Lots of people are fond of the sweet and friendly Labradors, and Dachshunds also have fans who love them for their curiosity, strength, and courage. Yet, a Dachshund Lab or Dachsador isn’t a popular mix, although it comes from two popular parents.
Coming from two different dog families, this sweet mix can be surprising in many ways. Since it’s not a common mix, we’ve decided to do the research on your behalf and tell you all about the Dachshund Lab mix.
So, keep reading to learn more about the Dachshund Lab, what is special about this mix, and what you can expect if you get a puppy.
What is the Background of the Dachshund Lab Mix?
For 31 years in a row, Labradors have been voted America’s most loved dogs. Yet, some people don’t have the energy or space needed for the loyal and friendly Lab, so the Dachsador became their second favorite choice.
The Dachsador is a relatively new mixed breed that became popular in the past few decades. It’s a cross between the Labrador, which comes from the active and loyal sporting family, and the Dachshund, which comes from the hound family.
This pooch mixes the intelligence and easy-going nature of the Labrador with the active, courageous, and determined nature of the Dachshund. It’s also smaller in size and has a low-shedding coat, unlike the Labrador.
Dachsadors are high-energy dogs and need lots of play and exercise, just like Labradors. Nevertheless, their smaller size and composure, which they take from the Dachshunds, make them fit well in smaller homes. They can also spend more time independently, unlike Labs that require constant attention.
When you get this dog, you get the qualities of a retriever from the Labrador Retriever parent and the hunter traits from the Dachshund parent. The size of the pup is not easy to determine. This is why the mother is usually a Lab to ensure that it’s bigger in size, as this will reduce the risk of birthing difficulties.
Since this is not a pure breed, it’s not recognized by the AKC. Yet, it has become quite popular, so you might find a Dachsador pup that needs to be rescued.
How Was the Dachsador Mix Created?
Breeders probably wanted to create something that would come in the small convenient size of the Dachshund and the friendly temperament of the Labrador. However, there’s no clear information about how this mix came into existence.
The Labrador Retriever parent is an intelligent dog with a desire to please. This dog is one of the easiest to train and can function as a working dog or a disability assistance dog.
The Dachshund, or the Sausage Dog, is famous for its amazing hunting skills. It’s an excellent companion dog if you have the mentality to train it because it can be a little bit independent. Nevertheless, it’s one of the most determined dogs with great work ethics and intelligence.
Since Dachshunds come in three sizes, most breeders mix a smaller Dachshund with the big Lab. The result, hopefully, is a smart, fun dog that comes in a smaller size than the Lab. However, most Dachsadors are created through artificial insemination since accidental breeding is rare due to the size difference between the breeds.
The resulting pup might inherit more from the Lab or the Dachshund’s side, and there’s no way to confirm which side will prevail.
Nevertheless, it’s likely that you’ll end up with an interesting pup. It will inherit both hunting and rescuing traits from its parents, although its individual personality will become more obvious as it grows older.
What Are the Physical Traits of the Dachshund Lab Mix?
Since the parents of the Dachshund Lab mix look very different from one another, it will be hard to predict the appearance of the resulting puppies. Some puppies will look more like the Labrador Retriever parent, while others will be closer to the Dachshund parent.
Weight and Height
The Labrador’s height is usually between 21.5 to 24.5 inches, while the Dachshund’s height is around 8 or 9 inches. The Dachsador’s height will be anything in between. In some cases, it will favor the traits of one of its parents.
The same applies to weight. Full-grown Labs weigh between 55 and 80 pounds, while Dachshunds weigh between 16 and 32 pounds. The Dachshund Lab puppies within the same litter can weigh anything in between.
Most people go for the Dachsador mix because they want a dog with the Labrador’s traits but in a more compact size. However, the size is one area where you can get varying results, depending on which parent the puppy favors.
Some Dachsador puppies will be as large as a Labrador. Others will have smaller elongated bodies like Dachshunds. Most of them will weigh between 30 and 40 pounds and will be between 15 and 25 inches high.
Coat and Color
Labradors come in black, yellow, and chocolate shades, but some have diluted fur with some marks in another color. Dachshunds come in more unusual patterns like dapple and brindle.
The resulting puppy might inherit any of these criteria, and its coat can look like one of its parents or a mix between the two. However, most Dachsador puppies are yellow, chocolate, or black.
The Dachshund’s coat comes in three types; wirehaired, longhaired, and smooth, while the Labrador has a water-resistant dense coat. The Dachsador will have a smooth coat if both parents share this criterion.
Most puppies will have a slightly dense coat that can be short or longhaired, depending on the coat of the Dachshund’s parent. The coat is less dense than the Labrador’s, so you need to provide your puppy with a dog coat if the weather is too cold.
Labradors are frequent shedders, while Dachshunds don’t shed as much. This is another reason why people prefer the Dachshund Lab mix, as it’s easier to care for.
The resulting puppy will shed less than the Lab parents but probably more than the Dachshund parent. Depending on the status of the coat, you’ll have to adjust the grooming routine to make sure that it looks its best.
If it’s a smooth coat, you won’t have to do much other than brush it with a hound glove to remove knots. Wirehaired coats need to be hand-stripped several times a year, while a longhaired coat needs more attention and grooming.
Facial and Body Features
Predicting exactly what your Dachsador pup will look like is rather difficult. Your puppy might have the strong athletic build of the Labrador or the elongated body of the Dachshund.
In general, the ears will be longer than the ones the Labrador has, but they can be slightly shorter than the ears of the Dachshund. You’ll need to clean them regularly to avoid infections.
How Does the Dachshund Lab Mix Behave?
The temperament of the Dachshund Lab puppies varies because they come from two parents that have different personalities. The puppy will be either like one of its parents or an interesting mix of the two.
Labs and Dachshunds share some traits, so the Dachsador pup will likely inherit those. For example, both dogs are intelligent with strong work ethics. As a result, you’ll have to provide high levels of mental and physical stimulation to keep your Dachsador dog occupied and prevent destructive behavior.
Trainability
The Labrador Retriever is one of the easiest dogs to train because it’s always eager to please. Giving your dog rewards will make training sessions fun for both of you.
Things are a bit different with the Dachshund, which is more independent and stubborn. Toilet training, in particular, can be a little challenging. Moreover, this dog is prone to some undesirable behavioral patterns like chasing and digging.
With a Dachshund Lab mix, you can expect training to take more time. You’d be lucky to have a pup that inherited the trainability traits of its Labrador parent. However, in most cases, you’ll need more time and energy to train your Dachsador.
Friendliness And Aggression
Labs are the friendliest dogs anyone can dream of. They’re friendly with strangers, love to play, and rarely bark, so they are the perfect family dogs.
Dachshunds are quite the opposite. They’re territorial and bark occasionally to alert you. They can be a bit aggressive and love to chase. So, the Dachsador puppy can be a mix of the two personalities.
You can expect a dog that barks a little bit more than a Labrador but isn’t as aggressive as the Dachshund. It might get aggressive, though, especially if it feels that one of the family members is in danger.
Energy Level
The Dachsador comes from two parents that have high energy levels. It needs lots of exercise to stay stimulated, and would enjoy at least two play sessions, each of about 45 minutes.
Dachshunds can be left on their own for some time without getting too bored, but Labs won’t tolerate this. Labs tend to feel anxious and bored when you don’t give them enough attention, so they might start chewing or digging.
The Dachshund Lab puppy will be slightly more independent than a Lab. However, it will still prefer to be around its family most of the time.
Relationship With Family
Labs and Dachshunds are excellent family dogs because they love to play and protect. They would come to snuggle with you on the couch after long play sessions and will enjoy some ear and belly rubbing.
Your Dachshund Lab puppy will have a good relationship with the family, especially the younger members. These pups love playing with kids, but you should never leave young children unsupervised with them.
After you’ve made sure that your Dachsador knows how to obey orders, play sessions with family and friends can be so much fun.
Relationship With Other Pets
When you introduce the Dachsador pup to a house with existing pets, proper socialization will be crucial. The pup might inherit the hunting instincts of its Dachshund parent, so it has to learn not to chase smaller animals.
The Dachshund Lab Health Issues
The Dachshund Lab inherits health problems from both parents. The Labrador Retrievers and Dachshunds share some health issues, so the mixed pup is likely to suffer from them. Here are some health issues that a Dachsador pup might deal with.
- Arthritis
- Gastric dilatation volvulus
- Cataracts
- Hip and elbow dysplasia
- Exercise-induced collapse
- Progressive retinal atrophy
In some cases, the pup will inherit some health issues which are more common in Dachshunds. These include Lafora disease, mitral valve prolapse, and canine intervertebral disc disease.
Feeding
Labradors are prone to obesity when they don’t have a balanced diet, and gaining weight can be a problem for dogs with elongated backs like Dachshunds. This is why you need to make sure that you’re feeding your Dachsador pup healthy food, so it doesn’t gain weight.
You could use interactive toys to feed your Dachshund Lab pup. The dog will take more time to eat, which decreases the amount of food consumed to avoid obesity. These toys also entertain your dog and provide enough mental stimulation.
Life Expectancy
Some studies show that mixed breed dogs tend to live a little longer than purebred dogs. Since the Labrador and Dachshund have an average life expectancy of 12 years, the Dachsador will usually live between 12 and 14 years. In general, it will have a long healthy life as long as you look out for the most common health issues.
Who is the Dachshund Lab Mix For?
If you want an energetic dog, a good companion, and a pooch with an interesting personality, then this mix will be the right one for you. It’s an intelligent dog, but it’s hard to expect how stubborn or lenient it will turn out to be.
This mix is a good choice for families with older children. However, younger children and smaller pets might not be the perfect fit for your Dachshund Lab dog.
It can do well in a smaller home as long as you provide regular play and exercise sessions. This dog won’t struggle that much on its own, the way a Labrador does. It still needs to have you around and will appreciate some cuddling on the couch.
Wrap Up
The Dachshund Lab mix isn’t your usual mixed breed, but it’s an interesting one to explore if you’re looking for a new pet. It comes with the desirable traits of the Labrador and the Dachshund. Yet, the exact traits of your pup are hard to determine, as it might favor one parent over the other.
