The Pit Bull Lab mix is a designer breed, developed by crossing a Labrador Retriever with an American Pit Bull Terrier. This mix inherited some of the best traits from its parent breeds and makes a loyal and loving companion.
What is a Labrabull? Nicknamed the Labrabull, the Pit Bull Lab mix is a cross between a Labrador Retriever and an American Pit Bull Terrier. This is a medium to large breed with a lot of energy and high exercise needs. Friendly, affectionate, and loyal, Labrabulls are gentle with children and make wonderful family pets.
If you are looking for a smart and devoted canine companion, the Labrabull might be an ideal choice! Keep on reading to find out all you need to know about the Pit Bull Lab mix temperament, diet, exercise needs, health, and more.
What Is a Pit Bull Lab Mix?
The Pit Bull Lab mix is a mixed-breed developed by crossing a purebred Labrador Retriever with a purebred American Pit Bull Terrier. This designer hybrid goes by several names, including Labrabull, Pitador, Bullador, and Pitador Retriever.
The American Kennel Club doesn’t recognize the Pit Bull Lab mix as an official dog breed. However, the Labrabull can be registered with:
- American Canine Hybrid Club
- Dog Registry of America
- International Designer Canine Registry
Brief History
It is highly likely that Pit Lab mixes existed naturally over the years. However, the breeders started intentionally crossing American Pit Bull Terriers and Labrador Retrievers in the late 1990s.
By mixing these two breeds, breeders wanted to minimize the health problems that often affect purebred dogs due to interbreeding. As the demand for designer dogs grew, breeders continued to create Pitadors as family dogs and companions.
American Pit Bull Terrier
The origins of an American Pit Bull Terrier can be traced to 19th century England where they were used in the vicious sport of bull-baiting (source). Often unfairly labeled as dangerous and aggressive, American Pit Bull Terriers are amazing family dogs and gentle, affectionate, and loyal companions.
Labrador Retriever
Bred to serve as a retrieving gun dog, the Labrador Retriever is one of the most popular dog breeds. While Labs are still capable working dogs they are most often kept as pets due to their amiable, kind, gentle, and outgoing nature.
Pit Bull Lab Mix
When you mix an American Pit Bull Terrier and a Lab, you get a Labrabull – a highly energetic, smart, and friendly companion dog. Due to its energetic and playful nature, the Pit Bull Lab mix is best suited for active people and homes with a fenced yard.
Characteristics of Pit Bull Lab Mix
Getting a Pitador is always a gamble since there is no sure way of knowing if the dog is going to look like or behave. However, it’s safe to assume that your mix will exhibit a combination of characteristics and traits seen in both parent breeds.
Expect your Labrabull to have a powerful and muscular body and an agile and energetic attitude.
When it comes to features, the Pitador’s head is broader than the Labrador’s but smaller than the Pit Bull’s. They have a longer muzzle and long floppy ears.
Labrabull Highlights:
| Size | Medium to large-sized dog |
| Weight | 45-90 pounds |
| Height | 20-24 inches |
| Coat Type | Short single coat |
| Shedding | Low shedding |
| Energy Level | Highly energetic |
| Overall Health | Very good |
| Lifespan | 10-14 years |
Size
Since the Pit Bull Lab mix is a fairly new designer breed, there are no set standards when it comes to size. Most Labrabulls are medium in size, but they are generally on the larger side of medium.
Height
A full-grown Labrador Pit Bull mix is between 20 and 24 inches tall at the shoulder. However, many are slightly shorter or taller.
Weight
Most Labrabulls weigh between 45 and 90 pounds. Keep in mind that male dogs are generally 30 pounds heavier than females and will be noticeably larger.
Coat Color
The American Pit Bull Terrier comes in a wide range of colors, and Labs can be black, yellow, and chocolate. As a mix of these two breeds, the Labrabull can come in a variety of different colors and even have a mix of two or more colors.
The most commonly seen coat colors are:
- Black
- White
- Grey
- Chocolate
- Yellow
- Silver
- Blue
Shedding
Most Labrabulls have a short single coat and are fairly low-shedding dogs. However, some may inherit the Lab’s denser coat in which case you’ll have a moderate shedder on your hands.
Temperament
There’s no way of predicting the exact temperament of any mixed-breed dog. However, you can get a better idea of what to expect from your mix by meeting both of their parents.
Most Labrabulls are people-loving and friendly dogs that will likely get along with everyone they meet. As people-oriented and outgoing dogs, Labrabulls don’t like to be alone and crave constant companionship.
This mix likes to be involved in all family activities and will suffer greatly without human interaction. When left alone at home for hours on end, Labrabulls are likely to develop separation anxiety and display destructive behavior (source).
Therefore, the Pit Bull Lab mix isn’t the right dog for you if you spend a better part of the day at work or travel a lot.
This mix has inherited the Lab’s trusting nature, so it is more likely to greet burglars with a wagging tail than guarding your property. However, they are fiercely loyal and protective of their owners and won’t hesitate to display aggression if their family is threatened.
The Pit Bull Lab mix is a very energetic and active breed that loves to play, and would always pick a game of fetch over an afternoon nap on the sofa. And since they are very smart they can easily get bored and destructive if not provided with adequate mental stimulation in the form of puzzle toys.
Pet Friendly
While the Labrador is almost always friendly towards other pets and gets along with everyone, the American Pit Bull Terrier might be apprehensive around other dogs. As a mix of these two breeds, your Labrabull can exhibit any of these traits.
However, when exposed to other dogs and cats from a young age and properly socialized, most Labrabulls get along just fine with other pets. So start socializing and training your Pit Bull Lab mix as soon as you bring them home.
Child Friendly
Pitadors love children and are exceptionally protective of them. And although energetic and strong, this mix knows how to be gentle around kids and is an ideal playmate.
As long as your children know how to play and interact with a dog safely, your pooch might even report to nanny duty every night and get your kids tucked into their beds.
Pit Bull Lab Mix Care
Caring about your Pit Bull Lab mix is an important aspect of dog ownership and you should develop a care routine that will help keep your dog healthy and happy. To take proper care of your Labrabull you should be aware of the following:
Health Risks
Most Labrabulls are generally healthy, however, they are predisposed to some of the same health issues that American Pit Bull Terriers and Labrador Retrievers suffer from.
The most common health problems seen in this breed are:
- Bloat
- Epilepsy
- OCD
- Hypothyroidism
The Pit Bull Lab mix has an average lifespan of 10 to 14 years. But with proper care and regular veterinary checkups, some may live even longer.
Grooming
The Pitador has a short single coat that is easy to maintain and doesn’t shed much. This makes this breed a great choice if you aren’t a fan of cleaning or don’t have time for prolonged grooming sessions.
Brush your Labrabull once or twice a week to keep their coat clean and shiny and to remove any loose hair. If your mix has a denser coat like a Lab, you should brush him three times a week to keep the shedding to a minimum.
As a highly energetic and active dog, your mix is bound to get covered in mud and dirt more than your average couch potato breed. To keep your dog’s coat clean, bathe them as needed but not more than once a month.
Frequent baths can damage your dog’s coat and dry up their skin, so don’t overdo it (source). And if your pooch gets extremely dirty in between baths use a dry dog shampoo to remove the dirt and get his coat clean.
Food or Diet
The ideal diet for Pit Bull Lab mix should be formulated for medium-sized dogs with high energy. Make sure that you are feeding your dog with the highest quality food that you can afford.
Keep in mind, Labrabulls have a healthy appetite and can easily become overweight, so be mindful of how much food your dog is eating. You should also limit the number of treats you offer to your dog and stick with a 10 percent rule (source).
Training and Exercise
Both the Labrador and the Pit Bull are highly energetic breeds, so the Labrabull will also be an active and agile dog. This mix needs between 60 to 90 minutes of exercise every day to release pent up energy and stay in good shape.
Activities such as biking, running, jogging, hiking, swimming, and agility are all great ways to keep your mix exercised. And since they like to play, games such as fetch, Frisbee, and tug-of-war will keep your dog mentally stimulated and entertained.
The Pit Bull Lab mix is intelligent and eager to please breed that is easy to train with the right training techniques. For the best results, start training your mix from a young age using positive reinforcement techniques.
Use treats and praise to reward good behavior and teach your dog obedience and basic commands. Keep the training sessions short and sweet to keep your mix motivated and interested in training.
Housing
Due to their size and high energy levels, Labrabulls are best suited for homes with fenced large yards. However, if you have the time to keep your mix properly exercised he will be just as happy living in an apartment or a home without an outdoor space.
Where to Get a Pit Bull Lab Mix?
There are only two ways you can get a Pit Bull Lab mix – you can either adopt or shop.
Pit Bull Lab Mix Breeders
Both the American Pit Bull Terrier and the Labrador Retriever are popular breeds, so you shouldn’t have trouble locating reputable Pit Bull Lab mix breeders. If you are set on purchasing a puppy, avoid dealing with puppy mills and backyard breeders and look for reputable breeders in your area.
Pit Bull Lab Mix Price
The Pit Bull Lab mix puppies on average cost from $500 to $1500. The exact cost will depend on a breeder, and factors such as coat and eye color, gender, and lineage.
Adoption
Although they are designer dogs, many Labrabulls end up in the care of animal shelters and rescue organizations. If you are determined to get a Pit Bull Lab mix, check your local shelter to see if they have any dogs waiting for adoption.
It may be hard to find a Labrabull breed-specific rescue organization since this is a new breed, but you should check the American Pit Bull Terrier and the Labrador Retriever breed-specific rescue groups. These organizations often care for mixes too and might have a Labrabull that is waiting just for you.
Conclusion
The Pit Bull Lab mix is an increasingly popular designer breed that makes an amazing family dog and companion to people of all ages. Loyal, affectionate, friendly, and smart, the Labrabull has inherited some of the best traits from its parent breeds.
If you are looking for a workout buddy and reliable jogging partner, the highly energetic and playful Labrabull is an ideal choice. However, if you lead a sedentary life this mix might be too energetic to handle or just the thing you were looking for to help you get in the best shape of your life.
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