Labrador Retriever Mix – Which One Is Right For You?

Labrador Retriever mix breed dogs are becoming a staple in the hybrid or so-called “designer” dog breeding field today.

After all, the Labrador Retriever is the most popular pet dog in America and in many other places around the world!

In this article, we get up close and personal with some of the most popular Labrador Retriever mix breed dogs!

The Labrador Retriever

Despite this dog’s breed name, the Labrador Retriever was actually developed in Newfoundland, Canada, from a now-extinct line of St. John’s water dogs.

In time, the Labrador was imported to England, where this dog became a prized hunting companion.

Coat type

The Labrador inherited the St. John’s water dog’s thick, double-layer coat, with its coarse, water-resistant top layer, soft and thick insulating inner layer and thick, flat, otter-like tail.

This coat sheds year-round and twice per year will “blow coat” and shed profusely to renew the coat’s water-repellent and insulating properties.

Coat colours

The Labrador is bred in three main coat colours: black, yellow and chocolate brown.

The “silver” or liver Lab coat colour is actually a dilute form of the brown coat colour. The fox-red Lab is really a dilute form of the yellow coat colour.

Breed lines

Today, The Labrador is bred in two distinct lines: the English (show) Lab and the American (working) Lab.

The former is stockier physically and matures later, which can make training a bit challenging. The latter is leaner, more agile and tends to be easier for first-time dog owners to train.

The Labrador Retriever mixes you will learn about here may have either an American or English Lab parent dog.

Labrador Retriever Mixes

One of the major strengths of hybrid dog breeding is to potentially add healthy diversity to each mixed puppy’s gene pool.

This theory, called “hybrid vigor,” can limit the likelihood that future generations will inherit serious health issues.

However, choosing to cross two purebred dogs also means it will be less easy to predict in advance what a hybrid puppy will look and act like!

You can read more about the pros and cons of mixed breeding here.

Labrador Retriever purebred health

The Canine Health Information Center (CHIC), recommends Labradors be screened for

• hip and elbow dysplasia
• centronuclear myopathy
• exercise-induced collapse (EIC)
• heart and eye issues
• and the D-Locus dilute gene (which gives champagne, charcoal and silver Labs their distinctive color).

A Labrador from a reputable breeder can weigh 55 to 80 pounds and has a typical life expectancy of 10 to 12 years.

List of Labrador Retriever Mixes

If you have arrived here in search of information about a specific Labrador mix dog, you can use this handy clickable list to head right to the information you are seeking!

• Afador
• Bassador
• Borador
• Boxador
• Cavador
• Chabrador
• Corgidor
• Doberdor
• German Sheprador
• Goldador
• Huskador
• Labernese
• Labmaraner
• Labradoodle
• Pitador
• Pointerdor
• Rottador
• Springador

Could you guess who the Lab’s puppy-making partner was in all of those crosses?

Let’s see which ones you knew, and which might be the perfect pet for you!

Afador

A mix between the Afghan Hound and the Labrador Retriever gives you the Afador.

In its own way, the Afghan breed is just as recognizable and famous as the Lab!

This breed’s signature long coat of human-like hair makes the Afghan look like the supermodel of the canine world.

In personality, the Afghan is more reserved and even aloof, whereas the Lab rarely ever meets a stranger.

In grooming as well, the two breeds couldn’t be more different. Afghans need lots of daily brushing while Labs are more “wash and wear.”

The Afador can weigh 50 to 80 pounds with a life expectancy of 10 to 18 years.

Bassador

The Bassador has one Basset Hound parent and one Labrador Retriever parent.

These dogs can weigh 40 to 80 pounds and will likely have a charming and lovable personality!

The Bassador’s coat will be short but will still shed year-round and seasonally.

The Bassador will also likely inherit the shorter legs of the Basset Hound parent dog, which is a form of heritable dwarfism this breed is known for.

A Bassador can live 10 to 13 years.

Borador

Crossing the popular Border Collie with the equally popular Labrador Retriever gives you Borador puppies.

Boradors can weigh 30 to 80 pounds and may inherit a longer or shorter coat that is thick, double-layer, sheds year-round and seasonally and needs weekly brushing.

A Borador is likely to be a very high energy, intelligent pup that needs and craves lots of daily activity.

The Borador can live 10 to 15 years.

To discover more about this popular hybrid, visit our Border Collie Lab Mix article here.

Boxador

A Boxer and a Labrador that breed will produce Boxador puppies.

Boxadors can weigh 50 to 80 pounds and may have thicker or thinner short coats that shed more or less depending on which genes a puppy inherits.

Boxadors are likely to be friendly, playful and loyal – traits both parent dogs share in common.

A Boxador can live 10 to 12 years.

For even more information about the Boxador as a pet, visit our Boxador guide here.

Cavador

Breeding a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel with a Labrador Retriever will give you Cavador puppies.

This is one of the Lab mixes where you can see the most weight variance from puppy to puppy, since the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel typically weighs just 13 to 18 pounds, while the Lab can weigh 55 to 80 pounds!

With shedding too, you may see more or less depending on the puppy’s genes.

A Cavador’s typical life expectancy is 10 to 15 years.

Chabrador

The Chabrador has one Chow Chow parent and one Labrador Retriever parent.

The Chow Chow is best known for their truly unique appearance, with deep facial folds and wrinkles, a thick, wide chest and signature lion-like neck ruff.

Chow Chows are known to be more aloof and reserved with strangers, although totally devoted to “their” people.

So a Chabrador puppy’s temperament could vary depending on the influence of each parent dog.

However, one thing you can count on is lots of shedding and brushing, since both dogs share a thick, double-layer coat type.

A Chabrador dog can live 8 to 12 years.

To learn even more about the Chabrador, visit our handy breed guide here.

Corgidor

A Corgidor puppy has one Pembroke Welsh Corgi parent and one Labrador Retriever parent.

This is one of the most popular Lab hybrids because both breeds are so friendly.

A Corgidor can grow up to weigh 30 to 80 pounds depending on which parent dog a puppy favours.

This hybrid dog is likely to inherit the Corgi’s shorter legs, which is the result of congenital dwarfism.

The Corgidor can live 10 to 13 years.

To get better acquainted with the Corgidor, head on over to our Corgidor dog guide here.

Doberdor

Crossing a Doberman and a Labrador Retriever produces the Doberdor.

This dog can weigh 50 to 100 pounds and will be a strong and powerful dog in adulthood.

The Doberdor’s coat will likely be short and fairly self-cleaning outside of shedding seasonally.

It can be either thin or thicker based on which parent dog a puppy most favours.

The Doberdor can live 10 to 12 years.

If you’d like to read more about the Doberdor, you might enjoy this handy guide here.

German Sheprador

When you breed a German Shepherd with a Labrador, you get a German Sheprador.

The German Shepherd is the second most popular pet dog in America and the Lab of course is number one.

Yet these two purebred dog breeds are quite different in their general temperament, with Labs being reliably friendly and outgoing while GSDs are more reserved and serious.

A Labrashepherd can weigh 50 to 90 pounds and will typically have a short, thick, double-layer coat that sheds year-round and more seasonally.

The German Sheprador can live 7 to 12 years.

To learn more about the Labrashepherd, visit our handy breed guide here.

Goldador

What happens when you mix the famous friendly Golden Retriever with the equally famously friendly Labrador Retriever?

You get a Goldador, of course! These dogs typically weigh 55 to 80 pounds.

Goldadors will inherit the thick, double-layer coat type shared by their parent dogs. They will shed year-round and more profusely in spring and fall.

A Goldador can live 10 to 12 years.

To learn more about the Goldador, visit our handy hybrid guide here.

Huskador

The Huskador has one Siberian Husky parent and one Labrador parent.

This mix breed dog can weigh 35 to 80 pounds and doesn’t need much grooming to stay clean.

However, you can expect year-round shedding and heavier sheds seasonally.

The Huskador is likely to inherit the friendly, people-loving temperament of both parent dogs.

However Huskies tend to be more independent thinkers than Labs, so your Huskador puppy might be tricker to train than a purebred Lab.

These dogs can live 10 to 14 years.

To learn more about the Huskador, visit our in-depth review article here.

Labernese

The Labernese has one parent that is a Bernese Mountain dog and one parent that is a Labrador Retriever.

If ever there was a mix breed dog truly bred to work alongside people, it might be the Labernese!

These dogs can weigh anywhere from 55 to 115 pounds and have quite similar coats that will shed year-round and “blow coat” seasonally.

The Labernese can live 7 to 12 years.

Discover more about the lovable Labernese by reading our in-depth guide here.

Labmaraner

The Labmaraner has one Weimaraner parent and one Labrador parent.

You can expect this pup to be a powerhouse of athletic ability with a great enthusiasm for outdoors activities!

The Labmaraner typically weighs 55 to 90 pounds and has a short, easy-to-groom coat that will shed lightly year-round and more heavily seasonally.

This dog can live 10 to 13 years.

To learn more about the Labmaraner, head over to our mix breed guide here.

Labradoodle

Now we’re getting into mixed breed royalty!

The Labradoodle is the famous cross between a Labrador Retriever and a Poodle.

One of the big reasons this breed has become so popular is because a Labradoodle can inherit the Poodle’s non-shedding coat.

The Labradoodle also inherits each parent dog’s smarts, friendliness, athletic ability and loyalty.

The Labradoodle typically weighs 40 to 80 pounds and can live 10 to 18 years.

To find more of our many articles about the Labradoodle, visit us here.

Pitador

A Pitador has one Labrador and one Pitbull parent.

The American Pitbull Terrier typically weighs 30 to 60 pounds with a strong jaw and a muscular frame. Pitador puppies can weigh 30 to 80 pounds.

The Pitador will inherit a short coat that doesn’t need much brushing but will shed year-round.

A Pitador can live 10 to 16 years.

To find out more about the pros and cons of the Pitador, visit our in-depth article here.

Pointerdor

A Pointerdor is a puppy with a Labrador Retriever and a Pointer parent.

The Pointer and the Labrador are both hunting and sporting dogs.

Both have short, easy-to-maintain yet high-shedding coats. Both typically have lovely, friendly temperaments.

The Pointerdor will weigh 40 to 80 pounds and can live 10 to 17 years.

 We’ve written much more about the Pointerdor here.

Rottador

When a Labrador Retriever is bred to a Rottweiler, the puppies are called Rottadors.

This can be a sizable pup, weighing anywhere from 55 to 135 pounds!

Rottweilers and Labradors have very similar coats that shed year-round and profusely twice per year.

You can expect a Rottador to live 9 to 12 years.

To find out more about Rottador temperament and health as well, visit our mixed breed guide here.

Springador

A Springador is a puppy with one English Springer Spaniel parent and one Labrador parent.

A Springador can weigh 40 to 80 pounds.

Springer Spaniels can have longer coats than Labs but both dogs have double-layer coats that shed year-round and heavier seasonally.

These dogs can live 10 to 14 years.

To prepare more about life with a Springador, visit our in-depth mix breed guide here.

Is A Labrador Retriever Mix Right For Me?

We hope you have enjoyed learning more about these Labrador Retriever mix dogs.

Do you own a Labrador Retriever mix?

Let us know about him or her in the comments below!

References and Resources

McGreevy, P.D., et al, 2018, “Labrador retrievers under primary veterinary care in the UK: demography, mortality and disorders,” Canine Genetics and Epidemiology Journal.

Godfrey, R., BVetMed MRCVS, et al, 2011, “Labrador Retriever: Hypoadrenocorticism,” Universities Federation for Animal Welfare.

Raffan, E., et al, 2016, “A Deletion in the Canine POMC Gene Is Associated with Weight and Appetite in Obesity-Prone Labrador Retriever Dogs,” Cell Journal.

Kampo, Jr., F., et al, 1994, “Labrador Breed Standard,” Labrador Retriever Club of America, 1994.

Davol, P.E., 1999 “B/b, E/e, and Beyond: A Detailed Examination of Coat Color Genetics in the Labrador Retriever,” Wing n Wave Labradors Kennel.