Whippet Lab Mix
The Whippet Lab Mix, is a mixed breed dog resulting from breeding the Whippet and the Labrador Retriever. She is a very playful, loving and active dog. She is going to be full of energy and will want a large area to run around in. Continue reading below to see pictures, videos, and learn more about the beautiful Whippet Lab Mix. Note that this hybrid can consist of the black lab, yellow lab, or chocolate lab.
While we really recommend that you acquire all animals through a rescue, we understand that some people might go through a breeder to get their Whippet Lab Mix puppy, if they have any Springador puppies for sale.
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Here are some pictures of the Whippet Lab Mix
Whippet Lab Mix History
All hybrid or designer dogs are tough to get a good read on as there isn’t much history to them. Breeding specific dogs like this has become common in the last twenty years or so even though I am sure that this mixed breed found it’s share of dogs to the shelter due to accidental breeding. We will take a closer look at the history of both parent breeds below. If you are looking at breeders for new, designer dogs please beware of Puppy Mills. These are places that mass produce puppies, specifically for profit and don’t care at all about the dogs. Please sign our petition to stop puppy mills.
Labrador Retriever History:
The Labrador Retriever has consistently ranked as the most popular purebred dog in the United States and the United Kingdom for more than 10 years, according to the American Kennel Club. They make great family pets as well as a companion, show dog, hunting dog, canine athlete, guide dog, service dog, sniffer dog, search and rescue dog, and therapy dog. They are very active dogs that need daily exercise and mental stimulation. When they start to become bored and destructive is when they miss their exercise.
People who research this stuff have a couple of different theories about how the breed came to be called the Labrador. The first is that it was borrowed from the Spanish word for laborer — labrador — which is certainly a fitting description. The second is that it is related to the dogs that accompanied Portuguese fishermen who trawled the Grand Banks off the coast of Labrador and its neighbor Newfoundland. The British who visited Newfoundland appreciated the dogs’ abilities - swimmer, easygoing, hard worker, and brought them back to England. They then made their way back to North America in the early 1900’s. American sportsmen who admired their positive traits brought them back over.
Whippet History:
The Whippet is a dog breed of medium-size. They are a sighthound breed that originated in England in the late 1800’s, where they descended from greyhounds. Whippets today still strongly resemble a smaller greyhound. Whippets were bred to hunt by sight, coursing game in open areas at high speeds. One can find numerous representations of small greyhound-like hounds in art dating back to Ancient Egyptian times. Although it is thought that they were purposefully bred in the later 19th century. Pharaohs bred a small sighthound dog related to the greyhound to keep in their palaces, and this dog may be the ancestor of today's Whippets. Like most dogs, it was bred to help humans hunt in some way, shape, or form.Awesome videos of Whippet Lab Mix puppies
Whippet Lab Mix Size and Weight
Whippet
Height: 18 - 22 inches at the shoulder
Weight: 15 - 31 lb.
Lifespan: 12 - 15 years
LAB
Height: 22 - 24 inches at the shoulder
Weight: 55 - 79 lb.
Lifespan: 10-14 years
Whippet Lab Mix Personality
Whippet Black Lab Mix Temperament
She is a high energy dog that will require a lot of exercise and a well fenced in backyard. She will be friendly and amicable and a loving dog to come home to at night. This is a higher energy dog that needs to be with more active people and will make a great addition to the family. Early socialization helps take care of any bad habits that could develop. She responds well to positive reinforcement, like all dogs. She should be rather affectionate and enjoy spending lots of time with you. Don’t plan on leaving her alone for long periods as he won’t do well alone. She wants to be with the “pack.”
Whippet Lab Mix Health
All dogs have the potential to develop genetic health problems as all breeds are susceptible to some things more than others. However, the one positive thing about getting a puppy is that you can avoid this as much as possible. A breeder should absolutely offer a health guarantee on puppies. If they won’t do this, then look no more and don’t consider that breeder at all. A reputable breeder will be honest and open about health problems in the breed and the incidence with which they occur. Health clearances prove that a dog has been tested for and cleared of a particular condition.
The Chocolate lab mixed with the Whippet might be prone to Joint dysplasia, eye diseases (retinal dysplasia, lens luxation, or glaucoma) Skin problems include allergies, demodectic mange, and elbow hygroma.
Whippet Lab Mix Care
What are the grooming requirements?
Whippets have very short hair but still shed, although not necessarily all that much. The Lab is a voracious shedder so hopefully the combination is somewhere in between. Get ready to invest in a good vacuum if you want to keep your floors clean! Give them baths as needed, but not so much that you dry out their skin.
What are the exercise requirements?
This is a high energy dog that will need that from an owner. Both parent breeds are hunting dogs that are bred to run and retrieve all day. The whippet is extremely fast with a strong prey drive towards fast, small prey. That should not fall on deaf ears as they need someone who has the time and the energy to keep up with them. Plan on taking them for extremely long walks and hikes to keep their energy level down. A tired dog is a good dog though. Never tie your dog up outside - that is inhumane and not fair to him.
What are the training requirements?
This dog will be moderately easy to train. It will take consistent training to keep them in check and in focus. It will need a strong, firm handler that is consistent and won’t let this dog take advantage of them. All dogs respond best to positive reinforcement. So make sure to praise her when she does well. She is an intelligent dog who loves to please, and loves a physical challenge. The more exercise she gets the easier she will be to train. Proper socialization is imperative to all dogs and puppies. Make sure to take her to the park and doggy day care to get her around as many people and dogs as possible.
Whippet Lab Mix Feeding
A lot of times diet is done on a per-dog basis. Each one is unique and has different dietary requirements. Most dogs in the U.S. are overweight. A mix like this one that is prone to hip and elbow dysplasia should really be on fish oil and glucosamine and chondroitin supplements as soon as possible.
Overfeeding any dog is not a good idea as that can really exacerbate health problems such as elbow and hip dysplasia.
I good diet to look into is Raw Food Diet. A raw food diet will be especially good for the Wolf background.