The Vizsla dog breed mixed with the Labrador Retriever can produce a fascinating, loving and energetic result in the form of the Labrala or the Vizslador. The best traits of the two dog breeds can come together in this breed mix, resulting in a great pet for your household.
If you wish to know about the Vizsla Lab mix, especially if you are planning to get one, you should read through the following breed profile.
At a Glance
Before getting into the detailed information about this breed, you can go through a glimpse of some details about this dog so that you know what to expect. This can also give you a brief idea of what this profile will cover in further detail.
- Breed Mix: Vizsla and Labrador Retriever
- Height: Between 20 and 26 inches
- Weight: Between 40 and 80 pounds
- Lifespan: 10-12 years
- Temperament: Energetic, affectionate, gentle, active, social, intelligent
- Suitability: Active families who can provide enough exercise, love and care
- Trainability: Easy to train
History and Origin
It is important to first look into the specific history and origins of each of the two dog breeds that comprise this mix before we delve into the history of the breed mix. Take a look.
Vizsla
The Vizsla has its origins in Hungary and dates back several centuries, with its first documented mention being in the year 1357, although the ancestors of the Vizsla date back to the Magyar people of the 800s or so. They bred dogs that would provide them with support in terms of protection and agility.
As the centuries passed, the Vizsla came to be developed to accompany royalty, nobility as well as soldiers and warriors. This dog breed began to be used as a gundog or wardog and was also an essential companion whenever their owners went hunting.
These dogs became endangered after the World Wars but were then bred in more earnest to increase their population. It wasn’t until 1950 that the Vizsla made its way into the United States and started being used for sporting competitions.
It continues to be used for competitive events but is mainly kept as a pet by households.
Labrador Retriever
The Labrador Retriever (commonly referred to as the Labrador or Lab) has its origins in the United Kingdom. This dog was bred and brought into existence through cross-breeding between fishing dogs and hunting dogs.
Some dogs from Newfoundland were brought into the country in the 1800s, leading to the breeding that then led to the Labrador Retriever. Their existence can be dated back to the 1830s, although the exact year is not clear.
Initially, this dog was mainly kept by royalty and nobility, especially by those interested in sporting and hunting. Due to their keen senses of smell, these dogs were used to retrieve the game of the hunters.
They later went on to become popular among other classes of people, not only in England but across the world. The official breed standard in the United States was registered and established in 1917 by the American Kennel Club (AKC).
Vizsla Lab Mix
The Vizsla Lab Mix was probably developed around the 1980s, following which it became more common for this kind of cross-breeding to take place. Although this began within the hunting societies, it is now a popular practice among breeders and pet owners too.
Beyond these details, not much is known about the specific history of the mix.
Also Read: 12 Vizsla Mix Breeds You Might Fall In Love With
Genetics and Pedigree
The Vizsla Lab mix is a crossbred dog or a hybrid dog species that comes from crossing the Vizsla with the Labrador. This can result in a form of hybrid vigor or heterosis in the progeny or offspring, allowing the Vizsla Lab mix to have some useful and significant traits of the two parent breeds.
Usually, this hybrid dog is likely to be healthier and better performing as compared to its parent breeds since it combines the traits, genes and features of each breed. There are, however, rare situations in which the hybridity might end up working against the offspring, especially if the parents had certain unfavorable genes as well.
You should note that it might not be possible for you to officially and formally register this dog with kennel clubs in your country. This is because these clubs are usually only concerned with pure breeds and not hybrids.
Make sure you are also careful about the breeder that you choose so that everything takes place in a legal manner, not to mention that safe practices can result in healthier offspring and conditions too.
Make sure you carry out health testing and maintain transparency. Find a good vet that can support you as well.
Features and Traits of the Vizsla Lab Mix
To learn more about the Vizsla Lab mix in terms of various factors and aspects, you can continue reading through the following points.
Coat and Grooming
The Vizsla Lab mix can result in a coat that combines the distinctions of the Vizsla and the Labrador.
The Vizsla is known for its golden rust color with several shades possible, such as yellow, brown, sandy gold and more. Parts of the body also tend to have some white streaks or markings, although this tends to be rare.
The coat is generally short and soft. It is present in a single layer.
The Labrador, on the other hand, can have solid colors like black, yellow and chocolate with a short and smooth coat as well as an undercoat.
Thus, when it comes to the mix, you can expect either a solid color or a more rust-like color depending on the dominant genes. If the dogs result in a litter of puppies, each puppy might have a different coat.
For this mix, you do not need to groom the dog too often, although you should carry this out once in a while apart from cleaning and bathing your dog frequently.
Temperament and Personality
The Vizsla Lab mix tends to have a combination of some distinct traits of both dog breeds. For instance, this mixed dog breed is likely to be extremely friendly and affectionate, intelligent, gentle, enthusiastic, playful, active, vigilant and adaptable.
Given that both dogs were widely used for hunting and have incredible instincts, you can rely on their offspring to protect and take good care of your household. They are also great for playing around with.
Once again, which traits end up prevailing or dominating in the mix can depend on the dominating genes as well as the environment in which you raise them. For instance, the Labrador tends to be slightly calmer than the Vizsla, whereas the latter can be a bit more cautious.
Training and Socialization
Fortunately, both Vizslas and Labradors are extremely easy to train due to their high levels of intelligence and obedience. This can make it convenient for you to train the offspring of these dog breeds as well, especially since they are bound to carry sharpened senses and quick response rates of their parents.
It is important to provide training and socialization to the puppies from a young age so that you can get them to learn in a quicker manner. Rely on positive reinforcement and never on negative reinforcement or punishment to ensure that your dogs are comfortable.
Combine a variety of training and socializing methods and keep repeating them to see positive results. You can also introduce them to multiple people and teach them some commands to bring out the desired behavior.
There are some cases in which you might need to use crate training to ensure a safe space for your dogs and to get rid of certain behaviors, such as barking, chewing and biting (if present).
Make sure you are also aware of the respective histories of not only the mixed puppies but also the parents, in case you need to take special care of some aspects like trauma or fear.
Care and Attention
You should provide as much care and attention to your Vizsla Lab mix as you would to your purebred dog. In fact, because there is insufficient information about how to care for crossbred dogs, it is important to pay careful attention to how your dog reacts to various situations.
Make sure you establish a proper feeding routine for your dogs and rely on pet food along with other nutrient-rich but suitable food. Keep your dogs well hydrated as well while also responding to other needs like emotional support, care, playtime and excretion.
It is best to consult your vet when it comes to establishing a list of foods and other care conditions for your dog.
Lifespan
The Vizsla has a lifespan of around 12-14 years, whereas the Labrador Retriever can live for around 10-13 years. The lifespan of the Vizsla Lab mix is more or less similar to the Vizsla and Labrador, with some living for around 10 years while some surviving for around 13-14 years.
There should not be much difference between the lifespans of the parents and hybrid offspring. However, several environmental conditions, such as breeding conditions, injuries, trauma, lifestyle, diet and treatment in the house, can also affect the lifespan of the mix.
Appearance
The Vizsla measures around 20-26 inches in height and is 40-60 pounds in weight, while the Labrador measures about the same in height and is about 50-80 pounds in weight. This makes these dogs medium in size and can result in similar sizes in their offspring.
In terms of height, the Vizsla Lab mix is likely to fall within the 20-26 inch range. The weight can depend on which traits are dominant, with the dog likely to be larger if the Labrador genes are more prominent.
In other cases, the dog is likely to be quite lean and muscular. You can also expect the snout to be the perfect blend between the Vizsla’s longer snout and the Labrador’s slightly shorter face.
Stimulation
Both the Vizsla and the Labrador are extremely active and energetic dog breeds, an aspect that usually makes its way to their progeny as well. If you plan on getting a mix of these breeds, therefore, it is important to be prepared to provide an hour or two of exercise to them to keep them active.
However, make sure you do not overdo it either, especially since Labradors are prone to exercise-induced collapse (EIC) which can end up affecting the offspring too.
This can help ensure that their behavior remains in check too, without the risk of them becoming too bored, aggressive and restless. It is also important to not neglect them too much as they are quite social.
Mental stimulation is also a must here due to the intelligence levels of this breed. Get toys, puzzles, games and other solutions that can keep your dog occupied, healthy and content.
Health Concerns
Vizslas and Labradors are generally healthy dogs, but there are some health conditions common in them that might affect their offspring too. These include hip dysplasia, ear infections, thyroid and eye conditions, among others.
Allergies, cancer and other infections can also pass down from the parents to offspring, so make sure you get your dogs tested at the time of birth as well as on a regular basis later on. Keep your vet as an emergency contact as well so that you can address certain issues in a prompt manner.
Lifestyle
A healthy and active lifestyle is what your Vizsla Lab mix needs. If you or your family cannot always be around them, make sure you get a dog sitter for some time to make your dogs easier to manage.
Ultimately, you will also need to make adjustments to the diet, exercise levels and training levels based on the individual traits of your dog.
Final Remarks
The Vizsla Lab mix comes from the cross between the Vizsla and the Labrador Retriever, adopting several features and traits of each of the two breeds, including temperament, size, trainability and overall health and lifestyle.
It is essential for you to ensure that you cater to your individual dog’s needs with care, love and attention while also finding a reliable breeder and vet for some additional support.