Labradane is a designer breed that encompasses the amiable, loving Labrador Retriever and the gentle giant attributes of the Great Dane dogs. Labradanes may look intimidating at first glance because of their giant size, but they have a loving, soft, and friendly personality while still being cautious and reserved. They are giant breeds with big ears, sleek brown fur, and a contemplative but affectionate disposition.
Labradanes interact surprisingly well with children, mainly if the kids are older and aware of respecting canine boundaries. This big boy is an excellent companion for an active family who can offer him enough area to roam and has the time to train and maintain an exercise regimen. However, Labradane is not recommended for novice owners due to its size and strength. Instead, they need a skilled owner who can train and handle giant dogs. If you are getting a Labradane, make sure you have enough time and space to provide the extreme levels of exercise required by these designer breeds.
With the natural eagerness of Labradors mixed with the “gentle giant” way of life that Great Danes possess, Labradanes make exceptional family pets and watchdogs. However, if they see you lazing about, Labradanes can also turn into couch potatoes. But if you are active outdoors, they turn into an active, fast, playful, and careful playmate. In addition, they are super easy to train since they adore showing off their ability to learn from their beloved humans quickly.
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Male vs. Female
Usually, the choice of male or female Labradane is a personal concern, but you should note that males may be more extensive and heavier than their female siblings. Male Labradanes also mark their territory (even indoors). Apart from possible marking, there are no significant personality distinctions between male and female Labradanes.
Labradane Pros and Cons
Pros
Cons
Low grooming needs
Prone to separation anxiety
Great with kids
Needs regular exercise
Affectionate and loving
Unsuitable for apartment life.
Labradane Basic Information
Name: Labradane
Height: 25 to 32 inches (male); 24 to 30 inches (female)
Weight: 100 to 190 pounds (male); 90 to 170 pounds (female)
Other names: Great Labradane, Great Dane Lab mix, Labrador Great Dane mix, Labradane.
Breed Recognition: Dog Registry of America, Inc. (D.R.A), International Designer Canine Registry (I.D.C.R), Designer Breed Registry (D.B.R)
Great Dane vs. Labrador Retriever: A Comparison
Features
Great Dane
Labrador Retriever
Image
Origin
Germany
United Kingdom
Height
26 – 34 inches
Over 20 inches
Weight
100 – 200 pounds
40 to 70 pounds
Size
Large
Medium
Group
Working Dogs
Sporting dogs
Children-friendly
High
High
Family-friendly
High
High
Pet-friendly
High
Medium to High
Barking level
Medium to High
Low to Medium
Shedding level
High
Low
Hypoallergenic
No
Yes
Grooming needs
Medium
Low
Overall health
Medium to High
Low to Medium
Energy
High
Medium to High
Exercise
High
Medium to High
Trainability
Medium
Medium to High
Activities
Companion Dogs, Watch Dogs
Agility, Conformation, Field Trials, Hunting Tests, Obedience, Rally
Complication in Breeding
No
No
Litter size
5 – 8 puppies
6 puppies
Life span
7 – 10 years
10 to 15 years
Other names
Apollo of Dogs
Lab, St. John’s Dog
Labradane Personality
Labradanes are known for the following personalities:
Affectionate
Agile
Loyal
Friendly and outgoing
Smartness
Playful
Intelligent
Independent
People-pleasing
Being a hybrid, Labradane will have an unpredictable personality as its physical traits are dependent on the parental gene expressed in the puppy. Labradane has a muscular body, floppy ears, long, curled tail with a broadhead. In addition, he will have thick, short, glossy skin, and come in various colors, including fawn, brown, brindle, black, blue, and white.
Labradane puppies grow fast, so you need to be conscious of their dietary requirements. Providing them with high-calcium foods or high-energy (calories) can result in orthopedic disorders that are known to occur in large, fast-growing canines, including Great Danes. In addition, pups cannot absorb the added calcium, affecting their bone growth. Consult your veterinarian or breeder about the most suitable diet for your little Labradane.
The Great Dane roots have given them their guarding instinct, making Labradane an excellent watchdog and guiding them to become more efficient. They can manage their barking to circumstances that may call for your attention or awareness of something they suspect. But Labradanes are very wary of outsiders; proper and early socialization is needed to help them familiarize themselves with other people or pets.
Friendliness Overview
Affection Level
High
Family-Friendly
High
Kid-Friendly
High
Pet-Friendly
Medium
Strangers-Friendly
Medium
Adaptability Overview
Good for New Pet Owners
Low
Good for Apartment Living
Low
Sensitivity Level
Medium
Tolerates being alone
Low
Cold Tolerance
Medium
Heat Tolerance
Medium
Labradane Temperament
Labradanes are known for the following temperaments:
Loving
Calm
Eager to please
Excitable
Quick learner
Watchful
Caring
Playful
Energetic
Labs and Great Danes are known as working canines, which indicates that they are intelligentand capable of carrying out tasks like pulling sleds or guarding property. Like the parent breeds, Labradane quickly picks up on commands. They are ideal family pets as they can handle kids and innately protect the homestead. Taking proper care of your Labradane will enhance their life expectancy and reduce separation anxiety. In addition, they should be involved in canine sports, such as obedience or agility, as they need mental and physical stimulation. Hence, we only recommend Labradanes for people who have enough time to pay attention to these breeds.
Labradane Training
Since Labradane is a high-energy breed that can occasionally be overly boisterous and enthusiastic, early socialization and training are essential in calming this designer breed. This is crucial as they can be challenging to manage once they become adults because of their sheer size.
While training, remember that a Labradane puppy must see you as the pack leader. Avoid being too strict during training them as he may grow up fearing you instead of showering you with faithfulness. Take advantage of their eager-to-please personality. They will efficiently follow and listen to your commands and instructions. Consistently implement positive reinforcement. Praises and treats can go a long way in enabling good behavior to stick.
The only concern you might experience with the Labradane is off-leash training since some have a strong chase drive. Some Labradanes may struggle to forgo the chase even with professional, consistent training. Unless they have a reliable recall and excellent obedience skills, we recommend keeping this crossbred in a fenced yard or on a leash to control bolting.
Trainability Overview
Easy to Train
Medium to High
Intelligence
Medium to High
Prey Drive
Low to Medium
Tendency to Chew, Nip & Play-bite
Medium to High
Tendency to Bark or Howl
Low
Wanderlust Ability
Medium
Attention/Social Needs
High
Labradane Exercise Needs
Labradane is an energetic dog, so regular and firm exercise is required to release excess energy and keep them healthy and happy. They need at least thirty minutes of activity or daily interactive play sessions, which is also a perfect way to combat their inclination for obesity. However, if they are still young, be cautious not to over-exercise them because puppies are prone to bones and joint problems. In addition, inactivity leads to boredom, mischief, and destructive behavior, as with every canine breed.
Exercising your Labradane should not be a burden for you or your dog. You can fulfill their daily exercise necessities by:
Labradane has low-to-moderate grooming necessities. Throughout the year, shedding is light, but it may get heavier during shedding season. Once or twice-a-week brushing is sufficient to maintain their coats healthy and glossy during the non-shedding season. But brushing requirements increase daily when their shedding season begins.
Trim nails every few weeks to avoid splitting, cracking, and discomfort.
Ears should smell good with no unusual quantity of wax.
Clean their eyes regularly to avoid infections.
Labradanes can easily adapt well in all climates. Still, in hot climates, ensure heat exhaustion is not a threat during walks.
Grooming Overview
Amount of Shedding
Low
Tendency to Drool
Medium
Tendency to Snore
Low
Easy to Groom
Medium to High
Labradane Health
Labradanes are commonly considered healthy dogs, even though they are deep-chested dogs, leading to digestive issues and bloat. Labradanes became so popular because they’re healthier than Great Danes, sadly known for short lifespans. On the other hand, Labs have better lifespans and aren’t afflicted by diseases that giant-sized canines tend to face. Because of the diversity in lifespan and health, telling what you’ll have to face with your Labradane puppy can be challenging. However, we can obtain a general idea by examining the common health disorders both breeds face:
Health Overview
Basic Health
Medium to High
Weight Gain Possibilities
Medium
Size
Medium to High
Obesity: Obesity is very familiar to both Great Dane and Labrador. Hence, it is essential to check their diet to control Labradane from becoming obese.
Hip Dysplasia: Great Danes and Labs generally struggle with hip dysplasia, which may pass on to their offspring.
Grating in the joint during movement, a noise linked with osteoarthritis.
Lameness in the hind limbs
Elbow Dysplasia: An advanced condition in Labradanes that causes elbow’s developmental malformation. Labradanes with this condition show pain and forelimb lameness.
Cardiomyopathy: This disorder occurs due to the weakening and thinning of the heart muscles. It may cause an abnormally large heart, widening heart chambers, and heart failure in canines.
Treatments:
Fluid therapy
Oxygen supply
Medication.
Panosteitis: A bone inflammation common in puppies with long legs due to rapid bone growth.
Bloat: Gastric Dilatation or bloating is a condition in the digestive system. The stomach twists, spins, and dilates, creating much pain for the affected canine. This condition will also damage the blood vessels and interrupt blood flow to major organs, resulting in organ failure.
Causes:
They eat rapidly.
Drink large volumes of water after eating.
Exercise vigorously after eating.
Symptoms:
Distended abdomen
Excessive salivation.
Retching without vomit
Restlessness
Depression
Lethargy
Weakness
Ear Infections: This is most common in dog breeds with floppy ears. Fungi and bacteria can cause ear infections to thrive in the warmth and darkness provided.
Eye Diseases: Labradanes can be prone to these eye diseases:
Corneal damage
Dry eye (keratoconjunctivitis sicca)
Pink eye (conjunctivitis)
Eyelid mass
Cataracts
Glaucoma
Cherry eye
Entropion
Hypothyroidism: Hypothyroidism is a condition in which a dog’s metabolism is slowed, due to the lack of thyroid hormone production. Among the signs and symptoms are:
Lethargy
Gaining weight
Reluctance to work out
Hair Loss
Osteosarcoma: Osteosarcoma is a malignant bone cancer common in large and giant breeds.
Canine Diabetes Mellitus: Labradanes with canine diabetes mellitus cannot regulate their sugar levels as their bodies will not produce sufficient insulin. This condition can cause excessive thirst, hunger, and urination, along with weight loss. Diabetes is curable using medication and insulin injection.
Labradane Diet and Nutrition
Labradane needs a nutritious and protein-dense, large to giant-sized dry food in moderation as per their daily requirements; otherwise, they tend to put on weight instantly. They should eat at least 4 ½ to 6 cups of high-quality food, divided into three mealsdaily.
For more beneficial commercial food choices, here are some recommendations:
Labradanes are not good at adapting to various living conditions. Here are the explanations:
Labradanes are unsuitable for apartment living because of their massive stature, exercise requirements, and high energy.
If you are a novice owner, Labradane is not ideal for you.
They are a little more sensitive than many other canines.
Labradanes are at their best when their human family is around.
They require a house with a fenced yard that gives space to roam and play.
Adding a Labradane to Your Family
Things to Remember Before buying a Labradane
As a to-be-pet parent, you must consider the dog’s size, as maintenance can be pretty expensive. Also, these crossbreeds are rarely bred. The ideal option is to get from a reputable local breeder who ensures the happiness and health of both the parents and the puppy. For a vaccinated puppy, the breeder should provide health clearance credentials as well as gene testing.
Cost of a Labradane Puppy
You may have to pay between $500 and $1500 for a puppy which may vary based on the breeder and the location.
