English Coonhound Labrador Dog Breed

The American English Coonhound-Lab mix, as a crossbreed, is not an official member of any breed group. Neither does any info exist about these hybrids' true origin; while a Labrador-Coonhound mix may have existed naturally for a long time, no breeder or breed club has claimed its creation. The Lab-Coonhound mix probably came into popularity among hunters in North America during the 20th century. As such, these energetic, friendly, intelligent dogs are best suited to people looking for a hunting companion, particularly those who live in rural areas where the dog can roam and explore.

A few Coonhound-Lab mix facts: they're medium- to large-sized, averaging 24 inches at the shoulders in height and 60 pounds in weight; they have short- to medium-length, double-layered coats that shed a good bit (especially during the spring and fall shedding seasons); and they're highly energetic and will need a lot of exercise.

Some advantages and drawbacks to owning a Coonhound-Lab cross:

The Coonhound-Lab mix is the offspring of two breeds that are both athletic and outgoing. The Coonhound and the Lab were both originally developed as hunters, so your Lab-Coonhound mix will have excellent retrieving and tracking skills--but this hybrid will also be friendly and versatile, so it'll make a great pet for an active family.

Obviously, though, this Coonhound-Lab mix can vary some in appearance and, especially, temperament depending on its inherited traits. The Coonhound, for example, is friendly enough--but with its "pack mentality" developed through centuries of hunting alongside other dogs, it's much happier if there are other dogs in the household. The Coonhound also has a much stronger prey drive than does the Lab; plus, its bark is an ear-piercing bay. This means that, along with its shedding tendencies and high exercise needs, this hybrid--regardless of inherited traits--won't do well at all living in an apartment. These dogs are much better suited to living in homes with lots of space--and if the home is in a rural area, so much the better.

Speaking of exercise: from their years as hunters, Coonhound-Lab mixes will need plenty of it. Lots of running is great, so these hybrids will be excellent jogging or bicycling companions.

Energetic, intelligent, friendly, versatile, and often sensitive, the Coonhound-Lab mix temperament is one of activity and love. These hybrids will be affectionate and sociable with family, friends, and strangers alike (humans and other animals included). They're great playmates for kids, and they socialize well with other household pets too (though the dog may inherit the Coonhound's high prey drive, and will thus instinctively chase cats and other small animals). In any case, it's best if your Coonhound-Lab grows up alongside any children or other pets, so they learn to be accustomed to one another. These hybrids can be active to the point of hyperactivity, too--so some obedience training, starting during puppyhood if possible, may help the dog learn calmer behavior.

Any training, though, will be a breeze. The Coonhound-Lab mix is exceptionally smart, and will normally learn tasks, tricks, and commands with no problems at all. As with any breed, firm, consistent, reward-based training methods are best.

And the English Coonhound-Lab mix's watchdog skills are decent. These hybrids are active and alert, and will usually investigate unknown sights or sounds; they'll often bark in alarm too. But even though they're big and capable of neutralizing potential threats like intruders, they might be too friendly to do so.

The Coonhound-Lab mix, due to hybrid vigor (in which a crossbred dog inherits the healthiest traits of its parent breeds), is pretty healthy. Even so, these hybrids can suffer a few ailments common to their parent breeds including hip dysplasia, various eye issues like cataracts and Progressive Retinal Atrophy (or PRA), and heart disease. Potential owners are advised to ask breeders for health screenings for the dog and/or its parents, or they can have their own veterinarians do the screenings.

Life expectancy for the Coonhound-Lab mix is 10-12 years.