Great Dane Lab Mix Breed Traits and Care

What is a Great Dane Lab Mix?

The Labradane is a Great Dane Labrador Retriever mix breed. Discover everything you need to know about the big, friendly Great Dane Lab mix dog. This intelligent, gentle giant may seem intimidating, but it’s friendly with people and other dogs. With hunting dogs for parent breeds, this energetic mix loves walks and large yards.

• Popularity: On the rise!
• Purpose: Companion or watchdog
• Weight: 100-175 lbs
• Temperament: Friendly and energetic

As you carry on creating Great Dane Lab mix puppies throughout the generations, from F1 and beyond, you will find more consistency in their temperament but also a greater range of colors.

Where Do Great Dane Lab Mixes Come From?

This large mix has been around for a while as an accidental combo in working homes, but has really risen in popularity about with the boom in popularity of designer dogs in America.

First used for fishing in Newfoundland, the Labrador Retriever began its popularity as a hunting dog named for its ability to retrieve downed game. The breed has gained favor outside the hunting realm as a family pet and service dog.

Great Danes originate from 17th century Germany where they were used to hunt wild boars. Though no longer boar hunters, Great Danes’ gentle nature also makes them suitable service and companion animals.

Fun Facts!

• The Labrador Retriever has been America’s favorite family dog for years! But this breed also excels in working roles, like: guide dogs, military dogs, therapy dogs, and search and rescue dogs!
• The Great Dane is another popular breed! Some famous owners that have loved this huge dog are: Kendall Jenner, Cameron Diaz, and Vanessa Williams!

Great Dane Lab Mix Appearance

Standard Labs have triangle-shaped ears set far back and laying close to the head. They typically have brown or hazel eyes and medium length muzzles with black noses (brown for chocolate Labs). Great Danes have deep set eyes and high set ears which fold over similarly to the Lab. Cropped ears are also common, and point straight up.

Your Great Dane Lab mix puppy will have a short coat, triangular ears and their eyes often reflect the Great Dane’s shape more than the Lab’s.

Colors, Coats and Shedding

The first generation Great Dane Lab mix is usually a dark dog with a few white markings on their toes, chest and chin. They can show more of the Great Dane’s varied colors, or the Lab chocolate or yellow, if they are continued to be bred back to other purebred dogs in later generations.

Labradors have a short, dense double coat: a thick undercoat for warmth and a waterproof top coat. Great Dane’s are also short coated. Despite a low maintenance looking coat, this mix will be high shedding. They need weekly grooming with a de-shedding tool during the molting season. They’ll also benefit from brushing regularly with a pin brush all year around.

Are Labradanes Hypoallergenic?

Sadly the Great Dane and Labrador mix is not a good match for allergy sufferers.

Great Dane Lab Mix Size

Some of the biggest dogs out there, Great Danes weigh between 110 and 175 lbs and stand between 28 to 32 inches tall. Labrador Retrievers are medium to large dogs, weighing 55 to 80 pounds and standing between 21.5 and 24.5 inches tall.

With two large parent breeds, you can expect your Labradane to be big but they could be anywhere between their parents sizes. So 55 – 175 lbs in weight and 21 – 32 inches tall!

Great Dane Lab Mix Temperament

The Great Dane Lab mix is usually friendly, although they can be wary of strangers without proper socialization.

They are loyak, intelligent dogs, easy to train using positive methods and eager to please. Typically, they do well in families with children. Smart and patient, with proper supervision they get on well with kids when they are older, although as puppies they can be rambunctious or calm.

Meeting your puppy’s parents and asking questions about their temperaments may provide the best information about what to expect. Despite being gentle in nature, the Great Dane’s size can seem intimidating, which makes for a good guard dog. This will be true for a Labradane as well, as it will be a big dog.

Proper training is important for any dog, but it’s especially important with a large breed that may frighten others.

Training Your Great Dane Lab Mix

With puppies, the first training concern is usually potty training. Our Puppy Potty Training Schedule will get you off to a great start.

With both parents being friendly animals, your pup may jump out of excitement. Because Great Labradane could easily knock over children or the elderly once fully grown this habit should be worked on from a young age.

Both parent breeds were originally bred to hunt (and the Lab is still a very popular choice for this). A Great Dane and Lab mix will have a good nose that may lead them to chase after critters in your yard. You will either want to dedicate time to training boundaries or invest in a fence if you don’t already have one.

Our collection of free training guides from best selling author Pippa Mattinson, including clear and detailed dog training lessons and exercises. If you choose to crate train, we have a guide for that too!

Labradane Exercise

It is important that your Great Dane–Labrador gets plenty of exercise. Not only will this keep them out of trouble, but it’s crucial to build up muscle and prevent weight gain that could lead to health issues.

If you do prefer a walk or a jog, be sure to talk to your vet about when your puppy is ready for longer and more strenuous outings.

If long walks aren’t for you, you can teach your dog to play fetch, which will be easy if your cross takes after the Lab.

Great Dane and Labrador Mix Socialization

Socialization will help your puppy be comfortable around other people and animals. Even though both parent breeds are usually amicable, socialization is still important.

Dogs that are not properly socialized with others may simply show disinterest, but at worst they can become fearful or aggressive. If you want your Labrador Retriever Great Dane mix to enjoy spending time with two-legged and four-legged visitors alike, then you need to socialize them.

Starting at a young age, you’ll want your puppy to meet and have positive experiences with a wide variety of people and animals. This includes people and animals visiting your home as well as encountering them out and about in the world.

Because of their size, it’s especially important to make sure your Labradane behaves well around others.

Inheriting Health Problems

A puppy can inherit genetic or health issues from either parent, so it’s important to consider any health issues that affect each breed.

Labs are at risk for arthritis, bloat (gastric dilatation-volvulus), cruciate ligament rupture, epilepsy, eye problems including cataracts, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), retinal dysplasia (RD), hip and elbow dysplasia, and osteochondritis dissecans (OCD). Additionally, Labs are at risk for obesity and their diet needs to be regulated to prevent weight gain.

Great Danes are at risk for arthritis, bloat (gastric dilatation-volvulus), bone cancer, dilated cardiomyopathy, hypothyroidism, hip and elbow dysplasia, and wobbler syndrome.

Wobbler syndrome is a general term to describe several spine-related issues, including cervical spondylomyelopathy (CSM), cervical vertebral instability, and cervical vertebral malformation-malarticulation.

Great Dane Lab Mix Health Testing

A responsible breeder will be knowledgeable about the health risks these breeds face and will have health tested both parents before breeding. Be sure to ask any questions you may have about the health of your future puppy.

Though there is no promise that any of them will occur, Labs and Danes share some health issues. It is important to understand the possibility of serious health problems and be prepared for expensive vet bills.

Giving your dog proper exercise and preventing weight gain can prevent issues such as hip dysplasia from occurring or worsening.

Pros And Cons of Getting A Labradane

Cons

• Potential health issues
• Require lots of exercise
• Large size makes training them crucial

Pros

• Intelligent
• Good temperament
• Loyal

Do Labradanes Make Good Family Pets?

Although the Great Dane Lab Mix has an even-tempered demeanor making it suitable for almost anyone, including families, there are other factors to consider before adopting.

As large dogs, Labradanes require lots of training and exercise to keep them fit and out of trouble. They are friendly and curious dogs, but may be best suited for families with older children.

Great Dane Lab Mix Adoption

The Labradane is a designer dog, which means it can be difficult to find one as a rescue, although it’s worth a look. We are not aware of any Great Dane Labrador mix specific rescue organizations. You may find a one at a general shelter. Great Dane or Labrador Retriever rescue organizations may also take mixes of those breeds.

A shelter dog’s health history may be questionable or unknown, so this may add a layer of complexity when it comes to the dog’s future care. However, a rescue dog is a great option if you prefer not to deal with the puppy stage.

Labradane Puppies

Designer dogs can be difficult to find. Your best bet is to look online and in local newspapers. Make sure to do adequate research and choose a breeder responsibly. Once you find a Labradane breeder you are interested in, it is important to visit them, ask questions, and see the parent dogs. Make sure that the puppies are being cared for in a clean and safe environment.

You should ask about the parents’ health histories and any past injuries, like cruciate ligament ruptures in the Lab.

A responsible breeder will have health tested the parent animals and be willing to discuss the results with you. They may even ask you some questions to make sure that their puppies are going to a suitable home. Use our guide to select a puppy for your best chance at avoiding a dog with serious health or behavioral issues.

Raising a Great Dane Lab Mix Puppy

Caring for a vulnerable Labradane puppy is a big responsibility. Of course, you’ll want to listen to your veterinarian regarding an appropriate diet for your puppy. There are some great guides to help you with all aspects of puppy care and training. You’ll also need some supplies:

• Dog Training Treats for a Super Successful Training Session

It’s important to consider all aspects of any dog you’re thinking about adding to your family, so here are some pros and cons to the Great Dane Lab mix.

Similar Breeds

This unique mix doesn’t have many competitors, but you might consider other Great Dane mixes or these Lab mixes: Australian Shepherd Lab mix, German Shepard Lab mix and Golden Retriever Labrador mix.

References And Resources

• Baker et al. 2017. “Genome-Wide Association Anaylsis in Dogs Implicates 99 Loci as Risk Variants for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Rupture.” Plos One.
• Bonelli et al. 2017. “Comparison of Angle, Shape, and Position of Articular Processes in Dobermans and Great Danes with and without Cervical Spondylomyelopathy.” BMC Veterinary Research.
• Cargill and Thorpe-Vargas. 1998. “Hypothyroidism: A Highly Inheritable Canine Health Hazard.” Dog World.
• Gough et al. 2018. Breed Predispositions to Disease In Dogs and Cats. Wiley Blackwell.
• Levine and Moore. 2009. “A Time Series Model of the Occurence of Gastric Dilation-Volvulus in a Population of Dogs.” BMC Veterinary Research.
• O’Neill et al. 2013. Longevity and Mortality of Owned Dogs In England. The Veterinary Journal