Written by Silvia Capelli
September 4, 2023
The Pitbull and the Labrador are among the most loved breeds in the world. The former has a reputation for being extremely aggressive, the latter for being very sweet and clumsy.
But what happens when these two dogs are crossed? And is it a good idea to adopt one?
Let's try to discover together what a Labrador Pitbull cross produces, and get to know the beautiful Labrabull, or Pitbull Lab Mix.
The Pitbull, or American Pit Bull Terrier, is probably the most feared dog of all: it has always had the reputation of being aggressive and difficult to train.
In reality, if trained and socialized from a puppy, this dog can be very sweet: it is cheerful, very affectionate, and gets along with children and animals.
That said, it must be clear to anyone adopting one that it is not a dog for inexperienced owners.
Originally, the Pit Bull was bred for fighting in the arena, and crossed with aggressive dogs raised exclusively for fighting.
If not properly educated, it could become extremely possessive and attack people and animals in an attempt to defend its owner.
Height at the withers Males 46 – 48 cm, indicative weight 16-27 kg
Height at the withers Females 43 – 46 cm, indicative weight 13.5-23 kg
The Labrador Retriever is a medium to large-sized dog, originally from Canada, where it was used as a retrieving dog.
It's a strong and powerful dog, with a rather compact and robust body, and a beautiful muzzle with an attentive and cheerful look.
It has short, dense fur, which can be yellow, black, or brown. It's very intelligent, a great player, and exudes friendliness from every pore.
It's probably the favorite dog breed of both adults and children. It's an indefatigable playmate and gets along really well with everyone, including animals.
It needs a lot of exercise and loves water, but it also adapts to living in an apartment. It's also highly valued as a pet therapy dog.
Male Labrador height at the withers 56-57 cm, indicative weight 30-37 kg
Female Labrador height at the withers 54-54 cm, indicative weight 22-32 kg
The Labrabull can inherit the coat from both parents: it can be white, black, yellow, grey, or brown, or have a white patch on the chest.
The average weight is about 40 kg, and males can weigh even 10-15 kg more than females.
And it will have rather long and floppy ears, like those of its parents: the tense ears of the Pitbull are not natural, they are in fact cropped for aesthetic reasons, as is the tail.
Even though the inclusion of the Labrador in the genealogy of this dog makes it much sweeter and less aggressive than the Pitbull, it must still be clear that we are talking about a crossbreed.
And unfortunately, crossbreeds do not have characteristics attributable to a single breed, but can randomly acquire the temperament of one or the other.
The character of the Labrabull can take on the typical traits of both breeds, or a mix of the two, which can mean a strong protective attitude and a certain wariness with strangers, but especially little sympathy for other pets.
For this reason, in the case of the Pitbull Lab Mix, a bit of caution with training and socialization is necessary, and it is advisable to rely on an expert in the field.
Both breeds suffer greatly from loneliness, and even this cross should not be left alone for too long, or it could develop destructive behaviors.
It needs a lot of exercise, and although it adapts to apartment life, it needs a lot of space, and to go out very frequently.
And by "very frequently" we mean at least an hour a day, so it's better to avoid it if you don't have much time, or if you spend a lot of time away from home.
In general, these dogs are affectionate with children, but adult supervision is recommended, even just because they are large animals and could become boisterous even just to play.
With cats, they should be tested before purchase, because both breeds have a good predatory instinct, and it's better to avoid that an inconsiderate adoption creates problems for animals already present in the family.
Crossbreeds generally enjoy better health than purebred dogs, but our Labrabull could suffer from some genetic diseases typical of the breeds from which it derives:
Epilepsy
Hip Dysplasia and Elbow Dysplasia, an anomaly in bone formation that causes pain and lameness
Hypothyroidism
Progressive Retinal Atrophy and Cataract
Muscular Dystrophy
Hereditary Nasal Parakeratosis, a disease that affects the nose of the Labrador, which presents an abnormal appearance and abnormal thickness
Obesity
If you intend to purchase your Labrador Pitbull cross, make sure it is tested for the most common genetic diseases in the two parent breeds.
There's not much to do: both breeds have short hair, so all that's needed is frequent brushing and an occasional bath.
However, they do shed quite a bit, so frequent brushing is necessary, and it's better to have a Roomba or a good vacuum cleaner that can handle dog hair.
The fur is short and not very noticeable, nothing compared to some breeds like sled dogs, for example, the Siberian Husky, which have a really impressive shedding.
Although a large breed, the Labrabull should be fed twice a day, and being very active, it needs to be fed healthy, high-quality products.
Specific kibble for these breeds should be chosen, or one can opt for a diet of fresh food, raw or boiled, composed as follows:
At least 50% protein
25% carbohydrates
25% vegetables
To learn more about dog nutrition, read our helpful guide:
“Homemade Diet for the Dog”
or our article How Much Does a Labrador Weigh? Growth Chart and Nutrition
Like its parents, this dog has a life expectancy of about 10-14 years.
This breed is ideal for owners who already have experience with fighting dog breeds and know how to establish the right hierarchy.
Perfect for those who can leave it outdoors, provided that the property is protected and it cannot escape.
Recommended for active people who can give it the right amount of exercise and interaction that the Labrabull needs for its physical and mental well-being.
When possible, it's better to adopt it as an only child, because the presence of other dogs could stimulate the protective side of its character.
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The dog described in this Blog Post is a crossbreed, it does not have recognized breed standards and consequently, the characteristics of the puppies can be different from individual to individual.
For this reason, the photos in this article do not represent the Labrador Pitbull puppy in general, but only a single individual.
If you intend to adopt one, know that it may differ from the photos you found online, or from that cute puppy you saw on the street.
But in the end, what does it matter? You will love it regardless of whether it resembles the father, the mother, or neither of them!
If this post has been helpful and you want to learn more about the care, well-being, and education of dogs, we will be happy to help you. Find here lots of useful information to better understand your furry friend.
These dogs are crossbreeds without recognized breed standards, and therefore physical and character traits can vary significantly between individuals. The images in this article represent only one of the infinite possibilities that can originate from this cross, and are therefore not indicative of the future appearance of the puppy.
