A Guide to The Pitbull Lab Mix

What happens when you cross America’s most popular dog breed with one of its most misunderstood? You get one of the most loving, loyal, and brave mixed-breed dogs there is, the Labrabull. The American Pitbull Terrier-Labrador Retriever mix, a.k.a the Pitbull Lab Mix, has a heroic personality to match its bad-to-the-bone name.

A lively and courageous breed with a soft spot that will surprise you, there’s a whole lot to love about the Labrabull.

The size and coloring of the Labrabull vary across individuals and is heavily influenced by the predominant characteristics of the parents.

Generally speaking, the Pitbull Lab mix has an athletic and muscular build with a broad head and a long, straight tail. His coat is short and straight and comes in a variety of colors.

This medium-sized dog stands from 20-24 inches at the shoulder and weighs in anywhere from 45-60 lbs for a female and 65-90 lbs for a male.

Despite the Lab Pitbull mix size and muscular stature, it is an extremely agile dog, excelling in canine agility sports.

The Labrador Retriever comes in three color variations – black, chocolate, and yellow.

Meanwhile, the American Pitbull Terrier, which is often confused with the American Staffordshire Terrier, comes in basically every color and pattern under the sun. Black, white, chocolate, red, liver, brindle, and fawn are just some of the possible colors, while markings include spots, patches, brindling, and masks around the eyes.

Black Labrador Retrievers tend to be the most popular of the three. If one of your Labrabull’s parents is a Black Lab, there’s a good chance that at least some of the litter will pick up the black coloring of the parent.

Yellow Labs are also extremely popular among Lab owners. The yellow coat of a Lab can range anywhere from a dark, reddish “foxy” color to a lighter cream or fawn color. Any of these color variations and markings might manifest in your Labrador Pitbull puppy.

Rounding out the trifecta is the Chocolate Lab, whose coat may range from a light to a dark chocolatey brown. Though not quite as popular as their black and yellow siblings, the Chocolate Lab lends a spectrum of beautiful brown shades that can be passed on to the Labrabull offspring.

With the playful and friendly spirit of the Labrador Retriever and the kind courage of the American Pitbull, the Pitbull Labrador mix is an affectionate and fun family dog.

Loyal to a fault, the Labrabull is highly protective of his family, which may sometimes be displayed as aggression when he feels that his people are threatened. It is important that you begin training and socializing your puppy at an early age.

Labrabulls tend to get along well with children and other pets, thanks to the gentle and loving nature of the Lab, but because Pitbulls (as terriers) have a high prey drive, it’s essential to start that socialization early on.

Establishing yourself as the alpha will ensure that your pup doesn’t develop dominant tendencies and will cut down on unwanted behavior like chewing and other destructive habits.

Labrador Retrievers enjoy the top spot on America’s list of favorite breeds for a reason.

Ever eager to please, the Lab is the go-to family dog choice.

Intelligent and athletic, the Lab is a joy to train and excels at his work. As members of K9 units, guide dogs, and search and rescue dogs, the Lab is an apt and eager study that excels when given a job.

Originally bred as a hunting dog, these high-energy pups require ample play time. Highly friendly and sociable, they get along well with other animals and even make gentle and devoted babysitters for families with young ones.

Despite the bad rap that Pitbulls sometimes get, these dogs have big hearts and a bit of a goofy side.

Often described as big babies by their owners, American Pitbull Terriers are devoted to their families, even developing separation anxiety if left alone for long periods of time.

Pits are intelligent and moderately easy to train, provided training is done at an early age in an assertive but calm manner. Though many Pits are just big softies, the breed does have a tendency to develop neurotic, destructive, or aggressive tendencies if improperly socialized.

With the right care and training, the Pitbull’s natural happy and easy-going nature will shine through.

Labrabull puppies exhibit early signs of how they will eventually look like adults, which is great if you have a particular color in mind. Visiting the breeder’s home to meet the available puppies and their parents will give you insight into the kind of personality and temperament that you can expect from your developing puppy.

The intelligence and eagerness of the Pitbull Lab mix puppy makes him fairly easy to train. As with any breed, however, training should begin at a young age for best results. Firmly establishing yourself as the alpha will ensure that your Labrabull puppy becomes a happy, well-adjusted member of the family.

Whether you’re looking to adopt or buy from a breeder, there are many resources available to you.

When purchasing from a breeder, always do your research and ensure that you are only buying from a reputable, ethical breeder who can verify the lineage and medical health of their puppies.

If you’re going the adoption route, there are plenty of rescue organizations that specialize in Pitbull and Pitbull mixes.

As a medium-sized mixed-breed dog, the Labrabull typically enjoys a long, healthy life. With a life expectancy of 10-14 years, you can look forward to at least a decade of fun and companionship from you Labrabull friend.

The Labrabull is really just a big softie in the body of a lean, but-not-mean muscular doggie machine. With a big heart to match his heroic courage, the Labrabull will stand by your side as your faithful and fearless canine companion.