Husky Mix With Lab aka Huskador or Labsky – The Ultimate Guide

Written by: Bojana Radulovic
What do you get when you mix the two most popular breeds? You get a dog a high energy level, an amazing family member, and a great swimmer. Learn more about the traits of Husky Mix with Lab.
Dog Breed Group:
Mixed Breed Dogs
Height:
20 to 28 inches
Weight:
40 to 60 pounds
Life Span:
10 to 12 years

Breed Characteristics:

Apartment Friendly

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How well will this breed adapt to apartment living? Is the apartment size the most important factor when it comes to proper living conditions? Is the breed suitable for apartment living?

Good For First-Time Owners

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Some dogs aren't suitable for first-time dog owners. Is this breed a good match for someone with no dog experience? Can training help them be on their best behavior with owners with no dog experience? Are they suitable to be handled by someone who is just entering the canine world?

Overall Sensitivity

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Some dogs are sensitive. Certain breeds are rough on the outside, while having the softest heart on the inside. In other words, some dogs are 'thick-skinned' while some are 'easygoing.' Is this breed prone to sensitivity?

Tolerates Being Alone

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Separation anxiety in dogs is a serious condition that can affect a dog's life quality. Is this breed prone to this condition? Can you leave him alone for hours? How destructive this breed can become when bored, neglected, or not loved enough?

Affectionate With Family

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How affectionate this breed will be around his humans? Will he welcome new family friends easily or he will choose to be shy? Some breeds can be clingy with owners, while others don't attach a lot. Will this breed act as the family's best friend?

Kid-Friendly

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Some dogs will tolerate children, while others will adore well-behaved ones. Dogs and children should always be supervised, no matter how well trained the dog might be. Will this breed act as a nanny dog or he will stay away from children?

Friendly Toward Other Dogs

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Some dog breeds cannot wait to run to the dog park and run with others. Others prefer to be with their humans, and not to be a part of a multi-pet household. Is this breed dog lover or not? How friendly this breed will be toward other dogs?

Friendly Toward Strangers

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Some dog breeds tend to be reserved toward strangers and highly suspicious. Others are fast to walk away with them easily. How welcoming this breed is toward strangers?

Drooling Level

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If you love to clean all the time drooling level in dogs is a trait that you should mind. Is this breed less likely to drool, or you will always need a towel on hand?

Easy To Groom

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Heavier shedding during the shedding season is something that every dog needs to go through. However, some dogs shed just a bit all year round. Is this breed one of them? How often should you groom this dog?

Overall Health

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What can you expect from this breed in terms of health? Are there any genetic conditions to vary about? Is obesity a major issue in this breed? By knowing more about the dog's health, you are learning how to help him live a longer and healthier life.

Prone To Obesity

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Treats are a great addition to training sessions. Dogs love sweet bites of dog treats but they should be served in moderation. Treats can lead to obesity, next to poor nutrition. Can this breed gain extra weight from treats? How prone to obesity this breed actually is?

Trainability Level

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Training some dogs is easier than others. How easy this dog will be to train? What can you expect? Some dogs are huge people pleasers and they will master commands easily, while others will try to outsmart you.

Intelligence Level

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Dogs are smart beings. We do our best to train them, but they do still end up training us to adapt to their needs. How intelligent is this breed? Will he try to outsmart you? Or he will need multiple training sessions to master basic commands?

Prey Drive

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Dogs were bred for a specific purpose. Those who were bred to hunt have natural instincts to hunt, even today. This is why many dogs, like Terriers, will chase other animals. They will also have a hard time concentrating on your commands when there is something small moving. Is this breed prone to following his prey instincts?

Barking Level

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How vocal this breed is? Can you expect neighbors to ring you often to calm your dog? Or you can sleep without worries of hearing your Fido bark? Some breeds are highly vocal, others have unusual sounds, and some are silent. Is this breed prone to barking?

Energy Level

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Low-energy dogs are happy with regular walks and indoor chill times. High-energy dogs are always ready for action. Is this breed a couch potato, energetic dog, or somewhere in between?

Exercise Needs

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Some dogs are more than happy with a slow stroll down the street. Others need hours of active time to stay happy and fit. Is this breed demanding in terms of exercise? How much exercise this breed needs to stay happy and healthy?

Playfulness Level

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Some dogs never lose that puppy spirit, not even in their senior years. Others are more serious and prefer having a job to do. Is this breed demanding in terms of playfulness? Can you expect playfulness in their senior years as well?

The Husky Lab mix is what you get when you cross the Labrador Retriever and the Siberian Husky. This highly energetic and outgoing mix goes by many names: Huskador, Siberian Retriever, Labsky and most often Husky Lab Mix. But, what can you expect from this breed? More of a Lab? Or more of a Husky?

Quick Facts

Real name: Husky Lab Mix
Other names: Huskador, Labsky, Siberian Retriever
Breed type: Comapnion Dogs
Weight: 15-40 kg (35 to 80 pounds)
Height: 20 to 25 inches
Lifespan: 10-15 Years
Color: Black, brown, yellow, copper, grey and white
Coat: Straight, short to medium

Husky Mix With Lab: History

Husky Mix with Lab is yet to develop its rich history because we are talking here about a first-generation crossbreed. As you probably know already, crossbreeding usually lasts for years, if not decades, until the breed is officially formed and recognized by major kennel clubs.

However, with this unique mix, we are more than lucky because everyhting about parents is already known. After all, Husky Mix with Lab is an outcome of two most loved dogs by Americans, Labrador and Siberian Husky.

Good to know: The Labrador is ranked 1st, and the Husky is ranked 12th out of more than 150 breeds by the AKC (American Kennel Club)

Husky Mix With Lab: Parents

If you want to understand better the nature of Husky Lab Mix, you should learn more about parents and their general characteristics. Therefore, you should know more about Labradors and Siberian origins. Next to the Border Collie Lab Mix, the Husky Lab mix is one of the most popular Lab Mixes.

The first thing that you should know about their breed is that this is a highly energetic dog. With both parents being breed to work, no wonder that this is a very high energy dog. So, let’s learn more about parents, so we can understand this new designer breed.

Husky Mix With Lab Parent: Siberian Husky

Originally, the Siberian Husky is an ancient breed of dog in Asia. This dog was bred by the Chukchi people of Siberia. The ancestors of this breed were used as sled dogs and companions. Moreover, this breed plays a huge role in the survival of the Chukchi people. The Chukchi managed to create a resilient dog who could travel easily during the worst climate. Therefore, Huskies developed so they could easily move if freezing temperatures. Today, Huskies are both family dogs and sled dogs all over North America.

Huskies are working dogs, meaning that they will ask for a lot of your time and energy. They are true outdoor dogs. Moreover, they were bred to cohabitate with humans, and that’s the main reason why they would walk off easily with anyone, they have built trust toward humans in their DNA. That being said, with Siberian Husky, you will have a great family dog, great with children including toddlers.

Husky Mix With Lab Parent: Labrador Retriever

The Labrador Retriever is one of the oldest breeds nowadays. Some believe that this breed first appeared in the 1500s. Furthermore, it’s believed that they are originally from Newfoundland, Canada. Although the exact location is still to be confirmed by scientists, we know that this for sure – this dog was bred to hunt ducks and for fish retrieving. Therefore, the Labrador Retriever was a favorite among fisherman and was loved for its loyal nature and superb intelligence.

Thanks to their short and weather-resistant coat, the Labrador Retriever was a favorite among fishermen, because he could easily work on boats, near-freezing water, and harsh climate.

The Labrador Retriever was brought to England during the 1800s by British breeders and they managed to save many of Labrador’s original traits. They come to the States in 1903 and they were officially registered by the AKC in 1917. Ever since the Labrador Retriever is one of the most popular dogs ever and mandatory favorite as number one on the AKC’s list of America’s most popular dog breeds.

Husky Mix With Lab: Physical Appearance

When it comes to physical appearance you can’t know exactly if your Husky Mix with Lab will be more Labrador or more Siberian, but you can know for sure that you will be able to see some parent’s characteristics and temperament. Overall, you can expect your Husky Mix with Lab to have between 35 to 80 pounds, males being heavier.

Your Husky Mix with Lab will have a double coat thanks to his parents, so you can expect a thick coat. However, when it comes to the length of the coat it may vary and it depends on which parent he takes after. Overall, their coat may be medium or short in length and could come in a variety of colors. So, you can expect a lot of surprises as your Husky Mix with Lab grows. You could end up with a Chocolate Lab Husky Mix, a Yellow Lab Husky Mix, or even a Black Lab Husky Mix. Of course, you can end up with a multi-colored pup!

Husky Mix With Lab: Temperament and Personality

Your Husky Mix with Lab is a cross of two most-lovable and amazing dog breeds: the Siberian Husky and the Labrador Retriever, and you can expect your Labsky to have their treats when it comes to personality.

But, What To Expect From Your Husky Mix With Lab?

Firstly, you should know that you can’t know for sure if you Labsky will have preferences toward retrieving, or pulling something and being active a whole day. Secondly, to understand the nature and personality of your Labsky, you need to understand parent’s temperament. That being said, let’s check parent’s personalities and try to help you understand your Labsky better.

Your Husky Mix with Lab may demonstrate stubborn Husky or a calmer Labrador temperament, and it all will depend on the genes. He may bark strong when needs just as a true Labrador would, or he may bark at everyone, anything, or everything just as a Husky would. Also, he may be eager to learn and love training sessions, just like Labrador, or he may demonstrate a more stubborn nature and try to be the one leading you, just as a Husky would try.

If you see your pup digging holes all the time, you can be sure that Siberian nature is stronger. On the other hand, if your puppy can’t stop chewing everything around the house, you are having more of a Labrador dog – chewing is something that they mastered during the centuries. And, of course, they could be very much their person, and could easily have none of the above.

What If Your Husky Mix With Lab Is More Labrador?

Labrador Retriever is the favorite dog in America for a good reason. They are loyal, outgoing, eager to please people, and they are great with children. They also mature slowly, so you can expect them to be puppy-like even into adulthood.

There is also a downside, because Labradors are prone to boredom and chewing when they are left alone for a long period, or scared. They can also develop strong anxiety separation. They need strong mental stimulation, proper physical training to stay out of trouble.

What If Your Husky Mix With Lab Is More Siberian Husky?

On the other hand, if your Labsky is more of Siberian Husky, you will see a dog with a high level of energy and endurance, with a strong need to be around his family. Siberian Huskies are highly pack-oriented dogs and they thrive when they live alongside their family members.

This pack-orientation is what makes them great around children. However, they will need proper training, because they are too goofy sometimes and they do need proper and often exercise. On top of that, they will need daily mental stimulation to stay happy, or they will demonstrate destructive behavior if they are not properly exercised.

Just like with any other dog, you should provide your dog early socialization, proper training, adequate nutrition, and proper mental and physical satisfaction. These are the key factors if you want to have a well-shaped and well-behaved dog in all situations.

Husky Mix With Lab: Training And Exercise

Your Husky Mix with Lab will probably ask for different approaches when it comes to training methods. After all, with so dynamic parents you should know how to approach each breed. Labradors are energetic, but also eager to please, so they will enjoy learns new tricks and following commands. For that reason, it’s crucial to always implement new games and new tricks into their training regime.

On the other hand, if you Huskador is more like his Husky parent, you will need consistency and patience. Huskies are known for being independent thinkers and they just might be learning things differently than other dogs do. If you feel like you need professional help, contact the professional trainer and work together.

And remember, as long as you have patience, training plan, the rewarding system followed with high-quality treats, you should have no problems training your Lubsky.

Husky Mix With Lab: Exercise Needs

When it comes to a proper exercise plan, you need to understand that both the Husky and Labrador are highly energetic and athletic dogs. When compared, Labrador is slightly more energetic than Husky, and all they need is proper exercise and play. That being said, you should think about your dog exercise needs and be ready to spend at least one hour outside walking/running per day.

Your Husky Mix with Lab will equally enjoy hikes, runs, long walks, and even swimming. Yes, your Husky Mix with Lab will have webbed paws and show a natural love toward the water. Don’t forget – Labradors are great swimmers and love water, while Huskies are not scared of it. So, swimming is a great activity for them.

Make sure that your dog is always on the leash when you are outside unless you are inside the dog’s park. Otherwise, if your Labsky runs away, chances that you will find him are low because they will continue exploring and move away from known locations.

Husky Mix With Lab: Grooming

Grooming is a mandatory part of every dog’s life, and it should be done properly and on time. Make sure that you understand what grooming is and what does it incline.

Proper grooming goes beyond brushing and includes bathing, brushing teets, protecting your dog from parasites and fleas, ear cleaning, and nails trimming. Depends on the coat type you can expect to brush your dog two to three times a week to keep their coat and skin at its best. This is a great way to keep hair and shedding under control.

Yes, your Labsky is partly Siberian, so you can expect significant shedding during the whole year, and a strong shedding twice a year, usually in the fall and spring season. During this time you will have to brush your dog more often and longer. Make sure that you have proper grooming tools.

Husky Mix With Lab: Health Problems

Both, the Labrador and the Siberian are known for having some health issues that are mostly inherited, so it’s crucial to have a serious talk with the breed and make sure that he had all tests performed on the puppy.

If you are getting an older dog or adopting from a shelter, the same procedure should be done. If you just found a dog and decided to take him home, make sure that you take him to the veterinarian’s office.

Known Labrador Retrievers problems in a nutshell:

  • Hip/elbow dysplasia
  • Arthritis
  • Obesity
  • Food allergies
  • Thyroid imbalance
  • Cancer
  • Glaucoma

Known Siberian Husky problems, in a nutshell:

  • Epilepsy
  • Acute caudal myopathy
  • Glaucoma
  • High blood pressure
  • Dental problems
  • Degenerative Myelopathy
  • Cataracts

This is a potential list, and it doesn’t mean that your dog will have any of the conditions. However, this list can give you a small insight into what you should care about, and what type of precaution you should take upon.

This knowledge should give you pointers on how to treat your dog when it comes to health, nutrition, and training. By providing quality food, regular exercise and affection followed with regular veterinarian check-ups you should be able to provide your dog with a happy and long life.

Husky Mix With Lab – Key Takeaways

Getting is a dog and long-term responsibility and you should be well-aware of this commitment before you welcome a puppy or an adult dog into your home. This becomes even more important when you choose a breed with a high activity level such as Husky Lab Mix is. You should also think about grooming needs, often shedding and proper doggy maintenance.

If you manage to provide a warm and friendly environment, your Husky Lab Mix will be a perfect match, even if you have small children running around.

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