The Husky Lab mix is a cross between the friendly and loyal Siberian Husky and the intelligent and well-tempered Labrador Retriever. The result is an energetic, family-oriented, and hard-working dog that can be the right choice for you and your family.
This dog is also known as the Huskador, Siberian Retriever, Labsky, or Labrador Husky and is one of the most popular mixed breed dogs. Still, you might find puppies and adult dogs in shelters. So, if you’re looking for a new pet, check out this article because we’ll tell you everything you need to know about the Husky Lab.
History of the Husky Lab
The Labsky mix is a relatively new one, as breeders started breeding the Labrador Retriever with the Siberian Husky in the 1990s. However, the parents of this mix originated decades ago.
The Labrador Retriever is a gun dog that became popular in the 19th century, while the Husky comes from the cold regions of Canada, Alaska, and Russia, and its history goes back thousands of years ago when it was used as a sled dog.
Despite having popular parents, many Husky Labs end up in shelters because people prefer purebred dogs. They find their temperament easier to predict and sometimes associate them with a certain social status.
Yet, the Siberian Husky has the look of a fancy dog, so it can be what you’re looking for if you want a loving, smart, and energetic dog to be the new member of your family.
Husky Lab Mix Facts
The Husky Lab dog is a great companion, and due to the size of its parents, you can expect to have a medium to large dog that lives for up to 13 years. Here are some facts you need to know about this adorable dog.
Appearance
It’s hard to tell how your Husky Lab puppy will turn out, but as it grows older, you’ll get to know which traits it inherited from either parent. An adult dog will weigh anything between 40 and 60 pounds, and since its parents can be as 24 inches tall, you should expect to have a medium to large-sized dog.
Since the Labrador Retriever is slightly bigger than a Husky, the Labrador is usually the mother of the litter, But the offspring can be as medium-sized as the Husky or as big as the Lab.
The Labsky dog might inherit the blue eyes of its Husky parent, the brown eyes of the Labrador Retriever, or the two eyes might be of two different colors.
Coat
Coats of Husky Lab dogs can be a bit unpredictable, so you can find solid coat colors like black, gray, brown, copper, white, or yellow, which look like the coats of Labrador Retrievers, or you can find a pattern that resembles the coat of the Siberian Husky.
Just like their parents, Husky Labs will have a double coat, which could be short-haired like the coats of Labrador Retrievers. However, they usually have the straight hair of Huskies, and they might even have a thick coat that keeps these dogs warm in cold weather.
So, if you live in a colder climate, this dog will work for you, as it might not tolerate hot and humid conditions.
Husky Lab Mix Behavior and Temperament
Labskies are affectionate dogs that love being in contact with humans. They’re loyal, active dogs that can work for you if you need a family companion. Yet, just like other mixed breed dogs, it’s difficult to predict the traits of your dog, so it might be more like its Labrador or like its Husky parent.
Personality
Labrador Retrievers are known to be quite obedient, while Huskies are more stubborn. However, both dog breeds are very intelligent, and with proper training, you’ll have a brilliant and loving companion for life.
Husky Labs are usually smart, independent, and eager to please, so it’s like having the best of both worlds. However, the Siberian Husky side might take over in some cases, and you’ll have a hard-to-train and stubborn dog.
A Labsky loves being around humans and isn’t the kind of dog that you want to live alone all day long. This is why it will be an excellent choice for a busy household if you want a playful dog that enjoys spending time with everyone. The dog is very unlikely to be aggressive and will hardly attack anyone. It’s not the right dog for you if you want an alert guard dog.
Exercise
The Labsky has a high energy level, and it needs a lot of physical stimulation. So, daily walks and runs will stimulate your dog physically and keep it healthy.
When not given enough exercise, this dog will become an escape artist. It will always try to get away to have some fun, so you should be careful while designing its home and enclosure.
With Family
A Husky Lab dog thrives on human interaction and affection, so it suffers from separation anxiety when left alone for long periods. Moreover, it will bark a lot and become quite vocal if you don’t spend enough time with it.
This dog will be an excellent dog for your kids because it’s naturally affectionate and well-natured. It’s a pack dog, and it loves being part of the family. Yet, supervision is required when the dog is playing with younger children, as it can become too enthusiastic.
With Other Pets
Huskadors are relatively affectionate dogs, and they do well with similar-sized dogs. Yet, because of the prey instinct of their parents, they might start hunting when they see a smaller animal. This is why you don’t want to keep it unsupervised around cats, rabbits, and hamsters.
Behavioral Issues
The parents of the Husky Lab are well-tempered dogs, and they don’t really display many behavioral problems. This means that the Labsky is likely to be an obedient and easygoing dog.
Excessive barking can be a serious issue if your Husky Lab is more like its Husky parent. Huskies tend to bark at everything and can be very vocal for no reason. Living in a small apartment and not getting enough exercise can make this problem worse.
Digging is another issue that you might have to deal with when you’re dealing with your Husky Lab. Finally, your Labsky might start chewing on different items in the house, especially if it’s not getting enough exercise.
Husky Lab Mix Socialization and Training
Labrador Retrievers are sociable dogs, but Huskies are more reserved. This is why early socialization is essential for this mixed breed. As soon as you get a puppy, you need to get it familiarized with as many people and locations as possible, as this will make it easier to deal with.
Potty and obedience training lessons are essential to make your life easier with your Husky Lab. This dog prefers to be part of the pack, and you should be the pack leader, and this will help you both live a happy life together.
Husky Lab Mix Grooming
These mix-breed dogs shed a lot, so you should think about this when you think about adopting one. Grooming is essential for a Labsky, so you should brush the hair at least once per day to prevent the formation of mats and help remove the debris. You’ll also have to use the vacuum cleaner more often to remove the shed fur.
Cleaning your dog’s ears twice or three times a month is essential, as it will help you detect any infections. You need to choose a vet-approved cleaning solution and use it as recommended to clean the ears. If you notice any irritation or infection, you should take your dog to the vet.
Huskies are prone to teeth and gum issues, so you need to pay special attention to the Husky Lab’s teeth. Brush your dog’s teeth at least three times a week and have its teeth and gum regularly checked.
Husky Lab Mix Prices and Expenses
The cost of a Husky Lab can be between $400 and $800, but it’s hard to predict how your dog will turn out to be if you’re still buying a young puppy. The price of the dog you buy depends on the breeder’s reputation, the parents’ lineage, birth order, gender, coat color, and eye color. And you need to make sure that the price you pay includes the fees for vaccines and health certificates.
The Huskador dog is a medium to large-sized dog, so it should consume a lot of high-energy food. You should expect to spend between $50 and $100 per month to keep it healthy and in great shape.
The cost of any vet visit can be between $50 and 250 per time, and it might increase up to $500 if the vet is running specific tests. To keep your dog healthy, laboratory tests and vaccines can cost up to $1500. Neutering expenses can be anything between $100 and $600, depending on your dog’s health and the vet’s experience.
Husky Lab Mix Rarity
The mixed breed is considered a bit rare. Since breeders started to crossbreed Labrador Retrievers and Huskies in the 1990s, this mixed breed is considered relatively new. So, you might still find puppies to adopt, but they’re not that common.
Husky Lab Mix Life Expectancy
Husky Labs have a moderate life expectancy that can be anything between 11 and 13 years. Labrador Retrievers can live anything between 12 and 15 years, but the Husky usually lives between 11 and 13 years. This is how long you can expect your Huskador dog to live.
Of course, your dog can live a lot longer, as the oldest Labrador Retriever lived to be 29 years old.
Husky Lab Mix Health
Husky Labs are generally healthy dogs, but they sometimes deal with some health issues as they get older.
Eye Conditions
Progressive Retinal Atrophy, or PRA, is an inherited condition where the retina’s cells develop abnormally. You can decrease the risk of this condition by getting a dog from a reputable breeder. This condition isn’t painful for the dog, but it can’t be treated, and eventually, your dog will lose its vision.
This condition is widespread in Labrador Retrievers, but in Huskies, it’s more common in male dogs. So, unfortunately, your dog is at higher risk of any of its parents suffering from this health issue.
It’s illegal to breed dogs that suffer from PRA, and they should be removed from the breeding program. Yet, in some cases, this condition can occur after the parents have already had a litter.
Cataract is another condition that your Huskador might suffer from. It can be inherited or caused by trauma or another health issue like diabetes. This condition reduces the amount of light that passes through the retina, which eventually affects vision and leads to blindness.
Obesity
Both Labrador Retrievers and Siberian Huskies are prone to weight gain. This is why you need to watch the weight of your Husky Lab dog.
Eating healthy and nutritional food is essential to keep your dog healthy. You should also make sure that it gets enough exercise every day to stay in shape.
If you can’t feel the ribs of your dog, then it’s gaining weight, and you should control its weight to keep it healthy. Unmanaged obesity in dogs can lead to serious health issues, including different types of cancer, diabetes, urinary tract stones, and heart disease.
Allergies
Different allergies are common in Huskadors because their parents are prone to allergies more than other dog breeds. Labrador Retrievers usually suffer from different allergies because their bodies produce more IgE antibodies. This is why they usually suffer from contact, food, flea, and bacterial allergies.
Huskies, on the other side, suffer from food allergies. So your Husky Lab mix dog might suffer from allergies that affect their coat.
Wrap Up
Husky Labs are popular dogs that descend from two lovable parents. Your Labsky puppy grows to be a medium to large dog and can be an excellent family companion. It will have a lovely time with your kids as long as you give it enough exercise.