch to a diet management kibble.

Grooming

The Labrahuahua’s coat is not too difficult to look after. A brush once or twice a week will help to keep his skin healthy, coat shiny, and to remove dirt and dead hair. If he has feathering hair, then this needs to be groomed too so that it doesn’t become matted. He should be bathed every 8 to 12 weeks with a gentle dog shampoo for his sensitive skin.

His teeth need to be cleaned at least every week, and if he has a smaller mouth like his Chihuahua parent, they should be cleaned twice a week. His ears and eyes should also be cleaned once a week too. If your pup takes after their Labrador parent when it comes to shedding, you’ll end up grooming a few times a week.

Breeders & Puppy Costs

The price of a Chihuahua Lab mix will cost $1,000 and above. This price might seem a little high compared to other mixed pups of his size. But you need to remember that a lot more time and skill goes into breeding him.

Because of their size difference, they need extra help when it comes to mating. Artificial insemination is required. His mother will always be the Lab parent, and the father will always be his Chihuahua parent. The yellow jacket of the Lab tends to be the more desired and popular coat color. This means breeders can, and do, charge more for this look.

The best way to find your Labrahuahua is to search for reputable breeders online. Always look for online reviews from previous customers, and meet them in person. Always ask to see the pups, their parents, and their health clearances. Never purchase a dog from a puppy mill or backstreet breeder, as they always put profit before puppy health.

Rescue & Shelters

If you are thinking about rescuing a Chihuahua Lab mix instead, the best place to start is with your local rescue shelter. They may not have a Labrahuahua available at the time of your visit but speak to the staff who might be able to point you in the direction of one that does.

If not, dedicated breed rescue organizations are a great place to look too. Head over to the American Lab Rescue or the Chihuahua Rescue websites, who both look after and rehome mixed breeds.

As Family Pets

• The Labrahuahua can be a needier mix.
• He is an adaptable pup that can live in most environments.
• The Labrahuahua is excellent with young children and other animals.
• He is affectionate and loves to snuggle with his family.
• Labrahuahuas need between 45 and 60 minutes of exercise every day.
• They are aloof and barky with strangers at first, warming up to them quickly.
• He is vocal and he isn’t shy when it comes to his bark.
• It is important to socialize the Labrahuahua early on.
• Labrahuahuas need plenty of mental stimulation to curb destructive behaviors.

Final Thoughts

This seemingly impossible Chihuahua Lab mix is one that works really well thanks to the balancing out of his parent’s personalities. With the right family and training, the Labrahuahua will grow into a delightful doggy who everyone will fall in love with. It is important that you can offer him everything that he needs. And if you can, you’ll be in for many years of affection, fun, and companionship.