Labbe Care

The Labbe--a hybrid of a Labrador Retriever and a Beagle--is an energetic, enthusiastic, affectionate crossbreed that make both an excellent hunting dog and a fantastic pet for active families. Overall Labbe 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 Labbe including info on puppy development, exercise needs, and shedding/drooling tendencies. Find answers to your questions about raising a Labbe in the following sections!

As the offspring of two energetic hunting breeds, Labbe exercise requirements are fairly extensive. These dogs will need a variety of activities that both condition them physically (walking, fetch) and stimulate them mentally (games, canine sports). They make good jogging and bicycling companions as well.

Adult Labbes will need at least an hour of proper exercise per day. You can start exercising your Labbe puppy when it's three months old by taking it on short walks, then you can increase the walks' length as the pup grows.

Precautions with Labbe exercise:

• Don't exercise puppies too hard before they're a year old
• A leash is required when exercising in public
• Yards should be securely fenced to keep the dog from running off
• Prone to obesity; regular exercise will help keep off excessive weight
• Possible separation anxiety; exercises should be done together with people

Exercising your Labbe every day is a must. These dogs are highly energetic, but they also become overweight rather easily--so without consistent activity they'll become frustrated and destructive, they'll dig and bark excessively, and they might even become obese. Regular exercise will keep your Labbe fit and trim, and it'll be good for both the dog's and your own peace of mind! A few exercise ideas:

• Walking/Jogging/Bicycling: Try for an hour of walking (or 30 minutes of jogging/bicycling) per day
• Fetch/Frisbee: Labbes love chasing a ball, stick, or Frisbee
• Hide-and-Seek: Good indoor activity
• Dog Park: Labbes enjoy the company of other dogs
• Canine Sports: Labbes can excel at obedience trials, flyball, and other events
• Hiking: Excellent bonding activity

When indoors, give your Labbe access to balls or toys that will allow the dog to burn excess energy. It's also good to 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-Beagle mix shedding is seasonal: fair for most of the year, but heavier during the twice-yearly shedding seasons. Drooling isn't much of an issue.

Labbes have short, smooth, double-layered coats that shed moderately most of the time--but when they blow their undercoats in the spring (and often the fall as well), the shedding is more profuse. Owners can brush their Labbes 2-3 times per week with a rubber curry brush to minimize the shedding, and hair cleanup--vacuuming the floors, and lint rollers on clothes and furniture--will be necessary from time to time. (Brushing and cleanup will obviously be required more frequently during shedding season.)

Labbes may also 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 Labbe is drooling excessively, it might be a sign of a medical issue, in which case a veterinarian's care is needed.