The Pitbull Lab mix, also known as a Labrabull or Pitador, is an intelligent, loyal and affectionate companion.
Although they may sometimes be protective of their family, it always comes from a place of love.
This interesting mix brings together two extremely popular dog breeds in unpredictable ways.
These dogs are highly trainable and are not difficult to care for. If you are looking for a devoted companion in life, to share the ups and the downs with, look no further.
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Pitbull Lab Mix Overview
A Pitbull Lab mix is a cross between the Labrador retriever and the American Pitbull Terrier.
Both of these are extremely popular breeds with the Labrador topping the charts of America’s most popular breed for 26 years. The American Pitbull Terrier is not an official American Kennel Club registered breed but has been ranked in the top three for most popular dogs for some time now.
It’s not clear where this crossbreed originated from, but it is likely that it was just accidental breeding.
Over time this breed has gained popularity thanks to its affectionate and protective nature. These pups are extremely intelligent and love to be around their families. They don’t like being left alone and this is something to consider before you set your heart on this beautiful dog.
Pitbull Lab Mix Appearance
The Pitbull Lab mix is a crossbreed and because of this, their appearance can vary. We can describe what the most common Labrabulls look like but there is a massive variety.
Both Labradors and Pitbulls are medium size dogs with an athletic build. The Labrador is much leaner than the Pitbull with drop ears that lay fairly flat against the head. The Pitbull is much more muscular and their ears are slightly stiffer with just the tips folding over.
No matter what characteristic your pup inherits, you are assured they will be gorgeous.
Their coat is almost always short and shiny, but they can sometimes have the Labradors double coat.
If they do have the double coat, this will significantly increase their shedding. If they have the smooth coat of the Pitbull, they will still shed but not as much.
Size and Weight
Due to crossbreeding, the height and weight of each dog when fully grown is likely to fluctuate. They are likely to stand between 17 to 28 inches in height and weigh between 45 to 90lb. In general, males are going to be larger than females.
Coat and Colors
The coat color of the Pitbull Lab mix will depend on their parent’s coat colors. Labradors generally come in three distinct color variations: black, chocolate and yellow. Pitbulls however, have a much larger range of coat colors and patterns.
Common colors for the Labrabull mix are yellow, black, chocolate, tan, white and brindle. Don’t be surprised if you come across many other color variations though!
In terms of their coat it is most likely to be short and silky. The Labrador is a high shedding dog thanks to its double coat and your pup may inherit this characteristic.
Pitbull Lab Mix Temperament
Whenever you are dealing with a cross breed dog, the unpredictability of each pup’s temperament and personality is a big factor to consider. Some puppies will be the perfect mix of both parent breeds, whereas others will have inherited some of the less desirable traits.
A good way to get a general idea of a crossbreed’s temperament is to spend time with the parents.
- The Labrador is super personable, loves everyone and everything. They are playful, energetic and have heaps of affection to give.
- The Pitbull is also playful and energetic! They are wonderfully affectionate towards their family and love cuddles. The Pitbull does have a protective side that the Labrador does not have. They may be wary of strangers and don’t always play well with other dogs, but they don’t deserve the bad reputation they have.
The Pitbull passed the temperament test set by the American Temperament Test Society with a score of 86.4%!
Barking should not be an issue as neither breed is particularly known for this.
Separation anxiety is a common problem with this breed as neither of the parent breeds enjoy being left alone. They may chew on furniture if they become bored or anxious.
Socialization is essential with a Pitbull crossbreed – you need to introduce them to lots of people and dogs from an early age.
Is a Pitbull Lab Mix a Good Family Dog?
The Pitbull Lab mix is a wonderful family dog that loves to be around children.
As long as you socialize them from a young age with children of all ages, letting this dog into your family will be a great experience.
How to Train a Pitbull Lab Mix
Good dog training will be high up on any new Pitbull Lab owner’s priorities.
These dogs are very intelligent and willing to please. It’s always best to start training them when they are young.
They respond best to positive reinforcement and are often extremely food focused – though some dogs may be willing to work for toys or praise. Do not ever punish this dog as it may lead to issues with aggressive behavior.
Due to the slightly tarnished reputation of the Pitbull, it’s often forgotten how trainable these dogs actually are.
American Pitbull Terriers make amazing service dogs!
They have a passion for helping people and learn extremely quickly. As they are such an intelligent dog, they may become bored fairly easily and should always be given plenty of mental stimulation.
With this breed, socialization is crucial.
When they are young, it’s best to have people coming to the house every day. All types of people of all ages. Explain to everyone how to behave around the dog and give them treats to give the pup when they are behaving correctly. This will make new people a positive experience for your pooch! A similar thing should be done with other dogs as well.
Be sure never to leave your dog unaccompanied with other dogs, just to be on the safe side.
Caring for a Pitbull Lab Mix
Caring for your pooch should be fun and enjoyable, so picking a breed that fits your lifestyle is really important. This dog is best suited to someone who is around for a large amount of the time and likes to be outside and active every day.
They need at least an hour of exercise and will probably start to drive you crazy if they don’t get this. Having a backyard is pretty important with the Pitbull Lab mix as a place for them to go and blow off energy.
Fortunately they don’t need a huge amount of grooming.
A weekly brush is enough for them. This is a great bonding time for you and your pup. It’s also good to cut their nails, clean their ears and teeth regularly, and stay up to date on flea and worm treatments.
Exercise Requirements
The exercise requirement for this dog is moderate to high. Both the Labrador and the Pitbull are full of energy, so it’s no surprise they will need around an hour of exercise each day.
Similar to their Labrador parent, these dogs are quite happy to do any kind of exercise. Swimming, hiking, agility classes, you name it and they will enjoy it.
They are very intelligent which makes agility and obedience classes a perfect way to exercise their mind and body.
One issue you may come across with a Pitbull cross is the legal obligation of ownership. In some places, they must be walked on a leash at all times. It’s a good idea to research what the rules are where you live.
As long as socialization with other dogs in the early years has gone well, there should be no issues letting this dog off the leash. Just make sure you have mastered recall, a task which should not be hard as these guys are super smart. If your dog has shown any signs of aggression towards other dogs, it’s always a safer option to keep them on a leash.
These dogs do like to switch off as well and will really enjoy a good cuddle on the sofa in the evenings.
Feeding and Diet
This breed is prone to obesity because of their high food drive, so managing their diet will be very important.
Just how much to feed them depends on their weight. A good formula to use is 30 calories for every pound of body weight.
For kibble, that means a 60lb dog will need around 2.5 cups of kibble a day.
If you are mixing the kibble with wet food, this changes the amount they will need. The most important thing to consider is the protein content. Choose a high-quality dog food that is high in protein and fats. You should avoid foods high in cereals as they don’t need many carbohydrates.
Common Health Problems
Labradors and Pitbulls are both healthy breeds. They do share some common health conditions which you should be aware.
If you’re like most dog parents (or parents-to-be), you care for your pet immensely. Having pet insurance could save you from the headache of going to the vets with reimbursement for every vet bill from now on!
Exam fees are included, which saves you around $50-$250 per sick visit.
PetPlan covers injury and disease in every adult tooth — not just the canines.
Not all providers cover hereditary conditions linked to breed. PetPlan does.
Hip and elbow dysplasia are fairly common. Good breeders will be able to provide good hip and elbow scores for both the parent dogs. They should also be able to produce a good, recent eye test for both dogs.
Obesity is also an issue in these dogs. Keep an eye on their weight and make sure they aren’t starting to pack it on as this will really affect their health later in life.
How Long Does a Pitbull Lab Mix Live?
The life expectancy of the Pitbull Lab mix is around 10 to 14 years.
Buying a Pitbull Lab Mix
If you have fallen in love with this breed, the next step is buying one! A great place to start is a shelter as unfortunately many Pitbull crosses end up in kennels through no fault of their own.
Though we understand that sometimes, people have their heart set on a puppy.
Here looking for a reputable breeder is important. A good breeder will have all the appropriate health checks on the parent dogs. They will also allow you to meet the parents of the puppies. You should always be able to meet the mother dog and if the father is the Pitbull we would recommend pushing to meet him as well.
Meeting the parents is your best chance to understand the puppies’ temperaments and how they may be when they are older.
Asking the breeder about the puppies’ personalities is also a good idea. By the time they are old enough to leave their mother, around 8 to 12 weeks, they will be starting to show individual characteristics.
How Much Does a Pitbull Lab Mix Cost?
A Pitbull Lab cross should be around $100 to $700.
Quick Breed Summary Table
| Breed Characteristics | |
| Size: | 17 to 28 inches |
| Weight: | 45-90lb |
| Lifespan: | 10-14 years |
| Coat: | Short, shiny coat but occasionally a double coat |
| Color: | Most often yellow, black, chocolate, tan, white or brindle |
| Do They Shed: | Medium shedding levels, more if they have a double coat |
| Temperament: | Affectionate, energetic, loyal, protective and loving |
| Intelligence: | Highly intelligent |
| Socialization: | Needs plenty of socialization with all types of people and dogs from a young age |
| Destructive Behavior: | Chewing, sometimes barking |
| People Skills: | Great with family but can be wary of strangers |
| Good with Children: | Great with children if socialized from a young age |
| Activity Levels: | Medium |
Summary
The Pitbull Lab mix is a gorgeous dog, ready to be your devoted companion for every adventure. This dog is perfect for you if you have enough time to give them and enough space to keep them entertained.
They have minimal grooming needs and although they do shed, it’s not that much.
With plenty of socialization and commitment to their training, any issues around strangers and other dogs should be easy to overcome.
They have a ton of love to give and just want to be loved in return. Don’t be put off by their bad reputation! You will be welcoming a gorgeous, intelligent dog into your life.
More American Pitbull Terrier and Labrador Retriever Mixes
Want an American Pitbull Terrier mix or Labrador Retriever mix but aren’t keen on the Pitbull Lab mix? Check out these other hybrid dog breeds:
American Pitbull Terrier Mixes
- German Shepherd Pitbull Mix
- Golden Retriever Pitbull Mix
- Pitbull Mastiff Mix
- Pitbull Boxer Mix
- Rottweiler Pitbull Mix
- Pitbull Corgi Mix
- Pitbull Husky Mix
- Pitbull Dachshund Mix
We adopted a pit /Lab mix about 3-4 years old and have found that everything you say in your article about their temperament to be absolutely true. She is affectionate and loving and every one that comes to our door, she thinks, has come to see her. She goes to daycare once a week as she is an only dog at home. We love her and are so glad we adopted her after being without a dog for 24 years. We have had Lab mixes before and our Lady shows a lot of Lab traits. The Lab/Pit seems to be a good mix.
we havehad achiwawafemajefor te years. We live with abother family who wants to adopt LAB/PIT PUPPY. could ther be any ptoblems you might forsee.
My wife and I acquired a lab/pit mix after 30 years of being cat owners. It was a pandemic rescue against my better judgment. I was so, so wrong. This dog is amazing. She loves our grandchildren, and all of their friends, she has become an important family member and is a consistent source of affection and joy.
My pit lab attacks our cat. How do I stop this