| Characteristics | Value |
| Height | 25-30 inches |
| Weight | 60-120 pounds |
| Life expectancy | 8-10 years |
| Good With | Seniors, Families, and kids |
| Temperament | Social, Trainable, highly active, Loyal |
| Shedding Amount | Heavy |
| Energy Level | High |
| Coat Type | Single or Double Layered Coat with short hair |
| Colors | Black, White, Yellow, Orange, Brindle mix |
| Dog-Friendly | Sometimes |
| Kid-Friendly | Yes |
The Irish wolfhound lab mix is a breed that has been developed by mixing labrador and Irish wolfhound dogs. Recently it has become very famous and a topic of discussion because of their unique behavior, appearance, personality, etc.
The Irish Wolfhound lab mix is a very friendly and affectionate dog breed. Even though you need to take extra and special care of these types of hybrid dogs, they are very warm and protective if you want a pet dog.
They are both tall and scary in look and can be taken for hunting or could be kept as a watchdog at your homes.
Read the article below to know more about this breed and what measures you have to take to keep them healthy and train them well.
What is an Irish Wolfhound Lab Mix?
The Irish wolfhound lab mix is a hybrid breed that is made by mixing the traits of the Irish wolfhound breed and a Labrador retriever.
This breed is especially known for its intelligence and social attitudes. They are fun-loving and an amazing companion to play with.
Both the parent breeds i.e. Irish wolfhound and Labrador retrievers are the most preferred dogs to carry when you are hunting outside in the wild.
They look masculine, are one of the tallest breeds, and are well-built. They have hair that is usually short and a very thin coat.
You should always keep in mind that they are intimidating only by looks but their bark is not so strong that it can scare away other dogs.
You may see this kind of hybrid breed as a support to old people or people who are handicapped.
As it is a great fighter and symbolizes strength from some years back when warriors existed and battles used to happen, they were a gift to the warriors who had come back home after winning a battle.
Appearance
This special mix of two of the most assertive dog traits will look like a giant creature that can scare off people along with other dogs and will definitely protect you in all circumstances.
Now let’s talk about their exact physical appearance or how they look in detail.
1. Coat
The type of coat your Irish Wolfhound Labrador mix definitely depends on how many traits it has taken from which of its parent breed.
If your hybrid dog has taken after the Irish wolfhound then it will have a double-layered coat which gets difficult to take care of and if your dog has taken after a Labrador retriever then it will have a single-layered coat.
You surely need to brush these Irish Wolfhound Labrador mix coats at least twice a week to prevent a shabby look of theirs.
Both the Irish wolfhound and Labrador are very popular for shedding aggressively. You may definitely notice that this particular type of hybrid breed sheds more than usual other hybrid breeds.
2. Size
Since both the parents of the wolf Labrador mix are tall and well built in size the lab hound mix size will also be big and scary. This cross-bred dog can be as tall as 30 inches and the minimum height of them can be 22 inches.
Their weight also can go up to 160 pounds and the minimum can be 70 pounds.
Personality
It is very difficult to write down the exact personality which your Irish Wolfhound Labrador mix is going to have.
One of its parent breeds i.e., the Labrador retriever is a very fun-loving and affectionate breed. They like to play with you, enjoy their days and are seen to be in a jolly mood.
Whereas the other parent breed i.e. Irish wolfhounds are known to be very protective. They like to fight away all their enemies bravely.
So, these hybrid puppies can take after any of the parent breeds. You can’t predict the exact personality of nature of this hybrid puppy but it is sure that it is fun to be around.
Color
The color of the Irish Wolfhound Labrador mix may be many since both the parent breed dogs have different color combinations.
The Labrador comes in black, golden, yellow, and orange while the Irish wolfhound comes in red, black, white, or chocolate color.
So, your Irish Wolfhound Labrador mix can come in any of these colored coats. The Irish wolfhound black lab mix is one of the most famous ones of all.
Life Expectancy
The expected lifespan of the Irish Wolfhound Labrador mix can vary since both the parent breed dogs have different expectancies of life.
The Labrador has a life expectancy of around 6 – 8 years while the Irish wolfhound’s expected lifespan is 10-12 years.
So you can expect the hybrid breed of these dogs to live at least up to 12 years.
Health Issues
It is a given that if you are getting a dog that has been bred with two different breed’s traits and characteristics they are more prone to health issues.
Their genetics play a major role in deciding their health and well-being.
If any one of their parent’s breeds is likely to have certain health issues and the other parent is not then the end product of the cross-breeding may possess the health issue.
The Labrador retriever is likely to develop hip dysplasia, epilepsy, cataracts, etc. and the Irish wolfhound may have a liver shunt, anesthesia sensitivity, etc.
So, some of the common genetic issues in these hybrid dogs include bio dysplasia, myopathy, cataracts, etc.
Genetic issues cannot be taken for granted or avoided. But you can reduce the severity of the issue by taking precautions and medications.
Grooming
1. Brushing
Brushing these hybrid dogs’ coats is important for their health and well-being. It also makes them look smart and neat, unlike their look in messy coats.
You should have a proper brush with yourself to use on these dogs as not all brushes in the market are suitable to be used on these dogs.
The perfect brush which you should use for your Irish Wolfhound Labrador mix should have bristles that are soft.
It will keep your dog’s coat settled and neat for a long time and your dog also does not feel itchy or irritated so the entire process of brushing can be done easily.
You should brush your dog at least once a week if it sheds heavily or twice a month in case it does not shed a lot.
You should also remove all the extra hair near your dog’s ears which is very common to protect your dog against possible infections.
2. Bathing
Many of you have this misconception that you should give a bath to your dog as frequently as possible but it is completely wrong. Your dog does not like to be given a bath more than twice or thrice a month.
This is because when you often bathe them the natural moisture in their skin or coat may dry off. Dry skin is more prone to shedding and shedding is not good for your dog.
You should also keep in mind that just like you should use organic and natural products for your skin, for your dog also you should use organic products like shampoo, conditioner, etc.
These products are too useful for you to deeply clean the scalp of your dog and may help them to release their skin from the dirt.
3. Trimming Nails
These hybrid dogs are known to have big nails. You should remember to trim their nails and protect them from being ill with paw infections or permanently damaging their nails.
Training
When you have a hybrid dog, it is always advisable for you to start training them regularly. As they are very large in size they have an immense amount of energy in them which they need to burn regularly.
This type of hybrid breed dog is known for its smartness and intelligence. They quickly memorize the things you say and have a good grasping power.
However, with proper training, these dogs can be great companions for hunting. And due to their size, if given proper exercise they can also work well as watchdogs.
Just like the other hybrid dogs, you should with their training at an early stage only. You should use the positive reinforcement technique to teach them various commands.
They can get adapted to any kind of situation presented to them and that’s why they are well-known as protective dogs.
Cost Of Buying An Irish Wolfhound Lab Mix
The price of a Carolina dog lab mix depends upon a lot of factors. For example, what breeder you are taking it from, the size of the dog, lifespan, gender, and many other factors.
It also depends on whether these types of puppies are available or not in the market for sale. In general, they are very easily available in various shelters.
The average price to buy a dog falls somewhere in the range of $500 to $3000 or $3500. The price also depends upon the location you are traveling to buy your dog from and the age too.
Final Thoughts
So, if you want a dog that is large-sized and possesses the traits of both the Irish wolfhound and a Labrador, you can go for this hybrid dog. They are large and tall dogs with single or double-layered coats.
These hybrid dogs are very friendly and they like to socialize. They bond with the other dogs well. You need to groom them well, and brush and bathe them adequately for their health.
Their temperament is known to be calm and peace-loving. They are known to have high energy levels and need to exercise a lot every day to use this energy. You may check out different websites and buy them.
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