Highly energetic and active, the Husky Lab mix is an increasingly popular designer dog breed. Best suited for homes with fenced yards, this mix makes a great family dog and companion to active people.
What is a Labsky? The Husky Lab mix, also known as Labsky, is a mixed-breed dog developed by crossing a Siberian Husky and a Labrador Retriever. They are active, loyal, and friendly dogs that need a lot of exercise and companionship. Labskies need active owners and thrive in homes with outdoor space.
If the Labsky seems like a good fit for your family, keep on reading! In this article, we’ll tell you more about the Husky Lab mix temperament, health, diet and more.
What Is a Husky Lab Mix?
The Husky Lab mix is a new designer dog breed, developed by crossing a purebred Siberian Husky with a purebred Labrador Retriever. The Labrador Husky mix goes by several names, including Labsky, Huskador, and Siberian Retriever.
As a fairly new designer dog breed, the Labsky isn’t recognized by any kennel club, but their status is likely to change with time.
Brief History
There is a big chance that Huskies and Labradors mixed naturally over the years. However, it wasn’t until the 1990s that breeders started intentionally crossing Siberian Huskies with Labrador Retrievers.
Siberian Husky
The Siberian Husky is a working dog breed, known for its wolf-like appearance and ability to endure harsh weather conditions. Originally used as sled dogs, Huskies evolved into family companions and are one of the most popular breeds to own.
Labrador Retriever
The Labrador Retriever was developed in Newfoundland and was used as a gun dog to flush out and retrieve shot waterfowl. Besides being competent working dogs, Labs are also amazing family pets and companions to people of all ages.
Husky Lab Mix
When you mix the two, you get a Huskador – a highly energetic, affectionate, friendly, and loyal dog. True to their parent breeds, the Husky Lab mix is a great family dog who needs lots of exercise and likes to spend time with its owner.
Characteristics of a Husky Lab Mix
It’s hard to predict the personality and appearance of any mixed-breed dog, and the Lab Husky cross isn’t an exception. However, both the Husky and the Lab are friendly, intelligent, and active working breeds, so their mix will exhibit these traits.
Labsky Highlights:
| Size | Medium to large-sized dog |
| Weight | 40-60 pounds |
| Height | 20-28 inches |
| Coat Type | Medium-long double coat |
| Shedding | Moderate to heavy shedding |
| Energy Level | Highly energetic |
| Overall Health | Very good |
| Lifespan | 10-12 years |
Size
True to their parent breeds, most Labskies grow into medium or large-sized dogs.
Height
Since the Husky Lab mix is a new designer dog, there are no set standards when it comes to height. Most Labskies stand between 20 and 28 inches tall, but some can be shorter or taller.
Weight
Most Labskies weigh from 40 to 60 pounds, but some can weigh slightly less or more depending on the weight and size of both parent dogs.
Coat Color
Both Huskies and Labs can come in a variety of different coat colors, so it’s no surprise that their mix can have a wide range of coat colors. The Labsky’s can have a solid coat color or their coats can be a mix of their parents’ coat colors.
The most common coat colors are:
- White
- Black
- Yellow
- Brown
- Red
- Grey
Shedding
Due to their Husky parents, Labskies have medium-long double coats that shed all year round (source). If you suffer from allergies or mind cleaning, the Husky Lab mix isn’t a dog for you since their thick coat will also shed profusely twice a year during the shedding season.
Temperament
Getting a Husky Lab mix puppy is always a gamble since it’s impossible to predict the exact temperament of any individual mixed-breed dog. Your Labsky can take more after one of their parents or be a perfect blend of both their parent breeds.
Most Labskies are very active, loyal, and loving dogs that like to have company and enjoy being around their people. Due to their outgoing and friendly nature, the Husky Lab mix craves human interaction and may develop separation anxiety if left alone a lot.
As an offspring of two very active working breeds, the Lab Husky mix is a highly energetic and athletic dog with a ton of energy to burn. Therefore, they need a lot of exercise and mental stimulation, otherwise, they can easily become bored and destructive (source).
Pet Friendly
Labskies are generally friendly and well-behaved around other similarly sized dogs. However, they tend to have a strong prey drive which can be detrimental for smaller pets such as cats and rabbits.
That’s why it is very important to start socializing and training your Lab Husky mix puppy from a young age. With proper socialization and training, Labskies grow into well-behaved and friendly dogs that get along with other household pets.
Child Friendly
Due to their loyal and loving nature, Labskies get along well with children and make great family dogs. Their love of playing and energy levels makes them suitable play buddies for older kids who know how to interact and play with a dog safely.
Husky Lab Mix Care
Like all other dogs, your Husky Lab mix requires special care and attention in order to stay healthy and thrive. Develop a care routine as soon as you bring your dog home and pay attention to:
Health Risks
Most Labskies are generally healthy and reach a ripe old age without experiencing any major health problems. However, this mix is predisposed to some of the same health conditions that affect Siberian Huskies and Labrador Retrievers.
The most common health issues seen in this breed are:
- Hip dysplasia
- Allergies
- Obesity
- Eye conditions
The Lab Husky mix has an average lifespan of 10 to 12 years, but some may live longer when properly cared for.
Grooming
Having a Husky as a parent makes this mix a high-maintenance dog when it comes to grooming. The Labsky’s silky and soft double coat sheds all year round and goes through a heavy shed during the shedding season.
To reduce the amount of shedding and prevent the development of mats and tangles, you will have to brush your Labsky every day. Using an undercoat rake or a de-shedding tool can be of great help during the shedding season and will minimize the amount of hair in your home (source).
Bathe your dog once every two months or as needed with a hypoallergenic dog shampoo. The rest is basic care and involves teeth brushing, ear cleaning, and nail trimming.
Food or Diet
The ideal diet for a Husky Lab mix should be formulated for medium-sized dogs with high energy. Your dog should eat food that contains proteins, carbs, fats, and all essential vitamins and minerals that support overall health.
Keep in mind, your dog’s dietary needs will change as they get older, so make sure that you are feeding them with age-appropriate dog food. And whenever in doubt, consult your vet or canine nutritionist who will design an individual nutritional plan for your dog.
Training and Exercise
Since Labskies are highly energetic and athletic dogs, they need around 60 to 90 minutes of vigorous exercise every day. Activities such as running, hiking, jogging, or swimming are a great way to keep your mix exercised and in good shape.
And since they like to play, make sure to play with your dog at least once a day to keep him mentally stimulated and physically challenged. Games such as fetch, chase, tug-of-war, and interactive and puzzle toys will prevent boredom and keep your dog entertained.
The Husky Lab mix is an intelligent dog, but training can be easy or challenging depending on which parent your dog takes more after. Labs are very easy to train due to their mellow nature and eagerness to please, Huskies, on the other hand, tend to be stubborn and strong-willed.
However, with positive reinforcement techniques, patience, and consistency you can train a stubborn Labsky obedience and basic commands. Use treats to motivate and reward your dog and keep the training sessions short to keep them interested in training.
Housing
As a medium to large-sized dog, the Lab Husky mix should live in a house and have access to a fenced yard. Bear in mind, this mix likes to dig and can find creative ways to escape, so you’ll have to make sure that your fence can withstand escape attempts.
Where to Get a Husky Lab Mix?
There are only two ways you can get a Lab Husky mix – purchase a puppy from a breeder or adopt from a rescue organization or animal shelter.
Husky Lab Mix Breeders
Both Huskies and Labs are popular dog breeds, so you shouldn’t have trouble locating Husky Lab mix breeders in your area. Before you purchase a puppy, research the breeder, and schedule an appointment to meet the puppies and parents.
Husky Lab Mix Price
Husky Lab mix puppies on average cost between $400 and $800. However, some puppies can cost more, depending on a breeder, eye and coat color, gender, and lineage.
Adoption
Despite their status as designer dogs, many Labskies are in shelters and rescue organizations, waiting for their forever home. While it may be hard to find a rescue group that deals with Labskies exclusively, you should check local shelters and rescues to see if they have any available dogs.
To increase your chances of adopting a Labsky, check Siberian Husky and Labrador breed-specific rescues since they often take in and care for their mixes too.
Conclusion
Highly energetic, friendly, and loving, the Lab Husky mix is an amazing family dog and a great companion to active people. Labskies are exceptionally active dogs that need lots of exercise and a large backyard to run and play in.
A Husky Lab mix isn’t a dog for you if you suffer from allergies or mind grooming your dog every day. However, if lose hair and vacuuming doesn’t scare you, the Labsky can be a loving companion and exercise buddy.
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