Stunning in appearance with a well-balanced personality, meet the crossbreed of a Labrador Retriever and a Catahoula Leopard Dog—the Catahoula Lab Mix.
Commonly known as a Labahoula, this 2-in-1 canine requires a lot of love and a firm hand in training. So, if you are an experienced dog owner with an outgoing family, a Labahoula would fit right in with you!
But remember that not all crossbreeds are the equivalent of the best traits combined. Depending on the puppy and how they grow, one may inherit and nurture a stronger gene from a parent dog than the other.
Read on to know what to expect from a Catahoula + Labrador dog breed.
An Overview of a Catahoula Lab Mix
When crossbreeding, there’s no guarantee what type of Labahoula you’ll get because of so many aspects they can inherit. But rest assured, we’ve pinned down possible characteristics that you’ll see in this mixed breed.
Labahoulas Temperament
- Intelligent and assertive explorers
- Gentle and charismatic with kids of all ages
- Loyal and protective watchdogs
- Enthusiastic athletes that are always on the go!
Appearance
We can distinguish a Catahoula Lab by 2 things:
Unique Coat Pattern and Color
Its pattern ranges from patched, solid, to even a tricolor. Depending on the parents, its color may be traditional black, red, brown, beige, or blue.
Striking Eyes
The eyes vary between blue, amber, brown, and chestnut. Other Catahoula Labs have an uncommon case of heterochromia—a fascinating condition when one eye differs in color from the other.
Purpose
- Mainly for companionship, but would perform well as service dogs
- As natural-born leaders, they excel in hunting, herding, and retrieving
Weight
- Male: 60 to 95 pounds and can stand between 22–29 inches
- Female: 50 to 65 pounds and can stand between 21–24 inches
- The average weight is 40–90 pounds. Knowing their parent’s size is helpful for a more accurate weight prediction
Exercise Needed
- 2 hours of training and exercise a day
- Examples of exercises could be toys, walks, and playing fetch
Health
The average life expectancy of this breed lasts between 10-14 years. Its major ailments you should watch out for are:
- Bloating
- Hip and Elbow Dysplasia
- Limber Tail Syndrome
- Congenital Deafness
Should I Adopt a Labahoula?
There are many things to consider before taking home a canine with mixed traits. For a Labahoula, your environment and lifestyle will be vital foundations for its growth.
Take your time to consider these four questions we’ve listed if you’re thinking about adopting a Catahoula Lab Mix.
Am I Ready for The Commitment?
Training, exercising, and socializing will be a slight challenge if you’re only starting as a pet owner. Investing time, patience, and discipline will result in a well-behaved Labahoula.
Does My Home Have Ample Space for a Labahoula?
Owning a spacious home and open field is a paradise for these inquisitive dogs. With agile legs and slender physiques, they’ll burst into a run to explore your yard or investigate rooms before tiring out.
Do I Have Any Children or Senior Citizens at Home?
When introducing a Labahoula to the family, be prepared for its unruly behavior. Some breeds will be on their guard when meeting strangers because of the Catahoula genes.
So, take caution by being attentive during interactions. Your pet will need training and positive socialization when introduced to the family.
Do I Have an Active Lifestyle?
Possessing the genes of both outgoing parent breeds, the Catahoula Lab Mix will require many vigorous activities, including your attention.
Can your current lifestyle keep up with this hyperactive breed? Or are you too busy to keep up with your dog’s physical needs?
Pros About a Catahoula Lab Mix
There’s more to learn about these lovable pets. Here are four pros to consider about a Labahoula:
Low Maintenance in Grooming
Grooming a Labahoula is no struggle because of its short and dense fur. They shed less than a Labrador and are hypoallergenic, making them a safe choice if you have fur allergies.
Brushing them two to three times a week is all it takes to keep their skin clean and healthy, with occasional bathing. There’s no need to service a professional groomer, meaning you can save up money!
Has High Energy Battery
Start your day with your canine sunshine! They can be quite a hurricane because of their hyperactive personalities, so why not bring them with you during morning exercises?
They will be more than willing to accompany you as exercise partners. Watch their Catahoula gene shine through as they run with confidence in their paws!
Excellent Swimmers!
Did you know that both Labradors and Catahoulas have webbed feet? With that, you have the perfect dog breed you can bring during quality swimming time with the family.
Gentle With Kids and Great Watchdogs
It doesn’t take long for a Labahoula to settle down in a family with the proper training and socializing. They naturally yearn for human companionship and will treat children with great care.
Cons About a Catahoula Lab Mix
For better judgment, let’s have a look at the challenges this breed offers.
Incompatible With Small Apartments
With impressive stamina, a Labahoula needs a lot of space for running, as cramped rooms can cause restlessness and irritation. Though it’s possible to keep them in a smaller space, it’s ideal to give your pet some rigorous exercise to compensate.
Intelligent but Needs Firm Training and Socializing
Labahoulas are extremely bright but are challenging to teach because of their independent nature. It is vital to overcome this and educate a Labahoula with proper socializing, as they can be wary of strangers.
You Need to Tell Them Who's Boss
If your Labahoula inherited a strong Catahoula gene, it’d tend to assert dominance because of its alpha personality. This may get in the way when teaching discipline.
But worry not, as their alpha personality doesn’t entail open aggression. You only need to show them who is the alpha in the family to get their obedience.
Demands Constant Attention
As loyal companions, a Labahoula may seek physical closeness. Avoid tying them outside by themselves, as it can strain your relationship with them.
Leaving them alone for a long time will cause agitation and anxiety. They will persistently seek you through barking or unruly behavior.
Calvin is the co-founder and one of the main contributors to dogtemperament.com. He has been an avid dog lover all his life. He enjoys researching and sharing great ideas on how you can avoid common pitfalls of dog ownership and build the most loving and enjoyable relationship with your dog.