The Chihuahua is one of the smallest dog breeds, according to the American Kennel Club. The Labrador Retriever, on the other hand, sits among the greats as one of the most popular dog breeds of all time. Labs are also quite large which is why the result of a pairing with Chihuahuas is a bit difficult to imagine. Yet the Labrahuahua is one of the most interesting mixes there is, with a loyal niche fanbase.
The Labrahuahua is a mix between the Labrador Retriever and Chihuahua. Due to the major differences in terms of size and general appearance, the resulting mixed puppies are usually unpredictable and may take a few features from each parent. However, when it comes to temperament, the Labrahuahuas are a bit more predictable and are popular family dogs.
If you are considering getting yourself a Labrador Chihuahua mix, below is all the information you need about what to expect and how best to take care of these unique dogs.
What Is A Labrahuahua?
A Labrahuahua is a Labrador Chihuahua mixed dog and is one of the most unique pairings in the designer doggie community.
One of the biggest challenges when it comes to this pairing is the size difference. For safe pregnancy and whelping, female Labrador retrievers are artificially inseminated using samples from male chihuahuas.
Given how completely different Chihuahuas and Labradors look, it is very difficult to predict what the resulting mixed dog will end up looking like. For some perspective, here are some of the potential aesthetics you may find with your Labrahuahua pooch.
Size
The size of a Lab Chihuahua mix puppy varies based on a number of factors, including the parent’s sizes.
Generally speaking, smaller Labradors and Chihuahuas produce small Labrahuahuas that may be 25 lbs or less and about 10 to 15 inches in height. If larger parents are used, the dog may be closer to about 50 lbs and 20 inches.
Coat Characteristics
The coat characteristics that the Labrahuahua inherits are also usually unpredictable because of how different the two parents are. If the mixed pooch takes after the Labrador parent, it will have a short, dense coat either in black, yellow, or chocolate.
On the other hand, if Labrahuahuas take after the Chihuahua parent, the coat may either be long or short and smooth with a number of colors and patterns, including black, tan, red and even bicolor combinations.
Skull And Facial Features
The Lab Chihuahua, more often than not, takes after the Labrador’s facial features. In such casess they will have a wedge-shaped skull with a wide forehead and cheeks and a narrow and long snout. The ears may also be long and droopy.
In those fewer cases where they take after the Chihuahua, they may either have the apple or deer skull shape and short, perky ears.
How Long Does A Labrahuahua Live For?
A Labrahuahua can live for 10 to 16 years.
This is significantly higher than what you may expect from Labs that usually only make it to the 13-year mark. However, the fact that Lab Chihuahua mixes are smaller and mixed makes them healthier and more likely to live longer.
Despite their generally healthy nature, Labrahuahuas still have a few common health problems. These include:
Collapsing Trachea
If you notice your Labrahuahua coughing a lot with a honking sound, they most likely have a collapsing trachea. This condition is common among small dog breeds like the Chihuahua and may be passed on to your mixed doggy.
You may also notice your dog wheezing, being unable to exercise for long, and many other symptoms.
Patellar Luxation
Patellar Luxation is a common condition in Labrahuahuas that is most likely from the Chihuahua parent. It occurs when the small bone in the knee joint comes loose, resulting in instability of the entire joint.
Congenital Heart Diseases
Some of the most common congenital heart diseases that affect Labrador Chihuahua mixes include patent ductus arteriosus and mitral valve anomalies. Unfortunately, some of these anomalies are serious enough to significantly reduce the length of the doggy’s life.
Obesity
Labrahuahuas may be energetic little doggies, but they are not the most tolerant of strenuous physical activities. Combined with their ravenous appetites, this may put them at serious risk of developing obesity and other complications, including heart disease. This can all be fixed by a healthy diet and moderate exercise.
How To Take Care Of Labrahuahuas?
With lifestyle-associated conditions like obesity to worry about with your Labrahuahua, you need to be very intentional and careful with your care practices.
It is generally easy to take care of Lab Chihuahua mixes if you know what to do. Here are a few tips that should help you figure things out.
Get The Labrahuahua On A Balanced, High-Quality Diet
What you feed your Labrahuahua determines not only how well they live but may also influence how long they live. This is because a lot of the health issues that affect them can be managed in one way or another through diet modifications.
Whether your dog is healthy or ill, Pet Plate is a dog food brand that you can definitely count on. They use human-grade ingredients and dog-specific proportions for a guarantee of quality and nutritional value.
Supplement The Diet With Micronutrients And Bone Supplements
There are some micronutrients and compounds that may not be inadequate amounts even in the healthiest of diets for your Labrador Chihuahua mix. That is where supplements come in handy.
Multivitamins and minerals are great for general health boosts as they help in everything from gut health to immunity. You could also include specific supplements like chondroitin and glucosamine for Labrahuahuas with joint issues.
Make Exercise Fun And Regular
Labrahuahuas do not always love to exercise so you need to find ways to make it fun. We recommend you invest in toys that challenge and entertain them.
iFetch Interactive Ball Launchers for Dogs is perfect for the job with its customizable launching range allowing you to switch things up for the easily bored doggy.
Do Labrahuahuas Bark A Lot? Temperaments Of Labrador Chihuahua Mixes
Labrador Retrievers and Chihuahuas are completely different dog breeds. However, they are quite similar in terms of personality, which may come as a surprise to most people. They are both lively dogs known to be smart and intensely loyal to their human companions.
The only difference in temperament is that Labradors are a bit more social and affectionate while Chihuahuas need a bit of time to warm up.
If you are curious about what to expect from a combination of these loveable dogs, here are their most common personality traits.
Playful
Labrahuahuas are active dogs that love nothing more than playing whether it is a game of fetch outside or hide and seek indoors. If they don’t get this, they are very likely to get frustrated and fall into destructive habits.
Loyal
A bond with a Labrador Chihuahua mixed pooch is one that is very difficult to break. They love and care deeply for their human companions, especially those who take the time to bond and hang out with the doggy.
Eager To Please
One of the best features of a Labrahuahua is its eagerness to please. These doggies thrive on approval and praise and will do whatever they know makes you happy.
This will make training sessions super easy as all you have to do is keep rewarding and encouraging them when they perform a task as taught.
Potentially Aggressive
Labradors are generally not aggressive, but Chihuahuas are notoriously short-tempered if not properly trained. The combination of these two doggies sometimes produces mixed pups with an inclination toward aggressive behavior.
Do Labrahuahuas Shed? Grooming Tips For Labrador Chihuahua Mixes
How much your Labrahuahua will shed depends on what coat type they inherit from the parent dog breeds.
If they take after the Labrador, they will have short, straight fur that is densely packed into a thick, double coat. These Labrahuahuas shed very heavily and require a strict grooming regimen.
If they take after the Chihuahua, the outcome depends on the exact coat they inherit. If it is a long-haired Chihuahua parent, then the Labrahuahua will shed minimally. However, if the coat is short, then the resulting mix will shed moderately to heavily.
Taking good care of your Labrahuahua in terms of grooming is all about understanding these dynamics and coming up with a routine that works for your dog. Here are 2 of the most important pointers to help you get started off on the right foot.
Brush The Coat 2 To 4 Times A Week
Brush 4 times a week if your Labrahuahua sheds heavily and about 2 to 3 times if they shed lightly to moderately. It is also very important that you use a high-quality, well-made grooming comb.
We recommend the FURminator Undercoat Tool for its strong, metallic bristles that are perfect for all types of coats.
You may not always manage to get every last loose strand in which case some shedding in your home is more or less inevitable. You could try the iRobot Roomba i3+, in this case, to make your life a lot easier as the automated vacuum unit is specially designed to clean up pet fur.
Wash Your Labrahuahua Every 4 To 6 Weeks
In addition to the weekly grooming, you will also have to wash your Labrahuahua once every month or twice in order to keep its coat healthy and clean.
A 4 to 6 week interval works for most of Labrahuahuas. However, you can push it to 8 weeks if your beloved pooch has no skin sensitivity issues or odors.
We recommend you try Seamus Cherry Blossom Whitening Dog Shampoo. You will love the natural and mild floral scent of cherry blossom that this hypoallergenic shampoo leaves on your dog.
Related Questions
How Much Does A Labrahuahua Cost? A Labrahuahua will cost you $1,000 or more. This makes them expensive especially compared to other Labrador mixes. The main reason for this is the fact that Labrahuahuas are very rare. They almost never occur naturally and very few breeders have them available. The good thing is that with their charm and unique aesthetics, they are worth this high price tag.
What Happens If A Chihuahua Gets Pregnant By A Bigger Dog? If a Chihuahua gets pregnant by a bigger dog, they will almost definitely have a lot of complications both during pregnancy and whelping. This is because the resulting mixed pups, though smaller than the bigger parent, are always larger than the female Chihuahua, whose body was built for smaller pups. That is why Chihuahuas should not mate with bigger dogs.
How Long Do Chihuahua Mixes Live For? Chihuahua mixes can live for 11 to 16 years depending on the second dog breed that has been used. Chihuahua mixes from pairings with small to medium dog breeds tend to live much longer than those mixed with large or giant dog breeds. However, these mixes still have health problems that they inherit from one or both parent dog breeds.
