Airedale Lab Mix, a crossbreed of purebred Airedale Terrier and purebred Labrador Retriever is an adorable pet that is too much popular for his cute appearance. Are you thinking of bringing an Airedale Lab Mix breed into your home as a pet? Then, before your final decision, surely some information about this designer dog is needed for you to maintain your pet in a proper way.
Brief Ancestral History of Airedale Lab Mix
As Airedale Lab Mix emerged as hybrid likely in the 2000s, the history of this breed still remains somewhat mysterious. At first, you have to know the hereditary origin of your Airedale Lab Mix from which you may gather some idea about the probable visual appearance and characteristics of your upcoming lovely pet.
The Airedale Terrier is conventionally known as the “King of Terriers”. There are other interesting nicknames for this breed like Bingley Terrier and Waterside Terrier. This breed originated and developed in the Aire River valley of Yorkshire, England. This dog was used to chase the large rats that lived-in the Aire Riverbank. The Airedale has a strong athletic appearance, long head with its sporty beard and mustache, dark eyes, and neatly folded ears, long and muscular legs.
Their medium-length black and tan coat with a harsh topcoat and a soft undercoat coat is crinkly or just slightly waved. Their weight is about 35 to 50 pounds and the height is about 22 to 24 inches. This breed is very much intelligent, independent, strong-minded, stoic and can sometimes be stubborn. They can be used as both working and hunting dogs. Airedales are generally healthy dogs but sometimes may suffer from hip dysplasia.
On the other side, Labradors were first developed in Newfoundland, Canada as a working dog for fishermen. They are known for having a long and delayed puppyhood and adolescence. These breeds were recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1917 as a Sporting breed. The Labradors possess beauty inside and out with broad, well-defined head, floppy medium-sized ears, muscular build, strong back, a straight underbelly, a relatively long neck, and long “otter tail”.
Their weather-resistant coat comes in three standard color options and they are Black, Yellow, and Chocolate. They are around 22-25 inches tall and weighs about 55-80 pounds. They are highly good-natured family pet alike Airedale but might tend to excitable and mischievous if left unattended for a long time. It is a matter of sad that this healthy breed may prone to elbow and hip dysplasia.
An Airedale Lab Mix might inherit any number of the above mentioned physical traits. He may not get 50% purebred characteristics to 50% purebred characteristics. The type, coat, characteristics, health condition all will depend on what he inherits from his purebred parents.
Find Out Right Source for Getting Perfect Airedale Lab Mix
Getting your Airedale Lab Mix from a right and reliable source is very important. You should choose a healthy, standard colored, and cute puppy as your pet. Puppyhood is the best time to make a perfect companion as per your choice though it is totally unknown the matured type and personality of your Airedale Lab Mix.
Keep Suitable Environment
After reaching your home, your hybrid puppy will surely need a perfectly comfortable environment. Thus, you have to create at first a nice comfortable “Crate” and surroundings in order to create a perfect environment for your puppy. Moreover, you have to also think about whether your home and lifestyle are right and preferable to your Airedale Lab Mix. Keep your pet’s living place neat and clean. Help him to get accustomed to the new environment.
Temperament
As the Aire’Lab is not a purebred dog, the best way to determine the temperament of this mixed breed is to look up the temperament of its purebred parents. This hybrid breed is too energetic, outgoing, intelligent, and protective with a little bit stubbornness and tends to be very loyal and loving to their family. Though Aire’Lab likes to chase squirrels and small animals, they can be quite affectionate towards them through socialized with other pets at the earlier stage. These hybrids are not appropriate as guard-dogs, rather they can be used as perfect watchdogs.
Training and Exercise
Since your Airedale Lab Mix is a mixed breed of intelligent breeds, new commands and training can easily be taught to him but you should train him with fun, reward, and short session otherwise he will be bored. Early socialization, obedience training, and mental stimulation will help to train your pet in a proper way. You can also train him to skateboard, various games, swimming, running, cycling, etc. as per his ability and interest.
Regular exercise is needed for your Airedale Lab Mix including short walk, regular game, swimming, etc. As Aire’Lab loves to play with other family pets, children, daily moderate play sessions in terms of exercise is enough for your pet to keep him fit. Airedales’ rangy but strong personality combined with the boisterousness of Labradors can lead your hybrid to mishaps sometimes, so be careful during the play session with little children.
Activity Requirements
As both purebred parents are medium to high energy dogs, it can be assumed that the Airedale Lab Mix as a hybrid will fall somehow in the middle as an energetic dog. These designer dogs tend to need at least 1 to 2 hours of activity and playtime daily including various dog games, agility training, swimming, running, short or long walking, fetching, hikes, etc. in order to reduce his monotony.
Give Special Attention to Overall Care
As a mixed breed, your Airedale Lab Mix needs special attention and care. Keep him always neat and clean, brush his coat about 2-3 times per week, ears well need to be cleaned regularly to avoid ear infection. Have careful look at your pet so that he may not be injured or get pained. Protect him from extreme cold and heat.
Inheritable Health Concern and Life Expectancy
You have to be always concerned about your pet’s health condition. Some experts insist that crossbreds are healthier than purebreds but the reality is that there is no guarantee of what you are going to get from the mixed breed. In spite of your proper care and treatment, your Aire’Lab may suffer from various inheritable diseases like elbow and hip dysplasia, eye problem, limber tail syndrome, cancer, heart problem, allergy, etc. which might be gotten from his purebred parents. Thus, precautions should be taken to minimize the worst condition of the health of your Airedale Lab Mix.
As the lifespan of an Airedale and a Labrador are respectively 8-10 years and 10-12 years, it may be expected to have 8-10 years lifespan for the Airedale Lab Mix if everything remains all right.
As an acute and super energetic pet, Airedale Lab Mix can be your best choice if you can render proper care and training to your beautiful pet in order to make a perfect companion.