|
Labraheeler
Labraheeler Dog (Australian Cattle Dog Labrador Retriever mix)
Labraheeler life span
Labraheeler size
Labraheeler temperament
Labraheeler grooming
How to potty train a Labraheeler
Labraheeler dog information, including Cattle Dog Lab Mix personality, grooming requirements and potty training info.
Labraheeler Dog (Cattle Dog Lab mix)
What is a Labraheeler? Labraheelers are a cross between the hardworking and intelligent Australian Cattle dog and the easy-going and highly trainable Labrador Retriever. Highly intelligent and active Lab mix dogs are known to inherit some of the best character traits from both parent breeds. Cattle Dog and Lab mix dogs make great family companions and are best for active owners who live in the suburbs where there's plenty of space for the dog to exercise.
Labraheelers require early socialization training which helps them stay comfortable in different circumstances. Labraheeler dogs dogs are sociable, energetic and need an occupation during the day - they hate being left alone for long and especially during the day. If you are unable to spend your days with the dog, this is not the ideal pup for you. Given their great work ethic, Australian Cattle dog and Lab mix dogs prefer being outside staying busy and active.
If you enjoy jogging or hiking, Labraheeler dog will make a great exercise companion. Although Lab and Australian Cattle dog cross are very outgoing, they will always take their time before getting comfortable with strangers. Most of the time, Labraheelers will not be able to resist their herding tendencies and often you will find them herding children in the house and other pets around. This is an ideal pet companion for farmers and for people who live in the country where there is meaningful work available for this dog throughout the day that may include help with herding cattle because many Labraheelers have a strong desire to herd.
Labraheeler Life Expectancy
How long do Labraheeler dogs live? Labraheelers have a life span of 12 to 16 years. Cattle Dog Labrador mix dog will require good care and maintenance to live a long and healthy life.
Labraheeler Size
How big do Labraheeler dogs get? In general, expect Labraheeler male to be a little bigger and heavier than female Labraheelers. In height Labraheelers reach up to 25 inches tall while in weight Labraheelers can be up to 88 pounds heavy.
Labraheelers are designer dogs bred between the Australian cattle dog and the Labrador retriever. They have been around for the last about thirty years though the crossing was not documented. Both parental breeds do not differ so much in appearance, hence making the Labraheeler are more uniform breed. Although much is not known about this hybrid a lot is known about the parents as discussed below.
What do Labraheeler dogs look like? Labraheelers will either inherit more of the Labrador Retriever or more of the Australian Cattle Dog or have a mix of both. Labraheelers will have strong, sturdy athletic bodies with well built-in muscles and are of medium to large size.
Lab and Cattle Dog cross will have broad foreheads with a pair of well-set apart eyes, which can either be green, blue or brown. The eyes portray a nice expression of intelligence and calmness. You will spot Labraheelers that have erect ears that resemble those of the Australian Cattle Dog. Other times, you will spot them with floppy ears that resemble the Labrador Retrievers.
Labraheeler's coat is usually short and straight and comes in a variety of coat colors which include black, brindle, white, blue, brown and yellow. Other Labraheelers will come in more than one color exhibiting different spots and markings. This factor makes them quite distinctive from their Labrador parent known for three colors that include black, chocolate and yellow.
Labrador Retriever Dog
These dogs are classified as one of the most successful dogs breeds internationally. They appear in every top five breed listing annually. Their gentle nature and great affectionate which they portray to their families is one of the factors that has greatly contributed to their global popularity.
These designer dogs originated from Newfoundland contrary to what others believe that they came from the Labrador region. Dogs from Newfoundland were crossed to the water dogs to create a competent retriever pup. They would later be used to perform tasks such as retrieving prey from the water or the mainland.
In the 1800s the breed was brought to the United Kingdom where it has continuously gained popularity. Labrador Retrievers have since then been used as family pets as well as gun dogs. Although most of them come in black color, others with yellow or chocolate coats are also available.
Australian Cattle dog
These dogs can be traced back to the 19th century when the English cattle farmers were migrating to Australia. Unfortunately, the dogs they had back then could not withstand the Australian climate and were unable to work to required standards. The farmers would later work towards creating a breed that would suit their needs as well as withstand the harsh environmental conditions. They came up with various breeds such as the Dingo and the Smooth Collie.
Over time they continued to breed dogs such as the Dalmatian and the Australian Kelpie. It was not until the late 1800s when the farmers created the Australian Cattle Dog, which resembled the Dingo, but was more tameable and hardworking. The breed is also known as the Australian heeler.
Labraheeler Temperament
Sweet, loving, affectionate and intelligent, Labraheelers make great family pets for families that like to be active and spend a lot of time outdoors with the dog. Labraheeler dogs enjoy running about the yard while getting muddy and playing various games. Labraheelers are not ideal pets for families that are not at home most of the day. Sociable Labraheelers need human company throughout the day and quickly get bored when left by themselves.
Labraheelers are not hard to train due to their intelligent nature, although they will need proper introduction when meeting new people for the first time.
Cattle dog Lab mix pups require early socialization training while they are still very young. Although older Labrador Retriever and Australian Cattle Dog mix can be trained when fully mature, puppies are typically more responsive during training process. Use reward-based training when teaching your pet basic commands, during potty training and even for more advanced training. Early socialization is very important as the dog can develop a confident and secure temperament with sufficient socialization during puppyhood.
Labraheelers are suitable for families with older kids but as with all dogs they will need supervision when around children. Explain to your kids that dogs aren't toys and need to be treated with the respect. When the pet is resting or eating, kids should not approach the Labraheeler dog.
Due to their sweet and affectionate nature, Labraheelers do well with children although they will need to be continuously supervised. Out of their energetic nature, these pups are more likely to play roughly and may knock off children.
To be on the safer side, teach your children how to safely interact and gently approach the dog. Let them know the dos and the don'ts about their interaction. Labraheelers will do well with other pets in the house, and mostly they will practice herding habits. Early socialization will help in controlling such habits as well as those of seeing smaller pets as prey.
Labraheeler puppies
Like all other puppies, Labraheeler puppies will require extra care while handling them. Australian Cattle Dog and Lab mix pups will need to undergo socialization and behavioral training at that tender age of about seven weeks onwards. This will ensure that they grow to be well-rounded dogs come adulthood.
If you are planning to purchase from a breeder, then let them be reputable and provide you will all the certified documentation of the parental breeds. The documentation will also include the health status of each parent, and this will help you determine whether the puppy you are taking home is healthy or not. If you are planning to adopt a Labraheeler, it may be difficult to learn about the dog's parents. Find out all you can about the dog's personality and how he or she is around other people and dogs to learn as much as you can about your pet's temperament. This way you will be more prepared to deal with any challenges that may come up as you take the dog home.
Labraheeler grooming
How to groom a Labraheeler dog? Labraheelers have double coats and normally they shed a lot considering the fact that Labrador Retriever dogs are notorious for abundant shedding. Brushing the dog frequently and using deshedding tools helps to manage shedding. While brushing Labraheeler's coat, remember to use the a pin brush and a comb specifically designed for shedding management.
Avoid ear infections by cleaning the dog's ears regularly. Labraheelers with erect years will be prone to having dirt including debris since the eardrums are not protected. Those with floppy ears are also prone to wax build-up, factors that may cause bad odor and infections. After swimming or bathing make sure to wipe the dog's ears with clean, dry towel to preven ear infections.
Maintaining Labraheeler's dental health is very important and can be accomplished by brushing the dog's teeth with a canine toothpaste a few times per week. Skipping this exercise will put your dog at risk of tooth loss, tooth decay, a plaque build up and also bad smell.
Clipping your dog's nails is a part of grooming that needs to be done every once every couple of months.
Labraheeler potty training
Smart and intelligent, Labraheeler pups will not be difficult to potty train, although in some instances patience and consistency will be required. The following steps will help potty train your Labraheeler.
Establish the dog toilet area: find a spot in your yard where the dog will be doing his business. This will prevent the dog from pooing in the wrong places. Take him to that spot any time he wants to poo and stay with him until he does the business.
Maintain a schedule: feed your Labraheeler in specific time schedules, this will help you estimate how long it will take before the dog wants to poo. Many times, dogs will want to poo after, waking up, eating, playing, sleeping or before bedtime.
Master the signs: anytime your Labraheeler has not gone to the bathroom for a while, keep him within sight. This will help you read the signs and take him to the toilet area before it's too late. Such signs will include sniffing on the floor, whining or barking, being restless or rotating in circles.
Congratulate the dog: on having a successful toilet business, praise and congratulate your dog for a job well done. Use can use words such as Bravo! or Good boy! As a way of encouraging the dog, you can as well give him some treats such as food or go on a walk.
Use cue words: cue words are command phrases, that signal the dog to do something. "Go Potty!" can be your command. This encourages the dog to relate the word with the task given and will make potty training easier.
Avoid punishing the Labraheeler dog, or using any form of negative reinforcement. That will never work and will instead harden the job for you, especially if the dog exhibits some stubborn streak. In case the dog messes in the house, use enzymic cleaners to get rid of the mess immediately, as this will discourage your dog from pooing in the same area again.
How to train a Labraheeler dog?
Most Labraheeler dogs are eager to learn new tricks and they really enjoy reward-based training. Using positive reinforcement training that involves healthy treats, toys or playtime can work wonders during basic training and beyond. Some Labraheelers may be more challenging during training because of the stubborn streak that is inherited from the Australian Cattle Dog.
Intelligent dogs such as the Labraheelers will get bored very easily if asked to repeat the same tasks repeatedly. Instead, trainers should resort to training in shot intervals, multiple times in a day. Keep training sessions about five minutes long for best results. This will help keep the dog focussed on the task. While physical exercise will tire the dogs' body, training will tire the dog mentally, which is what these dogs require. Leaving them unattended is not a good idea as bored and insufficiently exercised Labraheelers resort to unwanted behaviors.
Training your Labraheeler should begin as early as possible. Puppies as old as seven weeks to four months old should be ready to begin socialization and obedience training. Expose your Labraheeler dog also to various environments, people, places and to other pets, this socialization will make the dog feel more comfortable in various settings.
In as much as these pups are easy to train, remember that they are sensitive at times. Any form of punishment or negative reinforcement will not work well with this breed. Instead, invest more in positive reinforcement. Rewarding good behavior helps the dog to quickly understand which behaviors are rewarded and which behaviors are ignored by the owners. This will encourage the dog to strive in doing what is required because Labraheelers really enjoy being in the center of your attention as much as possible.
Labraheeler Exercise requirements
Given that Australian Cattle Dog and Lab mix dogs are active and have high energy levels, Labraheelers will require owners who can spend at least one hour per day exercising them. They are not ideal for people who live in small urban homes. Instead, they do well in rural areas where they can spend most of their day romping around and playing.
Labraheelers will make great companions for active individuals who enjoy jogging, hiking, swimming or generally working outdoors. What they ultimately need is to be kept busy by stimulating both their bodies and minds. These athletic dogs do well in other activities such as flyball and agility.
Labraheeler dogs are used in police work, tracking, search and rescue and guarding. Even though sometimes Cattle Dog Lab mix dogs are stubborn and may call for a little patience, they tend to respond well to training. Labraheelers need to be occupied during the day to stay happy and healthy. Plenty of exercise not only provides outlet for mental and physical energy, but also helps to keep the dog in healthy weight, which is important for your pet's overall health.
Owning a Labraheeler pros and cons
Labrador Mixes
Lab and Golden Mix
Lab and Poodle Mix
Labrador Retriever and Border Collie Mix
Labrador Retriever and Boxer Mix
Australian Cattle Dog Mixes
Texas Heeler dog
|
Send us an e-mail at dogbreeds911@gmail.com
|
|
|
|