Dobermans and Labs both have many distinctive traits. When combined, these two breeds create the Doberman Lab mix. So what are these dogs like, and do they make good pets?
That is precisely what we are here to look into. Below is a complete Doberman and Labrador Retriever mix breed guide.
What is a Doberman Lab Mix, and is This a Good Breed?
The Doberman Lab mix crosses the Doberman Pinscher and the Labrador Retriever. Sometimes called the Dobrador, this is a protective, intelligent, and loyal canine with an energetic and driven personality. This large breed can weigh anywhere from 49-99 lbs.
Loyal, energetic, and fun-loving, Labrador Retrievers are an extremely popular dog breed in the United States. Protective, driven, and capable of learning a range of tasks quickly, Doberman Pinschers are known for their athleticism and intelligence.
Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Get a Doberman Lab Mix
Labrador Retriever and Doberman Pinscher mixes aren’t ideal for all owners. In fact, for some, getting a Labrador Doberman puppy is a bad idea. These dogs can be prone to specific behavioral and health issues. They also require an experienced hand in training.
Although this intelligent and athletic dog can be extremely loyal and intelligent, there are a few reasons that you may want to avoid this mixed breed. Understanding what traits are present in this pup can help you decide whether or not the mix is right for you.
Reasons to Avoid This Mix
- Large breed health issues
- Unpredictable personality traits
- Needs experienced training from a young age
- It will likely require lots of outdoor activity
- Not suitable for apartment or small space living
Labs and Dobermans are both highly energetic dogs. Both of these canines have a high drive to work. Dobermans were originally bred as a working breed. Labrador Retrievers are also working water dogs.
As such, this pup will want to have a job to do and stay busy all day. With this in mind, you will probably want to have a game plan in place for helping your dog maintain proper physical activity levels. Moreover, without proper daily activity, Labrador Retrievers are prone to obesity and destructiveness.
Not everyone has the time, energy, and temperament to raise and train a Doberman Pinscher and Labrador Retriever mixed breed dog. Since this will be a large breed, having experience working with large dogs is a good idea.
Additionally, the Labrador Retriever and the Doberman Pinscher can be highly stubborn during training. Since this is a mixed breed, it is impossible to tell whether it will be highly trainable or stubborn.
Labrador Retrievers are notorious for being distractible. With their keen sense of smell and often endless appetite, these dogs can easily have a mind of their own. Highly food motivated, these dogs are also known for sometimes becoming hard-headed.
At the same time, the Doberman Pinscher is an extremely sensitive and highly trainable dog. Although this may work well in a Lab Doberman mix, it could also leave you in a position where finding the middle ground between sensitivity and heavy-handedness feels impossible.
Finally, it is essential to remember that this will be a large breed dog with lots of energy. As such, you will want to have a large backyard. Or, you will need some way to give the dogs lots of daily physical activity.
Small spaces and apartment living will not work well for most Doberman Lab mixes. To be more specific, this is not a dog that will lay around on your couch all day long and sleep when you are away at work.
Instead, you can expect this dog to find plenty of stimuli to entertain himself while you are away. So, if you live in a small space, be prepared to take this dog out for extremely lengthy exercise appointments every day.
Otherwise, this is the kind of breed that can easily bust through your drywall or demolish an entire couch. Relentless, tenacious, and highly motivated, whatever this dog decides he wants to do with his day is what he will do. Keeping him exercised and worn down will be essential to your sanity.
Reasons Why You Should Get a Lab Mixed with Doberman
Now that we have gone over the reasons to avoid this mix, let’s go over why this breed is a fantastic option for the right owner. After all, both the Labrador Retriever and the Doberman Pinscher can be fantastic dogs in the right circumstances!
Reasons to Love This Mix
- Gorgeous athletic appearance
- It makes an incredibly loyal and loving companion
- Fun and silly in all of the best ways
- Healthier than many large purebred dogs
- Able to keep up with many fast-paced, physical activities
- Potential to be a brilliant dog
- Highly playful and food motivated
- Minimal grooming requirements
This is a beautiful dog with a muscular appearance. Athletic and Sleek, the Labrador Retriever Doberman Pinscher hybrid is also large and formidable. This dog can weigh anywhere from 49 pounds on the low end to around 99 pounds at the highest!
Moreover, Labrador Retrievers can come in a range of coat colors. Doberman Pinschers are also known for having variations in their markings. The resulting combination of these coat colors may create a lovely canine!
A Doberman Pinscher and Labrador Retriever mix may be a good choice if you are particularly active. This is very likely going to be a dog with tons of energy. So, if you have been looking for a daily jogging companion, this mix is worth considering. Training your dog to run with you is a great way to improve your and your pup’s health!
Appearance, Personality, Coat and Colors, Lifespan, And Traits Of A Lab Doberman Mix
So how long do Labrador Retriever Doberman Pinschers live? What colors do they come in? What will the personality of this dog most likely be? In this section, we will cover all of this and more. Remember that each dog is different so these traits may vary.
One of the first things people notice about the Labrador and Doberman mix is its gorgeous appearance. This is a large muscular dog with a shiny black coat and attractive rust or tan-colored markings. Additionally, this dog may range in size from medium to extra-large.
Generally, this dog will have a 50% combination of the traits of both parents. So, all you have to do to figure out how this dog will look, act, and grow is to research both breeds and combine what you learn. Now, let’s get into the specifics of these exact traits.
Traits of This Mix:
- Weight: 49-99 lbs
- Height: 76-90 cm
- Lifespan: 10-13 years
Doberman Pinschers can weigh anywhere from 70 to 99 pounds. On the other hand, Labrador Retrievers weigh anywhere from 49 to 89 pounds. When combined, this breed can be either very large or on the medium side. The adult size will depend on what its parents weighed and how tall they were.
Labrador Retriever Doberman Pinscher hybrid puppies will likely be black and develop rust-colored markings as they grow. These markings may be prominent or faint depending on an individual dog’s genetics and its parentage.
However, Labrador Retrievers come in cream, chocolate, black, white, and more. So, these colors may be present in Labrador Doberman mix puppies. Alternatively, Doberman Pinschers can come in shades of red, chocolate, and White.
With this in mind, Labrador Retriever Doberman Pinscher hybrid puppies can exhibit any of these colors. Each puppy is unique. To figure out what a puppy will look like when it has reached adulthood, take a look at both parents.
As with many large breed dogs, the Labrador Retriever Doberman Pinscher mix can be expected to live anywhere from 10 to 13 years. In contrast, Great Danes can live from 7 to 10 years, while German Shepherds can live from 9 to 13 years.
Labrador Retrievers generally live 9 to 12 years, while Doberman Pinschers live 10 to 13 years. This breed may live even longer with adequate health care and plenty of physical activity. So, be ready to make a lengthy commitment to any Lab Dobbie hybrid!
The personality of the Labrador Retriever and Doberman Pinscher mix may be hard to predict. Although both dogs have very strong personality traits, it can be hard to determine how these crates will present themselves in any given puppy.
Labs can be loyal, loving, easy to train, and ideal for families. Doberman Pinschers can be devoted and highly energetic dogs with an extremely eager-to-please temperament. Ideally, the best traits would be present in a Labrador Doberman puppy.
On the other hand, Labrador Retrievers can be stubborn, destructive, and difficult to train. Doberman Pinschers May become overly sensitive or neurotic. In some cases, Doberman Pinschers and Labs have developed aggressive tendencies.
The best way to ensure your Labrador Doberman Pinscher hybrid has a good temperament is to begin training it early and often. Each dog is different, so your training tactics may need to vary slightly. However, positive motivation is generally very successful with this breed.
Doberman Mixed with Lab Puppies for Sale
Are you looking for the right place to buy a Doberman Pinscher Labrador Retriever puppy? If so, there are some things that you will want to keep in mind. First of all, remember only to purchase your Lab Doberman puppy from a responsible breeder!
A responsible dog breeder will conduct adequate genetic and health testing on both parents. This is especially important for a large breed dog like a Labrador Retriever and Doberman Pinscher mix. Large breeds tend to be more prone to a range of health issues.
Before breeding, both of a puppy’s parents should receive Brucellosis testing, regular wellness tests, heartworm tests, and genetic testing to ensure that hip dysplasia and other common significant breed health issues are not likely to be present in litters of puppies.
Grooming Your Doberman Crossed with Lab
One of the best things about the Doberman Lab Mix is that it will likely be relatively easy to groom. Most Labrador Retrievers have a short coat with a minimal undercoat. Although these dogs do shed, they do not shed as often as fluffy breeds like Huskies or German Shepherds. There is a good chance that your Labrador Retriever and Doberman Pinscher mix will have a short and easily manageable coat length.
Additionally, Doberman Pinschers have a single short layered coat. This coat is usually glossy and sleek. Doberman Pinschers are known for being minimal shedders. Indeed, this coat is easy to groom.
Combined, a Doberman Pinscher Lab mix should have a reasonably short coat that is rich and glossy in appearance. This coat may also have a short undercoat or no undercoat at all. As such, this mix should need nothing more than a brushing every couple of days and a bath every 3-4 weeks.
Doberman Lab Health Problems
First, the Doberman Pinscher and the Labrador Retriever are large breed dogs. As such, their puppies will be large breed dogs as well. Many large breed dogs are prone to health issues such as hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, arthritis, bloat, and dilated cardiomyopathy.
To help you avoid these health issues, only purchase Labrador Retriever Doberman Pinscher mixes from experienced breeders. Ensure that the breeder you are interested in purchasing a puppy from has done adequate health testing on all their dogs before breeding them.
Without exception, breeders should conduct health testing on any dogs that they plan to breed and sell. Both Labrador Retrievers and Doberman Pinschers are known to have a few specific common health issues.
For instance, Doberman Pinschers are prone to wobblers syndrome, cervical vertebral instability, cardiomyopathy, hip dysplasia, and osteosarcoma. Labrador Retrievers are prone to hip and elbow dysplasia, exercise-induced interior collapse, panosteitis, cancer, and heart disease.
Also, Labrador Retrievers are prone to bloat, retinal dysplasia, and heart disease. Also, Labrador Retrievers are known for becoming obese. So, make sure your dog gets plenty of aerobic exercises!
Because there are many common health issues associated with both dog breeds, adequate genetic testing is essential to ensuring that you have a healthy puppy. Once again, never purchase a puppy from a backyard breeder or puppy mill without looking at its parents.
With that being said, large and extra-large purebred dogs are known for having an array of health issues that mixed breeds may be able to avoid. Indeed, mixed-breed dogs tend to have fewer health issues due to their inherent genetic diversity. Diversifying the gene pool can help alleviate a range of health problems.
So, although this dog may be prone to specific large-breed health issues, it is likely to have fewer inherent problems than a strictly purebred dog. With that in mind, proper breeding and a good diet will help to ensure the health of your Doberman Pinscher Labrador Retriever mix.
Lab Doberman Mix Food Requirements
The amount of food you need to feed your Doberman Lab mix will depend on a few factors. Before switching foods or changing your feeding routine, consult your veterinarian. Also, the amount of physical activity your dog receives daily will impact how much it should be fed. You will also want to consider the nutritional content of the dog food that you are using.
Labrador Retriever Doberman mixes usually have very healthy digestive systems. Normally active Lab Doberman mixes will require a higher level of food concentration every day. Expect to feed your adult Lab Doberman mix 2-5 cups of dry food per day.
Since this is a large dog breed, feeding them a dog food recipe designed for larger canines is essential. Many unique large-breed dog food brands will work well for this particular mix. Also, remember to feed your puppy large breed puppy food.
Yes, there is a difference between puppy food, adult dog food, and large-breed puppy food. Large-breed puppy food features a formulation of specific nutrients that are added to accommodate the needs of a growing puppy. More specifically, these nutrients will accommodate the needs of a puppy that will one day be larger than 60 lbs.
The thing is, any Doberman Labrador Retriever mix is likely to grow rapidly. As such, you must feed your large breed mix puppy a specifically formulated recipe with plenty of DHA and the right balance of protein. Feeding your puppy too much protein too quickly can cause him to grow too rapidly. This can lead to an increased chance of hip dysplasia later in life.
Then, DHA is an ingredient that is essential to brain growth. After all, you want to have an intelligent puppy. So, choose a large breed-formulated puppy food for your Doberman Pinscher and Labrador Retriever mix with plenty of healthy oils, minerals, protein, and DHA.
Lastly, it might be wise to go with dog food on the slightly more expensive side. Although you may pay slightly more initially, these high-end brands usually contain more concentrated nutrients. So, even though you are paying a little bit more, your dog will go through the food more slowly. As a bonus, your dog will emit less solid waste if you catch our drift.
Doberman crossed with Labrador Exercise Requirements.
Labrador Retriever Doberman mixes are likely to be very athletic. So, if you have been looking for a pup to play fetch with you all day, this hybrid is a good choice. There’s also a good chance this dog will love swimming if introduced to the water properly at a young age!
Exercise will be essential with this breed. This is the kind of dog that requires a walk or lengthy run every single morning and evening. Moreover, this is not a dog that inactive individuals will likely enjoy loading.
If you have physical limitations and cannot exercise this breed frequently, you will want to have someone available to walk your dog. Without proper daily walks, this breed is prone to obesity, aggression, and destructive behavior.
On the other hand, if you have been looking for a dog that can go on long hikes with you or enjoy all-day workouts, there is a good chance that the Labrador Retriever Doberman Pinscher mix is up to the task!
Doberman mixed with Labrador Training.
These dogs can be highly trainable under the right circumstances. However, this hybrid isn’t for everyone. Those looking to own a Doberman Lab mix should be experienced with large breed dogs and able to offer this mix with proper training and adequate daily physical activity.
Mixed-breed dogs are notoriously unpredictable regarding things like temperament and training. While a mixed-breed puppy may wind up with the best personality traits of both parents, the opposite can also occur.
In some cases, mixed-breed dogs wind up with the poorest personality traits of both parents. Labradors, for example, are known for having enormous appetites. Some Labs can also be extremely difficult to train. Also, Labradors can be highly destructive within the home.
Conversely, Doberman Pinschers are known for becoming neurotic, overly hyper, or extremely sensitive to external stimuli during training. Doberman Pinschers also require a lot of physical activity. Without adequate training, they can also become destructive or aggressive.
Appropriate training should be consistent and begin no later than eight weeks of age. This dog can be socialized with other small pets and children when properly trained. Always supervise a new puppy or newly adopted dog around children and other pets!
Each dog is different and has their personality traits. With that in mind, Labrador Retriever Doberman Pinscher mixes have the potential to be easily trained. This is especially true considering Doberman Pinschers tend to be brilliant dogs.
Also, Labrador Retrievers are almost always motivated easily by play or food. You can take advantage of these motivational traits to train this dog more easily. Positive motivation will be your best friend with a Labrador Retriever and Doberman Pinscher mix!
Doberman Labrador Mix and Families
Another wonderful thing about the Labrador Retriever and Doberman Pinscher mix is its loving personality. These dogs will likely be loyal, protective, and devoted to their owners. This is the kind of dog that will stick with its owner through thick and thin.
After all, the Labrador Retriever and the Doberman Pinscher are known for being some of the most loving pups. In many cases, Dobermans will bond strongly with one family. However, Labrador Retrievers tend to be more accepting of multiple people.
Doberman Lab mixes can be great dogs for families, provided they are socialized early and often. These dogs are large and powerful, so they must also be trained adequately by individuals with plenty of experience.
