The Labrador Retriever is popular among families because of their fun-loving and affectionate nature. On the other hand, the Beagle is popular because of its intelligence and its ridiculously small size. If you put them together, you get the Lab Beagle Mix.
The question is – what can you expect when you mix these two breeds? Well, let’s find out now. Here is some stuff that you could look forward to when you decide to get a puppy that’s a cross breed between the Labrador Retriever and the Beagle.
By the way, it has quite a lot of names. You can find the Labrador Beagle mix dog, also called Beagador, a Labeagle or even the Labbe!
Table of Contents
Lab Beagle Mix Key Characteristics
- Adaptability: 80%
- Affection Level: 100%
- Apartment Friendly: 40%
- Barking Tendencies: 80%
- Cat Friendly: 40%
- Child Friendly: 80%
- Dog Friendly: 80%
- Exercise Need: 80%
- Grooming Needs: 40%
- Health Issues: 80%
- Intelligence: 80%
- Playfulness: 80%
Beagle Lab Mix Highlights
- The Labbe is highly intelligent, having descended from parents that are hunting and herding dogs.
- The Lab Beagle mix is also known as the Labbe, Labeagle, Labbe Retriever and the Beagador. Only the Labbe and Labbe Retriever are recognized as a name by breed organizations.
- The Labbe Retriever can inherit a wide variety of colors, thanks to its parents’ genes. The Beagle, for instance, has eleven coat colors recognized as standards by breed organizations.
- Beagadors can be highly energetic, as a result of inheriting the Labrador Retriever’s genes. The Labrador Retriever is known to be very playful, especially when there is water involved.
- This mixed dog takes after its parents when it sheds its coat seasonally or frequently during the entire year. They require frequent brushing, at least 2-3 times a week.
- They are highly intelligent, which is a result of the innate intelligence of both its parent breeds.
- It can, however, become stubborn and unresponsive when it’s bored. This is a result of the Beagle’s genes.
- Both of its parents are the type who is eager to please its family and, given enough time and consistency, can be trained in almost anything.
- Both of its parents are considered to be two of the most popular pet breeds by the American Kennel Club.
- It can be short as its Beagle parents, or tall as its Labrador side.
- Its life expectancy can be at least 10 years and up to 15 years, based on the lifespans of its two parent breeds.
Lab Beagle Mix Appearance
One fun fact about the Labrador – Beagle hybrid is the variety of colors that can result from the cross breeding.
If the puppy takes after most of the genes of the Labrador parent, then you can expect only three colors for their coats. The Labrador Retriever only comes in solid black, solid brown or chocolate, and solid yellow, which people sometimes refer to as cream.
However, if the puppy inherits most of its good looks from its Beagle parent, then there’s a huge world of possibilities for its coat colors. Did you know that the Beagle has ELEVEN color combinations that are recognized as standards for the breed by clubs that recognize it?
Here is a list of the color combinations that you can expect for the coat of your Labeagle:
- Black and tan
- Black, tan and bluetick
- Lemon and white
- White, black and tan
- White and Red
- White and Tan
- Brown and white
- Blue, white, and tan
- White, tan and black
- Brown, white, and tan
- Black, red, and white
Because genetics is so complicated, the possibilities are not limited to the colors mentioned above. If you’ve asked a breeder to reserve a puppy for you before it is born, you need to keep your fingers crossed. You don’t know which of the elegant colors associated with both breeds your puppy is going to come in.
How about the body size? Well, there is a considerable difference in the body sizes of the Beagle and the Labrador Retriever. Your future Labbe could stand at least 13 inches, and at most, 24 inches at the shoulder. Its possible weight would be between 20 to 40 pounds.
This mix dog is likely to inherit the face of its Beagle parents, including the big and droopy ears, but sport the torso and height of the Labrador Retriever.
Beagle and Lab Mix History
There is no definite history for the Lab Beagle Mix. There is, however, some known history about its parent breeds.
The Beagle is believed to have developed from hunting dogs in England, where the term was first mentioned in 1475. They were popular both at home and with hunters, who used their uncanny sense of smell to locate and track game.
It was believed to have become widespread in the United States just before the American Civil War. Records first mention the Beagle in 1642 in Massachusetts. What is certain, however, is that breeders in the US developed the American beagle from English beagles after that war was over.
The breed attained recognition from the American Kennel Club in 1885.
The Labrador Retriever, on the other hand, is descended from water dogs in Newfoundland. There were two such breeds in that area that were used to assist fishers in their tasks, namely, the Lesser and Greater Newfoundland.
Of the two, the lesser Newfoundland dog caught the attention of English breeders because of its agility and fetching ability. It was imported to the United Kingdom and further refined to become the Labrador Retriever that we know today.
Labrador and Beagle Mix Trainability
Their history shows that both the Beagle and the Labrador Retriever are highly trainable. They have been taught over time to do several tasks to help their human masters. The Labrador Retriever, for instance, was trained to help fishermen “retrieve” their fish nets from the shallows and drag them back to shore.
The Beagle is a hunting companion, which can be trained to go after the game either to drive them to the hunter or to pick up the prize and bring it home with its master.
Thus, you can be sure that the Labbe mix will retain that intelligence and smart qualities from its parent breeds. However, you will also have to exert time and effort to train the puppy so you can harness the full potential of its capabilities and intelligence.
Training should, or rather must be started as early as when the puppy is four weeks old. At this time, the mother will work to wean the puppy off her milk and will allow it and its siblings to walk around the house. This is the best time to begin socializing the puppy with the family.
With consistency and dedication, you can train your Beagador to be calm and to recognize members of your family as part of his “pack,” which he should respect and not hurt. If you’d like, you can also train this mix dog to do some tricks as its heritage is made up of two breeds that are very intelligent and willing to please their owners.
Another aspect of the training that you should focus on is potty training or litter training. This takes time, but again, with dedication and consistency, you can get your Labrador-Beagle mix to go outside to pee or poo.
Parents should be firm but compassionate when training dogs. The Beagador can be stubborn at times, thanks to its Beagle blood, but it is always eager to gain your attention and should listen to commands most of the times.
Lab Beagle Mix Temperament
According to the American Kennel Club, the Labrador Retriever and the Beagle are two of the most popular breeds taken in as house pets.
The Labrador Retriever is consistent at being #1 in that list since 2013! The Beagle, on the other hand, has hovered between #4 to #6, a rank it attained in 2017. Of course, we all know what’s the reason behind their popularity – their temperament!
Let’s take a look at the Labrador Retriever’s characteristics first. These dogs are highly intelligent and very affectionate. This combination ensures that the dog is always eager to please its family. Thus, it makes the Retriever a very easy breed to train.
Labrador Retrievers are very reliable towards children. Their loving nature easily endears them to the little ones, who often see the breed as big cuddly stuff toy, albeit one that barks and rolls around the ground.
However, the Retriever also comes with boundless energy. This is due to the purpose why they were bred in the first place. They require lots of play time and energy, or else they’re feel constrained and start wrecking stuff. As puppies, they require lots of chew toys.
They also love to play in the water, unlike most dogs, to the delight of their child masters!
Not to be outdone, Beagles are also highly intelligent and a great lover of the outdoors. Don’t let their smaller size in comparison to the Labrador Retriever fool you. This breed is a small but formidable ball of nearly unlimited energy.
As intelligent as the Labrador, the Beagle can be trained to play fetch, or even to accompany you when you’re hunting. They, however, can be quite stubborn at times especially when they have not been exercised sufficiently during the day.
One of the defining attributes of the Beagle, however, is its vocalization – it has a very deep and loud bark, and are known to howl as well. They’re known to bark and howl without any reason, especially when they are bored, or left alone in their homes.
While there’s no telling what the actual temperament of your Beagador will be, you can be sure that intelligence and playfulness are on top of the list of possible attributes!
Nutrition
A big part of a dog’s health and well-being is the food that they eat. Like humans, dogs have their dietary requirements. However, their nutritional needs are different from humans, so it’s important to feed them only food that is specially formulated for their needs.
One of the important nutrients that your Lab Beagle Mix will need is protein. Protein is the preferred source of energy for a canine. Their bodies are wired to create calories from protein first, carbs next and then fat. Protein is also necessary for their growth and development, especially during the puppy phase.
Fats are next on the list. Dogs need fatty acids like omega-3 and omega-6 to take care of their internal organs and their blood vessels.
When choosing food for Beagle mixes, make sure that the product does not contain meat by-products. This can cause allergies and gastrointestinal complications for your pet. Also, avoid preservatives, even ones that we consume like sodium and vinegar. These can cause upset stomach in your dog as well.
The same concerns also apply when you’re choosing treats for your dog. Treats must be made from all natural sources, with no preservatives added. You could make your treats like beef jerky using fresh and natural ingredients.
Because they are experiencing a growth spurt, puppies need their kind of food as well. Some products are balanced for both puppy and adult dogs. However, they would benefit more from food that’s formulated exactly for their specific needs.
Finally, make sure to vary the protein content of the food that you feed your dog. There are various sources of protein for dog food, like chicken, meat, venison, and lamb. Feeding your dog the same kind of food for a prolonged period can trigger allergies when it gets older.
Labrador Retriever Beagle Mix Health and Care
By profession, breeders only breed stock that is certified to be of good health and does not have any health issues. Even then, genetics are at play here, and both pure breed and cross breed dogs can still develop health issues.
As it is bred combining the genes of the Labrador Retriever and the Beagle, the Lab Beagle Mix could inherit some of the possible health issues that plague its parent breeds.
According to Pet MD, a Labrador Retriever could develop any of these health issues:
- Canine elbow and shoulder dysplasia
- Patellar luxation
- Diabetes
- Muscular atrophy, as the dog ages
- Hot spots
- Retinal dysplasia
- Entropion
On the other hand, the Beagle is known to suffer these medical conditions:
- Umbilical hernia
- Cherry eye
- Central progressive retinal atrophy
- Glaucoma
- Epilepsy
- Deafness
- Cataracts
- Hemophilia A
Both breeds can pass on any of these possible health conditions to their mix puppies. Buying puppies only from a reputable and responsible breeder is important. Also, when you already have your puppy with you, make sure you regularly take him or her to the veterinarian for clinical tests. This way, you can spot problems early on and manage it.
The Beagle has a lifespan of 12 to 15 years, while the Labrador Retriever can live up 10 to 12 years. It’s reasonable to expect the Beagador to live between 10 to 15 years, given proper care and nutrition.
Lab Beagle Mix Grooming
To understand the grooming needs of your Labrador Beagle mix, you will first need to understand what possible coats the breed might inherit from its parents.
First, the Labrador Retriever has a two-layered coat intended to provide insulation to the animal in both warm and wet seasons. The first layer, which is found underneath, is thick and short and excretes essential oils that keep the skin clean and soft. The outer layer is also short and thick, designed to be waterproof.
Do they shed? Yes, they do, The Nest says. Once a year, it will shed its inner coat, and this is the time that you’ll have a lot of fur balls hanging around the house, which you will need to clean with a vacuum.
Its outer coat is another matter – it sheds all year round, which means that you need to brush its coat to remove excess hair regularly. You will need a bristle brush for this, as well as a short-hair rake for the annual “blow,” or when it sheds its undercoat.
Contrary to its appearance, the Beagle has a double coat. However, unlike the Labrador, the Beagle’s outer coat is short, thin and soft. It needs to be brushed 2-3 times a week, the AKC advises, especially when it starts to shed in the spring.
Like all dogs, whether purebred or crossbred, the Labrador Retriever and the Beagle need to have their nails trimmed regularly to avoid walking problems and pain that comes with long nails digging into the ground.
You also don’t need to bathe them regularly. However, because breeds love to play in the outdoors, you might find the need, especially during the rainy seasons. The Labrador especially loves to get wet and might get itself real messy, requiring a bath.
Don’t forget to check and clean their ears weekly to prevent parasitic infestation.
Beagle Lab Mix Puppies
It would be difficult to ascertain the puppies’ adult characteristics from the moment they are born. They would be small, around a couple of inches across and could fit in the palm of your hand. They would be unable to see or hear, as their senses have not woken up yet.
The mother dog will take care of the grooming and feeding for the first four weeks, or 1 month, of their lives. It is your responsibility to make sure that the mother is well fed and taken care of so she can have enough milk to give to their children. She would also be fiercely protective of her pups so exercise caution when approaching.
At three weeks, they will start to see, hear and walk around. They would still stumble around as they get used to their feet, and their mother dog will still be around to guide them. By four weeks old, it would be safe to start introducing them to puppy food mixed with water. The mother dog would also start weaning them off her milk.
This is also a good time for training them, particularly in potty training and socialization. This is crucial for them to grow up with no behavioral problems when they finally join their forever homes.
Puppies also need lots of exercise, to stretch their muscles and bones and for them to become stronger. Exercise and playtime is also good training for socialization, so they’d develop skills that can help mold their identity and their attitudes as adults.
Lab Beagle Mix Price
A Labrador Beagle mix can fetch at least $500 when sold in the market. Lancaster Puppies, a website dedicated to providing a marketplace for puppies from quality breeders, listed Beagle Mix puppies with prices between $500 to $595.
Breed Organizations
The Lab Beagle Mix breed is recognized by four organizations. It’s worth noting that there are two official names for this mix dog, as registered in the databases of these organizations.
First, the name “Labbe” is recognized by the International Designer Canine Registry and the American Canine Hybrid Club. On the other hand, the Designer Dogs Kennel Club and the Designer Breed Registry List recognize the breed under the name of “Labbe Retriever.”
While some use the name, the Beagador seems to be preferred only by a small group of enthusiasts for the mixed breed.
Both its parent breeds, the Labrador Retriever and the Beagle, is recognized by the American Kennel Club.
If you want to adopt or buy a Lab Beagle Mix, you now have the tools and information necessary to take care of it for as long as it lives. Just make sure that you are committed to raising and loving this dog by feeding it well, training it, and giving it ample exercise every day.
