Lab Pointer Care

The Lab-Pointer is a hybrid of two outstanding hunting dogs: the Labrador Retriever and the Pointer. This makes the crossbreeds intelligent, friendly, and super-athletic--and, of course, they're fantastic hunting dogs themselves! Overall Lab-Pointer care and maintenance won't take too much work, but will need to include a good bit of daily exercise.

Below you'll find details on caring for a Lab-Pointer including puppy development, exercise needs, and shedding/drooling tendencies. Find answers to your questions about raising a Lab-Pointer in the following sections!

These hybrids are athletic and energetic, so Lab-Pointer exercise requirements are pretty high. As the offspring of two hunting breeds, these crossbreeds will need a variety of daily activities that both condition them physically (walking, fetch) and stimulate them mentally (games, canine sports). They make good jogging and bicycling companions as well.

The typical adult Lab-Pointer will need an hour of proper exercise per day, at the very least. You can start exercising your Lab-Pointer puppy at three months old by taking it on short walks, then you can increase the walks' length as the pup grows.

Precautions with Lab-Pointer exercise:

• Don't exercise puppies too hard before they're nine months old
• High prey drive means a leash is required when exercising in public
• Yards should be securely fenced to keep the dog from running off
• Possible separation anxiety; exercises should be done together with people

Exercising your Lab-Pointer every day is an absolute must. These hunting dogs are active and task-oriented, and without consistent activity they'll become frustrated, disobedient, and destructive. Regular exercise will be great for both the dog's and your own peace of mind! Some exercise ideas:

• Walking/Jogging/Bicycling: Two 20-minute walks (or 15-minute jogs or bike rides) per day is a good target
• Fetch/Frisbee: These dogs will chase a ball, stick, or Frisbee for hours
• Hunting: Puts a Lab-Pointer in its natural element
• Dog Park: These hybrids enjoy the company of other dogs
• Canine Sports: Lab-Pointers can excel at obedience or agility trials, flyball, and other events
• Hiking: Excellent bonding activity

When indoors, give your Lab-Pointer access to balls or toys that will allow the dog to burn excess energy. It's also recommended that you have a regular exercise schedule for the dog, such as walks, jogs, or bike rides after breakfast and dinner and playtime in the afternoon.

These hybrids will need moderate maintenance overall. Lab-Pointer shedding is seasonal: light to fair for most of the year, but heavier during the twice-yearly shedding seasons. Drooling is a very minor issue.

Lab-Pointers have short-haired, dense, double-layered coats that don't shed too much most of the time--but when they blow their undercoats in the spring and fall, the shedding is more profuse. Owners will need to brush their Lab-Pointers 2-3 times a week with a bristle brush to help collect dead hairs, and cleanup--vacuuming the floors, and lint rollers on clothes and furniture--will be needed from time to time. (Brushing and cleanup will obviously be required more often during shedding season.)

And a Lab-Pointer might drool a bit in anticipation of food, after drinking water, or when especially excited or nervous--but the drooling won't be heavy or frequent like that of a Saint Bernard or Bloodhound. If your Lab-Pointer is drooling excessively, it might be a sign of a medical issue, in which case a veterinarian's care is needed.