The husky lab mix is a cross between a Labrador retriever and a Siberian husky. This mixed breed dog is also known as a labsky, huskador, Labrador husky, and Siberian retriever.
Husky labs are medium-sized dogs that weigh 40 to 60 pounds, stand 20 to 25 inches tall, and have an average life expectancy of 11 to 13 years.
The breed makes an energetic, loyal, and devoted family pet that is quick to master new commands. This crossbreed remains active throughout its life, so owners should be prepared for long walks and regular outdoor activities.
A husky lab mix typically costs $400 to $1,300 if bought from a reputable breeder.
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Husky Lab Mix Characteristics & Overview
| Common names: | Labsky, huskador, Labrador husky, Siberian retriever |
| Origin: | Unknown |
| Parent breeds: | Labrador retriever and Siberian husky |
| Breed group: | Hybrid |
| Size: | Medium |
| Height: | 20–25 inches |
| Weight: | 40–60 pounds |
| Colors: | White, black, yellow, brown, red, grey, and golden |
| Coat: | Double coat, medium length |
| Life expectancy: | 11–13 years |
| Temperament: | Affectionate, friendly, loyal, eager to please, energetic |
| Shedding: | Heavy shedding |
| Barking tendency: | Vocal, may bark and howl |
| Cost: | $400–$1,300 |
Origin & Purpose
In the 1990s, designer breeders started crossing Labrador retrievers and Siberian huskies to create a family-friendly working dog with fewer inherited health problems than its parent breeds. However, husky lab mixes likely existed naturally before this time.
Parent Breed: Siberian Husky
The Siberian husky is a medium-sized working dog breed originating in Siberia. The Chukchi people bred this breed to serve as sled dogs and companions. This dog breed is best known for its wolf-like appearance, distinctive markings, and thick, double coat.
Huskies are outgoing and energetic. These dogs like to interact and spend time with their owners. Although intelligent, this breed has an independent streak and tends to be stubborn. This personality makes training the dogs challenging for novice owners.
Parent Breed: Labrador Retriever
The Labrador retriever is a medium-sized retriever gun dog and a member of the sporting group. The breed is originally from Newfoundland, where the dog helped fishermen haul nets and catch fish.
Labradors were developed and perfected as a breed in the United Kingdom.
Labs have double water-resistant coats and come in three colors — yellow, chocolate, or black. Eager to please, friendly, and affectionate, they make excellent family pets and service dogs. The breed typically serves as search and rescue dogs and bomb detection dogs, among other working roles.
Lifespan
The husky lab is a generally healthy mixed breed dog with an average lifespan of 11 to 13 years.
Although this crossbreed may inherit health issues from either parent breed, many husky lab mixes reach old age without any health problems.
Husky Lab Mix Appearance
A husky lab mix can take on the appearance of a Labrador retriever, a Siberian husky, or inherit traits from both parent breeds.
The dog has an athletic build. Depending on which parent breed it takes after, the dog may have erect or floppy ears, and brown, blue, or different-colored eyes.
Height and Weight
Husky lab mixes are considered medium-sized dogs with a height of 20 to 25 inches at the withers and a weight of 40 to 60 pounds. Some Labrador huskies weigh more, depending on the size and weight of the Labrador retriever parent.
Colors
Husky lab mixes are typically white, grey, black, yellow, brown, red, or a mix of colors. Solid-colored husky labs aren’t as common as those with multi-colored coats.
Coat
Husky lab mixes have a thick double coat. Most husky labs have medium-length fur, but some inherit the Labrador retriever’s short fur. Regardless of the length, the coat is soft and silky.
The husky lab mix inherits the Siberian husky’s soft undercoat that provides extra insulation and warmth in cold climates. Like its husky parent, this mix prefers cooler temperatures over hot and humid conditions.
These dogs are heavy shedders. The soft double coat sheds moderately throughout the year and sheds heavily during the spring and fall.
Personality and Temperament
The husky lab is loyal, affectionate, craves human companionship, and enjoys being around its family. Although devoted to its owner, this dog doesn’t make a good guard dog due to its indifference to strangers.
This intelligent, playful, and energetic dog is always in the mood to play and enjoys being physically and mentally challenged. The husky lab’s playful nature and penchant for mischief make the breed a suitable pet for outdoorsy families and active people looking for a running or hiking buddy.
Barking
Husky labs are typically vocal dogs that take after their husky parents by howling to communicate. Use positive reinforcement training to teach a husky lab not to bark or howl as much.
Husky Lab Mix Care
Husky labs are high-maintenance, requiring a lot of exercise, mental stimulation, and grooming.
Food Needs
The ideal diet for the husky lab includes kibble formulated for a medium-sized breed with high energy. Choose dog foods that contain high protein levels, moderate fat, easily digestible carbs, and essential vitamins and minerals.
Feed the adult husky lab two to three small meals per day, and offer three to four daily meals to puppies.
Grooming Needs
Brush the husky lab mix three to five times per week during the spring and fall shedding seasons, and twice per week during the off-season. Brushing will remove loose hair, prevent mats from forming, and keep the coat clean.
Bathe this breed once every two or three months, or more often if the dog gets dirty or develops a strong smell. Brush the dog’s teeth at least three times per week, trim its nails twice per month, and inspect its ears weekly.
Clean the ears as necessary using an ear cleaning solution for dogs.
Exercise Needs
The highly energetic husky lab needs at least 60 minutes of intense activity every day to stay happy and in good shape. Any type of cardiovascular activity, such as running, swimming, or hiking, will physically challenge this mix and help it release pent-up energy.
Besides regular exercise, aim for two to three long walks per day with your dog, plus two 15-minute play sessions to prevent the dog from getting bored.
The husky lab’s athletic nature makes this breed unsuitable for apartment living and families with small children. An excited dog can accidentally knock over a small child.
Mental Needs
Husky lab mixes should be given a lot of mental stimulation, or they quickly become bored and destructive. Fulfill the dog’s intellectual needs by letting it play with food-dispensing puzzle toys, ball launching toys, or rope toys.
Owners can also provide stimulation by teaching the dog new commands and tricks. Spend at least 30 minutes per day playing fetch, hide and seek, or tug-of-war with this breed.
Common Health Concerns
Husky lab mixes are generally healthy dogs, but they are predisposed to the same health issues that affect Labrador retrievers and Siberian huskies.
The husky lab can inherit eye conditions that lead to blindness, including cataracts, progressive retinal atrophy, and corneal dystrophy. Husky labs are also prone to hip dysplasia, arthritis, allergies, bloat, and cancer.
The best way to rule out inherited health conditions is to purchase a dog from a reputable breeder who has done health screens on the dog’s parents and can provide health certificates for them.
Take the lab husky mix to the vet for a complete check-up as soon as you bring it home from the breeder or shelter. Meet the husky lab’s dietary, intellectual, and exercise needs, take it to regular veterinary check-ups, and treat any existing health problems to maintain your dog’s overall health and well-being.
Training
Husky lab mixes are highly trainable dogs, but they can be stubborn. Use reward-based training instead of using punishment and domination to teach the dog commands.
This breed loves to please its owners and finds positive reinforcement training motivating.
Although friendly by nature, these dogs benefit from early socialization, especially with children. Expose the dog to different smells, sounds, situations, places, and people, including kids, from puppyhood to help the dog grow into an amicable pet.
Husky Lab Mix Price
Husky lab mixes are affordable, given that most designer dog breeds are more expensive than their purebred parents. Buying a husky lab puppy costs more than adopting a dog from a shelter or rescue organization.
How Much Is a Husky Lab Mix?
A husky lab mix typically costs $400 to $1,300. The price varies depending on the dog’s breeder, lineage, gender, eye color, health certification, and location.
Buying a husky lab from a reputable breeder is more expensive than adopting a dog from a shelter or a rescue group. Adopting the dog costs $350 to $550 and includes registration, vaccination, and a spaying or neutering procedure.
How Much Does It Cost to Own a Husky Lab Mix?
The cost of owning a husky lab mix varies depending on the dog’s age and individual needs, the area you’re living in, and the types of services and products you choose for your dog’s care.
Be prepared to spend $250 to $700 on food, $150 to $250 on toys, $150 to $500 on grooming, and $700 to $2,000 on routine health care for a healthy dog per year.
Is a Huskador Right for You?
The husky lab mix makes an excellent pet for outdoorsy families, as the dog gets along well with kids and enjoys being a part of a busy household.
However, husky labs aren’t for everyone. This mix can’t stay home alone for long periods, so this breed isn’t a good choice for people who can’t give it lots of attention throughout the day.
Who Should Get a Husky Lab Mix?
Husky lab mixes are suitable for active people who want a dog to accompany them on adventures. This mix is also a good fit for dynamic families with children who can interact and play with the dog.
Spacious homes near the woods, parks, or with fenced yards offer ideal living conditions for husky labs.
Who Should Not Get a Husky Lab Mix?
The husky lab’s high energy and mental needs make this breed unsuitable for apartment living and for people who spend long hours away from home.
These social dogs crave human companionship and quickly become bored and destructive when left home alone.
The rambunctious husky lab isn’t a great choice for families with toddlers, as the dog can unintentionally knock down a small child.
More Siberian Husky and Labrador Mixes
Want a Siberian husky mix or Labrador retriever mix but aren’t keen on the husky lab mix? Check out these other hybrid dog breeds:
Siberian Husky Mixes
- Australian Shepherd Husky Mix
- Pomeranian Husky
- German Shepherd Husky Mix
- Husky Poodle Mix
- Husky Chow Mix
- Corgi Husky Mix
- Pitbull Husky Mix
- Golden Retriever Husky Mix
- Pitsky
- Pomsky
- Goberian
I have a lab/husky cross and he has all the traits you mentioned. He’s a beautiful dog, looks like a golden lab but has bright blue eyes. He’s always next to me wherever I go. Very loyal and as long as he has he regular exercise, he doesn’t chew and is pretty calm. Definitely recommend these dogs to anyone.
We just lost our 15 month old German Shepard to a tragic health issue and last year we lost our nine year old Alaskan malamute to an inverted stomach. I can’t lose any more dogs it makes my heart physically hurt no one should have to go through this especially our family who include our pets into and around everything that we do they are our family and we have one 21 year old son do you have any known reputable breeders ? We live in Northern New Jersey but are willing to travel 60+ miles to get him or her but I don’t know if I could handle another health abnormalities. My email is Lorirodriguez3@icloud.com and my cell number is +12014498483 thank You. Lori
We have a Lab Husky mix and while he is sweet he is a HANDFULL. Not for the faint of heart lol. He is closer to 75-80 lbs now at 4 years old. A labs friendliness with a husky’s stubbornness.
Looking for a lab husky german shephard mix
We just had a litter ,,,3/4 husky 1/4 shepard,,,,Black & white masking ,,,females
$400…..1 week old now .
We are on the NORTH SHORE ,,,MINNESOTA …WE JUST HAD A LITTER ,,,,3/4 HUSKY 1/4 GERMAN SHEPHERD,,,FEMALES ,,BLACK & WHITE MASKINGS ….1 WEEK OLD ….
We have a Beautiful Huskador Girl, 9 mos old and she weighs in at 52 lbs so far lol,and just started to actually shed for the first time. Parents are a full blood Black Lab Dad and Full Red Husky Mom. Super affectionate dog, loves to fetch, has learned many commands, loves water and loves people. Highly recommend this breed, but you absolutely need energy for them .
I’m looking for one of these pups myself. Banking on one that’s 4-6 months on the white/yellow side. I live in Louisiana. My number is 9203283208 text me if you have one